**Official** New Auburn OL coach Herb Hand

[doc4aday 1,887]

Interesting note according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com: Hand had to convert two defensive linemen to offensive linemen this year at Penn State. That had a lot to do with their difficulties.

Interesting note according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com: Hand had to convert two defensive linemen to offensive linemen this year at Penn State. That had a lot to do with their difficulties.

We did this a lot during CTT time at Auburn. It used to aggravate me a lot when we did this, but most of the time it turned out good. I see better days ahead for sure.

[AuburnSpider 2]

Anybody know if he's put anyone in the the league.

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Interesting note according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com: Hand had to convert two defensive linemen to offensive linemen this year at Penn State. That had a lot to do with their difficulties.

Interesting note according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com: Hand had to convert two defensive linemen to offensive linemen this year at Penn State. That had a lot to do with their difficulties.

We did this a lot during CTT time at Auburn. It used to aggravate me a lot when we did this, but most of the time it turned out good. I see better days ahead for sure.

This would drive me crazy. We did not recruit enough solid OL so we would move them over to DL. Reminds me of how we always have QBs as our WRs to a lesser extent... and they struggle catching.

[McLoofus 35,182]

Interesting note according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com: Hand had to convert two defensive linemen to offensive linemen this year at Penn State. That had a lot to do with their difficulties.

We did this a lot during CTT time at Auburn. It used to aggravate me a lot when we did this, but most of the time it turned out good. I see better days ahead for sure.

This would drive me crazy. We did not recruit enough solid OL so we would move them over to DL. Reminds me of how we always have QBs as our WRs to a lesser extent... and they struggle catching.

Actually, what he's saying and what happened was that we moved DLs to OL. And it was done intentionally, IIRC, because the occasional DL who wasn't athletic enough to play on that side in D1 was still more athletic and nastier than a lot of the OL recruits.

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Interesting note according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com: Hand had to convert two defensive linemen to offensive linemen this year at Penn State. That had a lot to do with their difficulties.

We did this a lot during CTT time at Auburn. It used to aggravate me a lot when we did this, but most of the time it turned out good. I see better days ahead for sure.

This would drive me crazy. We did not recruit enough solid OL so we would move them over to DL. Reminds me of how we always have QBs as our WRs to a lesser extent... and they struggle catching.

Actually, what he's saying and what happened was that we moved DLs to OL. And it was done intentionally, IIRC, because the occasional DL who wasn't athletic enough to play on that side in D1 was still more athletic and nastier than a lot of the OL recruits.

Yep - I actually just typed it wrong. I said we we did not recruit enough OL; I should have added thaty we would move them over to the OL.

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Anyone know if he is going to be coming over as the CO-OC or OL only?

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

Herb Hand, who has been James Franklin's offensive line coach at both Vanderbilt and Penn State, is headed toward a deal with Auburn according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke with USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not final.

The opening at Auburn was created Monday when offensive line coach J.B. Grimes accepted the job at Cincinnati, according to Al.com

Hand and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn worked together at Tulsa in 2007-08 and have remained close friends ever since. Hand is otherwise known for his appearance on the television show Chopped.

His departure will be the third off Franklin's staff in recent weeks, including both coordinator positions. Bob Shoop left Penn State for Tennessee during the weekend.

http://www.usatoday....uburn/78640382/

Re: his Chopped episode,

"During the episode Hand mentioned the importance of preparation, mentioning how he tried to create a scouting report on each judge and figure out what he'd do with certain unique ingredients before competing."

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2014/06/penn_states_herb_hand_makes_fo.html

[RunInRed 16,409]

http://onwardstate.com/2016/01/11/reports-herb-hand-named-offensive-line-coach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

[ToraGirl 5,498]

Does anyone remember Herby Hancock or Handcock? He was a great jazz musician from what I remember. I do think CHH will help a lot with running our spread offense. Did PSU run a spread offense similar to ours? I am happy with the hire and do think he will hit the ground running with recruiting. Now that our staff is pretty much intact, recruiting will keep going strong.

I do see James Franklin in a much worse situation than we are in. Actually, I think we are on the road to a better overall team that will kick some fanny in 2016.

HERBIE! "Rock It"!!

[ToraGirl 5,498]

http://onwardstate.c...oach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

Sounds like some of their cousins live close to us.

[McLoofus 35,182]

http://onwardstate.c...oach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

I see 3 assistants are gone. Sounds like maybe there's a James Franklin problem.

[TheBlueVue 177]

http://onwardstate.c...oach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

Your post is departing from the "great hire" love fest and the "reasons" PSU o-line sucked. I dont know and dont really care, I just hope we dont give up 44 or 39 sacks next year like his line did the last 2 years. Thats all.

