This is the third and final installment of our series on Razorbacks Offensive Coordinator David Lee.
After reading the numerous comments from the first and second posts of this series, it’s obvious that the qualifications of David Lee are the subject of much debate among fans. And it’s pretty much been that way since he was hired as the Hogs new offensive coordinator in January.
Back then, just a little over 48 hours after the shocking departure of Gus Malzahn, Lee was named to be his replacement with an athletic department press release that included a quote from Lee’s former boss, Bill Parcells:
“David is a quality person and a fine football coach,” Parcells said. “I think he will be a great asset to the Arkansas program. While he has been with the Cowboys, he has helped all of our quarterbacks develop and grow. I think he is an excellent teacher of fundamentals at the quarterback position…”
Nothing too surprising there. Parcells thinks Lee is a great guy…tells Hog fans we made a ‘good hire’…and repeats the ‘fundamentals’ mantra that has to be chanted at least once any time Lee’s name appears in print. The next part, however, is more interesting:
“…and he [Lee] has a solid grasp of how to develop an effective offensive philosophy with the talent that is available to him.”
And with that…the sell job to Hog fans began.
By that, I mean that if you were a political advisor (and there are some in the Broyles Complex who are), the one thing that would become very obvious after ‘polling your constituents’ about David Lee is that you need to focus your ‘campaign’ on changing some of their preconceived opinions about him — whether they are valid or not.
So when Lee was officially introduced, Houston Nutt had his ‘talking points’ ready:
“What he’s done now for the last [four] years is taken himself to the professional level with the passing game. He’s always known the running game inside and out. I think he described it perfectly when he said he has a graduate degree in the passing game.”
Lee took that ‘factoid’ and passed…uh…I mean…ran with it:
“I just left four years of [helping coach] Tony Romo, Vinny Testeverde, Drew Bledsoe,” Lee said of quarterbacks who played for the Cowboys. “I can’t believe anybody would not have broad enough vision to see that I’m about the pro passing game. I’m not about running the inside veer right now.”
(Hey Coach…Quincy Carter just called. He’s upset that you forgot to mention him.)
Now imagine if David Cutcliffe (or Norm Chow or Jimbo Fisher) had been hired instead. Do you think any of those statements would’ve been necessary? There’s a big difference between coaching experience and reputation. And David Lee has both in spades.
The truth is…we had to fight off absolutely no one in the SEC to hire David Lee as our offensive coordinator. And that’s quite a contrast from the failed attempt to hire a “big name” with Cutcliffe in 2005.
Does that mean Lee won’t be successful? Absolutely not. There’s another guy that no one else in the SEC would’ve hired last year as their offensive coordinator except for Arkansas: Gus Malzahn. And he turned out pretty good.
As usual, of course, only time will tell. Until then, maybe it’s another quote from Parcells that we should really be remembering. When asked once if he thought a certain player would do well for the Cowboys, he had the perfect reply.
“Well…as they say down here in Texas, ‘We’re fixin’ to find out.’”
Once again Tipster, Thanks for a great series here. It is the perfect way to start the preseason discussion.
Obviously a guy with Lee's experience is going to learn a ton watching tape for four years in the NFL and coaching under Parcells however he got there.
I'm not sure what to make of your comment about him getting there heads on straight. That was Woods job last year although under the circumstances the Arkansas QBs heads may have been the biggest job in the NCAA. There are no such distractions this year although the pressure must be enormous no matter what Casey says.
My mind was playing tricks on me I guess because I had mis-remembered that Lee was first brought in to coach Matt. As I look back at your career chart I see that he was actually brought in to replace Ferguson. Personally, I think that speaks volumes, especially with a little hindsight.
Can Lee count on my vote?
Today the answer would be "No". He and HDN will have to prove to me they are serious about developing a passing game to enhance our offense. Talk is cheap and I'm not buying. I won't be buying after the 1st game if we pass for 200+ yards against Troy. Let's see what happens throughout the season all the way to the end. Remember the last 3 games?
I'll certainly support them and expect success. However, just like anyone else I will expect results. I agree with most that we have been promised an improved passing game for several years to no avail. With a Junior QB that has been in the system long enough to grasp the system and a group of receivers that have the ability take it to the next level, I say now is the time to step up and prove your worth.
We have so much talent in skill postions and barring injuries should have the opportunity to flex our muscles in the running game and compliment it with a structured passing attack.
I for one love a strong running game and will always favor it over "run & shoot, spread, HUNH" or what ever else you call it. I do feel that our passing game must improve to the point to make our running attack more effective. That is where I think David Lee can assist our QB's and Alex Wood our receivers.
After a year when lost only one game in the western division and claimed an outright western division title and a hog fan, I am excited and support the program fully, expecting the things as promised to happen. For anyone to call themselves a hog fan and not, I think is talking out of both sides of their mouth.
My vote will most likely be "yes".
But I think the key factor will be how well Casey Dick makes decisions on the field and his method of execution. I think he must take a leadership role as the starting QB. If he does more following what the coaches say, than making quick and acurate decisions on the run then we'll probably just keep the running game alive and not pass like we need to. Although I think he is the biggest question, that doesn't go to say the receivers shouldn't work harder on breaking away from defenders long enough to make the catch.
