Photo by Girth Brooks
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
It appears Coach Ed Orgeron is closing in on the two leaders of LSU's next gen offensive staff, interviewing Carolina's Jake Peetz and D.J Mangas.
Both are friends and colleagues of the legendary Carolina OC Joe Brady, with Coach Orgeron letting us know on Off The Bench "these are my top two guys".
Orgeron also revealed how Joe Brady "highly recommended" the pair for the gigs during an over the phone conversation with Orgeron assistant Derek Ponamsky.
Now, this author of LSU ODYSSEY reports the two blew the room away during their interviews, showcasing an in-depth knowledge of LSU's 2019 offense but with a specifically developed plan for how to maximize the 2021 squad to its utmost.
They both pleased Orgeron with their preference for offensive balance, their versatility and innovation, especially Peetz:
"Peetz was diagramming stuff Joe Burrow did in 2019, but then saying this is how we can run it with Myles or Max or Nussmeier...Mangas is definitely more of a complimentary figure in this set-up, however his expertise has only expanded since he left LSU in January 2020 with Joe Brady. I feel both Peetz & Mangus together will be a stellar duo, but O is all over them...it's more than X's & O's, they like these guys...."
I'm hearing from this same employee source (within the interviewing process) that LSU are prepared to offer deals in the next few days, Peetz making nearly 1.5 to 2 million per year while Mangas would garner just under a million per season, not bad for either side.
For Peetz, the move would be normal for him...he's already dropped two NFL jobs to take analyst gigs at the collegiate ranks...I guarantee you will he will have no hesitation leaving for a coordinator position.
And LSU aren't hesitating either when looking at his intriguing resume: two stints at Alabama (first in 2013, then again during 2018 with Tua, losing a National Championship Game) as an offensive analyst under Saban, coaching Raiders' QB Derek Carr to the Pro Bowl and Carolina RB Christian McCaffery to league-leading numbers in touchdowns, receptions and all purpose yards.
We've seen him as a running backs coach, an offensive analyst, a QBs coach...he's been around the game enough, yet still has the same curiosity, innovation and humility to his makeup that was identified within Joe Brady...although the two men are different cats....Peetz is older for one thing...
As for D.J Mangas, his longtime friendship with Joe Brady has helped him once again, returning the Carolina assistant to Baton Rouge only 12 months after leaving and 24 months following his first arrival as a green young staffer from William & Mary.
Brady and Mangas played wide receiver together at William & Mary's, with Mangas catching 5 TDs, 500+ yards and 45 passes during his senior year. Besides a WR, Mangas also played quarterback or running back, then went immediately into graduate assistant coaching for William & Mary.
He coached the running backs from 2014-2016 (including a pair of RBs who ascended to the top 5 all time William & Mary rushing marks under Mangas) before being trusted with the offensive coordinator role following the 2016 season, becoming the second youngest Division I OC in college football's history.
Mangas' resume stands alone well outside of the Joe Brady tie and I expect him to do far better than Linehan obviously, but is he elite enough to carve SEC defenses and take advantage of LSU's plentiful mismatches???
Peetz & Mangas....the Dream Team???
So....what do y'all think Tiger fans?
I'm told it's done: LSU WANT PEETZ, MANGAS & CALLAWAY AS AN OFFENSIVE CREW...
LET'S GEAUX
BLACK LIVES MATTER
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
SHOUTOUTS: Game of thrones is such a crazy show. Blows my damn mind. Also, thank you so much to Renee, Susan Brignac and last but not least CLAYETH....I LOVE YA CLAYETH!!!