re: Todd Grantham Hired at Mississippi State

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I'll still never understand why Herrera was on the bench most of that game.

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Lots of reasons. True sophomore (under-classman) playing the Mike position (quarterback for the defense). Not as athletic in coverage.

When you aren't the most athletic, you better be able to diagnose a play and react fast. That is a lot to ask for a sophomore.

The biggest issue against Bama was contain (they spread us out and we couldn't hold our water with Jarvis and Jordan Jenkins). That and running Christian Robinson onto the field on third downs for a more athletic linebacker (struggling to get other players lined up because he was just getting into position himself and getting the play call as the ball was snapped... not a good plan to change out your Mike linebacker on third downs)

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Maybe he is, but the point stands: nobody's been knocking themselves out to keep him.

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He's a job hopper. And not a good defensive coordinator (fails at recruiting, hiring position coaches, and managing all aspects of the defense). Would rather play and dominate with 13 players than rotate and develop under-class talent.

He recruits very well at OLB and developing those talents. Not the worst playcaller. But is often talent deficient to prevent a good OC from exploiting weaknesses (chase vasser, Connor norman, kwame geathers, Christian Robinson as a 3 down linebacker)

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Diagnosing a play early doesn't mean shite if it just puts you in the ideal position for Lacey to put his cleats in your face.

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Good point.

But there is a huge difference between a linebacker coming downhill versus a linebacker catching a running back flat footed.

That is the issue with Christian Robinson. Reading and diagnosing the play was an automatic 5-7 yards. He'd make the tackle. But there was no head of steam to offset even an average tailback's forward progress.

I understand. Gilliard was a notch above Robinson in that regard (which is why Robinson was only a 3rd down linebacker )

Herrera was our best run stuffer all year. He should've been on the field more. I never understood Grantham sitting him the majority of the game either.

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Again... the DL and OLB were the bigger issue in the Bama game. d wi

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Biggest issue in Bama game was us having fewer scholarship players than USC, who was at the height of their probation. Bama's roster management vs ours gave Bama a look at prob 30 more players over 3 years. Plus they came with a full roster.

I'm not sure how any of what you said relates to Gilliard getting run over and Herrera making tackles.

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Other than Mike Gilliard getting run over by Eddie Lacy and TJ Yeldon all night long, I'd agree. Gilliard was neither athletic or fast to react. Diagnosing a play early doesn't mean shite if it just puts you in the ideal position for Lacey to put his cleats in your face

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We remember different things. No biggie.

I remember us getting blown up on the edge. I don't remember the ILBs getting blown up by tailbacks because they couldn't get off OL blocks. It's been 4 years since I've watched it.

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worrying about his sideline to sideline speed

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Oh yeah...you didn't want Herrera running any direction except north and south into gaps.