I’ll be throwing up an open thread for the college football playoff championship game tonight. If for no other reason, everyone can wax rhapsodic over the analysis, insight and way Pat Narduzzi sells Pitt in the ESPN Film Room on ESPN2.
In the mean time, I guess we can pour over the news of Pitt’s new offensive coordinator. His name is Jim Chaney and he has been the Arkansas OC for the past two years.
Chaney spent the past two years with the Razorbacks, calling plays in their pro-style offense. This year, Arkansas ranked 26th in Division I-A with 218 rushing yards per game. He had two running backs surpass 1,000 yards in Jonathan Williams (1,190 yards) and Alex Collins (1,100 yards).
By the end of the season, Arkansas’ offense put up more than 30 points on top-30 defenses Texas and Mississippi. The Razorbacks scored 30 on the Rebels, who ended the season with Division I-A’s best scoring defense.
Arkansas finished the season 42nd in scoring offense, averaging 31.9 points per game.
Narduzzi said Saturday he prefers an offensive coordinator with play-calling experience, and Chaney fills that requirement. The move should also ensure a relatively smooth transition, as Chaney’s offense appears to be relatively similar to the one the Panthers ran under former coach Paul Chryst.
There were reportedly issues by the end of the year with Arkansas Head Coach Brett Bielema and Chaney. Chaney wanted a more balanced offensive attack, while Bielema wants to just run the football. So, from that standpoint the move for Chaney makes sense as HCPN has stated he does not want to meddle with the OC and play calling.
What also stands out is that Chaney was the highest paid assistant coach of the Razorbacks with a salary of $552,ooo and a $100,000 buyout — reportedly. This was the final year of his contract and while a new contract was being put together, it wasn’t yet signed. Even if Pitt only matched the salary, that is a significant move by Pitt. Which, historically, has been loathe to loosen the purse strings for assistants.
Chaney is an experienced offensive coordinator who knows how to coach QBs.
Chaney’s appointment follows a trend by Narduzzi to fill his staff with veteran coaches. Chaney, 53, coordinated the offensive units at Purdue (1997-2005) and Tennessee (2009-12) before joining Arkansas coach Bret Bielema’s staff in 2013. At Purdue, Chaney tutored New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Not to mention Kyle Orton, who he helped make into a journeyman NFL QB.
When Chaney was at Purdue with Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers were actually relevant in the Big Ten. They also ran a spread oriented offense. Chaney is not strictly a spread guy — or else he’d never have been coaching at Arkansas under Bielema — but is comfortable using the players on hand to run the best possible offensive system.
This move likely answers the question as to whether there will be a QB coach. Unlikely as that would appear to be something Chaney is experienced and comfortable doing.
That leaves coaching positions open for WRs/TEs, O-line, D-line and D-backs.