After a long and murky process, Kevin Rogers is Boston College's new Offensive Coordinator. Rogers comes to BC with a long track record and it will be interesting to see how he puts his imprint on BC. Let's get to know him a little better.
The Resume
Minnesota Vikings Quarterback coach: 2006-2010
Virginia Tech Quarterbacks coach: 2002-2005
Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach: 1999-2001
Syracuse Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach: 1997-1998
Syracuse Quarterbacks Coach: 1991-1998
Navy various staff positions: 1983-1990
William & Mary Running Backs Coach: 1980-1982
Ohio State Graduate Assistant: 1978-1979
Like Dan Henning, Rogers graduated from William & Mary, where he played Linebacker.
The High Points
Because they hit some hard time fans forget how cutting edge Syracuse's 1990s offenses were. Rogers was a key part of that innovation. The Orange were the first to combine and execute with any consistency Pro-style passing with Option elements. As the QB coach and key recruiter, Rogers developed Marvin Graves and Donavan McNabb.
In the two years that Rogers called plays for that offense, the Orange won the conference both years and led the conference in total offense both seasons. McNabb also led the league in total offense. Rogers was a shining star.
Notre Dame: best of times, worst of times
In 1999 he joined Bob Davie's staff as OC and QB coach. The Irish implemented his passing into their option offense and increased their efficiency, ranking 19th nationally. Jarious Jackson had his best statistical year yet but Notre Dame suffered a losing record. In 2000 the productivity declined a bit. Notre Dame had a deadly ground game but was a total mess at QB. Reminiscent of BC's 2010 season, Rogers used three different raw QBs trying to find something that worked. In 2001, the QB shuffle continued (only with Caryle Holiday in the mix this time) and the offense fell apart. Bob Davie and his whole staff were fired after the season.
Virginia Tech: starting over
After Notre Dame, Rogers joined Virginia Tech as QB coach. He did not call plays there, but was credited with developing Bryan Randall. He also was responsible for baby sitting Marcus Vick. Vick had good productivity but also was a major distraction. Supposedly Rogers became fed up with the situation after Vick stomped on Elvis Dumervil in the Gator Bowl. He joined the Vikings as QB coach.
The NFL
Rogers time with Vikings doesn't tell us much. The whole Childress/Favre situation obscures any imprint we could derive. He kinda/sort helped develop Tarvaris Jackson. For what it is worth, one of the first things Leslie Frazier did upon becoming head coach, was fire Rogers.
Reasons to be excited about Rogers
This is a guy who has recruited in the Northeast. He's recruited in the ACC. He's been away from the college game for a bit, but has a deep history to mine in his return. He's coached at schools with recruiting restrictions. He's called plays and led some very productive offenses. At one point he was one of the most innovative minds in college football. Plus he is a character guy who everyone seems to respect.
Reasons for concerns
Look at the list of quarterbacks Rogers has developed at the college level. Do any of them remind you of Chase Rettig, Christian Suntrup or even Dave Shinskie? He has never really relied on the classic pocket passers. His philosophy of over recruiting the QB position and seeing what sticks is more inline with Jags/Logan than the TOB/Spaz way of picking "one guy" each class. Rogers hasn't called plays in nearly 10 years. He has never worked with any of the current BC staffers. How Notre Dame fell apart in 2001 was very disconcerting. His offense is no longer unique.
Overall
Rogers is a big improvement over Tranquill. He was not my choice but I think he can still be serviceable. My biggest concern is his ability to adapt his offense to the personnel we have in place. I also wonder how he will work with the staffers we have in place. Staff chemistry is an underrated aspect of college football. I think we have some good guys on the offensive side. I hope they will work well with their new boss. I will have more from Notre Dame folks later this week. As I've said, I have real concerns about the process that landed us Rogers, but that is not his issue. That is a BC issue.
The past two years have been frustrating to watch. If Rogers changes that, we will owe him a big thanks.
Posts
18 comments:
My memory isn't great, but McNabb was much more of a classic pocket passer than an option guy at Cuse, at least compared to Vick and the others. Not that he wasn't mobile.
Any speculation as to why Rogers was dismissed at Minnie? If I was a new coach of the VIkes, I'd want to make it as unappealing for Favre to want to return, honestly. Getting rid of the QB coach would be part of that.
McNabb ran for more than 400 yards in each of his final three season at Syracuse. He was a great college QB and a deadly weapon running and throwing. Rogers deserves credit for that.
