It has been a long time coming. Thank God we do not have to watch that deer in the headlights run the offense anymore! How much time is left in the game? Just enough time for a quality OC to run the show. Happy DAYS!
From a really good Los Angeles Times article on Cam: One year and one day ago, Cam Cameron was relieved of his duties as coach of the Miami Dolphins. ... Less than a year later, the Ravens, long-feared for their tenacious defense, suddenly have an offense that can move the ball, that doesn't treat the first-down marker as a land mine and doesn't need a GPS to find the end zone. "He (Cam) has taken this offense where it couldn't take itself," said John Matsko, offensive line coach. "He had a vision for this offense and he's turned this offense into that vision." ... For all the success he had in ensuing jobs with the Redskins and Chargers, what he has done in a relatively short period with the Ravens could forever be highlighted on his resume. This season's team improved almost a full touchdown over last season's, averaging 24.1 points per game, the second-most in team history. ... Cameron was a two-sport star at South Vigo High School in Terre Haute, Ind., recruited to play quarterback at Indiana by Lee Corso. After two seasons, though, the school's basketball coach, Bob Knight, asked Corso if Cameron could play on the basketball team as well. "I brought Cameron in and said, 'You want to be a coach, don't you?' " Corso remembers. "He said, 'Yeah.' 'Well, I'm going to give you the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches of all time. And it ain't me.' " Cameron juggled the responsibilities of both teams, even when Corso left and was replaced by Sam Wyche, who would quickly establish himself as one of the game's most innovative offensive minds. (Wyche introduced the no huddle offense to the NFL and led the Bengals to the Super Bowl) As quarterback, Cameron always had an intimate understanding of the offense, but his interest went beyond that. Playing under Wyche, Indiana was experimenting with a no-huddle offense, tinkering with snap counts and setting trends that are still around 25 years later. "I'm not sure I can put my finger on what you see, but you sense the way a player pays attention, the way a player picks up not just the play, but the whole concept, the philosophy, all the subtleties of the play," Wyche says. "He had all of that." When Cameron completed his business degree, Knight, as irrepressible as he was successful, told him he was too smart for coaching and encouraged him to enter law school. So Cameron took the LSAT and visited with law school professors. But it didn't feel right. "I went back and told him, I just want to coach," Cameron, 47, recalled. "In looking back, it was smart what he did. He wanted to make sure coaching was what I really wanted to do. Coach Knight always wants to push you to something bigger and better, and it made me explore some things. But deep down in my heart, I knew this is what I wanted to do." So Knight helped arrange a job for Cameron on the staff of Bo Schembechler, the legendary coach at Michigan. Nearly 25 years and six jobs later, Cameron is among the most respected offensive minds in the game. ...
The best thing Ive read so far is that he likes to involve the RBs in the passing game. That alone would greatly improve the offense. I really hope Les steps out of the way and lets Cam have full control.
Ok, I like the move overall...but still some concerns. The article with a link below looks at the dismissal from a Baltimore fans point of view immediately after the firing. I don't like the lack of adjustments made after halftime and the sleepwalking offense the last couple of years. But the defenses aren't as intricate in college. And the player quality, against their opponents, should have LSU at an advantage. http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/68209/firing-cam-cameron-is-right-call-for-ravens
He has to be better than Stud. Hopfully his firing by the Ravens is an eye opener that makes him a better OC. Last but definitely not least, if Miles trusts anyone enough to be hands off Cam has to be the one.
no question, i'm still excited about the prospects of positive changes to our offense. just think, if we had been a little better on the offensive side of the ball the last several years it may be us celebrating 3 NC in 4 years. this is certainly a move in the right direction. cam's known for his qb development skills, and we have some pretty good raw qb's, especially the new recruits. we also have high quality coordinators and players surrounding them, it should be exciting to see how this plays out.
Agreed. He has to, and I think he will this time. Difference being familiarity. He knows how accomplished Cam is, and they have an established relationship in the past. This is the best thing to happen to LSUs offense since Jimbo left. Also, he's already coached Phillip Rivers, and can now coach up his little brother. How weird is that? Of course, Mett is priority #1 right now. Cameron as OC and Chavis as DC - we'll be set for a while, amigos!!
On Cams offense, a few things to look at, Ray Rice averaged around 70 catches per season. Cams scheme mixes zone-rushing and vertical passing game, everyone gets involved. Remember Joe Flacco isn't a running threat, kind of like Mett now. Two of the TE's hes had this year Pitta and Ed Dickson (I think LSU has a TE named Dickson, Travis) finished with a total of 82 receptions, at LSU we'd like to see a TE get 82 yds. in receptions for the season. His TE's finished with almost 900 yds. this season. In his scheme both TE's are sent out like WR's, this gives a little more flexibility, it also makes a defense see them as receiving threats and creates a mismatch problems. If you use a CB, they out body them, a LB'er, too slow to keep up, so a safety has to come up, leaving a gap. In 2010, the Ravens drafted two TE's and moved them into the Cam scheme quickly. LSU's Dickson, Smith and Stokes have to be thinking about this. More and more teams are using TE's, look at the Saints with Graham. This is why many teams are going to a heavy package, 3 Safeties. Talking with an NFL Draft guy last night about this, he was saying how the so few touches by Chase Clement, didn't give Pro teams a good look at what he can do. He also liked this hire by Les. An when is that Spring game again? Can't come soon enough.
