OPINION

By Matt Hayes

updated 3:21 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2009

Matt Hayes

Too often we see the glam instead of the guts. Position coaches never get enough credit, yet their specific work is more important than any game day decision made by a head coach.

Here are five key position coach-player relationships that must develop this spring:

1. Florida quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler and quarterback Tim Tebow. Don't underestimate the loss of Dan Mullen to Mississippi State. Mullen not only was Tebow's position coach, he was his confidant and the mentor who — more than anyone — had Tebow prepared for every possible scenario on and off the field.

Enter Loeffler, who coached some talented quarterbacks at Michigan and has spent time in the NFL. He has two objectives this fall: Continue to refine what Tebow does well within the Gators' spread option offense, and work to make Tebow more NFL-friendly — without disrupting what makes Tebow and the offense tick.

It's a complicated process. West Virginia did the same thing with quarterback Pat White last season, and at times, White wasn't the college player he was his first three seasons — and the team suffered. Florida is the clear favorite to win the national title next season, and this relationship will be the deciding factor.

2. USC quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach for offense Jeremy Bates and QBs Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain. The loss of Mark Sanchez was bad enough; now the USC quarterbacks must prepare with a new position coach.

Corp and Mustain both were No. 2 behind Sanchez last season, trading the spot on nearly a weekly basis by their play in practice. One thing we know: Coach Pete Carroll won't use two quarterbacks. Someone will win the job, maybe even this spring.

A 32-year-old rising star, Bates will use many of the NFL-based philosophies former quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian used. It's a fresh beginning for Corp and Mustain (and incoming freshman Matt Barkley), as Corp and Mustain both failed to seize the backup spot permanently. Barkley will get a serious look with the first-team offense this spring.

3. Notre Dame offensive line coach Frank Verducci and the Irish offensive line. The pass blocking improved last season, but this unit must be more physical at the point of attack.

Special feature Tebow time Take a look at Florida's star quarterback on and off the field. NBCSports.com

The Irish have too much talent on the line — and in the backfield with tailbacks Armando Allen and Robert Hughes — to not impose their will on opponents. Of the four starters who return next season, three (Eric Olsen, Dan Wenger, Trevor Robinson) were four-star recruits, and the fourth (Sam Young) was a five-star. The projected fifth starter (left tackle Matt Romine) also was a four-star recruit.

The line was too erratic under former coach John Latina. There is no more important assistant on the ND staff next fall than Verducci, a longtime NFL and college assistant whose work could make an offense loaded with talented skill players very scary.

4. Oklahoma offensive line coach James Patton and four new starters. OU coach Bob Stoops says the Sooners have always protected well during his time in Norman, that he's not concerned about next season.

Special feature Boomer Sooner Check out Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Sam Bradford in action. NBCSports.com

He'd better. Any passing game will struggle when the line can't protect the quarterback, and the Sooners will begin next fall with a completely revamped line.

Quarterback Sam Bradford had a Heisman Trophy season and put up ridiculous statistics because he essentially wasn't touched in 13 of 14 games. Patton's work with the offensive line the past two seasons has been superb, but next season will be crucial to OU's chances of returning to the national title game.

Five quarters from last season should be a serious concern for the Sooners: the last quarter in the loss to Texas, and the four quarters in the loss to Florida. In those games, the Longhorns and Gators pressured Bradford, shortened OU's passing game and all but eliminated the deep ball.

5. Michigan QB coach Rod Smith and incoming freshman quarterback Tate Forcier. Michigan used two quarterbacks last fall, and neither had any business running a spread option offense. Now Smith gets Forcier, a star recruit with a load of potential and a nagging question:

Will Forcier be any better than his two brothers?

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Jason Forcier played two years as a backup at Michigan, transferred to Stanford and couldn't beat out a walk-on. Chris Forcier signed with UCLA and hasn't been able to win the job in Westwood in two seasons (have you seen UCLA's quarterbacks?).

Tate, according to recruiting analysts, is the most talented of the three brothers. Unfortunately, he's also in the toughest situation. Michigan is desperate for a dual-threat quarterback, and Forcier — who already has enrolled and will participate in spring practice — likely will play whether he's ready or not.

Have patience, Big Blue. Smith helped Pat White take huge strides as a junior at WVU, and will make it work with Forcier.

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