Gary Andersen Shakes Up Offensive Staff

Oregon State head coach Gary Andersen didn't address it while the press was on hand Wednesday for the early signing day press conference, but, in typical Oregon State fashion, announced a major shake up of the offensive coaching staff at the end of the day.

No one is out of work, but Andersen will be looking for some changes come next season, after Oregon State struggled much of the time much of the season to produce points.

As a result, Andersen has elevated quarterbacks coach Kevin McGiven and offensive line coach T.J. Woods to be the co-offensive coordinators. McGiven will also take over play calling duties from former offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, who has been reassigned to coach the "inside" receivers, which is not the tight ends, the position group Baldwin coached this past year.

Woods, with assistance from a couple of the Graduate Assistants, will also coach the tight ends.

Wide Receivers coach Brent Brennan will coach the "outside" receivers, and also co-coordinate special teams, working with linebackers coach Ilaisa Tuiaki, who handled special teams last season.

It's a very odd arrangement, breaking up the receivers into 3 different groups, given that they have to coordinate their route running. At a minimum, having 2 different coaches of the WR group alone doesn't seem to promote a cohesive situation.

Certainly not a ringing endorsement of Baldwin. But also a clear indication that Andersen was not, and is not, satisfied with how things went offensively, and will at least make sure something different happens in the year to come. One also wonders how much of the Oregon State offensive game plan in the Civil War was McGiven's idea, and what Baldwin's role was.

And of course, the defensive side of things could also really get shaken up should Kalani Sitake go to BYU, especially if he takes some of the staff with him.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com