Matt Miller

[lutecat]

Guys, I love McGhee as a player, and person, but what has he done to make himself a viable OC candidate for a top 5 team in the nation?

And please realize that I say this thinking that McGhee has the potential to be an excellent HC some day, but he's also very young, and I don't think he's ready. Let's not forget that not so long ago, he was removed from the QB coach slot to RB coach. He's not a bad coach by any means, but he just doesn't appear to be ready yet.

We absolutely need somebody who has called plays before, whether at the HS or college level. Or at least some assistant who has been around for a while. If Choate was a guy who had been an OC prior, then it would be a different discussion, but right now we just don't have that experience on the coaching staff.

What was MM's resume before being named OC? Not arguing, as I honestly don't remember.

1 year as an Offensive Quality Control Assistant at Boise and then 2+ years as MSU's recievers coach. Which shows that there's no way to generically determine when someone is old enough or "ready" enough to become a coordinator. I trust that Coach Choate knows his staff well enough to make the determination whether the best choice is to promote from within, or bring someone in from outside.

Here are a couple of other guys that are on their first gig as offensive coordinator:

North Dakota State - Tyler Roehl, an All-America running back and four-year letterman at North Dakota State from 2004 to 2008, returned to his alma mater as the tight ends and fullbacks coach in 2014. He was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2019. Between his coaching stints at NDSU, Roehl spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons on the Moorhead High School football staff under former Bison quarterback Kevin Feeney. He was the running backs coach and junior varsity offensive coordinator in 2010 at Concordia College in Moorhead.

South Dakota State - Jason Eck has been handed the reins of the Jackrabbit offense after serving the past three seasons as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He will continue to coach the team’s offensive linemen. Eck has coached at the collegiate level since 1999, including serving as run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Montana State in 2015. In his lone season with the Bobcats, Eck helped coach an offense that led the Football Championship Subdivision in yards per play (6.82) and ranked fourth in total offense with an average of 519.8 yards per game.

Point being, every offensive coordinator was given an initial chance somewhere. It would seem that McGhee is a smart, driven individual who is very knowledgeable of our players and offense. He has been integral to the success of the offense, recruiting and has been in the middle of the action on the sidelines for the past couple of years. I would be okay with giving him the chance right now. His resume actually appears more developed than when Miller was promoted to OC.

The biography on Roehl is contradictory to your statement.

Jason Eck, prior to coaching at Montana State, was the OC at Mankato.

Both of those guys had experience calling plays before their current jobs.

I didn’t place too much weight on their experiences at Mankato and as the JV offensive coordinator at Concordia College since they were both hired as position assistant coaches at the FCS levels. Regardless, they had limited OC experience and have been very successful. Here is another guy with limited experience before giving the OC duties and seeing success:

NAU - #3 ranked Offense in FCS this year - Aaron Pflugrad - Pflugrad arrived at NAU after spending the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant with Arizona State University. Pflugrad spent his first three seasons with the Lumberjacks as the wide receivers coach before being elevated to offensive coordinator in 2018.

I am not saying that McGhee should be given the reigns, but I do believe he is a qualified candidate. It would be great to see a “co-offensive coordinator” title paired with someone who has some experience calling plays.

Pflu Jr probably motivated his players by having his sister show up for practices to cheer....

I trust that Choate will promote him if he's qualified.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

I think we really sell ourselves short by suggesting someone not an up and comer.

I agree. A coach is either on the rise, or past his prime and on the way down. Unless the guy's prime was REALLY good, and not that long ago, give me a guy on the way up.

[60's Cat]

Don't get me wrong, I loved Lulay as a Bobcat.

But what exactly makes people think that someone who has never coached, could step in and be our O Coordinator?

Maybe start off as our QB coach (a good role for him, I think).....and maybe O coordinator down the road, but what makes folks think anyone with no coaching experience can coach our offense right now?

He played in the NFL, NFL Europe, CFL, and for the Cats. He probably has more offensive schemes and principles rolling around in his head than the majority of people that coach at this level. He also was a leader where ever he played and had an effusive personality that he demonstrated throughout his career. His qualifications aren't the issue here, this isn't a PAC12 or NFL job. Its whether he wants the job. For someone like him this is probably as entry level as it gets. We would be lucky to have him.

i agree, but I also agree that he wouldn't be a good OC right out of the shoot. QB coach, yes!!!

