Ranking the top 10 college football coordinator hires of the past decade
- By coreyegner
- First Duck Club
- 3 Replies
From ESPN
6. Joe Moorhead, Penn State offensive coordinator
Hired: Dec. 12, 2015
Term: 2016, 2017 seasons (left for Mississippi State before the Fiesta Bowl)
What he inherited: An offense that averaged just 21.9 points (107th nationally) and 342 yards (106th nationally) during the first two years of coach James Franklin's tenure. Franklin dismissed John Donovan, his offensive playcaller since 2011, on Nov. 29, 2015.
What happened next: Franklin deserves credit for a somewhat nontraditional hire in Moorhead, who had made three consecutive FCS playoff appearances as Fordham's head coach. Moorhead's offense perfectly fit dual-threat quarterback Trace McSorley, who shared a backfield with standout runner Saquon Barkley. Penn State's 2016 offense set team records for yards (6,056) and points (526) as the Lions improved their scoring average by 14.4 points and won the Big Ten, a seemingly improbable feat after the NCAA imposed major sanctions before the 2012 season. Moorhead's second offense broke the team scoring record again (534 points), as Barkley and McSorley earned All-America honors. Penn State went 21-5 with two top-10 finishes during Moorhead's time in Happy Valley.
Joe Moorhead, seen here in late 2016 as Penn State's offensive coordinator, is now the Oregon offensive coordinator after two years as head coach at Mississippi State. Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire
6. Joe Moorhead, Penn State offensive coordinator
Hired: Dec. 12, 2015
Term: 2016, 2017 seasons (left for Mississippi State before the Fiesta Bowl)
What he inherited: An offense that averaged just 21.9 points (107th nationally) and 342 yards (106th nationally) during the first two years of coach James Franklin's tenure. Franklin dismissed John Donovan, his offensive playcaller since 2011, on Nov. 29, 2015.
What happened next: Franklin deserves credit for a somewhat nontraditional hire in Moorhead, who had made three consecutive FCS playoff appearances as Fordham's head coach. Moorhead's offense perfectly fit dual-threat quarterback Trace McSorley, who shared a backfield with standout runner Saquon Barkley. Penn State's 2016 offense set team records for yards (6,056) and points (526) as the Lions improved their scoring average by 14.4 points and won the Big Ten, a seemingly improbable feat after the NCAA imposed major sanctions before the 2012 season. Moorhead's second offense broke the team scoring record again (534 points), as Barkley and McSorley earned All-America honors. Penn State went 21-5 with two top-10 finishes during Moorhead's time in Happy Valley.
Joe Moorhead, seen here in late 2016 as Penn State's offensive coordinator, is now the Oregon offensive coordinator after two years as head coach at Mississippi State. Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire
Marcus Still Has It
- By coreyegner
- First Duck Club
- 0 Replies
Marcus Mariota was ‘destroying’ the Tennessee Titans’ defense, former teammate says
Updated May 18, 2020; Posted May 18, 2020
(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
By Geoffrey C. Arnold | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Marcus Mariota spent the second half of the season as the backup quarterback for the Tennessee Titans during the 2019 season. Mariota’s productivity decreased on the field, but his value to the team didn’t decrease.
Logan Ryan, a free agent cornerback who played for the Titans in 2019, said Mariota’s performances as the scout team quarterback played a critical role during the team’s run to the AFC Championship game last season.
“He started killing us every single week,” Ryan said during an appearance on the “Double Coverage” podcast, hosted by Jason and Devin McCourty. “Like, he started ripping us in practice. Marcus Mariota was the practice quarterback and he was destroying us. And it made us better.”
Mariota imitated Tom Brady during practice sessions prior to the Titans’ win over the New England Patriots in a Wild Card playoff. Brady completed just 59 percent of his passes and was held without a touchdown pass in the Titans’ 20-12 win.
Mariota played quarterback Lamar Jackson in practices prior to the Titans’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round playoff. The Titans kept Jackson under control often enough to post a 28-12 win.
Mariota was the ideal teammate after he was benched following Week 6 of the regular season. He wasn’t a problem in the locker room and fully supported Ryan Tannehill, who supplanted him as the Titans starting quarterback. Mariota’s willingness to accept his role after the crushing demotion helped the Titans during their playoff run.
“I think Marcus accepted it so well and was like, ‘All right, I’ll do what’s best for the team,’” Ryan said. "It made us better.”
Mariota signed a two-year, $17.6 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in March to be the backup quarterback behind Derek Carr.
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold
Updated May 18, 2020; Posted May 18, 2020
(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
By Geoffrey C. Arnold | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Marcus Mariota spent the second half of the season as the backup quarterback for the Tennessee Titans during the 2019 season. Mariota’s productivity decreased on the field, but his value to the team didn’t decrease.
Logan Ryan, a free agent cornerback who played for the Titans in 2019, said Mariota’s performances as the scout team quarterback played a critical role during the team’s run to the AFC Championship game last season.
“He started killing us every single week,” Ryan said during an appearance on the “Double Coverage” podcast, hosted by Jason and Devin McCourty. “Like, he started ripping us in practice. Marcus Mariota was the practice quarterback and he was destroying us. And it made us better.”
Mariota imitated Tom Brady during practice sessions prior to the Titans’ win over the New England Patriots in a Wild Card playoff. Brady completed just 59 percent of his passes and was held without a touchdown pass in the Titans’ 20-12 win.
Mariota played quarterback Lamar Jackson in practices prior to the Titans’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round playoff. The Titans kept Jackson under control often enough to post a 28-12 win.
Mariota was the ideal teammate after he was benched following Week 6 of the regular season. He wasn’t a problem in the locker room and fully supported Ryan Tannehill, who supplanted him as the Titans starting quarterback. Mariota’s willingness to accept his role after the crushing demotion helped the Titans during their playoff run.
“I think Marcus accepted it so well and was like, ‘All right, I’ll do what’s best for the team,’” Ryan said. "It made us better.”
Mariota signed a two-year, $17.6 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in March to be the backup quarterback behind Derek Carr.
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold
