Very important statement by Sawvel imo.
"It needs to be somebody who has a strong versatility in the run game,"
Sawvel said of his own requirements in an OC back in early December. "We have to help our offensive line. We have to be able to utilize angles and motions and formations and to be able to try to create advantages for us, numerically, at times."
The offensive schemes that Wyoming under Johnson had utilized put us in a reactive mod as to what is happening with the way defenses have been attacking us. We need to be more proactive in our offensive schemes to keep defenses more honest.
People have also been blaming Tripodi and the OL for many of the offensive woes, and to me it is clearly evident that Sawvel does not blame Tripodi and the way that the OL has performed in a large part. The OL was overwhelmed many times during the season, but I feel many of the issues were due to poor scheming by the OC. Secondly, the play of Anderson did no favors for the OL. I was just looking at the roster to see what the returning OL players looked like and really, we don't look that bad. Our biggest issue with the OL will be to find a Center to take Walsh's place. The second would be to fill Barnett's position.
I would imagine the even though Coach Taylor will not be leaving the Bills until their season has ended, I would be very surprised if he was working really hard in helping Sawvel and his staff get the players that they need thru the Transfer Portal.
Sawvel has already mentioned that he hoped to get from the Transfer Portal:
a QB, a couple of OL guys, a WR, a running back or two I believe and now needs a DT, since Samsula has announced, rats! We will also probably be looking at a couple of DB's at least, and maybe LB. I am wondering what the players reaction has been to the announcement? I would imagine that the two most excited players about the hire of Taylor are Mason Drube and Taylor Hasselbeck.
Next year's success will largely be determined imo by how well UW does in the Transfer Portal.