Gundy Shuffling Staff?

Can Brandon Weeden play the role of "Coach Weeden"?

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

Looks like Cowboys football coach Mike Gundy is shuffling his staff, with rumors flying about the hiring of Dana Holgorsen away from Houston, with Kliff Kingsbury possibly to follow.

Holgorsen, a former Mike Leach disciple at Texas Tech, served as Houston’s offensive coordinator. We should remember it well, for the efficiency in which the Cougars marched all over the field in Stillwater, totaling 512 yards in a 45-35 win over the Cowboys in Week 2.

As we now know, this was a pretty good OSU defense in Year 1 under Bill Young.

Kingsbury, a former star Tech quarterback, just finished his second year at Houston as quality control coach of the offense.

With confirmation yet to come, here’s some thoughts to questions I — and probably you — have had.

* Gundy must be ready to hand over play-calling duties, as Holgorsen is unlikely to make this move without full control of the attack, essentially downgrading his status.  Gundy has maintained his stance, as recently as today in the Tulsa World, that he’d continue calling plays. A smokescreen perhaps?

* Why Holgorsen? One, he’s been successful, helping elevate QB Case Keenum to Heisman contender this season. He allows a subtle shift away from the Larry Fedora-influenced offense that works best with a running quarterback. Brandon Weeden doesn’t fit the running mold and he’s the likely starter in 2010. Holgorsen’s offense should be a good fit for Weeden.

* Why Kingsbury? Who better to tutor QBs in the “Tech” offense than a guy who mastered it? Kingsbury was great at Tech, spent four years as a backup in the NFL and also spent a year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He’s young and sharp and should relate well to young QBs, which the Cowboys will have lining up for the future, with incoming recruits Johnny Deaton and Nathan Sorenson. Talk is that Gundy would like to bring him aboard, but there’s only one staff opening… at this time.

* Doing the math, who’s the odd man out? Gunter Brewer said he’s going nowhere when contacted Friday, although a switch in duties is likely in order, maybe a move back to receivers coach. That leaves current QBS coach Robert Matthews as the likely man out. It’s no secret that Brewer has been looking to get out at OSU, essentially holding a hollow title as co-offensive coordinator. For whatever reason, Gundy didn’t trust Brewer to grant him complete control of the offense. Brewer was the wide receivers coach before Fedora left for Southern Miss. He could have just been a convenient move into the co-OC spot if Gundy knew he was going to assume play-calling duties. If Brewer finds a job elsewhere — Fedora has an OC opening — Kingsbury could be added.