FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

Small but Slow · January 12, 2009, 02:22:57 PM

If the Broncos hire some good football executives McDaniels is in an excellent place. Shanahan had too much autonomy which seems to be the downfall of many good coaches.

Nate is not too small to be an effective NFL back, and I believe he will put on a few pounds of muscle in the NFL. Speed is not always a deciding factor. Many intangibles contribute to make up for physical shortcomings. SOme guys have all the physical attributes and never make it no matter how many chances they are given. Michael Bennett was here in Tampa for nearly two years and couldn't beat out a one legged Carnell Williams for a roster spot and he is supposedly one of the leagues most talented athletes. The Chargers picked up Bennett when the Bucs cut him and I don't think he saw the field even with LT inactive.

formerd3db · January 12, 2009, 02:35:07 PM

That is great for McDaniels. He has the potential for being the next "Don Shula. I think that the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns "missed the boat" in not giving McDaniels serious consideration, or...just selecting him as their next HC (there, I said it!

) and even perhaps the Indy Colts now that it appears Dungy is stepping down later this afternoon. While those teams have/and will be getting capable coaches, on the other hand, there is always the possibility they will regret not having picked McDaniels. Anyway, as you have mentioned, it is great to see another DIII product get to a high position such as this (even though I like the college game 100 times more than the pros). Best of luck to McDaniels.

skunks_sidekick · January 12, 2009, 03:52:43 PM

RC - yep......I figured that LK would just take over and run it as before. I think in the past years he allowed Campbell & Candle to act as OC to help them gain experience. I guess there could be another guy coming through that LK would again set up the same structure, but I don't see that guy as of now.

Great for McDaniels!

Kira & Jaxon's Dad · January 12, 2009, 04:54:09 PM

I think INDY already has a "Coach in Waiting" ready to take over once/if Dungy steps down. DI don't remember which coach it is though.

reality check · January 12, 2009, 05:22:13 PM

FWIW

Bennett carried 4 times against and had 2 catches in the playoffs for San Diego.

Indy does indeed have a coach in waiting in Associate HC Jim Caldwell. I didn't know he was such a "lock" as the next Indy coach when I was considering McDaniels' consideration.

Sidekick - Thanks for the clarification. I knew LK might take the play-calling over but didn't know if you heard something else through the grapevine.

formerd3db · January 12, 2009, 06:14:07 PM

rc and kirasdad:

You guys are right. I had forgotten that, according to the media reports, after winning the Super Bowl, Dungy had wanted to pick his successor i.e. Caldwell and decided to stick around one more year (i.e. this year 2008) before stepping down. Regarding another tangent on that type of situation in general, isn't it interesting that every "once in a while" someone (like Dungy or even Bill McCartney the collegiate coach) decides to walk away just at the right time in one's career, instead of hanging on and on (also they didn't waste their earnings, unlike some pro athletes unfortunately and stupidly do

). While Dungy didn't go out winning the Super Bowl, he obviously had attained that and is going out after a very successful career and to do more with family. He can always decide to come back in some capacity in his later life, perhaps similar to the likes of John Pont and others who decided to contribute in someway, somewhere in their twilight years. All that being said, obviously each individual

Anyway, at least McDaniels finally received his opportunity.

formerd3db · January 12, 2009, 06:15:44 PM

Oops! Forgot to finish my second to last sentence in the previous post

I intented to say that..."obviously each individual has to make their own decision based on what they and their family think is best for them".

Small but Slow · January 12, 2009, 07:00:51 PM

According to an interview with a former player he still confides in, he is moving back to Tampa to watch follow his son's senior season at Plant High and focus on his prison ministry and All Pro Dads programs. The former player says he is willing to bet his home that Tony Dungy will not pull a Bill Parcells and be back on the sideline or even in the front office in the NFL again, but could turn up in the college game somewhere.

I wish McDaniels the best of success and hope he fairs better than the past few Belichek disciples have. Crenell and Mangino have already lost their first gigs and Charlie Weiss is hanging on by a thread at ND. Hopefully he can learn from their experiences.

