Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
Moderators: greenyellow, Autzenoise, UOducksTK1
- Canard
- One Star Recruit
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:08 pm
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
Here's my take:
Chip is going to coach from the sideline. Maybe he wants a guy to start down the spread/op OC path who doesn't really know the spread, but who is willing to swallow his ego a little bit, and just get up in the booth and quickly recognize and transmit what defense he is seeing. Chip can then call the play on the sideline.
The OC title would be nominal to start. What Chip might really want with this guy is someone to work on things ANY QB needs--coverage recognition, footwork, mechanics. and an evaluation of their skills against the playbook's passing routes to have ready made offensive packages in case they have to play.
Helfrich has extensive experience with traditional passing attacks, which still work by the way. He was ASU's passing quality guy, and during that stretch, ASU's passing attack was undeniably potent. Another odd angle is that Helfrich brings in legit "pro set skills" to blunt some of the criticism that spread/op QBs are not adequately prepared for the next level. Even if the Ducks do not readopt pro set elements in the passing attack, it will still be possible to tell recruits that this guy can work on teaching them the drops and slide steps NFL QBs use in the pocket etc., and keep a straight face.
Just trying to think outside of the box.
Chip is going to coach from the sideline. Maybe he wants a guy to start down the spread/op OC path who doesn't really know the spread, but who is willing to swallow his ego a little bit, and just get up in the booth and quickly recognize and transmit what defense he is seeing. Chip can then call the play on the sideline.
The OC title would be nominal to start. What Chip might really want with this guy is someone to work on things ANY QB needs--coverage recognition, footwork, mechanics. and an evaluation of their skills against the playbook's passing routes to have ready made offensive packages in case they have to play.
Helfrich has extensive experience with traditional passing attacks, which still work by the way. He was ASU's passing quality guy, and during that stretch, ASU's passing attack was undeniably potent. Another odd angle is that Helfrich brings in legit "pro set skills" to blunt some of the criticism that spread/op QBs are not adequately prepared for the next level. Even if the Ducks do not readopt pro set elements in the passing attack, it will still be possible to tell recruits that this guy can work on teaching them the drops and slide steps NFL QBs use in the pocket etc., and keep a straight face.
Just trying to think outside of the box.

SEC "Football" —Must See TV according to ESPN
-
Greydrake
- Four Star Recruit
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:10 am
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
Being hired to assume the QB coaching slot makes sense in terms of the transition of getting Bellotti off the field and into the AD positiion. It's CK's show now, how these pieces fall togther in the big picture will be interesting to see unfold. Helfrich did not strike me as a strong recruiter though from that little snippet of a post providied.
There again when Brooks brought Bellotti up who'd a thunk of the success.
There again when Brooks brought Bellotti up who'd a thunk of the success.
-
buckmarkduck
- All-American
- Posts: 10996
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:22 am
- Contact:
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
O/T Canard did you get that pick from a WSU site or something? Were the nerd from Apple?
You can do better than that.
Canard wrote:Here's my take:
Chip is going to coach from the sideline. Maybe he wants a guy to start down the spread/op OC path who doesn't really know the spread, but who is willing to swallow his ego a little bit, and just get up in the booth and quickly recognize and transmit what defense he is seeing. Chip can then call the play on the sideline.
The OC title would be nominal to start. What Chip might really want with this guy is someone to work on things ANY QB needs--coverage recognition, footwork, mechanics. and an evaluation of their skills against the playbook's passing routes to have ready made offensive packages in case they have to play.
Helfrich has extensive experience with traditional passing attacks, which still work by the way. He was ASU's passing quality guy, and during that stretch, ASU's passing attack was undeniably potent. Another odd angle is that Helfrich brings in legit "pro set skills" to blunt some of the criticism that spread/op QBs are not adequately prepared for the next level. Even if the Ducks do not readopt pro set elements in the passing attack, it will still be possible to tell recruits that this guy can work on teaching them the drops and slide steps NFL QBs use in the pocket etc., and keep a straight face.
Just trying to think outside of the box.
- spinseeker
- Freshman
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:32 am
- Location: Springfield
- Contact:
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
I wonder what the contract length would be. It seems with the timing of Belotti's step aside (being so close to our spring game,and in the midst of others) it would be difficult for Chip to get a quality guy who just got his team ready for spring. Helfrich is making a good choice by exploring other options since Hawkins will be gone after next season, unless he gets the 10 win season he's been promising.
So we offer him one year to prove himself in a pseudo O/C position and go from there. Either way he had one year left in his position, but with us, he has the opportunity to ride Chips coattails and boost his stock and earn a longer term contract.
Next year, if Helfrich doesn't work out, Kelly has a better opportunity to get a proper replacement.
Remember, we need someone now for recruiting.
So we offer him one year to prove himself in a pseudo O/C position and go from there. Either way he had one year left in his position, but with us, he has the opportunity to ride Chips coattails and boost his stock and earn a longer term contract.
Next year, if Helfrich doesn't work out, Kelly has a better opportunity to get a proper replacement.
Remember, we need someone now for recruiting.
-
Greydrake
- Four Star Recruit
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:10 am
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
Per Kelly in his ESPN interview
"I'm going to hire a quarterbacks coach probably by Thursday"
"I'm going to hire a quarterbacks coach probably by Thursday"
- Canard
- One Star Recruit
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:08 pm
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
We're the normal guy. Washington the thug. lOSer is, well, what they are.

