Monday, October 25, 2010

Des Kitchings Named O-Coordinator

This morning Coach Caldwell named running backs coach Des Kitchings offensive coordinator (http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102510aaa.html) for the remainder of the season. Kitchings will continue as running backs coach as well. He replaces Coach Jimmy Kiser, who was named offensive coordinator by CBJ in the off-season. Kiser will continue as QB coach.

I like the move in that Caldwell knows he has to do something to save his and everyone else on the staff's job. Hopefully this jump starts the team a little. Though we have a lot more problems than just the play calling so not sure how much this will actually change anything. But it was a move in the right direction. I am a little surprised that they didn't name Coach Herb Hand the coordinator as he comes from the high powered Tulsa program and was not a CBJ hire which would allow Caldwell to go out on his own a bit. But I could also see how it would be too tumultuous to make that drastic of a change in season I guess.

I still think barring a pretty big turn around, that CRC and most of his staff will be out at the end of the year. I guess we will see. Thoughts?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Really sound move by Caldwell. He gets much respect for being pro-active. He likely got some more respect in his own locker room as the players (esp defensive side) must have known how bad the offense was hurting the team. I hope that Coach Kitchens will have the authority to insist on Vandy playing its best players at WR regardless of class. Caldwell needs to get Mathews into the game as a starter. The Vandy WR's were not even a respectable threat against SC. Seems like the defense was focused on shutting down Krause. Don't want to sound negative or mean but Udom, Wimberly, Cole are not SEC wr's. Cole should be on punt return and Mathews should be inserted into the starting line-up. Other than Krause, Vandy has no size or playmakers on the field. This is the time that Vandy needs to see if a bigger lineup at WR with Mathews, Boyd, and perhaps Brady Brown, joining Krause in the rotation to help jump-start the offense. At this point in the season with the coaching staff jobs on the line, they should over-haul the WR core with the exception of Krause. Kitchens has 4 games to showcase his skills.I wish him well and hopes that he has a positive impact.

Seamus O'Toole said...

This move, like the previous Kiser/Cain offensive shuffle, does not necessarily signal that any drastic changes to the scheming are afoot. That said, I thought Kitchings hit the right notes in the press conference when talking about the need to win first down, because this team has been fighting the chains for almost two full seasons now. Whether that translates into anything significant in terms of first-down play calling or execution remains to be seen, but I liked it.

Anonymous said...

They'll be back next year. I think they we will 2 more games and be given one more year to work with this young team. You can tell Robbie really wants this job b/c he fired an o-cord. who only called the shots in 7 games. Smart move by Robbie and this has to be a confidence boster for this team. This is slowly becoming Robbie's team and not the one Bobby left him.

Anonymous said...

You know, as much as LS overthrows his receivers,running a "tall" lineup of Brown, Matthews, Barden and Boyd might be just what the doctor ordered.

Bill Colvin, VU73, aka seadog73

AD said...

Like Douglas, I was a little surprised that it wasn't Hand, but I guess to put him in would be a spread overhaul. What exactly is his role these days, outside of recruiting?

Anonymous said...

Im guessing that Coach Hand was not given the OC position because you can not overhaul the entire offense to a "spread" with 5 games left in the season; besides Kitchens knows the current Vandy talent much better having been in this system longer than Hand. If Caldwell is given another year, I hope that he gives Kitchens full support and the option of changing the entire offense in the off-season. He (and Hand) also need to make other coaching changes to the offensive side of the ball. In over 2 years, Kiser has had little impact on the positive development of LS football skills.

vandygal78 said...

This is all good. Definitely need to shake some things up. I was wondering why they seemed to use Warren and Zack so few times in the second half. Heck I hope they load things up with Warren and Zack with Larry as receiver and Goro as QB. Why not try everything and maybe catch the other team completely asleep. Go Dores!

Anonymous said...

Hand is the OL coach right now, and Caldwell said that was the biggest reason he wasn't named OC. OL is one of the most time-intensive positions to coach. Right now his hands are full, especially with how young and how injured the line is.

I think maybe we underrate Cole just a little. He's out of place on the outside, but he's a decent inside possession receiver. At this point, 7 games into the season, I'd rather see him in that role than burning Boyd's redshirt.

Anonymous said...

The way LS overthrows open WR's, maybe they should put Ezeli, Tchaingang, and Taylor out there.

I doubt Stalling would approve though