Coaching News... (UPDATE: Drew Mehringer Officially Hired)

[North Texas Golfer]

Why?

Not to be argumentative, NTG, but what made his situation at Rutgers so difficult? They've been successful in the past under Schiano. I'm just trying to understand why his offense ranked 122nd in passing this year.

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/25/p3

But, this is our new "passing game coordinator"? Woof

Rutgers just finished their 3rd year in the Big 10 and have won a grand total of 4 conference games. They simply don't have the talent to compete at that level. In golf, we call it LOFT, "Lack Of F...ing Talent".

Hell, prior to that they were in the Big East and were barely competitive at best after Schiano left. Their success under Schiano came in the Big East and he hasn't been there since 2011. 

I'm also guessing that there's a reason why this guy was an OC at a P5 conference school before age 30. 

 

[TeamMayhall]

Most people seem to think Herman, but I've read several articles that praised Major's play calling abilities this year and it was also something talked about during broadcasts. So I think it was Major with Herman having a heavy say in the game plan

Same here

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Mehringer has worked with Herman at 4 different stops (Ohio State, Rice, Iowa State and UH). Mehringer knows the system and knows what Herman demands. Mehringer also has Texas roots. He grew up playing HS ball in Texas and attended Rice. Throw in the fact he was a good recruiter at Rutgers and UH. 

This hire shouldn't even be a surprise. He checks off all the boxes you want in a position coach.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Ayers had 465 yards receiving, 4 yards rushing and 3 TDs in 2 years at UH prior to Mehringer and Herman. In 1 year under Herman/Mehringer he had 1221 yards receiving, 148 yards rushing, and 7 TDs. 

Chance Allen went from 98 yards receiving and 1 TD at Oregon to 752 yards receiving and 7 TDs in year 1 under Herman/Mehringer. 

Steven Dunbar went from 286 yards receiving and 0 TDs in 1 year at UH to 382 yards receiving and 3 TDs in 1 year under Herman/Mehringer. 

Houston's top 3 WRs under Mehringer were nobodies until he became the coach.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Rutgers just finished their 3rd year in the Big 10 and have won a grand total of 4 conference games. They simply don't have the talent to compete at that level. In golf, we call it LOFT, "Lack Of F...ing Talent".

Hell, prior to that they were in the Big East and were barely competitive at best after Schiano left. Their success under Schiano came in the Big East and he hasn't been there since 2011. 

I'm also guessing that there's a reason why this guy was an OC at a P5 conference school before age 30. 

Maybe, but his first go as an OC wasn't successful. Perhaps he wasn't quite ready for that responsibility?

We have no choice, at this point, but to trust Herman's judgement and he should have the flexibility to hire anyone he wants. But, Mehringer doesn't look good on paper regardless of what boxes he checks. Yeah, I know, we've gotta give him a chance...

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Maybe, but his first go as an OC wasn't successful. Perhaps he wasn't quite ready for that responsibility?

We have no choice, at this point, but to trust Herman's judgement and he should have the flexibility to hire anyone he wants. But, Mehringer doesn't look good on paper regardless of what boxes he checks. Yeah, I know, we've gotta give him a chance...

Here is your first sentence rephrased to accurately reflect the reality of the situation.

Maybe, but his first go as an OC at a school, that had little or no talent, wasn't successful. 

 

[DMAC]

I should just stop reading all the recruiting crap and staff hires until the season starts.  

His staff was what was important to me and it so far its a big "Meh" especially with this stellar hire.

He better win next year none of this bullshit 3-4 year crap AGAIN.

 

[The Bry-Man81]

Maybe, but his first go as an OC wasn't successful. Perhaps he wasn't quite ready for that responsibility?

This is where my thinking lies. I don't think he was ready for the full responsibility of being an OC, especially at his age, inexperience, and at a bottom tier P5 school. Doesn't mean he can't coach a position, recruit, and now learn from his mistakes as an OC while working under his mentor

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

Someone who has been on staff with Mehringer at a previous stop said that he is a "Future HC". He's not going to be calling plays in Austin and I think the Passing game coordinator is just something to give him a pay bump from a typical position coach.

I know everyone is spooked by his offense's performance at Rutgers this year, but the bigger takeaway for me is that he was already hired away to be a Power 5 coordinator before the age of 30 and that doesn't happen by accident. I think he will be just fine in the position he is being hired for.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

This is from a poster on another site that sums it up pretty good.

Look just one layer deeper than Rutgers and you see that this is a young, promising, offensive coach who is an aggressive recruiter, has Texas ties, that has worked with Tom Herman before. This is about the "alignment" that Herman said he was looking for in his introductory press conference. Its not at all as if Herman just plucked some loser out of New Jersey.

 

[TeamMayhall]

 

[texasdalton]

Love the video

 

[UTK66]

Did Herman or Applewhite call the plays at UH?

