An analysis by Coach Wyatt

[PrideandDream]

Well here's a little bit of a clue.

All 14 SEC schools have a former offensive line player coaching their offensive lines. And each of them has a multitude of experiences at other schools and with other coaches.

EVER SINGLE SEC SCHOOL HAS A FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AS THE OFFENSIVE LINE COACH!

Just think about that for a second. We don't have a single offensive lineman on Staff.

I'm not saying that alone is the key I'm just saying I don't think we have anyone who really has the expertise.

PD

[PrideandDream]

And one other tid bit.

Every single team we play this year on our schedule has a former Offensive Lineman as the Offensive Line coach.

Now look that doesn't make them all qualified or good but many have deep resumes. It's just amazing to me that we are such an outlier here.

That's 26 schools I've looked at to include two FCS and at both the Elite (SEC) and the non elite (UMASS and ULM) that all have the same dynamic for an o line coach.

[ArmyRoadFan7]

It’s not the x’s and the o’s it’s the Larry and the Joes. The players we have aren’t good enough. If you want to blame the coaches for asking them to do things they can’t do that’s fine but we looked like crap in the old offense with a lot of the same players. There is no switching back if this doesn’t work the only fix is a new coaching staff.

[ARMORMAN]

Target! Together, Wyatt and P&D have nailed it.

It's a glaring, almost stunning situation. Offensive linemen are the singular key to any successful offensive scheme; however, their training, preparation, techniques, methods, and indiv/collective systems are as intricate and as skilled as how a cornerback or a quarterback must perform. Can't just draw an X on the chalkboard with an arrow to the O across from him and say "you block that guy"...

It's almost ironic. Jeff frequently answers "fundamentals" when asked how we could have prevailed in a lost game; however, if the men are not expertly coached and drilled by someone who's been in the trenches at a high level, then it ain't all their fault.

WrekDivr earlier speculated that maybe Davis was a more effective O line coach when he was also OC. It's a good theory, since he actually played tight end himself. As dear old Stan Brock was fond of saying, he "had his hand in the dirt"...

Sometimes, a really good coach can emerge who never played the game or the position, but that's about as often as POTUS completing an extemporaneous, lucid sentence.

[WrekDivr]

It’s not the x’s and the o’s it’s the Larry and the Joes. The players we have aren’t good enough. If you want to blame the coaches for asking them to do things they can’t do that’s fine but we looked like crap in the old offense with a lot of the same players. There is no switching back if this doesn’t work the only fix is a new coaching staff.

Talent matters a lot, but everyone has a range of capability and a great coach can get the maximum result from someone. Given the constraints of a SA, we are often getting players that have offers from other SAs or FCS programs. To be successful takes many things including getting players to perform at their maximum capability. If we rely on raw talent our success will be very limited.

[PrideandDream]

It’s not the x’s and the o’s it’s the Larry and the Joes. The players we have aren’t good enough. If you want to blame the coaches for asking them to do things they can’t do that’s fine but we looked like crap in the old offense with a lot of the same players. There is no switching back if this doesn’t work the only fix is a new coaching staff.

Well the players talent is always part of the equation. I'm not talking X's and O's which infers scheme. I'm talking technique, motivation, accountability, details, and the little things that a good positional player knows and demonstrate and communicate. Even at elite schools they have elite coaches. Guys with deep deep experience and understanding.

Cliche's aren't our problem on the O line. Coaching expertise most definitely is questionable. In fact Offensive lineman arguably benefit from good coaching more than any other position. Skill players are much more quantifiable. You can't make kids much faster or too much more agile. The skills on o line like footwork, hand placement, balance, stance, weight distribution, and anticipation are very teachable. We have guys with big frames and that carry weight. Just have to show them how to use it and then motivate them to execute violently. A good cornerback, RB, QB, linebacker makes up for mistakes many times with pure athleticism that's hard to teach and not as technique focused. O line is a tad different.

I looked at every O line coach in the SEC and for every opponent we play this year. Even though they all played O line as a player their experiences were wildly variable. Many were highly successful players both as individuals and on teams. And most had deep O line coaching experience at many schools. It is a very very very stark difference to our staff.

Lastly, details like this do matter to all positions. I'm just saying that O line I think is likely amplified the most. If you ever pay attention to what Saban does at Alabama when they have issues in specific position groups he actively brings in expert consultants to evaluate their play. This is not a secret. He has former coaches from all levels that can objectively evaluate the play of a player or group of players and then make suggestions on how to coach and drill tecnhniques to improve their play. I don't know that we have the luxury but it does demonstrate that even at the most elite level of play in this game that the details of coaching matter. Regardless of how good your talent is.

PD

[PrideandDream]

Well look who they just highlighted at LSU during LSU game. Good old Pete Jenkins. How appropriate given my last statement above about Alabama bringing in consultants to fix specific problems and finding an expert to solve your coaching problems. And oh, well seems they told an old story about the Auburn scout team running triple option to prepare for the '96 Independence Bowl and Jenkins working overtime to defend it. HA! People who know...well they know....

Meet Nick Saban's Own Football Guru

[Dude69]

This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let’s not bicker and argue over who killed who.

[gabn92]

Great observations and discussion. It seems as if the "intangibles" that Viti possesses may have created a blind spot for Monken in keeping him on the staff and finding a role for him...or trying to develop him into a future coordinator or head coach. We probably all can understand why Monken loves Viti---they guy's a stud and a perfect fit in many ways to be on the Army staff. But, as this thread is pointing out...not as the O-line coach.

I know we have some folks on this forum that have access to the coaching staff through pressers, other websites, etc. Can someone please ask some questions about the O-line and the coaching staff and why Monken seems to be an outlier in his philosophy of having an O-line coach on his staff? This predates Viti, because Davis was dual-hatted. Does Monken not see value in having an O-line coach that has played the position?

[PrideandDream]

It's a good question but I'd posit two things:

1. A great O line coach is a premium commodity and in demand in the market
2. Do we have the funding or flexibility to meet that demand? Can we afford one?

I made this comment earlier I think in a different thread. Remember a few years back when Calhoun was forgoing pay raises and put that money back into his staff?

Bottom line you have to pay to get good coaches and to be at West Point probably have to pay even more for mature guys with families. I know it can be a great place but it's also not like most College towns to include COS or Annapolis.

PD