[ToraGirl 5,498]

http://onwardstate.c...oach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

I see 3 assistants are gone. Sounds like maybe there's a James Franklin problem.

Good point!

[johnnyAU 3,630]

PSU still hasn't recovered from the sanctions and image problems. Hand's a good coach. So is Franklin. Tough place to be successful right now.

[WarEagle231 52]

I'm excited about the hire because it brings in someone else with the experience of putting together offensive schemes and game plans. Herb Hand is a master of scheming the running game. He's been a running game coordinator for 6+ years and gotten some really impressive results over that time frame. I see this as a huge asset because I don't think that there is anyone on staff currently who brings that experience and insight. I believe Gus really values HH's expertise and advice when it comes to offensive play calling and strategy. The two years they were together they created offensive magic.

[Tiger 8,826]

Can we phase Lashlee out and utilize Hand and Craig's abilities rather than have an underqualified guy who's holding 1 of the 2 most non-HC positions on staff?

[NoALtiger 3,862]

Good hire IMO.

[RunInRed 16,409]

Some of the PSU FB comments:

[AU64 10,122]

http://onwardstate.c...oach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

Well, most Penn Staters still think that Joe Paterno was a good guy who got a bad deal.

http://onwardstate.com/2015/04/01/april-fools-university-source-joe-paterno-statue-melted-down-for-rodney-a-erickson-food-science-building/

This is a school run by yankee versions of bammers.....JMO

[WarEagle231 52]

Interesting reads about Herb Hand:

Overview of his offensive approach when he was Offensive Coordinator at Tulsa without Gus

http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/07/herb-hand-will-eat-your-babies.html

Quote from Gus:

On the Tulsa football staff think tank -- Arizona State head coach Todd Graham, Malzahn, Penn State OL coach Herb Hand, Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenship, Arizona State OC Mike Norvell and Texas A&M OC Jake Spavital were GAs). "That was my first experience. Todd Graham is a brilliant mind. Herb Hand deserves a lot of credit for what we did at Tulsa. He brought some of that West Virginia element to what we were doing. That was a good staff. I was still trying to establish myself as a college coach. A lot of questions with would this offense work? 2007 and 2008 kind of answered that question."

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jeremy-fowler/24530719/Raiderman69

Interesting find - Not sure but this seems to say that the play calling sheet Gus uses was created by Herb Hand

http://hogxando.blogspot.com/2014/07/malzahn-play-calling.html

As others have mentioned Herb Hand is an expert at the Zone Read

“When I was a head coach my second year that I ever coached in high school, I bought the Delaware Wing-T book,” Malzahn said. “I was kind of a gap-oriented coach early on. We added the zone. Then I got with Herb Hand when we went to Tulsa. He was very versed on the zone read, all that. We kind of blended some things together, each year just kind of tried to tweak it and really tried to build our offense around our quarterback each year.”

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/auburn-coach-has-deep-roots-in-high-school-football/article_4ea512e4-7571-5de4-afe1-14677065d715.html

[AUwent 3,749]

RiR: Hopefully just a byproduct of the sanctions.

[RunInRed 16,409]

http://onwardstate.c...oach-at-auburn/

TIFWIW - Most Penn Staters are happy to see him go - they were calling for his head all season.

Well, most Penn Staters still think that Joe Paterno was a good guy who got a bad deal.

http://onwardstate.c...ience-building/

This is a school run by yankee versions of bammers.....JMO

[Maverick.AU 13,279]

Well while Penn State's OL stats looks atrocious, the PSU writers said Hand was in a terrible position last year and shouldn't be at fault. As said earlier, this year they had to do some shuffling and move DL to OL, plus injuries. Add that with an inconsistent WR core like PSU seemed to have and you'll have a crap offense.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

Honestly, this should have DCs across the SEC nervous. Having Gus back with the man who helped him develop the offense that he used to go to 2 national championships could be a huge boon for us and a nightmare for them. I loved coach Grimes, but Hand could really be a game changer for us... and could also take some of the pressure off of Gus letting him get back to his old offensive genius self.

I see this as a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

[TitanTiger 20,482]

Well while Penn State's OL stats looks atrocious, the PSU writers said Hand was in a terrible position last year and shouldn't be at fault. As said earlier, this year they had to do some shuffling and move DL to OL, plus injuries. Add that with an inconsistent WR core like PSU seemed to have and you'll have a crap offense.

FWIW, O'Brien left them with little to nothing on the OL. Hand had to convert two defensive linemen in 2014 to offensive linemen just to get by. He did sign two 4-star OL in the 2015 class but obviously those guys would have been true freshmen this past season.