Anybody know?

From everything I've seen/read, Major was the play-caller. Its Herman's offense but Major was calling the shots apparently. 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Here is your first sentence rephrased to accurately reflect the reality of the situation.

Maybe, but his first go as an OC at a school, that had little or no talent, wasn't successful. 

No offense, but your assertion isn't based on any objective facts or statistics. And, thanks, but I don't need you correcting my posts. Your insights into how a CFB team should be run aren't any better than mine.

It's just another opinion. Mehringer could be a great position coach, but I'll be relieved if he doesn't have any more responsibility than that based on his performance as OC at Rutgers.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

No offense, but your assertion isn't based on any objective facts or statistics. And, thanks, but I don't need you correcting my posts. Your insights into how a CFB team should be run aren't any better than mine.

It's just another opinion. Mehringer could be a great position coach, but I'll be relieved if he doesn't have any more responsibility than that based on his performance as OC at Rutgers.

Your insights into how a CFB team should be run aren't any better than mine.

You are correct.

 
And, thanks, but I don't need you correcting my posts. 
You're right. Should not have done that. Please accept my apology.
 
No offense, but your assertion isn't based on any objective facts or statistics. 
No offense taken. However, my assertion is indeed based on objective facts or statistics. Anyone can find them on the Rutgers Football website. Rutgers has a lack of talent problem which was then magnified by playing the 4th hardest schedule in college football. 
 
In 2014, Mehringer was the co-offensive coordinator and QB coach at James Madison. JM ended being around the 10th ranked offense and set all kinds of school records. In 2015 he was at Houston under Herman and was successful there as the WR coach. He didn't all of sudden forget how to coach in 2016 at Rutgers. 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

No offense taken. However, my assertion is indeed based on objective facts or statistics. Anyone can find them on the Rutgers Football website. Rutgers has a lack of talent problem which was then magnified by playing the 4th hardest schedule in college football. 

Based on what metrics? Recruiting class rankings?

And you never provided a link to support your "objective facts". No, your assertion was not. Mine, however, was based on statistics readily available at NCAA.org. 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Based on what metrics? Recruiting class rankings?

And you never provided a link to support your "objective facts". No, your assertion was not. Mine, however, was based on statistics readily available at NCAA.org. 

Do you really believe that the link you provided didn't indicate a team with a pretty severe lack of talent?

Here's a link to a review of the QB position at Rutgers this year. It's a pretty bleak assessment of the talent level they had at that position. Things are so bad, that 3 of their QB's have decided to transfer. And, interestingly enough, the article never mentions that OC. But he does mention the HC's lack of recruiting in the very first paragraph.

http://www.onthebanks.com/2016/12/7/13848176/rutgers-position-review-quarterbacks-chris-laviano-hayden-rettig-big-ten-football-giovanni-rescigno

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Here's a post from a Rutgers fan over on BON.

Rutgers Fan Here
a majority of the fans were unhappy with him. to be fair, the last head coach we had recruited very poorly, leaving our new HC with very little to work with. add in a system change from a pro-style to a power spread and the season was always going to be tough for us. I thought Mehringer was a bit vanilla in his play calling but it’s very hard to gauge what kind’ve coach he was due to the lack of players we had, including having the worst qb in all division 1 in Chris Laviano.

wish him best for you guys. good luck.

 

[83Dee]

A few of us may have been drawn off sides on the Mehringer hire.  The most important staff hire is easily the DC and I (along with most others) am very pleased with Orlando.  DC is much more important than OC because no matter who Herman  hires, it will be Herman's offense that is employed.  The same one we saw at Houston (that was not Applewhite's baby) and the same one we saw at tOSU.  It's his offense and he will likely spend the bulk of his time on that side of the field.   

Second, Coach H obviously thinks highly of his new WR coach, and Mehringer has a reputation as a very good and aggressive recruiter.  Trust in the Her Man.... they don't hand out those MENSA memberships for nothing! 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Your insights into how a CFB team should be run aren't any better than mine.

You are correct.

 
And, thanks, but I don't need you correcting my posts. 
You're right. Should not have done that. Please accept my apology.
 
No offense, but your assertion isn't based on any objective facts or statistics. 
No offense taken. However, my assertion is indeed based on objective facts or statistics. Anyone can find them on the Rutgers Football website. Rutgers has a lack of talent problem which was then magnified by playing the 4th hardest schedule in college football. 
 
In 2014, Mehringer was the co-offensive coordinator and QB coach at James Madison. JM ended being around the 10th ranked offense and set all kinds of school records. In 2015 he was at Houston under Herman and was successful there as the WR coach. He didn't all of sudden forget how to coach in 2016 at Rutgers. 

I take my hat off to those who respond as you did in item 2. Not enough people in the world today do that. Its seemingly cool these days to simply double down, even when you're wrong.