Too early to say if Gundy will call plays

By Mike Baldwin

Published: February 29, 2008

Gundy had the final say on play-calling in an Insight Bowl win over Indiana. He took over those duties after offensive coordinator Larry Fedora was named head coach at Southern Mississippi weeks before the bowl game.

"I'm not going to say it was easy,” Gundy said. "It took a lot of time. But it was enjoyable. I was glad I did it.

"But it's not about me. It's about, as a head coach, do you take something away from one area of your team if you decide to be a play-caller? That's what I'm concerned with.”

Gundy has named Gunter Brewer and Trooper Taylor, who was hired in December, as co-offensive coordinators. But it's uncertain who will call plays Aug. 30 in the season opener against Washington State.

"It's too early to say right now,” Gundy said. "We'll see how things go this spring. (This summer) we'll evaluate where we're at as a staff, how things went through the spring.”

Brewer, who coached receivers the past three years, will now coach quarterbacks.

"Like the bowl game, everybody will have a piece of the pie, run game, pass game,” Brewer said. "Everybody in this offense has vital input. The good thing is you don't have to deal with a game plan right now. We'll just try to get better this spring.”

Taylor, who was on Tennessee's staff the past four years, will coach wide receivers.

"When new guys come in, naturally there will be some change,” Taylor said. "But for the most part I'm smart enough to see if it's not broke, don't fix it. They were pretty darn good.”

The offense will remain the same no-huddle, spread formation Fedora installed three years ago. Coaches will use the same terminology.

"I'm not trying to come in and change anything,” Taylor said. "The big thing for me as co-coordinator is we put the best product on the field... I tell people, everybody brings their own flavor to the table and we'll have the best Kool-Aid in America.”

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