Jim Chaney: Georgia’s new offensive coordinator
By John Buhler
Jim Chaney will become the next offensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs. Chaney has coached at Purdue, Tennessee, Arkansas, and most recently Pittsburgh.
The new head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs Kirby Smart has hired the man who will be team’s next offensive coordinator: Jim Chaney. Chaney, who was the Pittsburgh Panthers offensive coordinator in 2015, had spent the previous six seasons in the SEC with Arkansas and Tennessee.
It seems that Smart was methodical in bringing Jim Chaney back to the SEC. Smart likely wanted an offensive coordinator that had success both on the ground and through the air on his résumé. He coached Drew Brees and Kyle Orton while at Purdue in the early 2000s and made both Jonathan Crompton and Tyler Bray look good at Tennessee.
-= Related: Jacob Eason will decide between UGA and UGA this week =-
Jim Chaney has also worked with strong running backs including Montario Hardesty at Tennessee, Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams at Arkansas, and James Conner at Pittsburgh. Chaney will become the quarterbacks coach as well as call plays for the offense.
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From looking at Jim Chaney’s track record as an offensive coordinator, he can develop NFL level talent both in the passing and running game. This means that UGA’s strong rushing attack likely won’t change, but the passing game should improve. Given that his quarterbacks do tend to stretch the field with their arms, this hire could potentially lock up 5-star quarterback commit Jacob Eason.
I understand the hire as it accomplishes three things for our new head coach in Kirby Smart.
- Since Smart is more of a defensive-minded coach, it makes sense that he would want a well-established offensive coordinator that he can trust to both call plays and coach the quarterbacks. Chaney’s long-term success at both should allow Smart to feel more comfortable about how his offense will operate.
- Rather than going with someone who has never coached in the physical SEC, it is smart of Smart to bring in a guy that knows how to attack strong SEC defenses, both aerially and on the ground.
- Chaney’s ability to develop quarterbacks as well as run a variety of offenses (pro-style, spread, ground and pound) would give recruits excitement about playing in the balanced UGA offense.
Jim Chaney is also expected to bring with him Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman. People’s impressions have varied from mixed to favorable thus far on the Chaney hiring, with most negativity stemming from being part of the Derek Dooley staff in Tennessee.
Even then, UT could throw the football with Jonathan Crompton, Tyler Bray, and Nathan Peterman. Most people seem in favor of reportedly getting Pittman from Arkansas. The Hogs have had great offensive line play and a running game under head coach Bret Bielema.
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Overall this is more of a practical hire than the name hire of Brian Schottenheimer. Quarterback play and tight end involvement went to the wayside under Schottenheimer. Perhaps bringing in Jim Chaney and Sam Pittman will help bolster the Dawgs’ offense in 2016. Hopefully this hire is enough to keep Jacob Eason’s commitment and encourage other promising high school offensive players to Commit to the G. Go Dawgs!