Pitt: Top 5 Candidates Fans Should want as Offensive Coordinator
Sep 19, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers memorial stadium reflection seen in one of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers helmets during warms up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Tyson Helton could be the name I hear the most when considering a successor to Jim Chaney. From fans, anyways.
His offense is predicated on the ability to pass. Going forward, Pitt has set themselves up well with drop-back passers for the future. Ben Dinucci and Thomas MacVittie would flourish in his system.
2015 was a monster year for Helton and his offense. The Hilltoppers had the nations highest scoring team, registering 620 points while averaging 44.3 a game. The reason it’s crucial to have a quarterback that can first learn and then run his system, Western Kentucky passed for 5,211 yards this season. Those yards were gained on 398 completions of the 554 pass attempts.
The running game wasn’t exactly a slouch either. They did have one thousand yard rusher and as a team ran for 2158 yards on 465 carries. If I had to compare the offense to anything we have seen before, it’s Chip Kelly-esque while at Oregon.
Remember, just because at one location a coach has a system that posts outrageous passing numbers, the coach doesn’t have to mimic the offense directly at the next destination.
Why it works for Pitt: Again, it comes down to the players on the roster and the direction of the team under Narduzzi. Yes, Narduzzi would love to derail a team with a stout defense, but I think he would be lying if he doesn’t admit to wanting to smoke a team by 40 points on a regular basis. All is possible with Helton at the helm. USA Today reports Helton being on the books for $152,000/season. A figure Pitt should match, four times over.
Why it will fizzle out: Looking at how it all lines up, I’m not certain that it will.
It should come down to selling Helton on the big picture of the Panthers and rewarding him with a contract that is more than desirable. If Narduzzi doesn’t make a play for Tyson Helton, I will be extremely surprised. Lastly, the recruiting effects could be unparalleled. It would be a perfect blend for the team. A destination for defenders under Narduzzi and Conklin and also a paradise spot for offensive prospects under Helton.
If you’re searching for a “splash hire,” this is it.
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