I asked Grok who calls the offensive plays at Lamar. I have no idea how accurate this is.
**Ryan McCarthy, Lamar University's offensive coordinator since March 2025, favors a balanced, high-scoring scheme rooted in his Northeast Conference experience, emphasizing explosive plays, quarterback mobility, and efficient execution to maximize points and yards.** Drawing from his time at the University at Albany (2008–2013 as OC) and Central Connecticut State (2015–2018 as OC), where his units led the NEC in scoring multiple times—such as CCSU's 33.8 points per game in 2018—McCarthy's play-calling prioritizes versatility over complexity. His offenses averaged over 400 yards per game in peak seasons, setting records in rushing touchdowns and receiving yards, which suggests a preference for multifaceted attacks that leverage personnel strengths.
### Key Elements of McCarthy's Play-Calling Style:
- **Run Game Focus with Gap and Zone Schemes**: McCarthy builds around a physical yet agile ground attack, often using power gap runs (like counter and trap concepts) to create creases for backs, combined with zone reads to exploit defensive edges. At CCSU, his teams ranked high in rushing efficiency, with tailbacks like David McCarty amassing over 4,200 career yards. This carries over to Lamar, where early 2025 spring reports highlight integrating mobile quarterbacks into read-option elements for added threat.
- **Quick, High-Percentage Passing Concepts**: As a former quarterbacks coach for over a decade, McCarthy stresses rhythm throws—slants, outs, and screens—to protect the QB and sustain drives. His Albany offenses produced all-time leaders in receptions (e.g., Ryan Kirchner's 172 catches), indicating a horizontal stretch via spread formations. Deep shots emerge from play-action off the run game, but the core is short-to-intermediate routes that hit 60–70% completion rates.
- **RPO Integration and Tempo Variations**: He incorporates run-pass options (RPOs) to force defensive decisions post-snap, blending his run emphasis with passing wrinkles. While not always no-huddle, McCarthy mixes tempos to disrupt substitutions, as seen in CCSU's 432+ yards per game average. This keeps defenses off-balance without overcomplicating calls.
- **Personnel-Driven Adaptability**: McCarthy tailors to talent, using 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) for spread looks but shifting to heavier sets for run-heavy downs. His 2017 CCSU squad's 11-1 record showcased this balance, leading to an FCS playoff berth.
At Lamar, with head coach Pete Rossomando's defensive background, McCarthy's hire signals an uptick in offensive firepower for the Southland Conference, aiming to replicate his NEC dominance through aggressive, player-first calls rather than gimmicks. As the 2025 season unfolds, expect his schemes to evolve based on quarterback development, but the foundation remains: score early, sustain with balance, and exploit mismatches.
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