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My Hot Take
Posted on 12/13/20 at 5:11 pm
Posted on 12/13/20 at 5:11 pm
What I want the new coach to retain from Gus's tenure:
1) Personality. Gus was kinda low key, didn't cause controversy, didn't run his mouth and never embarrassed us with off the field stuff.
2) Clean program. I have not heard a SINGLE hint of anything amiss in the AU program insofar as cheating or discipline issues. Dye had some cheatin' going on - as much as I love Dye, he didn't always do things by the book. Bowden had personal failures. Tubs prolly had some shenanigans going on at times (as claimed by several players). Chizik was clean BUT had a ton of discipline issues.
3) Chewing gum. New coach must chew as avidly as Gus.
Now as for as recruiting, many think Gus recruited well. This is true to an extent, but there is a caveat. While Gus recruited great nationally (often in the top 10), the problem is that 5 of those other top 10 were SEC schools. So we didn't recruit well comparatively to the UGA, Bama, LSU, UF's of the conference. A new coach is GOING TO HAVE to change that if he hopes to promote us above 7-5 8-4.
As far as scheme goes, I don't care. Why? Because it doesn't matter. All that matters is the talent. There have been cases in CFB where new schemes have come along and changed the game. Spurrier did it at UF starting in 1990. Pardee and Jenkins did it at Houston in the 80's with the Run and Shoot (Ware and Klingler as QB's). Gus and Freeze did it in the 2010's with the HUNH. Problem is none of these offenses lasted. All of them were slowed down after defenses caught up. So they're good for a few years, sometimes giving wild success, but aren't for the long haul. (Klingler passed for 700 yards in a single game at Houston. lol. Now almost no one runs the Run and Shoot these days).
So I don't want a "system" coach. It's great for a few years, but always crashes and burns unless you are Spurrier and just have top talent to overcome. Even he didn't keep the Fun N Gun forever, he totally abandoned it when he got to USCe (although he did break it out in a game against AU).
Bottom line: If we can't find a coach who can get us over that 5th place SEC recruiting ranking, I don't see the program advancing much beyond where it is now. X's and O's don't matter all that much at this level of play. Coaches don't make a single tackle, block or catch. Coach O proved over the past 2 seasons that talent is everything. After he lost a whole class to the NFL, look at LSU now. From 15-0 to average mid-tier SEC school. That ain't all coaching, it's mostly a talent issue.
1) Personality. Gus was kinda low key, didn't cause controversy, didn't run his mouth and never embarrassed us with off the field stuff.
2) Clean program. I have not heard a SINGLE hint of anything amiss in the AU program insofar as cheating or discipline issues. Dye had some cheatin' going on - as much as I love Dye, he didn't always do things by the book. Bowden had personal failures. Tubs prolly had some shenanigans going on at times (as claimed by several players). Chizik was clean BUT had a ton of discipline issues.
3) Chewing gum. New coach must chew as avidly as Gus.
Now as for as recruiting, many think Gus recruited well. This is true to an extent, but there is a caveat. While Gus recruited great nationally (often in the top 10), the problem is that 5 of those other top 10 were SEC schools. So we didn't recruit well comparatively to the UGA, Bama, LSU, UF's of the conference. A new coach is GOING TO HAVE to change that if he hopes to promote us above 7-5 8-4.
As far as scheme goes, I don't care. Why? Because it doesn't matter. All that matters is the talent. There have been cases in CFB where new schemes have come along and changed the game. Spurrier did it at UF starting in 1990. Pardee and Jenkins did it at Houston in the 80's with the Run and Shoot (Ware and Klingler as QB's). Gus and Freeze did it in the 2010's with the HUNH. Problem is none of these offenses lasted. All of them were slowed down after defenses caught up. So they're good for a few years, sometimes giving wild success, but aren't for the long haul. (Klingler passed for 700 yards in a single game at Houston. lol. Now almost no one runs the Run and Shoot these days).
So I don't want a "system" coach. It's great for a few years, but always crashes and burns unless you are Spurrier and just have top talent to overcome. Even he didn't keep the Fun N Gun forever, he totally abandoned it when he got to USCe (although he did break it out in a game against AU).
Bottom line: If we can't find a coach who can get us over that 5th place SEC recruiting ranking, I don't see the program advancing much beyond where it is now. X's and O's don't matter all that much at this level of play. Coaches don't make a single tackle, block or catch. Coach O proved over the past 2 seasons that talent is everything. After he lost a whole class to the NFL, look at LSU now. From 15-0 to average mid-tier SEC school. That ain't all coaching, it's mostly a talent issue.
4
Posted on 12/13/20 at 5:26 pm to AUstar
quote:
X's and O's don't matter all that much at this level of play. Coaches don't make a single tackle, block or catch. Coach O proved over the past 2 seasons that talent is everything. After he lost a whole class to the NFL, look at LSU now. From 15-0 to average mid-tier SEC school. That ain't all coaching, it's mostly a talent issue.
Yeah, I’m calling bullshite. It absolutely matters.
Also, LSU has been improving all season after losing majority from their championship team, and they just beat a playoff contender in Florida. You act as if they fell off a cliff.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 5:57 pm to AUstar
Some innovation to recruiting would be good. Surprisingly what chizik did well. Gus seemed to just keep status quo.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 6:00 pm to AUstar
quote:
Now as for as recruiting, many think Gus recruited well. This is true to an extent, but there is a caveat. While Gus recruited great nationally (often in the top 10), the problem is that 5 of those other top 10 were SEC schools. So we didn't recruit well comparatively to the UGA, Bama, LSU, UF's of the conference.
