Editor’s note: Information in this story appeared earlier in the Orange Football Extras newsletter, delivered straight to readers’ inboxes Monday morning. Start receiving the newsletter by clicking here.
Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse head coach Fran Brown has spent the past couple of weeks lamenting the fact that his team didn’t adjust its offense faster after losing starting quarterback Steve Angeli.
The season might have Syracuse fans thinking back fondly on former offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who, when faced with similar circumstances, broke out a run-heavy offense that utilized tight end Dan Villari at quarterback and allowed the Orange to win a game and play somewhat competitive football despite lacking a quality passer late in the 2023 season.
Across the country at Utah, Beck is showing off again, piloting one of the best offenses in the country for head coach Kyle Whittingham this season.
Utah’s offensive unit ranks sixth in scoring offense, averaging 41.1 points per game, and 10th in total offense, averaging 477.8 yards per game.
Utah is second in the country in rushing yards per game with 278.4, trailing only Navy.
Beck coached last season at New Mexico, helping the Lobos to a 5-7 record. It was the team’s best record since 2016, landing him the job in Utah. Now he’s duplicating that effort at the Power-Four level.
As is typical with Beck, Utah is using a dual-threat option at quarterback. Beck brought his starting quarterback, Devon Dampier, with him.
Utah is 8-2 and ranked No. 13 in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll. With two league losses, the Utes seem likely to be one of the final teams omitted from the College Football Playoff.
Still, it’s been a tremendous year for the former Syracuse assistant coach. Beck spent one year as a quarterback coach at SU and one as an offensive coordinator.
He’s one of many former Syracuse coaches having successful seasons in either college or the NFL this year.
Here’s a look at some of the others:
Clark Lea/Steve Gregory, Vanderbilt: The head coach and defensive coordinator have helped author one of the best stories in college football this season, keeping the Commodores in the mix for a College Football Playoff appearance with just two games remaining.
Vanderbilt is ranked No. 12 in the country at 8-2. It is also likely to be on the outside of the CFP picture, but with its final game at Tennessee, Vanderbilt does have another chance to impress the committee.
Lea was a linebackers coach at Syracuse for three seasons under Scott Shafer, while Gregory was a quality control assistant for one. Gregory was also a star defensive back for the Orange under Paul Pasqualoni and Greg Robinson.
Vanderbilt is tied for 48th in the country allowing 22.2 points per game and 57th in total defense allowing 357.2 yards per game.
There are some lessons in their effort to turn a doormat into a contender that seem applicable to Syracuse.
Doug Marrone, offensive line coach, New England Patriots: Syracuse’s former head coach is the offensive line coach with the New England Patriots, the surprise leaders in the AFC East ahead of the Buffalo Bills.
The line play in New England has been solid, especially holding up for quarterback Drake Maye, one of the NFL’s breakout stars.
New England’s PFF grade for pass-blocking ranks ninth, while its run blocking is 22nd. At 9-2, the Patriots are tied for the best record in the NFL.
Ross Douglas, wide receivers coach, Oregon: Douglas left Syracuse after one season under Brown to join one of college football’s New Blood (as opposed to blueblood) programs.
The Ducks targeted Douglas and even paid Syracuse a buyout in order to get him to Eugene.
Oregon stands poised to make the College Football Playoff this season and has the 55th-ranked pass offense in the country (241.8 yards per game).
Syracuse has already fired his replacement, Myles White.
Brian Ward, defensive coordinator, Arizona State: Arizona State has survived an injury to starting quarterback Sam Leavitt seven games into the season and is still 7-3.
The former SU defensive coordinator, who was brought on and eventually fired by Dino Babers, seems to have done his part.
The Sun Devils rank 62nd in the country, allowing 23.6 points per game, and 46th in total defense, allowing 343.3 yards per game.
Ward was also with Arizona State last year when it qualified for the College Football Playoff.
Tim Lester, offensive coordinator, Iowa: Lester’s unit has struggled in Iowa’s four losses, but he has upgraded the Hawkeyes offensively so that they are no longer one of the biggest jokes in college football.
Iowa is 6-4 against a very difficult schedule.
It is ranked 62nd in the country in points per game with 28.7 but just 116th in total offense with 310.2 yards per game.
Iowa’s losses are to Indiana, Oregon, Southern California and Iowa State. Lester was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator under Scott Shafer and helped the Orange land quarterback Eric Dungey.
Tony White, defensive coordinator, Florida State: It’s been a bad year for the Seminoles but that doesn’t seem to be the fault of the former Syracuse defensive coordinator, even if some crazed FSU fans sent him death threats earlier this season.
Florida State is just 5-5 but actually ranks 27th in the country in total defense, allowing just 322 yards per game. It is tied for 29th nationally in scoring defense, surrendering just 20.3 points per game.
White’s unit has endured a pair of really poor performances against Virginia (46 points allowed) and Pittsburgh (34 points) that are certainly below FSU standards.
It’s unclear if head coach Mike Norvell will be retained after this season, meaning his staff’s future is likely uncertain, too.
White was a defensive coordinator for Syracuse under Dino Babers.
George McDonald, wide receivers coach, Ole Miss: McDonald’s stint as an offensive coordinator under Shafer failed, but he remains regarded as one of the top wide receivers coaches and recruiters in the country.
He has coached the past two years at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin, coaching the wide receivers that helped New York Giants draft pick Jaxson Dart last season.
The Rebels are in position to make the College Football Playoff.
Justin Lustig, special teams coordinator/nickels, Penn State: Former Penn State head coach James Franklin has already been fired, throwing the future of his entire staff into question.
Lustig doesn’t seem like he’s the problem and it will be interesting to see if he joins Franklin at Virginia Tech.
Penn State is tied with Nebraska for the highest special teams grade in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Nittany Lions did allow a key onside kick against UCLA in an upset loss that hastened the end of the Franklin era.
Lustig coached special teams for Syracuse for two years under Babers.
Tim Daoust, defensive line coach, Pittsburgh: A former position coach under Shafer, Daoust continues to produce solid defensive linemen for the Panthers.
Pittsburgh was blown out by Notre Dame on Saturday but has enjoyed a good year and remains in the ACC championship mix with two games left.
The Panthers allow just 90.3 rushing yards per game, second in the ACC.
DeAndre Smith, running backs coach, Indianapolis Colts: Life is good when you’re coaching Jonathan Taylor.
The star running back for the Colts is leading the NFL in rushing yards by more than 150 over Buffalo’s James Cook III.
Smith, who coached running backs under Shafer, has played a role in it. The Colts are 8-2 and sit just a half-game behind New England and Denver in the AFC.
Siriki Diabate, linebackers coach, UConn: A former linebacker and graduate assistant coach at Syracuse, Diabate has been part of Jim Mora’s staff for four seasons.
Connecticut has been surprisingly competitive the past few years under Mora and is 8-3 on the season. The Huskies rank 69th nationally allowing 24.09 points per game and 83rd in total defense allowing 388.3 yards per game.
Bob Ligashesky, special teams coordinator, Minnesota: Syracuse’s special teams coordinator for two years under Babers, Ligashesky’s unit at Minnesota ranks No. 3 in special teams PFF grade.
The Golden Gophers are 6-4.
Nick Monroe, defensive backs coach, Minnesota: Once considered Syracuse’s connection for Florida-based recruits, Monroe is also coaching with the Golden Gophers this year.
Minnesota’s defense ranks 38th in the country, allowing just 331.4 yards per game. It is tied for 62nd in scoring defense, surrendering 23.6 points per game.
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