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Potential offensive line coach candidates- UPDATE : Jack Bicknell Jr. Hired
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:48 pm
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:48 pm
Update: Former Ole Miss OL coach Jack Bicknell Jr. Hired LINK
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AUBURN, Alabama—It didn’t take long for Gus Malzahn and new Auburn offensive coordinator Chad Morris to find their man to replace J.B. Grimes as veteran Jack Bicknell Jr. has been named the new offensive line coach for the Tigers.
“Jack has a wealth of coaching experience and success in all levels of football, including the last three years in the SEC,” Malzahn said. “He has been a part of a Super Bowl championship team and been a head coach collegiately. Jack’s diverse and extensive resume will be valuable in developing our offensive line unit. We’re very excited to have Jack join our staff here at Auburn.”
Most recently at Ole Miss working for Matt Luke, Bicknell Jr. has more than 30 years of coaching experience under his belt including a head coaching stint at Louisiana Tech from 1999-2006.
“I’m fired up to be joining a tradition-rich program like Auburn," Bicknell said. "Auburn has always been known as a blue-collar, hard-working team that has achieved a tremendous amount of success. I am very appreciative of Coach Malzahn for this opportunity. He and Coach Morris are very well respected offensive minds in the game of football and I can’t wait to work with them and the rest of the Auburn staff.”
The son of longtime Boston College head coach Jack Bicknell, he started his career with the Eagles as a grad assistant in 1985-86 before moving to New Hampshire where he coached both the defensive line and offensive line for 10 seasons.
Moving to Louisiana Tech, he coached the offensive line before taking over the head coaching duties for the Bulldogs. His 43 wins are still the third-most in school history.
From there he went back to Boston College where he coached the offensive line for two seasons before moving to the NFL. Over the next six seasons Bicknell Jr. coached with the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins before moving back to the college ranks at Ole Miss.
Jack Bicknell Jr. is headed to Auburn.?
Bicknell played collegiately at Boston College where he was the center for the Eagles when Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy in 1984. In Bicknell’s final season at Boston College, he was honored with the Scanlon Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a Boston College football player, the Scarminach Award for athletic and academic excellence and the Dean’s Award in the school of education.
As a coach Bicknell has been successful coaching the offensive line with some of his best work in the NFL ranks. Working with offensive line coach John Benton, Bicknell assisted to guide the Dolphins’ offensive line that helped protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill during a pair of 4,000-yard passing seasons. Bicknell’s line also paved the way for running back Lamar Miller to rush for 1,971 yards over the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
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In 2014 the Dolphins produced 361 first downs, tied for the second-most in franchise history and most since 1985 when the team had the same amount. Bicknell coached a variety of offensive linemen who found success under his watch. Despite missing the first four games of the season due to injury and making the switch to guard, Mike Pouncey was tabbed to his second-straight Pro Bowl in 2014.
Tackle Ja’Wuan James became the eighth offensive lineman in Dolphins history to start all 16 games as a rookie, showing his versatility by starting nine games at right tackle and seven at left tackle en route to earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.
Bicknell came to Miami after spending the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While in Pittsburgh, Bicknell’s unit helped running back Le’Veon Bell amass 1,259 yards from scrimmage, the most by a Steelers rookie.
Prior to joining the Steelers, Bicknell served as the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012 where he directed a unit that was instrumental in helping running back Jamaal Charles return to All-Pro form after an ACL injury cut short his 2011 season.
Bicknell began his NFL coaching career with the New York Giants in 2009 and was a member of a coaching staff that helped lead the franchise to its fourth Super Bowl title with a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots on February 5, 2012. During the 2011 season, the Giants’ line anchored an offense that finished fifth in the NFL in passing and only allowing five sacks.
This post was edited on 1/13/20 at 8:17 pm
5
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:50 pm to AUFan2015
Nice list
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:57 pm to blzr
Yea it’s a pretty comprehensive list. I’m guessing they had this article prewritten and ready to post
Fry - No
Hiestand - ND fans say he’s an amazing coach, but not a fan of recruiting
Fry - No
Hiestand - ND fans say he’s an amazing coach, but not a fan of recruiting
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:01 pm to The Nino
I'm a little leery of the NFL guys I don't want Rich Bisaccia 2.0
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:07 pm to The Nino
quote:
Fry - No
I agree.
Harry Hiestand.......this one really piqued my interest.
There are several good candidates listed though.
quote:
I'm a little leery of the NFL guys
I would think that would be a huge plus in recruiting. These are guys who know how to get players to the League.
This post was edited on 1/7/20 at 10:08 pm
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:11 pm to MrAUTigers
quote:
I'm a little leery of the NFL guys
quote:
I would think that would be a huge plus in recruiting. These are guys who know how to get players to the League.
Yes, but as I said in my post I don't want rich bisaccia 2.0
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:11 pm to MrAUTigers
He’s saying that about Rich because we hired him and he took another NFL job a month later
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:15 pm to TheJones
quote:
He’s saying that about Rich because we hired him and he took another NFL job a month later
Yeah, but that just doesn't happen very often. It is always a possibility though.
ETA Hell, if we could get just two years of good OL recruiting, that would make a huge difference in our O, IMO.
