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After days of speculation and rumors, the news is official: Cal’s Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti has left to assume the same role at Pittsburgh.
Cignetti served as Cal’s offensive coordinator for the 2008 season, assuming most of the playcalling duties from Head Coach Jeff Tedford. Cignetti was officially introduced as Pittsburgh’s new OC just a few hours ago.
I mentioned this in one of my comments the other day, but this is big blow for the Bears. Not so much because Cignetti was an amazing coordinator (although he was solid and seemed to be on the same page with Coach Tedford’s offensive philosophies), but rather because losing an OC this late in the preseason, with spring camp only being weeks away, certainly provides a big hurdle for the Bears.
While I don’t doubt Tedford’s ability to find an OC, the biggest question is how quickly he’ll be able to bring one in, and more importantly, how quickly the team will be able to learn to soak up the new offensive system. Given the emerging quarterback battle, and the need for consistency in a passing game that uncharacteristically sputtered last year, stability on the offensive side of the ball is absolutely critical.
It will be interesting to see where Tedford goes from here. Whether he’ll promote internally, or quickly look for a proven coordinator or an emerging offensive mind. He may even go back to calling the plays himself, but given the improvement in the team’s chemistry last year, with Tedford’s added involvement in all the units, I’d be surprised if that would be the case.
This also makes for the second coaching change to Cal’s offensive coaching staff, after stalwart Offensive Line Coach Jim Michalczik left the Bears to assume the Offensive Coordinator position at Washington late last year, before joining Tom Cable’s staff with the Oakland Raiders as the offensive line coach there.
On an interesting note, this will be Cignetti’s 6th coaching gig in the last 9 years. Welcome to the world of the coaching carousel.
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