NC State is going to make a major coaching change after all. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada is out, per an initial report from Sports Illustrated's Thayer Evans that was later confirmed by the athletics department. Canada served as offensive coordinator at NC State for the last three seasons.
This is some questionable timing, to say the least. Parting ways with a coordinator after the major coaching transition period in early-to-mid-December seems like a bad idea. Further, NC State was only days ago touting the Wolfpack offense's "third best scoring average in school history," which it achieved this past season.
It's also surprising given Canada's history with Dave Doeren, dating back to their time together at Northern Illinois. The two seemed to be a good fit in terms of philosophy. Canada signed a three-year extension with NC State in January.
With that said, NC State's offense did regress in some ways this season. Production on a per-play basis dipped, and at times Canada was inexplicably disinterested in finding opportunities for tight end David Grinnage or Jaylen Samuels. Samuels got only four touches in the Belk Bowl--two of which resulted in touchdowns--and Grinnage caught only two passes, which may have crystallized the decision.
Canada was expensive--he was among the highest-paid coordinators in the league, before his extension last January. That could have been a factor as well, but no doubt it cost State more money to fire him now than it did before the school gave him a new contract.
We'll see where this goes. I'm skeptical but open to change. Timing just seems weird.
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