This post was edited on 1/7/20 at 10:16 pm
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:16 pm to MrAUTigers
Cubelic votes for Hiestand on Twitter 
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:19 pm to MrAUTigers
Which is why I'm leery of hiring the NFL guys because the minute the NFL comes calling we'll most likely be looking for a new coach. I want someone who'll stay longer than a year or less.
This post was edited on 1/7/20 at 10:20 pm
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:20 pm to MrAUTigers
Reading between the lines on several of the 247 articles and nuggets, Chad Morris may have wanted to move in a different direction with the OL.
Not saying it will be Fry but Morris might be pulling the strings on this process
Not saying it will be Fry but Morris might be pulling the strings on this process
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:20 pm to AUFan2015
I say "frick it". Lets swing for the fences.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:51 pm to TheJones
quote:This does not excite me. Arkansas fans were complaining last season Fry was making the OL slim down a considerable amount. That might work in some conferences, but it’s not going to work against SEC DLs.
Not saying it will be Fry but Morris might be pulling the strings on this process
Posted on 1/7/20 at 10:52 pm to MrAUTigers
If it’s a good hire- great job chad Morris
If it’s a shitty hire - Gus is an idiot
Did I do that right? Nevergussers w/ GDS
If it’s a shitty hire - Gus is an idiot
Did I do that right? Nevergussers w/ GDS
Posted on 1/8/20 at 1:01 am to AUFan2015
Here's how PFF ranked the O lines of some of the coaches we're considering.
LINK
Ours ranked #28
LINK
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81. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Highest-graded player: OT Jordan Tucker – 70.2 (103rd)
The Tar Heels' bookend tackles were terrific this season, but their guard play went largely unnoticed. While they had their moments, their guards had the nation's 25th-highest grade in pass protection while their tackles ranked 30th. This is a sign that good things are to come with Sam Howell at the helm.
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67. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Highest-graded player: C Ty Clary – 69.0 (41st)
Arkansas had their fair share of tumultuousness this year, and that was echoed by their offensive line. Their tackles couldn't crack the top 100 in overall grade, while Clary anchored the interior play to top 50 overall in terms of center grades. Still, the Razorbacks gave up 107 total pressures (41st-most) and averaged a pressure given up 2.63 seconds after the snap.
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54. COLORADO BUFFALOES
Highest-graded player: OT Arlington Hambright – 74.8 (63rd)
By all definitions, Colorado's offensive line was very middle-of-the-pack as a unit. They finished the season ranked 47th in pass-blocking grade and 52nd in run-blocking grade but were certainly strongest on the outside at the tackle position. Hambright led them all in grade, finishing with top-third grades in the pass and run game.
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53. TROY TROJANS
Highest-graded player: OT J.L. Gaston – 74.5 (66th)
Troy's offensive line certainly had their strengths — in pass protection — and their weaknesses — in the run game — during the 2019 season. Their offensive line saw each position bracket fall inside the top 50 in terms of PFF pass-blocking grade, but subsequently, each position bracket couldn't find their way inside the top 45 in terms of PFF run-blocking grade.
Ours ranked #28
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28. AUBURN TIGERS
Highest-graded player: OG Marquel Harrell – 72.4 (38th)
As a unit, this team finished by allowing just 48 total pressures on the year, the third-fewest among all teams and the fewest among non-run-first teams. Their strength was pass protection, but they did struggle mightily in the run game, hence their place here. Still, Harrell and Prince Tega Wanogho were dominant all season long, and the Tigers' offensive line was certainly crucial in keeping freshman QB Bo Nix upright all year. In fact, Nix invited seven more pressures on himself than any one offensive lineman did this year.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 2:09 am to AUFan2015
quote:Yep, why should we risk hiring someone who's desirable elsewhere.
Which is why I'm leery of hiring the NFL guys because the minute the NFL comes calling we'll most likely be looking for a new coach. I want someone who'll stay longer than a year or less.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 2:22 am to awestruck
quote:I'm pretty sure you're being sarcastic, but I just think we need somebody who won't leave after a season. I realize the NFL is more highly thought of and most coaches will jump at the chance to coach there because that's most coaches ultimate goal. I just want someone who is a great coach and at least decent recruiter who'll stay here at least 2-3 years.
Yep, why should we risk hiring someone who's desirable elsewhere
If we get a one and done coach I'd want it to be someone like Muschamp was for our D.
Someone that'll be a good recruiter and who'll light a fire in the players and make them play harder and will continue improving throughout the year and will set the standard for our future coach(es) and O Lines. Just like Steele continued the defensive standard Muschamp started.
This post was edited on 1/8/20 at 2:59 am
Posted on 1/8/20 at 3:58 am to AUFan2015
I wish we could get one of these nfl guys and not chads GA
Posted on 1/8/20 at 6:08 am to AUFan2015
I want either Hiestand or Pugh.
We will probably end up with Simmons or Fry...
We will probably end up with Simmons or Fry...
Posted on 1/8/20 at 6:25 am to AUFan2015
I see such an upward rotation as the cost of doing business. If you have a better product more people will want it. Same with getting better assistants. That other college across the state has such a problem and they just reload coordinators like players. Not to suggest we should mimic them. Rather once you get a better staff it's also easier to replace the missing parts. Because you become a place where not just your players move up but also your coaches. And then the recruits we also see it as well . . .or can be told.
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