Big news down here is Tebow coming back for his senior season. Evidently the experts told him he needs another year of college ball to develop his mechanics. I wonder if anyone gave Bernie Kosar that advice before he came out early?

formerd3db · January 12, 2009, 07:38:28 PM

Quote from: Small but Slow on January 12, 2009, 07:00:51 PM
According to an interview with a former player he still confides in, he is moving back to Tampa to watch follow his son's senior season at Plant High and focus on his prison ministry and All Pro Dads programs. The former player says he is willing to bet his home that Tony Dungy will not pull a Bill Parcells and be back on the sideline or even in the front office in the NFL again, but could turn up in the college game somewhere.

I wish McDaniels the best of success and hope he fairs better than the past few Belichek disciples have. Crenell and Mangino have already lost their first gigs and Charlie Weiss is hanging on by a thread at ND. Hopefully he can learn from their experiences.

Big news down here is Tebow coming back for his senior season. Evidently the experts told him he needs another year of college ball to develop his mechanics. I wonder if anyone gave Bernie Kosar that advice before he came out early?

They should have...re: Kosar. BTW, surprising what the NFL scouts have been saying about Tebow. I will say this, while that is their "expertise and opinions" scouts (in general) have oft been proven wrong and totally "missed the boat" on some players in the past. They don't always know what their talking about. They sometimes seem to try and fit players into prototype molds - seeing the potential that someone like Tebow has, even in his current QB position in college doesn't mean he would be a failure at that in the pros. Given the right team and right coach, I could see him very well succeeding as an NFL QB - at least I believe he would be much better than some of the dudes playing in those positions right now. But that's just MO - and... what do I know?

Thanks for the further info re: Dungy. Sounds pretty much like we would expect and that is neat. As far as McDaniels, I also hope, like you say, that he fares better than his colleagues from the "Belichek discipleship". On the other hand, those you mention, at least IMO, do not compare to the job and success that McDaniels has done. I have never liked Weiss and do not have much respect for him in either his pros and especially in his college jobs for a variety of reasons (some including non-football issues) which I won't go into; the others were okay, but again, don't seem to have that "newness appeal" if that is such an entity/work that McDaniels seems to have. Besides, the latter, again, is a DIII guy! It will be interesting to see how he does and he seems to have handled the NFL very well not only in the football aspects, but also with all the egos, problems and other non-football issues that come with that from today's jerk players (including the superstars) and even in an OC's job at that. Let's hope he doesn't get "blindsided" by some people.

pradierguy · January 12, 2009, 11:15:37 PM

I hope the new Indy coach still likes and believes in Pierre.

HScoach · January 13, 2009, 07:30:45 AM

Quote from: pradierguy on January 12, 2009, 11:15:37 PM
I hope the new Indy coach still likes and believes in Pierre.

Me too.

Small but Slow · January 13, 2009, 07:57:52 AM

Coach- I agree that the NFL has a tendency to prefer guys who fit their mold and come from certain programs. I remember when the Eagles drafted McNabb their fans booed because he was an option QB at the 'Cuse. Given Tebow's personality is bigger than life, he's going to have to go to a team where the coach can share some of the limelight. He is just a naturally dynamic character who will probably achieve much greater things beyond football than he will in the NFL.

McDaniels has proven himself under two separate situations. One, with the best weapons come within a last minute drive and a little help from the "D" of a perfect season while setting almost every individual and team offensive record. This year he took a completely inexperienced QB, a patchwork backfield, and developed them into a productive unit while winning 11 games. He's been tested as an OC, which doesn't mean much, but I think he is in a great organization.

SaintsFAN · January 13, 2009, 10:32:51 AM

Quote from: hscoach on January 13, 2009, 07:30:45 AM
Quote from: pradierguy on January 12, 2009, 11:15:37 PM
I hope the new Indy coach still likes and believes in Pierre.

Me too.

I'm sure he would, since he's already on staff. Caldwell right? I won't guarantee it, but I don't think you'll see any cuts of WR's who contributed this year (with Harrison rumored to be out). Takes time to learn that system. Hopefully thats enough to keep him there.

reality check · January 13, 2009, 10:49:07 AM

Garcon and Trusnik are both in the same situation. The one thing that Trusnik has going for him as stated last week is that Mangini really liked him and he has the option to bring Trusnik to Cleveland; in effect he'd be bringing Trusnik "home". I think they both contributed enough as special teamers though that a coach has to think about keeping them simply based on the fact that they're cheap and affordable options on special teams.

bambord · January 13, 2009, 11:45:50 AM

Boltus headed to NFL combine. He is taller and heavier.