SEC "Football" —Must See TV according to ESPN
- wheaton4prez
- Senior
- Posts: 3568
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:36 pm
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
Has he interviewed anyone other than Helfrich?Greydrake wrote:Per Kelly in his ESPN interview
"I'm going to hire a quarterbacks coach probably by Thursday"
-
woundedknees
- All-American
- Posts: 12821
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:06 pm
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
ESPN's PAC-10 Blog said Kelly had had 6 candidates on campus.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-8-10 ... Kelly.html
What's the latest on your hunt for an offensive assistant coach?
CK: I'm going to hire a quarterbacks coach probably by Thursday. We don't want to lose any time on the road recruiting. We'll be recruiting a quarterback in the fall, so I want to make sure we've got a guy on the road because I can't go see guys in the spring because of NCAA rules. So we'll be at our full complement of coaches. We're brought six people to campus ... I'll have this thing finalized by Thursday.
You want to tell me who it's going to be?
CK: No. Not at all.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-8-10 ... Kelly.html
What's the latest on your hunt for an offensive assistant coach?
CK: I'm going to hire a quarterbacks coach probably by Thursday. We don't want to lose any time on the road recruiting. We'll be recruiting a quarterback in the fall, so I want to make sure we've got a guy on the road because I can't go see guys in the spring because of NCAA rules. So we'll be at our full complement of coaches. We're brought six people to campus ... I'll have this thing finalized by Thursday.
You want to tell me who it's going to be?
CK: No. Not at all.
Autzen Stadium... Where great teams go to die...Hard!


- echo31
- Five Star Recruit
- Posts: 1009
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:02 am
- Location: Portland
- UOducksTK1
- Site Admin

- Posts: 40476
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:28 pm
- GM: Boston Celtics GM
- Location: Portland, Oregon
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
I guess time will tell if this is a good hire or not.

Do Not Fear. Isaiah 41:13
- VinnyKnuckles
- Four Star Recruit
- Posts: 770
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:34 pm
- Location: Oregon
- Contact:
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
According to Moseley, some players have already been informed that Helfrich will be Oregon's new offensive assistant (in some capacity), so yeah, it might as well be considered official.
http://blogs.registerguard.com/cms/inde ... helfrich-/

-
Duckxing
- Two Star Recruit
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:49 am
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
All of the Colorado fans are exicited that Helfrich is gone. It sounds like he was their Ludwig (bad playcalling, bad recruiter, and a liar). We'll see what he can do at Oregon but it doesn't sound to promising.
- VinnyKnuckles
- Four Star Recruit
- Posts: 770
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:34 pm
- Location: Oregon
- Contact:
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
The main problem I have with this hiring is due to his lack of a reputation as a great recruiter. However, if Helfrich does as "bad" for the Ducks as Ludwig did for Utah last season, I don't think any of us will be complaining.Duckxing wrote:All of the Colorado fans are exicited that Helfrich is gone. It sounds like he was their Ludwig (bad playcalling, bad recruiter, and a liar). We'll see what he can do at Oregon but it doesn't sound to promising.
I don't think any success, or lack of success, the Ducks have next season is going to have much to do with Helfrich though. He is pretty much just going to be along for the ride, learning a new offense.

- ducksin2010
- Four Star Recruit
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:45 pm
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
I don't know how he is a bad recruiter when he pulled in #1 running back Darrel Scott and almost had our prized recruit Jackson.

- VinnyKnuckles
- Four Star Recruit
- Posts: 770
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:34 pm
- Location: Oregon
- Contact:
Re: Mark Helfrich to be OC/QB coach?
He wasn't the primary recruiter for either of those players and had little (in the case of Scott) to nothing (in the case of Jackson) to do with why those players chose/were considering Colorado. He is not considered to be one of Colorado's top recruiters, which is why they didn't assign him to recruit many of the top players. Kiesau is widely considered to be Colorado's best recruiter, which is why I was hoping the Ducks could lure him away as wide receivers coach. He was reportedly offered the job by the Ducks, but turned it down. The Ducks then turned to Frost. The jury is still out on how good of a hire that was, in my opinion. I am not completely sold on Frost yet.....I am sold on Azzinaro though.ducksin2010 wrote:I don't know how he is a bad recruiter when he pulled in #1 running back Darrel Scott and almost had our prized recruit Jackson.

