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February 15, 2009

Every head coach has his roots on one side of the ball or the other. Tommy Tuberville, Chuck Amato, Ed Orgeron and Dave Wannstedt are all guys who came from the defensive side of the ball. They were/are defensive guys as head coach. They also shared a preference for conservative offenses.

[As an aside, it has been a source of consternation for me that coaches that have displayed innovation and creativity in defense, can be so glacially conservative about how an offense should be run. It seems that they think the only way to beat any defense is to do so only with brute force and with little risk.]

I am doing my best to keep an open mind about Noel Mazzone, as he appears poised to be the next offensive coordinator at Pitt.  To that end, I was looking at his offenses in previous stints as the OC. Of course, Pittengineer75, saved me the effort of having to put together any chart. If you don’t feel like clicking it, trust me, it isn’t inspiring.

Suffice to say, the numbers are underwhelming. Backing up to my first paragraph about defensive-minded coaches views towards offense. Obviously, I was listing coaches that have employed Noel Mazzone as their OC. Tuberville, especially, since he employed Mazzone the longest, is a classic example of a head coach that also closely resembles Coach Dave Wannstedt’s philosophy on offense: ball control, run first, minimal mistakes, limit risks.

Now, let’s just say that no fanbase that had Noel Mazzone as an OC has shed a tear at his departure. Not at Ole Miss, where he got good money to leave. Defnitely not at NC State, where a year after he was gone they celebrated his firing at Ole Miss — oh and we learn his nickname by Wolfpack fans was “NoRedZone,” and not inspiring confidence.

His play-calling was bewildering, to say the least. He frequently called high-risk, low-reward passes (most notably the out pattern that travels all the way across the field, but only 2-3 yards DOWNFIELD – you know, the direction you have to go in order to get first downs and ultimately score) that his QB simply could not throw well. Defensive lineman made game changing plays twice this year on such predictable high-risk throws (the tipped pass at UNC that was returned to the NC State 2, and the Clemson DL that took the INT in for the score). These DL’s clearly dropped back in anticipation of such a throw. That would not happen if we weren’t so predictable.

And that was part of a post actually saying the problems on the offense, weren’t all Mazzone’s fault.

And for the more literate, well stop by your local library or bookstore and page through Michael Lewis’ book “The Blind Side” (which you can also take a look at online at Amazon). Around page 251 is this gem.

First came hope: five plays into the game the Ole Miss quarterback, Ethan Flatt, hit his fastest receiver, Taye Biddle, for a 41-yard touchdown pass. But Biddle, one of the seniors who would quit school immediately after the game, might as well have kept on running out the back of the end zone and into his car. Ole Miss never called that play again. Instead, their offensive brain trust decided to use their unbelievably slow, fifth-string running back to test the strong interior of the Mississippi State defense. In the press box before the game, the Ole Miss offensive coordinator, Noel Mazzone, happened to walk past a TV on which was playing a North Carolina State football game. Six months earlier, Mazzone had left his job running the North Carolina State ofense to take the job of running the Ole Miss offense. Seeing his former team on TV he snorted and said, loudly enough for journalists to overhear, “Should have stayed there, at least they had some players.”

Bill Walsh had shown how much an imaginative coach might achieve even with mediocre talent; Noel Mazzone was demonstrating how little could be achieved by a coach who did not admit any role for the imagination. The next five times Ole Miss had the ball Mazzone used the opportunity to prove that his slow, fifth-string running back couldn’t run through a giant pile of bodies in the middle of the field.

The frantic search for the right combination of players reflected their more general football worldview: they believed in talent rather than strategy. They placed less emphasis on how players were used than who they were. Whoever had the best players won: it was as simple as that.

It was a bleak and determinist worldview, implying, as it did that there was little a strategist could do to raise the value of his players. More to the point, it was a false view, at least for running a football offense. The beauty of the football offense was that it allowed for a smart strategist to compensate for his players’ limitations. He might find better ways to use players, to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. He might even change the players sense of themselves. But Ole Miss not only lacked a smart strategist: it lacked a coach who understood the importance of strategy. The genius of Bill Walsh was missing; so for that matter was the genius of Leigh Anne Tuohy. There wasn’t a soul on the Ole Miss Sidelines thinking seriously how to make the most of what another person could do. They were all stuck dwelling on what other people couldn’t do.

I have to admit, I’m starting to really worry.





This would be a terrible hire. And given Dave’s propensity for bad decisions, it is a hire that I truly expect him to make. Ugh!

Comment by Gas 02.15.09 @ 4:52 pm

Let’s not act like this s a done deal – I’m hopeful we’re exploring options and will wait a couple weeks to make a decision (we better be going through the interview process). I’m still praying for Walt! … and I realize the chances are slim!

Comment by Dishman 02.15.09 @ 5:17 pm

Has DW learned nothing watching Cav slowly drive a knife through everyones heart at the Sun Bowl? This will be DW’s ultimate downfall, he has a chance to bring in an aggressive play caller that could really help our terrible offense and instead he hires another mustache????

uuuggghhh

Comment by Rex 02.15.09 @ 5:17 pm

Dishman, I would love to believe that its not over but lets face it …it is. The guy is a friend of DW, an NFL coach, and he has a mustache….thats a winning resume in Daves book.

Comment by Rex 02.15.09 @ 5:20 pm

we’ll be battling Lou & Cuse for the basement of the BE next season. Bank on it. Terrible hire.

Comment by ppf@pitt.edu 02.15.09 @ 5:34 pm

whatever happened to steve mooshaigan, wlat’s first oc and qb coach, who engineered the 3 ot win at wvu and quite possibly the most amazing 6-6 record in football? he was extremely innovative. I think he was at Pitt 1 year then to the bungles? maybe someone Wanny would be comfy with, college and pro experience, and, heck he got Matt Lytle and Pistol Pete Gonzalas in the pros, so certainly developed qbs.

Comment by Kurt 02.15.09 @ 6:24 pm

What is this guys recruting background like? Is there an area in the country he could be an asset in? From reading some of the blogs, it doesnt sound like he’s a great x and o er. Was hoping recruiting could be a strength. Any hope?

Comment by Z-boy 02.15.09 @ 7:10 pm

@ Kurt,

Here’s what a quick Google search found out about Steve Mooshagian’s whereabouts. It seems like he’s been working at smaller programs after his stint with the Bungles.

Also, somebody may want to email the webmaster at the University of San Diego and inform them that it’s “University of Pittsburgh” with an “h.”

I wasn’t familiar with the guy, since he left right before my Freshman year, but he definitely has an interesting resume’. Seems like he may be more suited to the West Coast, so I’m not sure if he would even be interested in taking another job out East.

Comment by Orange Julius Page 02.15.09 @ 7:15 pm

It seems like most programs including Pitt have the positions coaches to the lion’s share of recruiting, so unless he has some interesting contacts like Bennett has in Texas that can introduce us to a sleeper like Kolby Gray, I don’t think the recruiting of any OC we get will make much difference.

If I were to express any particular preference, I would hope for a coach with some contacts in Eastern PA or South Florida, but I doubt that he’d be hitting the road much, anyway.

Comment by Orange Julius Page 02.15.09 @ 7:19 pm

Duke is about to lose to BC. Down 6 with 12.8 seconds. Duke has the ball

Comment by Tiger Paul 02.15.09 @ 7:32 pm

Duke loses. Another nail in there #1 seed chances.

Comment by Tiger Paul 02.15.09 @ 7:34 pm

We hire this chump and I am not buying season tickets again till wanny is out. I WANT SOME OFFENSE!

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 02.15.09 @ 7:45 pm

Duke has now lost 4 of their last 6 games. I gues that will dropped them all the way down to 6th in the polls!!!

Comment by Tiger Paul 02.15.09 @ 7:53 pm

Did anyone see the shellacking the UConn women put on our women today? They are a machine.

And congrats to Shavonte Zellous for being the Dapper Dan sportswoman of the year!

Comment by KeyboardKev 02.15.09 @ 8:07 pm

Only Peterson can save us from this hire.

Comment by alcofan 02.15.09 @ 8:35 pm

I think that Walt Harris is at least a 50/50 possibility. I keep seeing comments that DW will hire who he wants…Well friends as the Stones sang many years ago “you can’t always get what you want…but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need!” I doubt that DW would/can just completely ignore what his boss, Steve Pederson, thinks with regard to this hiring. I’m sure that SP does not want to tell DW who to hire, but I’m also sure that SP will try to persuade DW to strongly consider Walt Harris. He may not be what DW wants, but he is what Pitt needs!!!

