Matt Rhule Run Game/Offensive Minded/Strong Defense

[Varking]

The last three years at Baylor his leading rushers had:

2017: 445 yards (QB 3rd most rushing attempts but not lead rusher)

2018: 573 yards (QB most rushing attempts but not lead rusher)

2019: 655 yards (QB most rushing attempts but not lead rusher)

Charlie Brewer, their QB, who did not lead the team in rushing yards, was their leading rusher in attempts two of the last three years. 

Temple:

2013: 613 yards (QB 3rd most rushing attempts but not lead rusher)

2014: 324 yards (QB had the most rushing attempts as yards. 3.1 YPC average)

2015: Jahad Thomas 1,262 rushing yards and 17 rushing TDS. QB was second in yards and attempts again. 

2016: 953 rushing yards. QB still had 100 rushes but two running backs this year ran for over 900 yards. 

PJ Walker was the starting QB at Temple all four years Rhule coached there. 

Charlie Brewer was the starting QB at Baylor all three years Rhule coached there. 

This guys history is he tends to ignore the RB and let the QB run himself in and out of trouble. 2019 was the only time Rhule lead a college team to a top 50 offense in his 7 years of coaching. He was, however, top 20 in defense 4 times in his 7 years. Not sure how he is getting the label of offensive minded coach when his teams historically have amazing defenses and average to below average offenses. 

[mc52beast]

Interesting. I would have thought his offenses were better than that considering how everyone has said he’s an offensive genius. 

[rodeo]

this actually shows why he was labeled an offensives minded coach; because his ideal philosophy is lining up in 22 personnel and running the ball. he's a power run game guy who adjusted what he calls in accordance with the talent he has on the roster. he's capable of changing, even if he hates it. he called running the RPO his deal with the devil, because he figured out he had to do it to win even though he didn't like it.

that's what a good coach does. they don't try to fit a square peg in a round whole. we heard for 7 years "Cam needs to turn into a pocket passer this year" instead of "We need to call plays to Cam's strengths" and that will change now.

[MHS831]

Rhule coached NFL offensive line. 

That needs to be considered.

[Varking]

7 minutes ago, rodeo said:

this actually shows why he was labeled an offensives minded coach; because his ideal philosophy is lining up in 22 personnel and running the ball. he's a power run game guy who adjusted what he calls in accordance with the talent he has on the roster. he's capable of changing, even if he hates it. he called running the RPO his deal with the devil, because he figured out he had to do it to win even though he didn't like it.

that's what a good coach does. they don't try to fit a square peg in a round whole. we heard for 7 years "Cam needs to turn into a pocket passer this year" instead of "We need to call plays to Cam's strengths" and that will change now.

Usually a guy is labeled offensive minded because they excel at something in particular. His run games never really translated to points. His defenses carried them to the point they didn't need to put up points to win games in college. Again, he had a top 50 offense, only one time in his 7 years as a head coach, this year. He seems to "win" with his offense through having outstanding defenses. And running the QB hasn't been a strength for any of his team to endorse the not putting a square peg into a round whole statement because his QBs haven't been good runners. 

[Varking]

5 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Rhule coached NFL offensive line. 

That needs to be considered.

Correct. He was an assistant to the offensive line coach for one year. But this, again, doesn't really promote that he is some offensive genius or great offensive mind. I am not trying to dog the guy. He is going to be here for the next 6 years so I am going to support him and hope for the best. The analytics suggest other than this year he was a get the lead and run a billion times for 2.5-3.1 yards per carry type of coach. 

[*FreeFua*]

19 minutes ago, Varking said:

Not sure how he is getting the label of offensive minded coach

I actually just said the same thing as I sit here and look at the teams he’s coached and stats and what not.

Curious to see the replies in this thread because right now I don’t see it either

[theDIRTYcode2]

I'm not sure Charlie Brewer will play again after the amount of concussions he received this year. We knocked him out of the Sugar Bowl with one. 

[Varking]

Just now, theDIRTYcode2 said:

I'm not sure Charlie Brewer will play again after the amount of concussions he received this year. We knocked him out of the Sugar Bowl with one. 

I was just naming the QBs to give reference he never moved on from a starter and ran a ton of plays with his QB as a runner. I dont know if the other QB had health issues or not but you can likely attribute some of the issues Brewer has with his offensive play caller asking him to run so much even after the first concussion, or second or... You get it. 

[DubE_4MR]

He's a well rounded coach with experience in all 3 phases. I don't know why he's been labeled "offensive minded". He wants to score and stop the other team from scoring lol.

[Varking]

2 minutes ago, DubE_4MR said:

He wants to score and stop the other team from scoring lol.

That is literally every coach. You say well rounded but the numbers don't actually suggest that. The numbers show his teams show up to play solid to great defense but don't do a great job scoring compared to the rest of the country. 

[ncfan]

44 minutes ago, mc52beast said:

Interesting. I would have thought his offenses were better than that considering how everyone has said he’s an offensive genius. 

Imagine doing that with a college football version of Taylor Heinicke at QB and Reggie Bonnafon.

Baylor doesn't have near the talent of other P5 schools.

2 years ago when he arrived.  No parent wanted their kid to go there coming off the Art Briles thing and under the NCAA investigation.  

With only 1 commit.  He scrapped up some players and still produced with what he was handed

[Varking]

As for special teams:

His team was 16 of 20 on field goals and 57/57 on XP in 2019. 

43/47 XP and 15/24 on field goals in 2018.

30/31 XP and 20/24 in 2017. 

52/52 XP with two different kickers and 25/29 in 2016.

44/45 and 23/28 in 2015.

32/32 and 15/24 in 2014. 

32/25 and 3/5 in 2013.

His teams have been great and defense and special teams. Its been the offense that has lagged behind. 

[Varking]

5 minutes ago, ncfan said:

Imagine doing that with a college football version of Taylor Heinicke at QB and Reggie Bonnafon.

Baylor doesn't have near the talent of other P5 schools.

2 years ago when he arrived.  No parent wanted their kid to go there coming off the Art Briles thing and under the NCAA investigation.  

With only 1 commit.  He scrapped up some players and still produced with what he was handed

Im not saying he is a bad coach. But his defenses still showed out each year. His special teams showed out every year but one. The offense only crossed top 50 one time in 7 years. In the three phases of the game, where he is a head coach, defense and special teams have been head and shoulders above offense. Those lowly recruits apply to defense and special teams as well,.