My point was that he would make a great coach but I'm not sure he come to just be the QB coach. Also him wanting to spend time with his family... isn't his wife from Mt? This really was me thinking out loud.

I think in terms of continuity DM maybe deserves a shot at it. I'm guessing spending the last few years coaching with him Choate knows if he's a good fit to run the O or not, just like he did with Miller.

Another name that hasn't been mentioned here that i've seen is Armstrong. It demonstrated some pretty good character traits for him to be demoted and sticking around. Lots of guys would have looked elsewhere and he didn't. Plus, his results as the O-line and run game coach are pretty damn good. Like record breaking good. He could be like Ioane and just needed to see someone else do it, learn, come back a much better coach.

Armstrong has been the OC. He got demoted. Not sure it makes sense to do that again.

+1

[FTG247365]

Don't get me wrong, I loved Lulay as a Bobcat.

But what exactly makes people think that someone who has never coached, could step in and be our O Coordinator?

Maybe start off as our QB coach (a good role for him, I think).....and maybe O coordinator down the road, but what makes folks think anyone with no coaching experience can coach our offense right now?

He played in the NFL, NFL Europe, CFL, and for the Cats. He probably has more offensive schemes and principles rolling around in his head than the majority of people that coach at this level. He also was a leader where ever he played and had an effusive personality that he demonstrated throughout his career. His qualifications aren't the issue here, this isn't a PAC12 or NFL job. Its whether he wants the job. For someone like him this is probably as entry level as it gets. We would be lucky to have him.

i agree, but I also agree that he wouldn't be a good OC right out of the shoot. QB coach, yes!!!

My point was that he would make a great coach but I'm not sure he come to just be the QB coach. Also him wanting to spend time with his family... isn't his wife from Mt? This really was me thinking out loud.

I think in terms of continuity DM maybe deserves a shot at it. I'm guessing spending the last few years coaching with him Choate knows if he's a good fit to run the O or not, just like he did with Miller.

Another name that hasn't been mentioned here that i've seen is Armstrong. It demonstrated some pretty good character traits for him to be demoted and sticking around. Lots of guys would have looked elsewhere and he didn't. Plus, his results as the O-line and run game coach are pretty damn good. Like record breaking good. He could be like Ioane and just needed to see someone else do it, learn, come back a much better coach.

Armstrong has been the OC. He got demoted. Not sure it makes sense to do that again.

+1

Wasn't Armstrong and Messingham Co-OC? From the outside looking in I think that position needs to be a single person.
At our level of FB we can either promote within and keep our current scheme and keep building. Our do what Ash did and have a new OC every year and what seemed like a whole new offense every year. Part of the turnover of Ash's OC was him second guessing their job/play calling. Instead of trusting them.

[bobcat99]

Don't get me wrong, I loved Lulay as a Bobcat.

But what exactly makes people think that someone who has never coached, could step in and be our O Coordinator?

Maybe start off as our QB coach (a good role for him, I think).....and maybe O coordinator down the road, but what makes folks think anyone with no coaching experience can coach our offense right now?

He played in the NFL, NFL Europe, CFL, and for the Cats. He probably has more offensive schemes and principles rolling around in his head than the majority of people that coach at this level. He also was a leader where ever he played and had an effusive personality that he demonstrated throughout his career. His qualifications aren't the issue here, this isn't a PAC12 or NFL job. Its whether he wants the job. For someone like him this is probably as entry level as it gets. We would be lucky to have him.

i agree, but I also agree that he wouldn't be a good OC right out of the shoot. QB coach, yes!!!

My point was that he would make a great coach but I'm not sure he come to just be the QB coach. Also him wanting to spend time with his family... isn't his wife from Mt? This really was me thinking out loud.

I think in terms of continuity DM maybe deserves a shot at it. I'm guessing spending the last few years coaching with him Choate knows if he's a good fit to run the O or not, just like he did with Miller.

Another name that hasn't been mentioned here that i've seen is Armstrong. It demonstrated some pretty good character traits for him to be demoted and sticking around. Lots of guys would have looked elsewhere and he didn't. Plus, his results as the O-line and run game coach are pretty damn good. Like record breaking good. He could be like Ioane and just needed to see someone else do it, learn, come back a much better coach.

