Andy Heck - How Good Is He?

by IrishGush on Nov 27, 2007 11:11 AM EST

First of all, good luck to you guys in your big game this Sunday.

I'm a big Notre Dame fan, and we're interested in replacing our OL coach. Sounds like Charlie Weis may be interested as well. Given that Andy Heck played at ND, has coached at the college level and is now coaching for a team running the ball very well, he's a likely target. I was wondering how good Jags fans think he is.

Some specific Q's I had: Is the running game largely because of the OL or your star running backs? What do you think Heck's impact has been? How well have they protected the QB - considering that Garrard is particularly mobile and Leftwich particularly immobile? Have they looked well-coached - fundamentally sound, without many penalties, not blowing assignments, improving over the year? How would you feel about losing Heck?

Thanks for your help. Any insight to a team I and other ND fans rarely see will be welcomed.

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I'd be crushed...

Andy Heck has done a "heck of a job", no pun intended.

When he took over the O-line job in 2006, we had our best year rushing (2541 yds) and only 30 sacks (2nd lowest in Team History!). He's dealt with injuries and off the field problems and still protected both Leftwich and Garrard. He's made a line of interchangeable parts that made the adjustment quickly from a statue in the pocket to a very mobile quaterback.

The biggest sign of Heck's awesomeness is his ability to get the Offensive Line to run block like their life depends on it. Jacksonville is known as a physical running team, and that entire identity comes from their O-line.

So yeah, He's a damn fine coach, one of the top three on the Jags assistant staff (behind Mike Smith the Defensive Coordinator and Kennedy Pola (Running Backs).

I don't know if he'd want to go back to College with as well as his unit performs in the NFL. He's got a promotion in his future at the NFL level for sure.

So there you go, I hope that helps!

(but I really don't want to see him go...)

-Chris

p.s. Welcome to the Site!

Jags Blogger for SB Nation Big Cat Country!

by River City Rage on Nov 27, 2007 5:29 PM EST reply actions