Comment by HbgFrank 02.15.09 @ 11:27 pm

outstanding basketball article in the nytimes today. it is long, but well worth it if you love basketball.

Comment by omar 02.15.09 @ 11:35 pm

If this goes down, it will be a a total horse shit hire.

I’m usually all for giving a guy a chance, but this hire would just be ridiculous. The guy’s a total retread and this wreaks of the type of coach hiring philosophy that went out of style even in the NFL 10 years ago!

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my dad 02.15.09 @ 11:44 pm

And some people thought Walt would be a bad choice!
He would be a savior compared to Mazzone.
Maybe enough people will raise hell that it won’t go through. I haven’t heard one person excited about his name, this is a total garbage hiring if it happens. And will go down as the worst in Pitt history. It also does look like, as someone mentioned earlier, if you have a mustache and you know Wanny you are set for a job at pitt.

Comment by Ralphy Willard 02.16.09 @ 1:04 am

This will be the end of Wannstedt at Pitt. Mark it down.

I can’t believe this is the man that Wannstedt wants to bet his career at his alma mater on. There are no excuses – he hires this guy, he has lost every last person who thought Dave could get it done, Dave could change. Its over.

Thousands will drop their season tickets (including me) and the program will be starting over from scratch in 1-2 years.

I pray to god i’m more wrong about this than anything i’ve ever been wrong about before…

Comment by Stuart 02.16.09 @ 3:20 am

Chas – please fix your blog…does this not happen to everyone else when they post a comment?

“It sounds like SK2 has recently been updated on this blog. But not fully configured. You MUST visit Spam Karma’s admin page at least once before letting it filter your comments (chaos may ensue otherwise).”

Comment by Stuart 02.16.09 @ 3:21 am

Stuart, I received the same message few times. I did not click on the link because it has the look of a hacker. Then when I hit the back button, and submit again, it tells me that I am submitting a duplicate message. After I refresh the page, then I see my comment.

Comment by HbgFrank 02.16.09 @ 12:18 pm

It’s time to close the Wannstedt era if this guy is picked….the problem with the football team the last 4 years has been the offense. So what does Dave do to try and improve it, hire a potentially more inept OC….I still stick to hiring back Walt or bring on a new younger OC that has potential to be a good Head Coach!

Comment by Marco 02.16.09 @ 12:45 pm

thanks OJ Page

Comment by Kurt 02.16.09 @ 12:52 pm

If this guy is hired I can tell you one thing for sure- DW is putting all his chips on the table. If they have an underwhelming offensive performance and a 7-5 or worse year, he’s gone- no question.

People would be willing to accept some growing pains with QB development/ adjustment to life without Shady if there was hope of an exciting, aggressive offense. With a guy like this, though, I think he’d be digging his own grave.

It was nice being delusional for a couple weeks and thinking that we might get someone great in here…

Comment by Dan35 02.16.09 @ 1:34 pm

Wonder if Pitt has had any contact (or is going to make any) with the Michigan QB, Threet, who is now leaving Ann Arbor. That kid was lost in Rodriguez’s system, but he looked like a talented QB — certainly a better prospect than Pitt has had at the position in many, many years. Let’s get an OC in here who excites QB prospects rather than scaring them off.

Comment by hugh green 02.16.09 @ 4:35 pm

Compare Wannstedt’s first four years – or better yet – is first year to Walt’s. Walt inherits arguably the worst team in Pitt history. He breaks in a new quarterback – Pete Gonzales – and losses to Notre Dame & Penn State. But he beats three bowl teams – Houston, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, and takes Pitt to a bowl. He plays in the old stadium everyone told us was the reason Pitt sucked. In short, he had none of Dave’s advantages. Walt for OC. However, the bottom line is: Wannstedt needs to go. He is single-handedly taking down Pitt football.

Comment by TonyinHouston 02.16.09 @ 6:51 pm

[…] admission, even via sources, to Paul Zeise. What that says to me, is that Noel Mazzone was killed not  by his track record or anything involving money or the interview. He was killed by the reaction to the leaked news of […]


[…] blog called Pitt Blather, but they have hired Noel Mazzone as their new offensive coordinator. They aren’t dancing in the streets of Pittsburgh about the prospects of his offense. The blogger quotes liberally from The Blind Side, the most anti-Mazzonean tract in […]


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