Armstrong has been the OC. He got demoted. Not sure it makes sense to do that again.

+1

Wasn't Armstrong and Messingham Co-OC? From the outside looking in I think that position needs to be a single person.
At our level of FB we can either promote within and keep our current scheme and keep building. Our do what Ash did and have a new OC every year and what seemed like a whole new offense every year. Part of the turnover of Ash's OC was him second guessing their job/play calling. Instead of trusting them.

Huh?

I think most of what Ash's OC's moved on for was better jobs.

[VimSince03]

Don't get me wrong, I loved Lulay as a Bobcat.

But what exactly makes people think that someone who has never coached, could step in and be our O Coordinator?

Maybe start off as our QB coach (a good role for him, I think).....and maybe O coordinator down the road, but what makes folks think anyone with no coaching experience can coach our offense right now?

He played in the NFL, NFL Europe, CFL, and for the Cats. He probably has more offensive schemes and principles rolling around in his head than the majority of people that coach at this level. He also was a leader where ever he played and had an effusive personality that he demonstrated throughout his career. His qualifications aren't the issue here, this isn't a PAC12 or NFL job. Its whether he wants the job. For someone like him this is probably as entry level as it gets. We would be lucky to have him.

i agree, but I also agree that he wouldn't be a good OC right out of the shoot. QB coach, yes!!!

My point was that he would make a great coach but I'm not sure he come to just be the QB coach. Also him wanting to spend time with his family... isn't his wife from Mt? This really was me thinking out loud.

I think in terms of continuity DM maybe deserves a shot at it. I'm guessing spending the last few years coaching with him Choate knows if he's a good fit to run the O or not, just like he did with Miller.

Another name that hasn't been mentioned here that i've seen is Armstrong. It demonstrated some pretty good character traits for him to be demoted and sticking around. Lots of guys would have looked elsewhere and he didn't. Plus, his results as the O-line and run game coach are pretty damn good. Like record breaking good. He could be like Ioane and just needed to see someone else do it, learn, come back a much better coach.

Armstrong has been the OC. He got demoted. Not sure it makes sense to do that again.

+1

Wasn't Armstrong and Messingham Co-OC? From the outside looking in I think that position needs to be a single person.
At our level of FB we can either promote within and keep our current scheme and keep building. Our do what Ash did and have a new OC every year and what seemed like a whole new offense every year. Part of the turnover of Ash's OC was him second guessing their job/play calling. Instead of trusting them.

Huh?

I think most of what Ash's OC's moved on for was better jobs.

Three of four moved on to better jobs you could say.

Dale Ploessl left to coach his high school alma mater varsity football team (Dubuque High School). Brian Wright left to be the OC/QB coach for FBS Florida Atlantic and later took the same position at Toledo for four years. Kevin McGiven left after one year because he got the OC/QB coach job at Utah State. McGiven is now the OC/QB coach at San Jose State. Tim Cramsey left when Ash was fired and got the Nevada OC/QB coach job immediately after. The next year he took the same job at Sam Houston State. In 2018, he again took the same job at Marshall where he is today.

Messingham was the OC/QB coach in 2016. Armstrong was the OC in 2017. Bob Cole and Armstrong were Co-OC's halfway through 2018 until they got demoted and Matt Miller took over. Matt Miller was the OC/QB coach in 2019.

[GoCats18]

I know BJ Robertson coaches special teams now, but doesn’t he have experience as a Assistant and Head Coach? For some reason I thought I recalled talking to someone that played for him and said he was pretty knowledgeable on the offensive side of the ball. Maybe I am thinking of someone else though.

[PHAT CAT]

BJ was the head coach at Montana Western.

[Colter_Nuanez]

When was the last time co-coordinators worked? Not trying to be a smart ass but the only time I've seen it work in my career at this level is at Eastern Washington. But that was still Troy Taylor "suggesting" things to Beau Baldwin. Otherwise, at the Big Sky/FCS level, it seems that co-coordinators has implicated "we can't make a decision" from the top down and has led to dysfunction.

[catsrback76]

When was the last time co-coordinators worked? Not trying to be a smart ass but the only time I've seen it work in my career at this level is at Eastern Washington. But that was still Troy Taylor "suggesting" things to Beau Baldwin. Otherwise, at the Big Sky/FCS level, it seems that co-coordinators has implicated "we can't make a decision" from the top down and has led to dysfunction.

