I know not everyone is soured on Cam Cameron. But I got tired of sifting through pages and pages with negative posts about this unconfirmed hire so I thought I would start something with a more positive slant. I never understood the need to start tearing things down before you fully understand or give them a chance to perform. Successful outcomes never start with a discussion about why it won't work. If you search for the positive, look for the gold, you will find it. So keep your mind focused on the things that you want and get out of your head the things you don't want. With that I offer you my sunshine pumpin, positive outlook on the bright future ahead ... I love this hire. Setting aside statistics for a moment, it is important to have the right mix in the organization for things to work. The fact that these two are close friends and have coached together (7 years) is a big plus. If Miles is going to turn over the offense to someone don't you think this is the guy who will have that trust? Isn’t that one of the things that many of us were looking for? Turn over the offense, be the head coach. Well … I also love the fact that Miles has always worked to improve this team. Each year there has been an issue, he has made tweaks and changes in an effort to address and correct failures. He never stops trying, never stops moving forward. That is critically important. Everything is a process and Miles has never rested on his laurels. It’s about character and fit. All you need to do is take a peek at Drew Brees' comments about Cameron. Or maybe you could look at the way he responded to his firing at Baltimore. This is a quality coach and a quality person. If you look across this staff they all possess similar qualities and values. This is going to be a powerful staff with strong bonds, common goals and a commitment to each other and their players. His character is a fit with the staff at LSU. Don’t underestimate the power of fit, it’s more important than you think … Three letters that are important: NFL. Some kids dream of playing at the collegiate level. All kids dream of playing in the big leagues. How strong is it that this team could be sporting a successful NFL offensive coordinator? Then look at the players that he worked with and developed. I’m a highly skilled skill position player. I really think I’ve got a shot at the next level. I’d be silly not to give LSU more than a passing glance. Think Cameron is going to have an impact on recruiting? Oh … just a little. LSU could become known for more than sending defensive players to the NFL. But just in case you needed a little more encouragement. Consider the following: Under Cameron’s direction in San Diego, Philip Rivers earned a Pro Bowl selection in his first season as a starter and Drew Brees earned a Pro Bowl berth in only his third year as a starting quarterback. In that third season, Brees recorded the third highest QB rating of his career and recorded a career-low seven interceptions. The tremendous success of future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, as well as Ravens running back Ray Rice is well documented. However, as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Cameron helped Ronnie Brown lead the entire NFL in total yards from scrimmage over the first seven games of the season before a season-ending knee injury. In his 11 seasons as an NFL head coach or offensive coordinator, Cameron’s offenses led the NFL in points once, finished among the top five on three occasions (1st, 3rd, and 5th), and finished in the top half of the NFL nine times. The two occasions his offenses weren’t among the top half of the league in points were his first season in San Diego and his only season in Miami. After only his fourth season, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco became the Ravens’ all-time leading passer in yards (13,816), TD passes (80), and completions (1,190) and was second in completion percentage (60.8). Flacco’s 44 regular season wins in his first four seasons were the most ever by a starting quarterback in his first four years in the NFL. Flacco is the only starting quarterback in NFL history (since the 1970 merger) to reach the playoffs in each of his first four seasons. In 2011, the Ravens played eleven regular season games against teams that finished among the top 10 defenses in the NFL in points allowed. The Ravens averaged 23 points per game in those 11 games. In his 11 seasons as an NFL head coach and offensive coordinator, Cameron has been part of teams that were plus-49 in takeaway/giveaway ratio. The 2006 Chargers offense directed by Cameron is one of only 28 teams in NFL history to average 30-or-more points per contest. It is the 21st highest-scoring offense in NFL history, and 14th-highest over the last 25 years. With all that coming to the Tigers I can’t help but think the future is bright for this team. If this hiring comes to fruition, Miles will have coupled successful recruiting with the construction of one of the best coaching staffs in the SEC. That is something to feel really good about if you’re a current Tiger, a future Tiger or a fan of LSU.
First is Miles wont make a change. Miles makes a change. Then is nothing will change. But things have changed. Now its Miles will still run the offense. Miles never ran the offense. Any questions?
Good post Tiger. I wish more people would look at the big picture and see that Miles seems to make the moves needed to keep this team winning. Yes it takes him more time than people would like because we live in a world of instant gratification and everyone wants it now. I like this hire if it happens. As you pointed out this will be a quality staff that will only help us with an already great recruiting staff. If it happens like the rumors are saying, by moving Stud back to Oline and finding a spot for Krag then I love it and respect Miles and Co. even more for investing in people. When its all said and done this would be some good moves by Lesticles. Good Job Les!
Yeah, I applaud the effort, Tiger420, to try to get a positive thread title going to discuss the potential hiring of Cam Cameron as OC rather than everyone posting in the other negative titled threads. Unfortunately, so many discussions have been ongoing there, it seems they continue to draw the conversations. As always, your posts are well conceived and clearly worded in delivery. Good job.
Good points on Stud and Krag. Think of the power we gain by having those guys focused in on specific objectives. Remember also that Krag is no slouch with QB's. He did a pretty good job with Bledsoe. Now you have two guys on the O staff that have NFL experience and good results with a few high profile QB's. And Stud is a pretty good OL coach. He didn't do poorly this season when you consider all the challenges. But with Stud focused in on OL, Krag guiding the QB's and Cameron at the helm, this staff has a lot of upside potential. I also happen to be a football fan who enjoys power football with a stingy defense. I like teams that control the line of scrimmage and relentlessly pound the ball and exhaust the opponent. I like a slightly unbalanced offense which runs about 60% of the time. I like passing attacks that are used to keep the D off balance by working underneath and then go deep when the D is cheating up to stop the run. I also think one of the most exciting plays in football is a RB breaking a 50 yarder in the fourth quarter of a close game. You know, when the other team is fighting like hell to stay in the game, hands on their hips, gasping for oxygen and praying for strength. Then a hole busts open a Hill comes bolting through the crowd and off to the races ... Those things are accomplished through what most people would call "boring offense". Like everything, it's a process and when you do it well it's a beautiful thing to watch. I think we are on the brink of great things. And just in time for a recruiting year (2014) that may be one of the best ever in the state of Louisiana.
It's like the media. Most viewers are attracted to the tragedies in the world. Thanks for the compliment! I'm having fun. It's a great forum that allows us to release our inner sports writer.
Ultimately it doesn't matter who is the OC if Miles is just going to dictate the gameplan. My optimism for this hire is the relationship that Miles has with Cameron pre-dates this hiring and I'm hoping that translates into more freedom for the OC. Miles can manage the game, but let the OC call plays and manage the Offense.
Given what has been, sounds like an upgrade. Heard that the reason for Cameron's demise as a raven was his inability to get the ball to all the play-makers. Again, not sure to what degree that entails, but still feels like an upgrade.
Count me among those who think this hire would be a positive one. Cam has lots of experience and a pretty impressive resume. Everyone has flaws and I am amazed by the expectation that LSU would be able to hire a 'perfect' candidate. As an employer, I constantly struggle with deciding who would be a great fit for a certain job. Rarely is there an obvious no brainer choice at the higher level positions. Give me this recruiting class with all the early signees, the returning Tigers, Chavis, Cam and I will hopefully look forward to next September. And there is nothing wrong with a good hybrid Tiger420 until then.
