Offensive Coaching Hired

[danefan]

Footballscoop reporting that Jim Sweeney will join the staff as Offensive line coach.

 

Sweeney was a high school teammate of Gattuso and played a ton of years in e NFL as a o-lineman including 10 years with the Jets.

[jalidanefan]

Footballscoop reporting that Jim Sweeney will join the staff as Offensive line coach.

 

Sweeney was a high school teammate of Gattuso and played a ton of years in e NFL as a o-lineman including 10 years with the Jets.

Any info on last employer?

[danefan]

Don't know anything about him other than he played in the NFL for 16 years.

[Dane96]

Yep, I don't think he has coached. But that's fine. The guy was one nasty and tough OL. You teach the guys technique and schemes...and he will definitely bring out some toughness in these kids. We need to be mean in the CAA...but clean.

[Eli]

Agreed Dane96. An offensive line coach isn't calling plays so having no coaching experience isn't that important. Based on the fact that the average career of an NFL player is 4-5 years, him playing 16 years means he was good at what he did. Can always use a guy like that to pass the knowledge on to the new generation.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Ilko

[danefan]

Agreed Dane96. An offensive line coach isn't calling plays so having no coaching experience isn't that important. Based on the fact that the average career of an NFL player is 4-5 years, him playing 16 years means he was good at what he did. Can always use a guy like that to pass the knowledge on to the new generation.

Plus it's a good thing to sell to recruits. We're going to have a lot more NFL prospects coming through Albany now. His experience can only help with that.

[Purpfam18]

You guys couldn't be further off with saying no coaching experience is ok. It is two completely different things, coaching vs playing. OL is the most complicated position to coach and prepare for. You are working solo to get 5 guys on the same page. It will take him years to figure it out as a coach. No doubt his experience will help. But the prep he needs to do from now until next August is unimaginable by those who have never done it. He needs to work the kinks out during spring ball an clinic his ass off this off season.

[sarge965]

He has coached at the high school level in western PA

article from 2010 - http://www.post-gaze...es/201012170281

[danefan]

Offensive coordinator is a key hire IMO. Especially if your O-line coach doesn't have college coaching experience.

[Purpfam18]

Huge difference between no coachibg and coaching high school. Should be an easy transition. You are confident now he can run a meeting, present on a board and manage a group. Plus his recruiting ties to western PA is a huge plus.

[danefan]

Huge difference between no coachibg and coaching high school. Should be an easy transition. You are confident now he can run a meeting, present on a board and manage a group. Plus his recruiting ties to western PA is a huge plus.

 

Agreed. That tie to Western PA could be huge for us.

[Dane96]

You guys couldn't be further off with saying no coaching experience is ok. It is two completely different things, coaching vs playing. OL is the most complicated position to coach and prepare for. You are working solo to get 5 guys on the same page. It will take him years to figure it out as a coach. No doubt his experience will help. But the prep he needs to do from now until next August is unimaginable by those who have never done it. He needs to work the kinks out during spring ball an clinic his ass off this off season.

 

That may be your opinion and I respect that however, Coaches usually start with ZERO coaching experience because hey...it's logical...they have never coached.

 

Now I agree, O-Line is extremely difficult to play and IMHO lineman are some of the smartest players on a team. However, if your argument is "seasoned coach vs. zero coaching experience" I get that argument as both a former player and coach but I do not buy the argument that you cannot be successful. Outside of an ability to connect with a player and organizational skills, which in my opinion are two of the more important personality traits a coach should, it is not a necessity that a coach MUST have coaching experience to be successful. There are plenty of first time coaches who are WILDLY successful.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Dane96

[Dane96]

Offensive coordinator is a key hire IMO. Especially if your O-line coach doesn't have college coaching experience.

 

Exactly.

[Purpfam18]

I didn't say he can't be successful. It's just going to take a ton of work if he never coached before.

[Dane96]

Agreed!