The line between college and the NFL has been blurred with the incorporation of run options and RPOs into NFL schemes, but there is still a significant difference in what college and NFL coordinators have to prepare for each week. Despite this, teams are increasingly hiring coordinators from the college ranks. Four coordinators hired this offseason, including Liam Coen, Jesse Minter, Jeff Hafley, and Ryan Grubb, came from the NCAA. The question arises if this hiring cycle is an anomaly or a sign of things to come, and understanding what NFL teams adopt from college systems may provide some clues.
NFL teams still prefer to hire college coaches who have NFL experience, with only Ryan Grubb lacking NFL background among the four coordinators coming from college. Coaches like Minter and Hafley had NFL experience before moving to the college level to gain valuable experience as coordinators. Coen, on the other hand, has spent most of his career as a college coach but has made the transition to the NFL as an offensive coordinator. The transition from college to the NFL can be challenging, as college offenses rely heavily on different elements such as running quarterbacks, tempo, and volume, while the NFL emphasizes detailed scheming and precise play calling.
While offensive schemes have been trickling up from college to the NFL, the game planning and play calling at the pro level are more intricate. Grubb stands out as a rare example of a coach without NFL experience who will have the opportunity to be a play caller in the NFL. He will face challenges, especially in the realm of protection schemes, as college protection schemes are often simplistic. Grubb will have an advantage working against complex defenses in practice, but whether he can implement a sophisticated protection scheme remains to be seen.
The influence of college offenses on the NFL has been evident, with teams adopting successful schemes such as the outside zone/play-action system. Coen, for example, implemented Sean McVay’s system at Kentucky with success, despite being overmatched talent-wise in the SEC. His experience at the college level may influence his version of the McVay system with the Buccaneers. Coaches with experience at both the college and NFL levels, like Minter and Macdonald, have been successful in adapting pro-style schemes and applying lessons from the NFL to their college defenses.
While NFL teams may borrow concepts from college schemes, the two games are fundamentally different. NFL defenses tend to play more zone technique and soft coverage compared to the aggressive match coverage seen in college. Hafley and LaFleur have indicated a shift towards spot drop defenses, with a focus on having vision on the quarterback. Hafley’s experience in the NFL, particularly with the Cover 3 system, will likely shape his defensive approach with the Packers.
Overall, the trend of hiring college coaches as coordinators in the NFL may continue, particularly as more coaches seek opportunities in the league during the name, image, and likeness era. While college experience can be valuable, there are distinct skills and strategies emphasized in the NFL, such as attacking matchups and situational play calling. Coaches who can adapt and excel at both levels, like Minter and Macdonald, may have an advantage in the ever-evolving landscape of football coaching.
