John McNulty as Potential OC

Back up that truck load of offensive talent in Coral Gables, right here...

John McNulty is next on our OC search list. Promoted to Rutgers’ OC in 2007, McNulty has been with former Miami DC Greg Schiano since 2004. Also Rutgers QB coach, he could fill this role like Nix did, saving Randy and the school their much needed (blah) money. 

Shannon actually went after McNulty when he was hired at Miami back in 2006, and McNulty turned him down, citing the lack of offensive talent. Uh, dickhead perhaps? Shouldn’t Randy disqualify him on those grounds alone? Some retribution? As much as we’d all like that, pure hatred is dead in sports these days. You have the obvious relationship stemming from Schiano from his Miami DC days, so that no doubt is playing into Randy’s thought process. And McNulty was up for the Alabama OC job last year, so that will definitely add some reputation clout to his hiring potential.

Rutgers’ offense this year was actually pretty good, considering they don’t really have any talent, no matter what ESPN will lead  you to believe. Schiano is overrated. Any competent coach should be able to take any BCS school, even the perpetual shit storm that is Rutgers, to a great season or two. In this day and age of 85 scholarships, the playing field is leveled out. With the offense losing stud Ray Rice, many thought QB Mike Teel would be total shit this year, but guess what, he was pretty good. Sure, some of that can be attributed to him being a senior, but Rutgers had zero rushing attack this year, and finished second to last in the conference. 

The good for McNulty? Rutgers conference finishes this year:

Passing Offense: #1 (270 yards per game)

Passing Efficiency: #1 (60 % completion rate; 144.79 rating)

Scoring Offense: #1 (29 ppg)

Total Offense: #1 (398 yards per game)

We all the Big East is not exactly an offensive powerhouse. In fact, with Louisville in the shitter and Rich Rod gone to Michigan, Cincinnati is about the only team with a competent offensive name branded coach. But compare those stats with what Miami did this year under UberCoach Nix (196 passing ypg, 117.91 passer rating, 29 ppg, 326 total ypg), and McNulty is working it with less talent and against arguably better defenses. Throw in the fact he recruited a 4-star QB recruit in Tom Savage to Rutgers, who is #8 nationally at his position, and McNulty could have the makings of a nice fit to a name brand school to be surrounded by shit loads of talent. I’m still for Langsford and Whipple over him right now, but wouldn’t be crying for Rob Chudzinski’s return either if he got the gig.

Willie Martinez as Potential DC

I'll be right up there Coach. So when you want to let the media blame another 3 loss season with your underachieving team on a coordinator, you know where to find me.

First in our rundown of potential defensive coordinators is none other than a home grown Coral Gables product, Willie Martinez. Currently serving the same position with Georgia under Mark “I get way too much credit for multiple 2 and 3 loss seasons” Richt, he has been in that role since 2005.

Martinez’s name is already being thrown around Miami because of his previous relationships to the school. It is his Alma Mater, he is from the Gables, and even played on the 1983 national title team. I like that he was a DB when he played; I always feel that creates better coaches, I don’t know why. Maybe I just think being further back from the ball you learn and see more of what’s going on.

I am on record as saying Georgia was vastly overrated this year, with their marquee win coming against another team, Michigan State, that didn’t have a quality win of their own in a horrendous year for the Big Ten. Georgia got smoked against the two teams it played with a pulse, Florida and Alabama. And then they were torn a new one by Paul Johnson and his triple option. Well, us Cane fans are used to that! Somebody get this guy an offer letter!

Then you look at this paper stats, and they are not looking good. Maybe the Dawg fans are correct in their assertion they would welcome Big Willie’s dismissal or resignation. Stats?

	Points Against	Yards Against
2005	14.6	297.8
2006	17.1	264.0
2007	21.0	324.7
2008	25.6	318.3

Ouch. Dem Stats don’t lie. Georgia’s defense got progressively worse since his arrival, culminating with their 10th place finish in the SEC this year in Points Allowed. I was talking myself into Martinez as the perfect caretaker of the soon to be talent rich Hurricane defense, the guy who knows the Gables personally, can sell the recruits on the area and specifically the program, but those stats are eating away at the logic in my brain. You don’t get worse almost every year and warrant a new gig. I still think Martinez could be a good choice, even a great one. I’d rather Randy be calling the plays, but he’s said that the duties of the HC are too much to also run the defense. So, I guess I’m on board for the Martinez hire. The SEC is much tougher than the ACC. Miami will have superior athletes. Sean Spence is a beast. (That’s right Anton, talk yourself past those stats….)