I must cast my vote as “wait and see”. I agree with Waldron Hog in that I’m tired of being promised an improved passing game, only to see it vanish as the season wears on.
We do appear to have the pieces in place both on the field and on the sidelines for at the very least a basic passing scheme to keep defenses honest. Will we do it?
Halfway thru the season, I think we will know if David Lee came here to improve the passing game, or to help teach the QB’s how to hand the ball off deep.
Not just no but hell no.
I am skeptical of Lee’s ability to “change his spots”. You are what you are. That said, I am more than willing to give him every opportunity to prove me wrong….willing to give him more than just a game or two to do it too.
I hope he brings us an effective passing game; I think he has the players to do so. The thing is, it doesn’t have to be much…just enough to keep those guys from stacking the line to stop McFadden and Jones.
It is going to take a fairly impressive and consistent passing game to keep most SEC Defensive Coordinators from stacking the line on McFadden and Jones. At the end of the day, if you don't pass at least 40 per cent of the time they are going to know what to do. They all go into the game set to stop the run anyway. Against Arkansas it will not be double that but triple.
Blindhog, I almost agree on your percentages. However, my thought is that we need to average yds per game is where we need to increase (that reflects a more successful passing game.
Last year we averaged 230 yds on the ground & 149 yds through the air. That breaks down to a 60-40 split. I suggest that we increase our overall yds per game to 250 on the ground and 200 in the air (maintaining our average per rush and maintaining the average yds per pass play), that calculates to a 55-45 split in total yds per game. Increasing our yds per game, but would more than likely drop the overall percentage of run vs pass plays to probably a 75-25 ratio.
The bottom line, it's not how many times we throw, but how many do we complete! Complete more passes, let's say at a 65% completion rate vs. 51% last year, that within itself will improve our passing game and also get the ball to D-Mac,, Felix & Peyton several more times a game.
I've said it before, we are a running team and I feel we will continue that trend. But, we must be able to be succesful throwing the ball to keep people from stacking against us (we can agree on that). We are not getting more recognition as Tailback U for nothing.
I don't know about all of that. I do agree that the higher your completion per centage the few times you will have to throw. If you can consistently (meaning against Ala, AU, Tenn, and LSU, not just the directional schools) complete over 60 per cent you have a meaningful passing game. At only 70 plays a game I doubt that that gets you to a 75-25 ratio. I don't think you can even create a passing game without letting the kids go 65-35. But, those are all fine points. We shall see which side of all of that they end up on.
They have got to hit 60 per cent (at least 55) before they even get to worry about it.
An improvement from 51% last year to 60% this year, would be huge. That would equate to approx. 2 more completions per game & 27 yds. That would put our average pass yds per game at 177. That's 17 yds. more than Florida last year in a NC season.
I would also have to say my vote is "wait and see". I have more questions about Nutt than anyone. If Lee is given the reigns throughout the season, then a vote could be cast on Lee, but if they are taken away before, or say in the middle of the "meat" of the schedual, then we won't ever be able to see if Lee could have gotten the job done. I don't think Lee was brought here to be a "yes man", but that doesn't mean it won't wind up being that way. It is possible we didn't have the right ingredients at QB last year, as young as they were. Maybe Nutt felt like he had to make a major move in the South Carolina game to preserve the season for the rest of the team. Maybe this is where Houston and Gus came to thier crossroads in the philosophy of the offensive direction. Who knows, the bottom line is I don't completely trust Houston Nutt, and his "raa-raa, cherleader, car salesman" persona. Maybe he will let go this time.
Maybe.
And your right Gonzo, that is the only real question. Our problem is not philosopy or plays, maybe a little execution, It is committment.
I am beginning to believe that Houston is searching for someone to put a package in for him and call some good plays. Hindsight tells me that he hasn't had that since Ferguson. Until he finds someone he trusts who can deliver I don't expect to see much change.
I think he gave up on Gus after the first game last year, not that he ever really intended to do much of what he had said. Lee is a better fit if he can do the job Ferguson did.
I would like to see Ferguson back on the staff. I agree he was a huge when it came to diversity in our offensive scheme. If I had to choose between, David Lee, Gus Malazhan & Joe Ferguson to coach our QB's and call plays, I would go with Joe.
You also have to have diversity in your QB. Matt Jones was a great player, but far from being a great QB, because he did not give very much diversity to the team from that position. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe Joe Ferguson's best coaching years here, was when Clint Stoener was an exsperienced QB. David Lee did not have that luxury with Matt Jones. I can see Casey Dick having as much sucsess as Clint did, if not more, if he stays healthy.
Think you all have some your facts wrong. You should do a little more reserch — for example, the positon (title) David Lee had when he joined the Cowboys and what Tony Romo has said about and thinks of David Lee.
AusHog…As we mentioned in an earlier post of this series, David Lee's title for the Cowboys was "Offensive Assistant / Quality Control" from 2003-2006. He also held the title of Quarterbacks Coach for one year in 2005.
As for Tony Romo's complimentary comments, those have been widely reported and were mentioned in several articles that we linked to in this series.