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Ole Miss and A&M baws, question regarding DJ Durkin
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:01 am
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:01 am
Did he bring a "toxic culture" to your programs? Where players apprehensive about him being on staff?
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Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:10 am to Faurot fodder
I don’t know about “toxic” and how you mean it. But Durkin never had a defense that really worked. Given the quality of athletes, he had to work with, his defenses should have never looked as confused and lost as they did. That’s flat arse on the coaching. I can’t count how many times during his tenure when a defensive stop late in a game could have turned the game around…and he never got one.
This post was edited on 1/20/24 at 8:12 am
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:17 am to Faurot fodder
He was forced to run a system at ole miss designed to hide our lack of talent at the time up front on the defensive line. They tried to keep everything in front of the defense and couldn’t really stop any good teams consistently. It’s why in Kiffin’s first 2 years every game was a shootout.
I can’t speak to A&M’s experience though. No excuse with the loaded defense he had there.
I can’t speak to A&M’s experience though. No excuse with the loaded defense he had there.
This post was edited on 1/20/24 at 8:18 am
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:18 am to Jster15
You could probably nit pick the Xs and Os of any coordinator, Blake Baker included. It's Durkins tenure at Maryland that has some Mizzou fans apprehensive.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:28 am to Faurot fodder
He’s a good coach, but not the style of defense Elko wanted.
Ignore the Maryland stuff.
Ignore the Maryland stuff.
This post was edited on 1/20/24 at 8:29 am
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:41 am to Jster15
quote:
I don’t know about “toxic” and how you mean it. But Durkin never had a defense that really worked. Given the quality of athletes, he had to work with, his defenses should have never looked as confused and lost as they did. That’s flat arse on the coaching. I can’t count how many times during his tenure when a defensive stop late in a game could have turned the game around…and he never got one.
That had to be something with not having the right guy on the field setting the D. When he has a good/smart linebacker, the Defeanse is better than serviceable (ie, Chance Campbell).
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:49 am to Hugh McElroy
Some of our fans are convinced we're getting ready to hire Charles Manson.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:50 am to Faurot fodder
Auburn is having to battle Mizzou for their coordinators?
This post was edited on 1/20/24 at 8:55 am
Posted on 1/20/24 at 8:54 am to ABearsFanNMS
Exactly! Given the 4/5 star talent he had at A&M there was really no excuse other than poor coaching.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 9:26 am to Faurot fodder
Never heard a bad thing at Ole Miss.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 9:30 am to Faurot fodder
Durkin was either told or wanted to stubbornly run a 3-5 base to hide our shitty DBs (cause bama run it hurrr). Covering for them also hide the high point of our defense, the DL. For the first 5 games he hardly pushed 4 DL, much less 5. After our CBs getting burned on big plays regardless he finally started to shift more to a 4-3 base and use the 8 five star DL we had. We still gave up the occasional deep play but the defense vastly improved. If we had run that from game 1 I still think we finish with a much better record. I was against the hire from day 1 for that reason.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 9:31 am to Faurot fodder
1) I’ve never heard anything about players not liking DJ.
2) He was an “ok” DC. I think a lot of A&M fans got used to the way Elko was able to maximize talent at A&M and field defenses that improved every year. A lot of them will probably tell you DJ sucks as a DC, but I think he was just average.
Long story short, he tried to fit the roster to his scheme vs. the other way around. We were loaded with DL talent (particularly heavy in the DT/DE “tweener” category), had no real viable edge rushers, and were thin at LB his 2 years here. We consistently ran a 3 down look and had a 17 year old LT Overton playing a stand up 9 tech with 21 year old 4&5 stars on the bench. It was just weird. Defense improved a lot in year 2 but never really reached potential.
However, he is an excellent LB coach. I would put him up there with anyone in the country in that role.
2) He was an “ok” DC. I think a lot of A&M fans got used to the way Elko was able to maximize talent at A&M and field defenses that improved every year. A lot of them will probably tell you DJ sucks as a DC, but I think he was just average.
Long story short, he tried to fit the roster to his scheme vs. the other way around. We were loaded with DL talent (particularly heavy in the DT/DE “tweener” category), had no real viable edge rushers, and were thin at LB his 2 years here. We consistently ran a 3 down look and had a 17 year old LT Overton playing a stand up 9 tech with 21 year old 4&5 stars on the bench. It was just weird. Defense improved a lot in year 2 but never really reached potential.
However, he is an excellent LB coach. I would put him up there with anyone in the country in that role.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 9:34 am to Faurot fodder
Wasn’t he at Florida also?
Posted on 1/20/24 at 10:18 am to Faurot fodder
got tired of us being outnumbered in the box. might be good for the ACC or B12. Below average for SEC.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 10:56 am to Faurot fodder
I don’t think he did.
My biggest issues revolved around sticking with 3 down linemen when I don’t think it suited the defense. Right or wrong, he and other coaches never IMO formed a TEAM. We had a wealth of talented players but my hunch felt they weren’t all in on the standard whatever that was.
You had better have LEADERS as coaches or no one wil follow. True Leadership is difficult to come by so when you find it you had better not let that person go.
My biggest issues revolved around sticking with 3 down linemen when I don’t think it suited the defense. Right or wrong, he and other coaches never IMO formed a TEAM. We had a wealth of talented players but my hunch felt they weren’t all in on the standard whatever that was.
You had better have LEADERS as coaches or no one wil follow. True Leadership is difficult to come by so when you find it you had better not let that person go.
This post was edited on 1/20/24 at 10:59 am
Posted on 1/20/24 at 10:57 am to Faurot fodder
He's been mediocre everywhere post Maryland. Do not want.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 10:57 am to Faurot fodder
quote:
You could probably nit pick the Xs and Os of any coordinator, Blake Baker included. It's Durkins tenure at Maryland that has some Mizzou fans apprehensive.
He is a downgrade from Baker. Mizzou’s defense was as fun to watch this season as LSU’s offense imo. Durkin gets in his bag sometimes and gets great results. In game adjustments seem to be his biggest downside
Posted on 1/20/24 at 11:02 am to Faurot fodder
Brian Kelly should've brought Durkin in as his DC, what a killer staff that would've been.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 5:50 pm to PerrillouxToTexas
quote:One might even say corndog would have a murderous D next season. Of course the body count with Kelly is even now, who leaps ahead of the other?
Brian Kelly should've brought Durkin in as his DC, what a killer staff that would've been.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 5:52 pm to Faurot fodder
Likes to run a 3-2-6, we were built and recruit to be a 4-2-5 team.
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