Washington's Offseason Shake-Up: Is Jedd Fisch Building a Championship Offense, or Just Adding Names? The college football offseason is often a whirlwind of coaching changes and roster moves, but one of the most quietly significant developments is happening at Washington. While many eyes were on the defense, head coach Jedd Fisch has been busy bolstering his offensive staff with a seasoned NFL veteran.
Let's talk about the defense first, because it's a remarkable success story. Remember Ryan Walters? He's back for another season leading the Huskies' defense, and for good reason! Last fall, in his very first year calling the defensive plays after a stint as head coach at Purdue, Walters orchestrated a unit that was nothing short of stellar. They consistently ranked among the top 15 in the nation for points allowed per game. And if you're a fan of stopping the run, you would have loved watching them – they were also the 11th best rush defense in all of college football. That's some serious defensive prowess!
Now, building on a strong 9-4 record from last year and retaining many key staff members is already impressive. But Jedd Fisch isn't stopping there. He's reportedly making a significant splash on the offensive side of the ball by bringing in a highly experienced NFL offensive coordinator. This move could signal a major shift in how the Huskies approach scoring.
The buzz is that Matt Cavanaugh, a veteran NFL assistant with a long history of calling plays in the league, is expected to join the Washington staff. This is according to reports from On3. The details suggest that this longtime NFL assistant will be stepping into a role as a senior offensive assistant. In this capacity, he'll be working incredibly closely with Head Coach Jedd Fisch himself, likely offering a wealth of strategic insight.
But who exactly is Matt Cavanaugh? His journey in football is quite extensive. A former standout quarterback at Pitt back in the mid-to-late 1970s, Cavanaugh was a 2nd round pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. He went on to have a decade-long career in the NFL, playing for storied franchises like the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants. His playing days concluded in 1991, but his involvement in football was far from over.
Immediately after hanging up his cleats, Cavanaugh transitioned into coaching. He started at his alma mater, Pitt, coaching the Panthers' tight ends for two seasons. Then, in 1994, he made the leap to the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for the Arizona Cardinals. Since then, he's been a consistent presence in the league.
His career path includes a year as the quarterbacks coach for the 49ers, followed by his first major play-calling opportunity as the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears in 1997. This led to further coordinator roles with the Baltimore Ravens (from 1999-2004). He even had a brief return to college football, serving as the offensive coordinator at Pitt from 2005-2008. After that, he headed back to the NFL, mentoring quarterbacks with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins. His most recent coordinator role was with the Washington Redskins from 2017-2018. Following that, he spent a season as a senior offensive assistant with the Redskins and then another in the same capacity with the Jets, where he was most recently involved in 2021.
This addition to the offensive staff is particularly interesting because it pairs Cavanaugh with Fisch, as well as other key offensive coaches like Michael Switzer (Offensive Line), Jordan Paopao (Tight Ends), Kevin Cummings (Wide Receivers), and Scottie Graham (Running Backs).
But here's where it gets controversial: Is bringing in a coach with such a long history in the NFL, particularly one who has had coordinator roles but also stints as an assistant, the best way to innovate and keep up with the dynamic play styles of modern college football? Or is his wealth of experience precisely what Washington needs to elevate their game and contend for championships?**
What do you think? Is this a masterstroke by Jedd Fisch, or is it a sign of a team playing it too safe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear if you agree or disagree with this strategic move!
