John Neal, Oregon’s DB coach for 14 years: “I think Kellen Moore is smarter than me”

[CF74]

But is he smarter than a 5th grader? Stay tuned...

 

[xwalker]

And Garrett went to Princeton.

Garrett was an English major.

Pick any random STEM major of a major university and they'll likely have a significantly higher IQ than 99% of English majors at Princeton.

 

[Cowfan75]

The similarities between the rise of Jason Garrett and Kellen Moore really are striking.

Undertalented overachievers who are easily likeable. Everyone around them remarks about how “smart” they are and how “that kid is gonna be a coach one day” and it gets repeated enough over the years that everyone starts believing it. And the result is they get thrust into a position that they are neither prepared for, nor have they proven they are qualified for.

Exactly. We have the heir apparent to Garrett. There was nothing about Garrett to really warrant being an NFL head coach, so all we heard about was how unbelievably smart he was. Now it's the same story, except Moore is even smarter! The fewer qualifications you have around here, the "smarter" you are.

 

[CPanther95]

Jerry has his spin machine in overdrive. Probably only cost him a lifetime supply of Papa John's pizzas to a dozen media and football personalities.

Getting Kellen named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive is going to cost him some serious coin though.

 

[Kaiser]

Undertalented overachievers who are easily likeable. Everyone around them remarks about how “smart” they are and how “that kid is gonna be a coach one day” and it gets repeated enough over the years that everyone starts believing it. And the result is they get thrust into a position that they are neither prepared for, nor have they proven they are qualified for.

Garrett has a winning record, how did he prove he was unqualified for this job? Because internet fans disagree with his fourth down calls?

If Tony Romo doesn't get hurt in 2015 Garrett would likely have the third best winning percentage among active head coaches.

 

[DFWJC]

I'd be surprised if anyone ever questioned Moore's football smarts.

The guy led his team to more college wins than an QB in history---and he did it all with a small stature, slow wheels and a noodle arm.
In other words, he was crazy-savvy, a great leader, and knows football.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Seriously?

Arguably the top NFL coach (Belichick) and college coach (Saban) consider DB's as their specialty. Personally, I think it's one of the hardest position to coach, as well as DB's being one of the most athletic positions in all of sports. So many coverages, reads, and techniques involved.

I think WRs are the easiest position to coach. At least technically, because dealing with diva WRs might require a psychology degree.

Bill Belichick is a LBers coach through and through.

 

[OmerV]

Then again, we are talking about Oregon.

Are you suggesting Oregan is somehow a deficient football program, and as such Neal’s comment shouldn’t carry any weight? If so, you should pay more attention to college football or at least bother looking up the facts online. Oregon has a damn good football program, not only now, but also during the time Moore was in college.

 

[Kaiser]

Pick any random STEM major of a major university and they'll likely have a significantly higher IQ than 99% of English majors at Princeton.

The lowest IQ you will find is the English Professor at LSU that taught grammar to Bryan Broaddus.

Just kidding. Mostly.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Garrett was an English major.

Pick any random STEM major of a major university and they'll likely have a significantly higher IQ than 99% of English majors at Princeton.

He was a history major.

He also transferred from Columbia to Princeton following his father who went to coach there. There likely was some favoritism involved due to it.

George W. Bush went to Yale. His family connections and not his intelligence nor anything he specifically did were likely reasons he was accepted there.

 

[Kaiser]

I'd be surprised if anyone ever questioned Moore's football smarts.

The proof Moore is qualified is that he just got hired for the job. All us armchair GMs haven't done that.

It remains to be seen whether Moore is up for the job, but every young coach who got hired into a job over the old guys was hired on their intelligence and not their track record. Its kind of funny really, what is the Front Office supposed to say? They hired him for his looks?

 

[Kaiser]

He was a history major.

And since half the players in the NFL majored in Communications, you can argue that by Varsity Athlete standards, majoring in History at Princeton is the Molecular Biology degree of jocks.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Then again, we are talking about Oregon.

State of OregonWeeeeeeeed is awesome.............

 

[Valkyr]

If Moore had the brains he has and looked like Kliff Kingsbury we would have to elect him dictator for life

 

[OmerV]

He was a history major.

He also transferred from Columbia to Princeton following his father who went to coach there. There likely was some favoritism involved due to it.

George W. Bush went to Yale. His family connections and not his intelligence nor anything he specifically did were likely reasons he was accepted there.

No, he was at Princeton first, then transferred to Columbia to play for his dad, then transferred back to Princeton after his Dad resigned at Columbia. Getting into Princeton had nothing to do with his Dad. But, even if it had happened as you indicated, it’s not as if Columbia is a second rate school. It’s also Ivy League.

 

[Runwildboys]

My only concern is that he be smarter than the defensive coordinator he faces on Sunday

Doesn't necessarily have to be smarter, just show them things they've never seen.

 

[irishline]

Garrett was an English major.

Pick any random STEM major of a major university and they'll likely have a significantly higher IQ than 99% of English majors at Princeton.

His degree is in History. Not that History is necessarily any harder than English...

"As a senior at Princeton University in 1988, Garrett was named the Ivy League’s Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American. He earned his degree in history in 1989, and moved on to the NFL as an un- drafted rookie free agent with the New Orleans Saints developmental squad"

https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/coaches-roster/jason-garrett

 

[Runwildboys]

I've met and spoke with Coach Neal several times. In fact, just saw him last weekend at a coaching clinic in Phoenix. He's a very likable, entertaining speaker. He (repeatedly) tells a story on how when he was interviewing with Nick Saban, they got into a spirited debate, with each claiming they were the "best DB coach in the country". He's a defensive analyst for UAB, who statistically had one of the best defenses in the country last year. At Oregon, he coached guys like Patrick Chung, Jairus Byrd, and Terrance Mitchell.

I can completely picture him saying this. However, before Fan Boys run with this as some sort of validation for Kellen Moore, realize that he said he thought this from observing Kellen on film, not actually talking to him. I think too many people are falling in love with the idea of Kellen Moore. There is little evidence, if any, that he is ready and worthy of being a NFL offensive coordinator at this stage in his carrier.

All true...but hearing nothing but good things is much better than hearing bad things.

 

[Fire407]

Garrett is pretty smart too.. maybe he should become a theoretical Physicist.

I wish he would.

 

[CPanther95]

Hard to believe there's this much discussion about what someone who says he is dumber than Kellen Moore thinks.