The lack of recruiting SEC caliber OL has hurt us big time and I would argue we recruited well enough at all the other positions to be comparable and competitive with the best teams besides OL. Also, you have to develop them when you get them and our lack of development at QB hurt as well.
quote:
As far as scheme goes, I don't care. Why? Because it doesn't matter. All that matters is the talent.
Couldn’t be farther from the truth. You need both. Good talent and good coaching or you’re doomed.
quote:
X's and O's don't matter all that much at this level of play. Coaches don't make a single tackle, block or catch. Coach O proved over the past 2 seasons that talent is everything. After he lost a whole class to the NFL, look at LSU now.
Coaching matters at every level of play. Coaches put players in positions to succeed. Coach O’s coaching staff changed also, not just some of the players, Joe Brady and Dave Aranda both left. You actually made the case against your point. Do you think recruiting tanked and LSU didn’t have any talent this season? No. They weren’t running the same systems on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.
This post was edited on 12/13/20 at 6:03 pm
Posted on 12/13/20 at 6:36 pm to AUstar
As far as recruiting goes, how easy do you think it’s going to be to out recruit UGA, Alabama, and LSU? I don’t think that is something that any coach can come in and immediately fix. Sure as you start to prove yourself as a program and compete for championships it will come naturally, but those schools are all states schools, with inherent advantages built in.
UGA is a proof that recruiting top tier talent alone will not get it done. How many championships/undefeated seasons does Auburn have compared to UGA? I don’t think we have ever out recruited them. Kirby has now surpassed Bama in recruiting and still can’t beat them on the field.
A step up recruiting would definitely help but a new coach is not going to come in and out talent UGA or Bama any time soon. We need a coach that recruit for their system, develop talent, have guys buy in, and scheme/game plan to get us over that initial hump. A coach that is an ace recruiter, but nothing else will build hype and excitement and ultimately fall flat in their face. I think that describes Jeremy Pruitt to an extent.
UGA is a proof that recruiting top tier talent alone will not get it done. How many championships/undefeated seasons does Auburn have compared to UGA? I don’t think we have ever out recruited them. Kirby has now surpassed Bama in recruiting and still can’t beat them on the field.
A step up recruiting would definitely help but a new coach is not going to come in and out talent UGA or Bama any time soon. We need a coach that recruit for their system, develop talent, have guys buy in, and scheme/game plan to get us over that initial hump. A coach that is an ace recruiter, but nothing else will build hype and excitement and ultimately fall flat in their face. I think that describes Jeremy Pruitt to an extent.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 9:24 pm to ATLtiger12
Recruiting is a big key but how many times have you seen a good coach adapt during a game and came back and won the game. It takes both. Discipline on a team, good coaching, willing to adapt and repetition. If you have good players but they take plays off how does that help? Coaches have to be able to change on the fly and recognize things that are happening on the field and changing how you approach the situation.
Posted on 12/14/20 at 5:51 pm to 88TIger
I'm curious about where this recruiting magic bullet will come from. Having officiated and coached in Florida over 20 years ....I'll give you what challenges lay ahead. If the position coaches are not recognized by players .....good luck on landing that target fish.
Typical scrimmage color game scheduled from Tampa to Fort Myers. Coming out of the locker room, we had to wade through a crowd of recruiters. Pick a school, someone with that hat would be in the crowd. We would answer the questions to keep an eye out on # this and # that ....Coming off the field you would spend twenty minutes trying to get back to the locker room because scouts wanted to know what you saw from specific players. Of course there were years we had Bradenton Southeast ranked #1 in the nation and were looking forward to Miami Dade and Bradenton SE during the season ranked #1 and #2. Those were the games to officiate. TV, standing room only crowd, stadium packed, coaches coaching and not yelling at you. Players playing and not jawing back and forth. In other words, not baby sitting, playing football.
I long ago, figured out that the best talent in many cases ..... lasts a half of a season. Dumber than a brick and flunked out of football, never seeing a college campus other than buying or getting a free ticket to go.
Largo High would have 75 players on the field. End of first grading period ....down to 35.
In other words , the pancake eaters looking like sumo wrestlers, may not make the grade while being beasts on the field .....then may not remember the directions to walk to school each day.
Typical scrimmage color game scheduled from Tampa to Fort Myers. Coming out of the locker room, we had to wade through a crowd of recruiters. Pick a school, someone with that hat would be in the crowd. We would answer the questions to keep an eye out on # this and # that ....Coming off the field you would spend twenty minutes trying to get back to the locker room because scouts wanted to know what you saw from specific players. Of course there were years we had Bradenton Southeast ranked #1 in the nation and were looking forward to Miami Dade and Bradenton SE during the season ranked #1 and #2. Those were the games to officiate. TV, standing room only crowd, stadium packed, coaches coaching and not yelling at you. Players playing and not jawing back and forth. In other words, not baby sitting, playing football.
I long ago, figured out that the best talent in many cases ..... lasts a half of a season. Dumber than a brick and flunked out of football, never seeing a college campus other than buying or getting a free ticket to go.
Largo High would have 75 players on the field. End of first grading period ....down to 35.
In other words , the pancake eaters looking like sumo wrestlers, may not make the grade while being beasts on the field .....then may not remember the directions to walk to school each day.
This post was edited on 12/14/20 at 5:55 pm
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