"Rogers hasn't called plays in nearly 10 years"
can we add 'Rogers has not designed or implemented an offense in 10 years'
this hire does not inspire confidence
but it is better than promoting Day when he has not yet earned his wings
In all honesty, how could the offense be the same or worse this under anyone? There is nowhere to go but up. Lets just hope that we're way up, not just incrementally up. A small improvement would be a failure in my opinion.
rogers was the QB coach for the best professional year of brett favre's career. that speaks for something, no? also, favre at age 39 & 40 was not a scrambling QB. rogers adjusted the offense for favre, seemingly.
vikings relied a lot on the run, which BC should do next year with montel and andre.
getting a coach with NFL experience is always a plus.
mod34B i'm perplexed as to what you wanted. you didn't want day and yet you assail a guy who's coming from the NFL. Rogers hasn't "designed or implemented an offense in 10 yrs." (A) what does this even mean? (B) how do you know? you were privy to what this guy did with the vikes? gimme a break.
i think this was a good job by Gene to actually do a search. i'm willing to see how rogers does, and like nick says, the offense simply cannot be any worse than it was last year.
for what it's worth, and that may not be very much, HD likes the hire
Schedule out....no reason not to start 5-0....its nice to start easy with new offensive coordinator....and then it gets a lot tougher after that.....nice to see at Thursday night ESPN game too
BOSTON COLLEGE
Sept. 3 NORTHWESTERN
Sept. 10 at UCF
Sept. 17 DUKE
Sept. 24 MASSACHUSETTS
Oct. 1 WAKE FOREST
Oct. 8 at Clemson
Oct. 15 OPEN
Oct. 22 at Virginia Tech
Oct. 29 at Maryland
Nov. 3 FLORIDA STATE (Thursday), ESPN, 8 pm
Nov. 12 NC STATE
Nov. 19 at Notre Dame
Nov. 26 at Miami
5-0... ha!
8-0 heading into nationally televised FSU game!
but 6-0 is possible too given how likely Clemson is to implode by mid-season...
VT and MD are winnable games too next year
but, nothing is ever for certain with this team... could be 5-3 or 3-5 who knows!
CLEMSON
Sept. 3 TROY
Sept. 10 WOFFORD
Sept. 17 AUBURN
Sept. 24 FLORIDA STATE
Oct. 1 at Virginia Tech
Oct. 8 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 15 at Maryland
Oct. 22 NORTH CAROLINA
Oct. 29 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 5 OPEN
Nov. 12 WAKE FOREST
Nov. 19 at NC State
Nov. 26 at South Carolina
FLORIDA STATE
Sept. 3 LOUISIANA‐MONROE
Sept. 10 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Sept. 17 OKLAHOMA
Sept. 24 at Clemson
Oct. 1 OPEN
Oct. 8 at Wake Forest
Oct. 15 at Duke
Oct. 22 MARYLAND
Oct. 29 NC STATE
Nov. 3 at Boston College (Thursday), ESPN, 8 pm
Nov. 12 MIAMI
Nov. 19 VIRGINIA
Nov. 26 at Florida
MARYLAND
Sept. 5 MIAMI (Monday) , ESPN, 8 pm
Sept. 10 OPEN
Sept. 17 WEST VIRGINIA
Sept. 24 TEMPLE
Oct. 1 TOWSON
Oct. 8 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 15 CLEMSON
Oct. 22 at Florida State
Oct. 29 BOSTON COLLEGE
Nov. 5 VIRGINIA
Nov. 12 vs. Notre Dame (FedEx Field; Landover, MD)
Nov. 19 at Wake Forest
Nov. 26 at NC State
WAKE FOREST
Sept. 3 at Syracuse
Sept. 10 NC STATE
Sept. 17 GARDNER‐WEBB
Sept. 24 OPEN
Oct. 1 at Boston College
Oct. 8 FLORIDA STATE
Oct. 15 VIRGINIA TECH
Oct. 22 at Duke
Oct. 29 at North Carolina
Nov. 5 NOTRE DAME
Nov. 12 at Clemson
Nov. 19 MARYLAND
Nov. 26 VANDERBILT
NC STATE
Sept. 3 LIBERTY
Sept. 10 at Wake Forest
Sept. 17 SOUTH ALABAMA
Sept. 22 at Cincinnati (Thursday), ESPN, 8 pm
Oct. 1 GEORGIA TECH
Oct. 8 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Oct. 15 OPEN
Oct. 22 at Virginia
Oct. 29 at Florida State
Nov. 5 NORTH CAROLINA
Nov. 12 at Boston College
Nov. 19 CLEMSON
Nov. 26 MARYLAND
a thursday night game at Chestnut Hill .... WOW....taht has not happened in a while
The hire of Rogers looks good but who knows. Here in St. Louis, Christian Suntrup is coming in and is pretty much a "pocket passer". Chsse Rettig appears to be as well as is or was David Shinskie. It will be interesting to see what "shakes loose". At least, there is optimism with bringing in a coach with pro experience. This should excite Rettig and Suntrup. Shinskie may as well "pack his bags", sad but true.
The fact that Rogers has worked with wonders with mobile QBs (yet still pass-first QBs) is no cause for Concern.
Coughlin was the OC for Flutie, and killed it using Foley.
Logan worked with mobile QBs for years and years at ECU (Blake, and the other one), yet warmed right up to Ryan. And by the way, Logan hadn't called plays for years before joining BC .. he was QB coach in the World league (practially the same background at Rogers, but with less success)
The fact is Rogers QBs have excelled, and being an OC is half about coaching QBs, half about in-game play calling.
I'm just glad we have a guy who's proven able to develop QBs ... in a pro-styled passing game ... yet still keep to a run-first style.
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