We just hired a new football coach.
Here is an email I sent to the Director of Alumni relations outlining my thoughts on the hire:
Dear ________,
I hope you are having a great day and week.
Well, it looks like we have a new football coach at Vanderbilt.
I hope my instincts are completely wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time), but I think this decision and the process behind this decision was about as well thought out and executed as the decision for Vanderbilt to support President Obama’s Health Care legislation.
I will hope against hope that James Franklin turns out to be the next great head coach in the SEC. That being said, I would be very curious to learn how the administration decided that James Franklin is qualified to be the next head coach at Vanderbilt.
You comment below that James Franklin is one of the nation’s “top offensive coordinators.” I would like to know what data set you studied to come to this conclusion?
In his three years as OC at Maryland, Coach Franklin’s offenses had an average ranking for total offense of 84 (out of 120 teams) and averaged roughly 23 points per game. Maryland' record in his time as OC has been 18-19.
So, in other words, roughly 70% of the offenses in the country had better numbers than Coach Franklin over the last three years, and let’s not forget that this was with the superior recruiting talents that Coach Franklin brings to the table.
In the two years he was OC at Kansas State, his offenses had an average ranking for total offense of 64 (out of 120 teams) and averaged 28 points per game. This was in a conference that played no defense and he had a first round NFL Quarterback in the two years he was calling plays. Kansas State's record in his time as OC was 12-13.
So, in other words, 53% of the offenses in the country had better offenses than Coach Franklin while at Kansas State. And let’s not forget that this was with the superior recruiting talent that Coach Franklin brings to the table.
So, all-in-all, we are looking at a coach with this resume:
No head coaching experience
No ties to the SEC
30-32 record as a signal caller
Average total offensive ranking of 74 out 120 teams
Average of 25 points per game
Just because Coach Franklin’s bio says he is one of the nation’s “top offensive coordinators” doesn’t make it so. When on average 61% of FBS teams have better offensive numbers than you, you statistically cannot be considered to be in the top.
Let’s also consider the fact that Coach Franklin doesn’t have one bit of experience in the SEC. I would be willing to bet that he has never even attended an SEC game or recruited below the Mason-Dixon line.
As for recruiting, I don’t doubt that Coach Franklin can bring in some better talent than the previous staff. However, let’s keep this in mind when it comes to recruiting at Vanderbilt. In order for Vanderbilt to have the 10th best recruiting class in the SEC, we would have to jump 20 spots in the recruiting rankings. If we wanted to have middle-of-the-road talent in the SEC, we would have to jump over 30 spots in the recruiting rankings. Given our academic requirements and other limitations, it is unlikely that we will ever be able to out-recruit anyone in the SEC.
With this in mind, I would like to think that Vanderbilt would realize that if you can’t out-talent someone, you have to outsmart them or out-scheme them.
The way you can outsmart or out-scheme someone is to do something unique and something that is difficult to prepare for. Coach Malzahn runs a unique offense. Ken N. at Navy runs a unique offense. Troy Calhoun at Air Force runs a unique offense. Dan Holgerson at Oklahoma State (now HC in waiting at West Virginia) runs a unique offense. Chip Kelly runs a unique offense. Mike Leach runs a unique offense.
Vanderbilt needs a system offense that can give us a competitive advantage against more talented teams.
Coach Franklin is going to be bringing his “Cheesecake Factory Offense” (CFO) with him to Vanderbilt.
The CFO is just like the experience you have at the restaurant. If you want Chinese, they got it. If you want Mexican, they got it. If you want Italian, they got it. Coach Franklin’s offense is very similar. If you want a little West Coast Offense, he’s got it. If you want a little Power O, he’s got it. If you want some Norv Turner stretch passing game, he’s got it. If you want some read option, he’s got it.
In fact, here is what Coach Franklin had to say about system offenses in an interview:
Tony: What are the trends you see developing in college football.
James: I see the end of “pure systems”. Teams are combining parts of different systems to come up with hybrid systems. For a while everyone was in love with the Spread but as defenses saw more of it they started to defend it much more effectively
I wonder if Coach Malzahn or Coach Kelly, the two offensive coaches calling plays in this year’s National Championship game, would agree with Coach Franklin’s assessment of the end of “pure systems.”
If you want to understand the advantage of having a system, see the below comments about Mike Leach’s “pure system” offense:
Last year, Tech averaged 60 passes a game so it is obviously not a balanced attack, but this actually works in their favor. In practice, they spend virtually all their time focusing on fundamentals related to the passing game. From the time they hit the practice field until they leave, the ball is in the air and the emphasis in on throwing, catching and protecting the quarterback.
It takes great confidence in your scheme to be able to take this approach, but the players appreciate it because they can focus on execution.
Practice -- What's Different
When you watch Texas Tech practice, it doesn't seem as structured as most college practices. They do not stretch as a team and unlike most practices, there is not a horn blowing every five minutes to change drills. The bottom line is that the cosmetic appearance of practice is not as important to Leach as it is to some coaches.
Although not as structured, it is impressive to watch Texas Tech practice and you quickly see why it is so successful. The ball is always in the air and what the Red Raiders practice is what you see them do in a game. They work on every phase of their package every day and in most passing drills, there are four quarterbacks throwing and every eligible receiver catching on each snap.
There is great detail given to fundamentals in all phases of the passing game. Wide receivers, for example, work every day on releases versus different coverages, ball security, scrambling drills, blocking and routes versus specific coverages.
I am not being negative just to be negative, but I cannot for the life of me find a solid reason to get behind the thought process of this hire.
How you make decisions is just as important as the outcome of those decisions because if the thought process is rational and reasoned, you can drastically increase the likelihood of positive outcomes.
If I am playing blackjack and I have 19 and the house is showing a 6, the right decision is to stay (this is not debatable). If I decide to go with my “gut” and hit and I pull a 2 out of my rear, that doesn’t mean I made a good decision. I simply got lucky and eventually bad outcomes will follow my errant thought process.
I hope James Franklin is the 2 to our 19, but I still can’t find a way to support the thought process behind this hire.
Please let me know where I have gone wrong.
Go Dores!
You comment below that James Franklin is one of the nation’s “top offensive coordinators.” I would like to know what data set you studied to come to this conclusion?
In his three years as OC at Maryland, Coach Franklin’s offenses had an average ranking for total offense of 84 (out of 120 teams) and averaged roughly 23 points per game. Maryland' record in his time as OC has been 18-19.
So, in other words, roughly 70% of the offenses in the country had better numbers than Coach Franklin over the last three years, and let’s not forget that this was with the superior recruiting talents that Coach Franklin brings to the table.
In the two years he was OC at Kansas State, his offenses had an average ranking for total offense of 64 (out of 120 teams) and averaged 28 points per game. This was in a conference that played no defense and he had a first round NFL Quarterback in the two years he was calling plays. Kansas State's record in his time as OC was 12-13.
So, in other words, 53% of the offenses in the country had better offenses than Coach Franklin while at Kansas State. And let’s not forget that this was with the superior recruiting talent that Coach Franklin brings to the table.
So, all-in-all, we are looking at a coach with this resume:
No head coaching experience
No ties to the SEC
30-32 record as a signal caller
Average total offensive ranking of 74 out 120 teams
Average of 25 points per game
Just because Coach Franklin’s bio says he is one of the nation’s “top offensive coordinators” doesn’t make it so. When on average 61% of FBS teams have better offensive numbers than you, you statistically cannot be considered to be in the top.
Let’s also consider the fact that Coach Franklin doesn’t have one bit of experience in the SEC. I would be willing to bet that he has never even attended an SEC game or recruited below the Mason-Dixon line.
