Is the Jeff Grimes hire enough to save BYU Football?

After a disappointing 2017 season, BYU football looks to turn their fortunes around.  Can Jeff Grimes be the solution to last year’s football woes?

There has been a “sky is falling” attitude running through Cougar Nation ever since the debacle of 2017 began. Overreactions are everywhere, like wanting to join a G5 conference, weaken the difficult schedules, or even search for a new head coach. Most of it comes from rivals (Ute and Aggie fans).

Although things aren’t as bad as they seem, some improvements are definitely necessary to dig the Cougars out of the hole they put themselves into last season.

It won’t be easy.

When head coach Kalani Sitake made the decision to fire offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, he made a bold move. Perhaps no player in BYU football history is more associated with the program or it’s success than the former Heisman Trophy winner.

In fact, other than LaVell Edwards himself, Detmer is the first person who comes to mind when many people think about BYU football. His hire was a way of preserving the past and easing the minds of fans, while introducing the wave of change after Bronco Mendenhall announced that he was leaving.

Despite the unsuccessful offense, many Cougar followers are still distraught about the action. Because of this, Kalani Sitake clearly understands that anything less that a bowl appearance in 2018, might cost him his job.

Detail and Precision

And though it may have seemed rash, his decision to hire Jeff Grimes was not a poor one. In reality, it may be one the best choices he could ever make.  Honestly, like many writers, I didn’t even consider him as an option to be the next offense coordinator, because I thought he was out of the Cougars’ league.

Jeff Grimes is arguably the biggest coaching get the university has ever obtained. Many experts and analysts recognize Grimes as the best offensive line coach in the nation. Watching LSU game film makes it easy to see why.

Obviously, they crushed the Cougar defensive front in last year’s contest, in spite of being a relatively inexperienced group. But it was against the likes of Alabama, Mississippi State, and Auburn that really showcased just how elite they were.

The Tigers lost to the Crimson Tide, but it was because of other deficiencies on the field. When it came to the O-line play, most would agree, LSU handled an Alabama D-line that was considered to be the best in the nation.

Attention to detail, sound technique, and precise execution are all notable trademarks of his well coached offensive lines.  These priorities have manifested themselves in every group Grimes has ever directed.

It’s Been Done Before

Now, the question is, can Grimes’s success in that area of the field transfer to coordinating an entire offense? That’s a tough one, but a look into Cougar history can help a little with finding an answer.

In 2005, Robert Anae came to Provo as a successful offensive line coach from Texas Tech. He arrived with ideas and concepts of Mike Leach’s Air-Raid offense. He was also met with skepticism by the fanbase.

Despite the reluctant reception, his offense proved to be effective from the start. For example, the prior offense in 2004 totaled 267 points with 3,075 yards passing, and 1,164 rushing yards. In comparison, Anae’s first year the offense tallied 396 points with 3,716 yards through the air, and 1,824 yards on the ground.

And things would only get better for Anae in the future.

Grimes is in the exact same position that Anae was in 2005. Of course, Jeff Grimes is not Robert Anae, but this demonstrates that someone making the transition has found success before.

Some feel that because of his lack of experience, Grimes is doomed to fail at this attempt. Coordinating is coordinating, and those who do it well in one aspect, usually find a way to do the same in another. Coordinating an offensive line is no simple task.

Grimes has plenty of experience doing that. Not only has he done it well, but he’s done it in the best conference with the best competition, for years. He’s even led one of his groups to a national championship.

Sure, the talent level is a little different, but he has made it clear that it shouldn’t be a problem.  Grimes states, “We have plenty of talent here. It’s not about the talent we have right here.”  Certainly, he feels he has what he needs to be successful, or he wouldn’t have said it, or taken the job for that matter.

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Been Here, Done That

Another unique positive on Grimes’s resume, is that he’s already coached before in Provo.  He was a member of Gary Crowton’s staff  in 2004, and then retained by Bronco Mendenhall to assist for two more seasons from 2005-2006.

During this time, he was a part of a complete turnaround of the BYU football program. In addition to invaluable experience, he also gained an understanding of the culture, issues that arise from the honor code, and the university’s relationship with the church that sponsors it.

All of these factors qualify Grimes as a perfect candidate to not only return the Cougars to their prolific offenses, but to take them to new heights.  This alone should have fans at least optimistic, if not excited about the future.

So, once again, can Jeff Grimes turn around the offense and save BYU football from their current situation?  I can’t think of a better prepared individual to take on the task.