Is Norm Chow Headed to UCLA?

by Jimmy on Dec 12, 2007 2:42 PM CST in News Comment 13 comments

There are all kinds of rumors floating around that Norm Chow has been offered the UCLA head coaching job. Bruins Nation, which is your SB Nation home for all things UCLA, is not to excited about the prospect of having Chow as their coach:

Moreover, is there any evidence of Chow being a dynamic recruiter or personality, who would inject enthusiasm into our underachieving program? From what I have heard from friends who follow the Stanford football program very closely, this guy couldn't even sell himself in a set up that was supposed to be a slam dunk from him. Yeah, I get that Stanford made the wrong choice in Walt Harris. Yet, it was still Chow who completely "bombed" the interview when he had his chance. And that wasn't last time he bombed a hiring process. He wasn't even contacted by NC State when that job opened up last season. And reportedly ASU interviewed him, but went with Erickson. So all on a sudden we are supposed to be okay with UCLA taking a flier on this guy who has never led a team either in the NFL or in the pros?

It is always a red flag to me when guys have interviewed at a bunch of different places but have never gotten a job. It is an even bigger red flag when it comes to Chow because, as mentioned above, he had an interview at Stanford, which should have been a slam dunk, and they didn't go with him, and NC State didn't even call him. There has to be a reason no one has given them a shot. I have the same feelings about Mike Leach, the head coach at Texas Tech. Every year he gets an interview from a school, but he never gets a job. There has to be a reason for that.

Last season Chow interviewed for the Arizona State head coaching job and the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job. I said in both instances that I hoped he would not leave because it would hurt Vince's development. I am no longer convinced that Chow leaving would hurt Vince.

Chow came in with the repuation for being a quarterback guru. He had developed guys like Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers and Matt Leinart in his time in college. That is an impressive list, but I am not sure that it translates to being the right guy for Vince. I have gotten the feeling this year that Chow is trying to make Vince fit his system instead of changing his system to Vince's strengths. Vince wasn't picked #3 overall because of his great pocket passing ability. He was picked there because of his play making ability. That is wasted pick if you don't take advantage of those abilities.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this. If Chow ends up with that job, he will have to decide if he is going to go right away, or stay to coach the rest of the season. When Charlie Weiss was hired at Notre Dame, he coached for the Patriots on Sundays but did recruiting stuff for Notre Dame during the week. Maybe he should have just gone on to Notre Dame. If Chow were to leave now, the Titans would probably just promote someone from in house. Most likely it would be quarterback's coach Craig Johnson. After the season they would have to decide if they were going to stick with Johnson or hire someone else.

Give me your thoughts on all of this.

Update [2007-12-12 19:58:14 by Jimmy]:Jim Wyatt is now reporting that Chow will meet with UCLA some time this weekend. I hope the meeting isn't scheduled for Saturday before the game. That seems like it would be a huge distraction to a team fighting for it's playoff life.

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Fine by me

You hit the nail on the head: vince isn't a pocket passer. He has gifts, one of them being his ability to run.

Always play to your strengths.

Like McNair, Vince will grow into a pocket passer. Like McNair, he will first run around and make things happen.

I think Vince Young could be as good as Steve Young, and do it for a lot more years.

by Rustmeister on Dec 12, 2007 3:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

please, i hope he goes

this season, i have given up on Chow...

maybe some of my anger should be directed at Fisher, but since he is here to stay, i will direct it at Chow...

we need to go get a spread option guru that can best use Vince's skills....

i hope chow does leave...

by zackmann on Dec 12, 2007 3:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bring Back

Hiemerdinger!

by Big Bad Bulluck on Dec 12, 2007 5:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That is the best suggestion....

....in the history of the world. If I were the Titans, I would make him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Dec 12, 2007 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever it takes

I believe if they would turn Vince loose he would make good things happen. I can't help but think sometimes when he's on the bench with his head down he is not happy with the play calling.

by coler0kw on Dec 12, 2007 6:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yes

that and the fact that half the time he throws a great pass it is dropped

by kpocyclo on Dec 12, 2007 6:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thats alright with me

we've pretty much choked all the time since chow came around. he seems brilliant when things are going well, but i get sick of hearing "this team isn't built to come from behind" on tv every week. that's a sign of terrible coaching. if we can never come from behind, we will never win a playoff game (if we ever get into the playoffs). vince young will be great if we ever get a coach who is open-minded enough to draw up some plays which utilize his abilities.

by kpocyclo on Dec 12, 2007 6:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

New here, and I completely agree...

It's incredibly aggravating hearing these TV commentators describe our seemingly endless limitations on a weekly basis. At some point the coaching staff has to be held accountable, and when the "not a come from behind team" statement is used, you've got to think... Norm Chow.

I missed the first half of this season since I was out of the country, came back for the Carolina game, and it's been all downhill since then. It seems that every week I find myself on the couch/bed/bar stool screaming 'RUN VINCE, RRRUUUNNN.'

I'd also like to add that I was around a bunch of Charger fans during this past week's game, and they're the same kind of pansy that Shawne Merriman is. California folks are weak, kids.

by burke385 on Dec 12, 2007 11:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome....

....and very well said.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Dec 13, 2007 6:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ok with me too

Titans are ranked 22nd in overall offense, 27th passing, 4th rushing. Not many touchdowns. If fact, we have the fewest receiving touchdowns in the league (7 - one less than the Dolphin's 8). Although, we also have the third highest rushing touchdowns at 15.

Huh, you know on paper they don't look as bad offensively as I would have thought from watching their games.

I think I won't be too upset to see Norm get another year, but I'd also be interested to see a change. Hiemerdinger back would exciting.

by numbertenox on Dec 12, 2007 7:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I've been wondering

About how much Chow has effected the Titans offense. They haven't been good since he's been there, period. I believe that's nowhere near all his fault. They don't have playmakers on offense, and really didn't last year other than T Henry. The top WRs last year were not #1 guys, no matter how much they were loved, they were #2 at best really #3 guys, valuable slot WRs.

Vince had a similar issue at Texas. It took some time for the coaches to play to his strengths. Chan Gailey was fired at GTech and isn't a good head coach, but he was a really creative O Coordinator for the Steelers. He's seen the college game and pro game, I think it would be great to get a guy in that understands the spread "type" of offense. I don't believe the Titans should go to a college spread by any sense, but when Vince is under center the offense isn't working as well, in my opinion. For all his running ability, I also don't think he's a very accurate passer while running. He's much more accurate while standing tall. That being said, I would really like to see a moving pocket more often. Not a bootleg, but pull the guards and set the pocket up to one side or the other. They've got Vince dropping back to the same spot and these WRs aren't getting open quickly. The movement might give them a little more time to find an open spot.

One other thing I've got to get off my chest, I was stunned to see Vince through an out route that hit, I believe, Gage in the hands right out of his break and Buerlein I believe said Vince's timing was off. Are you kidding me? NFL QBs should hit guys as soon as they break, WRs have to make those catches. Along with about 30 other catches this year that were TD or 1st down conversions. I see a lot of bagging on Vince, maybe not here, and he hasn't been spectacular, but others have really let down the offense at critical times. Jones catches a ball against Indy and there's the one more win we need. Guys catch the ball and Denver would have been a horse race and Vince wouldn't have had to force the ball.

I'm truly amazed at how close the Titans are with the skill players on offense. Bring in one guy, just one guy who can get open, or force a double team, and Gage or others have less pressure and the whole O gets better. Titans are on the cusp, if that's a word, ha.

by cparkhorn on Dec 13, 2007 9:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs