Les Miles has said, repeatedly, he doesn’t call offensive plays for LSU.
That’s Cam Cameron’s responsibility.
Nick Saban refused to take credit for Alabama’s defense. He said that was all Kirby Smart.
Head coaches get the biggest checks and the biggest amount of blame, but there is just as much pressure on coordinators, 27 of whom have changed in three years at SEC programs.
Every year changes are made and next offseason won’t be any different.
Here are six coordinators who must have career-years in 2016. It’s no accident that all six are on teams with division title hopes.
Cam Cameron, Offense, LSU
Cameron is the most obvious choice. He, along with Miles, barely survived 2015. There won’t be any wiggle room in 2016, not with all of the weapons the Tigers return. Booger McFarland might still be the biggest and loudest, but he won’t be the only one calling for new leadership if the offense doesn’t show more versatility, more creativity and more production this fall.
Lane Kiffin, Offense, Alabama
Alabama’s offense hasn’t had to the carry the burden, and that’s allowed the Tide to ease into the season, grow and develop. It’s worked. And when the Tide finally needed its offense to win a game, Kiffin’s bunch responded with 45 points to hold off Clemson in the national championship.
Alabama again will enter a season with an unproven quarterback surrounded by elite athletes. Making that work — and quickly, Alabama opens against USC and faces Ole Miss two weeks later — is Kiffin’s latest challenge.
Every year that Kiffin succeeds at Alabama puts him a year farther away from his previous free-falls. He’s reemerging as a hot head coaching candidate who will be worth a second (OK, third or fourth) chance.
Repeating 2015’s success with a new cast will only expedite that process. His job won’t be in jeopardy next season, but his future might.
Jim Chaney, Offense, Georgia
Chaney’s success will be tied directly and dramatically to Georgia’s quarterback play in general and Jacob Eason’s development in particular.
Chaney has plenty of experience developing quarterbacks, most notably and successfully with Joe Tiller at Purdue, where they turned out an NFL star in Drew Brees but also sent a productive Kyle Orton to the league.
Jeremy Pruitt, Defense, Alabama
He’s been given the keys to the Ferrari — or F-150 Limited, chrome trim, your call — and been asked not to wreck it.
Analysts are seriously wondering whether this 2016 defense can be better than the 2015 unit that finished tied for second nationally in points allowed (15.1) and slammed the door on Leonard Fournette’s Heisman hopes.
If Pruitt can’t come close to matching that, nobody’s going to blame Saban.
Rhett Lashlee, Offense, Auburn
The Tigers have gone through some defensive coordinators — they brought in two more this season — but Lashlee has been a star since leading the 2013 Tigers to the national title game.
He also is closely tied to Gus Malzahn, and Lashlee’s ability to reinvent the offense in 2016 is key to both of their futures.
Last year, Lashlee couldn’t get enough out of Jeremy Johnson, and Sean White simply wasn’t ready. JUCO transfer John Franklin has Nick Marshall’s speed and might be the answer to run the Tigers’ spread attack.
Doug Nussmeier, Offense, Florida
Nussmeier got a pass during the second half of last season, as the Will Grier curveball completely changed Florida’s offense in mid-season.
Everybody knew the deal, and while they weren’t thrilled with the three-and-outs, they understood.
He’s now had months — not days — to fix it. And if he can’t, Gator Nation will want somebody who can.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
