Shawn Watson Providing Calming Voice As Quarterbacks Coach
Shawn Watson's first challenge for redshirt junior quarterback Richard Lagow wasn't the most pleasant.
Watson, who was named IU's quarterbacks coach earlier this month, assigned Lagow an "interception study" during the first couple of weeks in December. Lagow was to review all 16 of his interceptions, determine why they happened and figure out how to avoid similar throws in the future.
"Why did it happen? How do we fix it? That was big," Lagow said, "just looking back and learning from those."
Former IU head coach Kevin Wilson hired Watson to be his quality control coach before spring practice began earlier this year. In that position, Watson wasn't allowed to be on the field coaching or on the recruiting trail chasing after new players, but he was able to study fim and give advice.
The NCAA has a strict limit set at 10 total coaches, including the head coach, and four graduate assistants. There is no limitation as to how many members of support staff can be employed, which is why some programs like Alabama regularly bring in multiple coaches to help out behind the scenes.
But now that he's a quarterbacks coach moving forward, Watson is back on the field working with Indiana's quarterbacks. Offensive coordinator Kevin Johns is working primarily with the receivers where before, he and Wilson worked together with the pass throwers.
"It's a very good change in terms of, he's a quality, quality guy to slide into that position," Allen said. "He'll do an excellent job."
Lagow describes Watson as a relaxing, calming voice during stressful times. On Saturdays, the two would have whatever conversations the NCAA allowed over their headsets where Watson would try and be a reassuring mentor.
"It's been different having a guy that's really just focused on the quarterbacks that can really spend a lot of time just talking about the little details, mechanics, things like that," Lagow said. "When Coach Johns was doing it, I think it was tough at times because we had to balance the receivers and quarterbacks."
Fifth-year senior receiver Mitchell Paige agreed.
"I think it helps Coach Johns focus on receivers," he said. "I think that's what he really likes to do. That's what he tells us, at least. Maybe he's just saying that because he's talking to wideouts when he says that."
Watson coached receivers at Miami (Ohio) with Wilson, who was then the offensive line coach, from 1990-91. In the time since, Watson has been a head coach at Southern Illinois and an offensive coordinator at Colorado, Nebraska, Louisville and Texas before coming to Bloomington to be the quality control coach earlier this year.
It's early, but Watson has also managed to make an impact on the recruiting trail as well. He was part of a staff-wide search across the country for talent in the 2017 class and beyond earlier this month and will continue to do so in the future, assuming Allen plans to retain him permanently.
So far, it sounds as though Watson is making a strong impression on recruits.
"You could definitely tell that Coach Watson has been there and done that," 2017 quarterback standout Dresser Winn said after spending time with Watson. "He was talking about Teddy Bridgewater and how he coached him (at Louisville). He was telling me that the ball was really popping out of my hands. He could see it. And he was telling me to roll out and stuff to see if the athletic ability was there after watching on film."
It's unclear whether or not Watson will be the full-time quarterbacks coach moving forward or if the move is only going to remain intact through the Foster Farms Bowl. From what recruits have said, it sounds like IU is working under the impression of Watson being the quarterbacks coach next season and beyond.
IU's Foster Farms Bowl contest against No. 19 Utah may be a test run for that.
So far, he's passing all the tests.
"He's not real loud. He doesn't scream or anything like that," Lagow said. "He's just a really calm guy. He's easy to listen to. He's easy to take a lot of reaction from."