Muschamp signals change. What might help Gamecocks in 2020

The 2019 season did not go well for South Carolina, and a large part of that can be attributed to an anemic offense.

On December 1, head coach Will Muschamp announced staff changes with offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon being demoted back to being only the wide receiver coach, and quarterbacks coach Dan Werner being released.

He also announced head strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman was out.

The move is a good decision by Muschamp, with the offense never eclipsing the 30-point mark outside of a 72-10 win over FCS-level Charleston Southern.

I'm not going to even pretend to know who to pick for strength and conditioning. Nor am I qualified (being a former sports journalist, being a healthy gym rat is not a trope that goes with the profession).

In today's era of college football that puts a premium on points, and has adjusted the rules to favor scoring, averaging less than 28 points per game is dreadful. Carolina averaged 22.4 over the season, and scored a combined 24 in its final three games against Appalachian State, Texas A&M and Clemson.

Injuries played a role in that production as the season went on, but the offense was troubled from the start after a bad showing against North Carolina to start the year. Something had to change.

What is known moving forward is that Muschamp will be hiring an offensive coordinator who also coaches quarterbacks. He may also be looking for a receiver coach, if McClendon decides to move on to new ventures as well.

It will also be his third offensive coordinator in Columbia.

The popular names are Florida State offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and former Arkansas head coach Chad Morris. Morris is of course coming off a termination earlier this year, you can read about here.

If neither of those two accept the job, here are six names to potentially watch for not many are talking about. These names are not in any particular order. And of note, no, former Boston College head coach Steve Addazio is not on the list, despite previously working for Muschamp when he was at Florida.

Note, salaries are courtesy this report from USA Today, here.

Kerwin Bell, South Florida
Bell came on the market after the staff at South Florida was informed head coach Charlie Strong was not coming back. Bell runs a pro-style offense, something Muschamp likes, and has a wining pedigree after being the head coach at Valdosta State.

Bell may be a candidate for the South Florida coaching job, and his offense finished 112th in the country this year.

Jeff Lebby, Central Florida
The Golden Knights have been a power house outside the Power 5, and have had consistent offense. Lebby has piloted an offense ranked No. 7 in the country and is averaging 43 points per game. Would also likely increase a recruiting footprint in Florida for the Gamecocks. His school salary of $200,000 likely means South Carolina could get him for a relative bargain.

Mike Bobo, Colorado State
The head coach at Colorado State has gone 28-35 in five seasons, with his last two years ending with 3-9 and 4-8 marks, respectively. Bobo, like Mushcamp, is a Georgia alum, and also groomed Matthew Stafford, Aaron Murray and David Greene while his time as offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs.

Bobo is hampered on two fronts: One, would a head coach voluntarily move down to be an offensive coordinator, and move for a coach who will likely face a make or break year? Two, his buyout which would fall to $3 million on Jan. 1, 2020. If Carolina hired him before the turn of the new year, that buyout is $5.5 million.

Brad Glenn, Georgia State
Glenn has helped oversee the growth of the relatively new program and has an offense in the top 45 in the country. Glenn has shown the ability to do more with less, has averaged 32.4 points per game, and would likely come at an affordable price tag.

He has been at GSU for just this year, so his recruiting ties aren't entirely known, but one would think he can continue the Gamecocks' staff push into Georgia, specifically south Georgia were Muschamp and company have found some success in pulling talent outside the hyper competitive metro-Atlanta area.

Charlie Frye, Central Michigan
Frye has led the 41st best offense in the country, averaging just shy of 33 points per game, and has been in a conference where high-scoring affairs are the norm. The former Akron QB was also a consultant and director of player development at Florida from 2015-2017, and was an offensive coordinator at the high school level in Florida from 2012-2015.

Matt Kubik, UL Monroe
I know, it is a Sunbelt team. Kubik does face elite talent on defense, but I would argue South Carolina lost to a Sunbelt team this year, and if your coach understands scheme and can develop, that will translate up.

Monroe is just inside the top 50 in offense this year, averaging 31.6 points per game, and the former Lousiana Tech quarterback has run this offense the last few years.

Kubik is likely the most affordable, with a current salary of $120,000.

A wildcard to potentially look for:
Kalen DeBoer, Indiana
Not known for its prowess on the football field, Indiana has seen improvement under DeBoer in his first year with the Hoosiers. Indiana has its first winning record since 2007, and having the 44th best offense likely helped that.

His experience having to find under the radar talent and face more established programs, such as Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan, and having some success would translate to South Carolina.

DeBoer would likely come with a $1 million price tag, with his current contract at $800,000 per year.

No matter who is selected, this is the pivotal hire for Muschamp as it pertains to his tenure as head coach in Columbia. Defense has not been the problem, giving up only 26 points per game this year, and an improved offense would likely get South Carolina back into a bowl game.

Overall improvement with seven to eight wins would likely save Muschamp his job.

Another sub .500 year though, and Carolina will be hopping on the coaching carousel again, but this time, it will be looking for a new head coach, its fourth official coach since 2015.