As for recruiting, I don’t doubt that Coach Franklin can bring in some better talent than the previous staff. However, let’s keep this in mind when it comes to recruiting at Vanderbilt. In order for Vanderbilt to have the 10th best recruiting class in the SEC, we would have to jump 20 spots in the recruiting rankings. If we wanted to have middle-of-the-road talent in the SEC, we would have to jump over 30 spots in the recruiting rankings. Given our academic requirements and other limitations, it is unlikely that we will ever be able to out-recruit anyone in the SEC.
With this in mind, I would like to think that Vanderbilt would realize that if you can’t out-talent someone, you have to outsmart them or out-scheme them.
The way you can outsmart or out-scheme someone is to do something unique and something that is difficult to prepare for. Coach Malzahn runs a unique offense. Ken N. at Navy runs a unique offense. Troy Calhoun at Air Force runs a unique offense. Dan Holgerson at Oklahoma State (now HC in waiting at West Virginia) runs a unique offense. Chip Kelly runs a unique offense. Mike Leach runs a unique offense.
Vanderbilt needs a system offense that can give us a competitive advantage against more talented teams.
Coach Franklin is going to be bringing his “Cheesecake Factory Offense” (CFO) with him to Vanderbilt.
The CFO is just like the experience you have at the restaurant. If you want Chinese, they got it. If you want Mexican, they got it. If you want Italian, they got it. Coach Franklin’s offense is very similar. If you want a little West Coast Offense, he’s got it. If you want a little Power O, he’s got it. If you want some Norv Turner stretch passing game, he’s got it. If you want some read option, he’s got it.
In fact, here is what Coach Franklin had to say about system offenses in an interview:
Tony: What are the trends you see developing in college football.
James: I see the end of “pure systems”. Teams are combining parts of different systems to come up with hybrid systems. For a while everyone was in love with the Spread but as defenses saw more of it they started to defend it much more effectively
I wonder if Coach Malzahn or Coach Kelly, the two offensive coaches calling plays in this year’s National Championship game, would agree with Coach Franklin’s assessment of the end of “pure systems.”
If you want to understand the advantage of having a system, see the below comments about Mike Leach’s “pure system” offense:
Last year, Tech averaged 60 passes a game so it is obviously not a balanced attack, but this actually works in their favor. In practice, they spend virtually all their time focusing on fundamentals related to the passing game. From the time they hit the practice field until they leave, the ball is in the air and the emphasis in on throwing, catching and protecting the quarterback.
It takes great confidence in your scheme to be able to take this approach, but the players appreciate it because they can focus on execution.
Practice -- What's Different
When you watch Texas Tech practice, it doesn't seem as structured as most college practices. They do not stretch as a team and unlike most practices, there is not a horn blowing every five minutes to change drills. The bottom line is that the cosmetic appearance of practice is not as important to Leach as it is to some coaches.
Although not as structured, it is impressive to watch Texas Tech practice and you quickly see why it is so successful. The ball is always in the air and what the Red Raiders practice is what you see them do in a game. They work on every phase of their package every day and in most passing drills, there are four quarterbacks throwing and every eligible receiver catching on each snap.
There is great detail given to fundamentals in all phases of the passing game. Wide receivers, for example, work every day on releases versus different coverages, ball security, scrambling drills, blocking and routes versus specific coverages.
I am not being negative just to be negative, but I cannot for the life of me find a solid reason to get behind the thought process of this hire.
How you make decisions is just as important as the outcome of those decisions because if the thought process is rational and reasoned, you can drastically increase the likelihood of positive outcomes.
If I am playing blackjack and I have 19 and the house is showing a 6, the right decision is to stay (this is not debatable). If I decide to go with my “gut” and hit and I pull a 2 out of my rear, that doesn’t mean I made a good decision. I simply got lucky and eventually bad outcomes will follow my errant thought process.
I hope James Franklin is the 2 to our 19, but I still can’t find a way to support the thought process behind this hire.
Please let me know where I have gone wrong.
Go Dores!
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