re: Is golding still terrible?

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Bo got a lot of yards running in the first half that way and completed some plays later with no MLB or safety playing short middle

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Our MLBers are lost most of the time.

Y’all’s defense seems amped up and ready to play from the jump. Most of the plays that were big gains were ones that I don’t recall seeing this year. Everything else was like they knew what was coming, which means Golding had them prepared. LBs are probably still the weak point in the defense, but the DBs and DL were wrecking ish today.

With the offense you have, this defense is more than capable of doing what needs to be done to win the NC.

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But this isn't the most logical explanation.

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First year, Tosh/Golding has veteran playcaller at linebacker, upperclassmen at various positions, poor play. Last year, Golding has young players at each level, including linebacker, again poor play. Beginning of this year, veteran playcaller at linebacker, more experience at various positions, again same mistakes repeating.

This is called a pattern. Logic dictates something changed.

Golding didn't.

Moses is still in the middle.

Harris is still playing.

Cumulative knowledge of the players has increased, but the difference in play since the Ole Miss game has been much improved.

Assuming the players couldn't grasp Golding's philosophy over 12 to 24 months, but all of a sudden did during the week after the Ole Miss game is illogical.

Assuming Golding became a defensive savant during the week following the Ole Miss game is likewise illogical.

Assuming the understanding of the defense by the players increased and comfort with the calls/concepts similarly increased is logical, as this could have been accomplished with tinkering with communication/teaching by coaches to players, which could have been accomplished quickly.

So, yes, this is the most logical explanation.

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So, yes, this is the most logical explanation.

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Well, humor us then and tell us who is making the defensive calls.

Saban wasn't there today.

Why would Golding still be DC if we bring Pruitt back? Pruitt is a significantly better DC. He's just a redneck a-hole who can't run his own program.

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Someone is getting some serious help in calling the defense now.

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So who was helping Golging make the calls today?

Our defense, particularly the Dline/secondary is improving each & every game.
We'll know if we have a championship caliber defense on December 19.

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I count no less than three former defensive coordinators/ head coaches on the defensive on-field staff/ analyst roster.

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And those analysts can't actually be involved on gameday. Can't be on the headsets, etc.

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Is golding still terrible?

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There are so many different variables and behind the scenes factors that go into the performance of the defense that make this question impossible to answer decisively “Yes” of “No.”

Simply put, the defense is playing light years better than they did against Ole Miss, but the same shite (RBs out of the backfield, pre snap shifts, the middle is still vulnerable, etc.) that killed us in week 3 still has not been fixed (enough).

The improvements to the defense, IMO, are due to the younger guys in the secondary becoming more comfortable with their assignments and DL/OLBs playing at much higher level.

The ILBs are still mediocre, and this might not be be due to Goldings scheme or play calls, but he sucks as an ILB coach. They are still confused and don’t know how to play the position. This could be a result of having a high school RB (Moses) and DB (Harris) playing ILB, but the lack of improvement points to Golding (of the absence of a quality LB coach).

It’s hard to tell how good Golding is because of how poorly Moses plays the MLB position. He is the worst Mike we have had since Saban got here - yes, that includes Shane Lee and Trey DePriest. He is simply not a Mike LBer, and I saw more out of Jaylen Moody in one series than I have from Moses all year.

Obviously we have played much better since Ole Miss, but Golding still goes full retard sometimes and gets way too cute with what he’s trying to do (though, it is very obvious Saban has simplified the defense since OM).

TL;DR - I don’t know if he’s terrible but he certainly isn’t great, and I pray we don’t waste Saban’s last good years and all of this talent trying to figure out the answer. I think all parties would benefit most if the Tide and Golding part ways after this year. He needs to go learn at another program where he’s not in a Do or Die situation, and we need someone who can have these guys flying around the field fast and with confidence in their assignments.