You're right. "Co-" means there is "NO" coordinator!

[mslacatfan]

Same thing with The qb position. I know The cats made it work this last year.... but generally speaking, if you have multiple qb’s that means you have no qb.

[nanacat]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

[bobcat99]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

In the world of college football, your RB coach is typically a recruiter spot. You can afford to have an "ok" coach there. Now I think D is a good coach, but RB coaches in general are replaceable. D as a recruiter is much harder to replace.

Also, in general, going from QB coach to RB coach is a little bit of a demotion. Maybe that's not what happened here, I can't say because I don't know the details, but in general it is.

[Cataholic]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

In the world of college football, your RB coach is typically a recruiter spot. You can afford to have an "ok" coach there. Now I think D is a good coach, but RB coaches in general are replaceable. D as a recruiter is much harder to replace.

Also, in general, going from QB coach to RB coach is a little bit of a demotion. Maybe that's not what happened here, I can't say because I don't know the details, but in general it is.

[wbtfg]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

In the world of college football, your RB coach is typically a recruiter spot. You can afford to have an "ok" coach there. Now I think D is a good coach, but RB coaches in general are replaceable. D as a recruiter is much harder to replace.

Also, in general, going from QB coach to RB coach is a little bit of a demotion. Maybe that's not what happened here, I can't say because I don't know the details, but in general it is.

DMac also currently our recruiting coordinator.

[bobcat99]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

In the world of college football, your RB coach is typically a recruiter spot. You can afford to have an "ok" coach there. Now I think D is a good coach, but RB coaches in general are replaceable. D as a recruiter is much harder to replace.

Also, in general, going from QB coach to RB coach is a little bit of a demotion. Maybe that's not what happened here, I can't say because I don't know the details, but in general it is.

DMac also currently our recruiting coordinator.

Yes, which makes sense with his coaching position. I don't think there are any OC's that are recruiting coordinators. So if you promote D, you've got to fill a couple different positions. I just really like him as our recruiting guy, and would prefer to have a more experienced OC. I'm sure D could do it, it's just not the route I would pursue.

But hey, I'm just an idiot off the street. I trust Choate to get a good coach, whether it's internal or not.

[wbtfg]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

In the world of college football, your RB coach is typically a recruiter spot. You can afford to have an "ok" coach there. Now I think D is a good coach, but RB coaches in general are replaceable. D as a recruiter is much harder to replace.

Also, in general, going from QB coach to RB coach is a little bit of a demotion. Maybe that's not what happened here, I can't say because I don't know the details, but in general it is.

DMac also currently our recruiting coordinator.

Yes, which makes sense with his coaching position. I don't think there are any OC's that are recruiting coordinators. So if you promote D, you've got to fill a couple different positions. I just really like him as our recruiting guy, and would prefer to have a more experienced OC. I'm sure D could do it, it's just not the route I would pursue.

But hey, I'm just an idiot off the street. I trust Choate to get a good coach, whether it's internal or not.

Agreed. Hopefully we can hang on the DMac for a couple more years.

[bobcat99]

McGee came here as qb coach and then moved up to running backs. Truly, that was a good move! On one hand he seems like a natural one to move up-student of the game, offensive mind, successful as a coach and, if course, player. But the flip side is, with how great our running back unit is, would a coaching change negatively affect that? Hate to lose the success there looking ahead.

In the world of college football, your RB coach is typically a recruiter spot. You can afford to have an "ok" coach there. Now I think D is a good coach, but RB coaches in general are replaceable. D as a recruiter is much harder to replace.

Also, in general, going from QB coach to RB coach is a little bit of a demotion. Maybe that's not what happened here, I can't say because I don't know the details, but in general it is.

DMac also currently our recruiting coordinator.

Yes, which makes sense with his coaching position. I don't think there are any OC's that are recruiting coordinators. So if you promote D, you've got to fill a couple different positions. I just really like him as our recruiting guy, and would prefer to have a more experienced OC. I'm sure D could do it, it's just not the route I would pursue.

But hey, I'm just an idiot off the street. I trust Choate to get a good coach, whether it's internal or not.

Agreed. Hopefully we can hang on the DMac for a couple more years.

I hope so! He's a good coach. I think he has all the makings of a good HC someday.

[Hawks86]