Jerry Kill Interviewed Today, or Did He?

[RU4Real]

If Jerry Kill is willing to come here, you bring him in, period, end of story. After the year we've had, don't even know how anyone can question this possibility. This staff needs a seasoned veteran, and someone like him should have been brought in, in the first place. If he's healthy enough to interview, he's healthy enough to coach.

Why? He's been an OC once in his career - at Saginaw Valley State, in the mid 90s.

Why? The teams that he's led as head coach have been, to be generous, "average".

Why? He doesn't actually BRING ANYTHING to the equation except for the fact that he's 55 years old. So what?

Jerry Kill isn't Ralph Friedgen. He's not some elder statesman of football offense. There's no vast treasure trove of knowledge in his head. You want an old-timer, advisor / mentor / Xs & Os genius, hire Tery F*ckin' Shea.

This exercise is a waste of time and has zero upside.

 

[Knight Shift]

Why? He's been an OC once in his career - at Saginaw Valley State, in the mid 90s.

Why? The teams that he's led as head coach have been, to be generous, "average".

Why? He doesn't actually BRING ANYTHING to the equation except for the fact that he's 55 years old. So what?

Jerry Kill isn't Ralph Friedgen. He's not some elder statesman of football offense. There's no vast treasure trove of knowledge in his head. You want an old-timer, advisor / mentor / Xs & Os genius, hire Tery F*ckin' Shea.

This exercise is a waste of time and has zero upside.

He was OC at Pittsburgh State. And he knows CM. Does that change your mind?

He does bring a few things that are currently lacking:
1. HC experience (none on staff)
2. Running a B1G program (none on staff)
3. His offenses were improving:
http://www.thedailygopher.com/2015/...ill-matt-limegrover-northern-illinois-gophers

That said, I think this move is a bit of a head scratcher, unless he is paired up with a young co-OC.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I will be very surprised if Rutgers doesn't go the co-OC route. Kill would be excellent as part of a two headed monster. Pair him with a young guy, and you have guaranteed continuity moving forward. If one leaves, the other is still there and the offense stays intact.

So you think that extra staff position allowed this year will go towards the OC position along with the spot Mehringer opened up? I was hoping that was something we'd do when Mehringer was hired because of his youth so I'm glad it might happen now.

I'm okay with Kill specifically as a consultant who can help Ash out as an OC I'm lukewarm like I am with Wright. I don't see him like Fridge other than he can be seen as an elder statesmen-like figure. Fridge was the OC/play caller of a national champion Georgia Tech and the OC of Chargers when they made their Super Bowl appearance. I don't think we as your average fan can specifically point to Kill's prowess as an offensive mind. Maybe he is I don't know. Dennis Erickson a national champion coach and NFL HC was a co-OC at Utah for a year and then was demoted by Whittingham another Meyer DC. He'd been an OC way earlier in his career but I guess it didn't work out.

Erickson was actually an influence on the EWU HC Beau Baldwin I suggested in the other thread. Could be unrealistic given he's on the West Coast and he may not want to come and we may not look out there plus he might rely on the pass more than we may want. But he's cranked out strong offenses there for quite some time and he's the play caller as well as HC. That kind of track record is easier to see for your typical fan.

Kill used to have 2 OCs at least at the end of his Minnesota tenure, they both were let go when Claeys took over. One was the QB coach and one was the OL coach Matt Limegrover who is now at PSU. The QB coach called the passing plays and the OL coach called the running plays. I hope it's not anything like that. I'd prefer one guy to call the plays with a collaboration beforehand and during the game.

 

[RU4Real]

He was OC at Pittsburgh State. And he knows CM. Does that change your mind?

He does bring a few things that are currently lacking:
1. HC experience (none on staff)
2. Running a B1G program (none on staff)
3. His offenses were improving:
http://www.thedailygopher.com/2015/...ill-matt-limegrover-northern-illinois-gophers

That said, I think this move is a bit of a head scratcher, unless he is paired up with a young co-OC.

I just don't see the draw.

If we're paying him half a mil and we have to bring in another guy as co-OC then you're talking about 750k / yr, minimum. Maybe closer to 900k, depending on who that other guy is.

For that money you could get the Whole Magilla in one guy.

And I just checked with CM - never heard of Jerry Kill.

 

[rutgersguy1]

He was OC at Pittsburgh State. And he knows CM. Does that change your mind?

He does bring a few things that are currently lacking:
1. HC experience (none on staff)
2. Running a B1G program (none on staff)
3. His offenses were improving:
http://www.thedailygopher.com/2015/...ill-matt-limegrover-northern-illinois-gophers

That said, I think this move is a bit of a head scratcher, unless he is paired up with a young co-OC.

I like him for 1 and 2 but beyond that as OC it's a little more questionable to me. I mentioned Dennis Erickson at Utah with another Urban DC Whittingham. He was co-OC for a year and then demoted. He had been OC way earlier in his career too and I think for longer than Kill, don't know how successful he was back then. He's a national champion and NFL coach too. So like I say I try not to get carried away in the hoopla of the situation ....former HC etc..It's nice but you try to look past it and see if it's really applicable to what we need.

I don't see Kill like Fridge was as the OC/playcaller for national champion GT and the Chargers when they made the Super Bowl. As elder statesmen like adviser sure but as play caller I'm not as sure.

 

[Knight Shift]

So you think that extra staff position allowed this year will go towards the OC position along with the spot Mehringer opened up? I was hoping that was something we'd do when Mehringer was hired because of his youth so I'm glad it might happen now.

I'm okay with Kill specifically as a consultant who can help Ash out as an OC I'm lukewarm like I am with Wright. I don't see him like Fridge other than he can be seen as an elder statesmen-like figure. Fridge was the OC/play caller of a national champion Georgia Tech and the OC of Chargers when they made their Super Bowl appearance. I don't think we as your average fan can specifically point to Kill's prowess as an offensive mind. Maybe he is I don't know. Dennis Erickson a national champion coach and NFL HC was a co-OC at Utah for a year and then was demoted by Whittingham another Meyer DC. He'd been an OC way earlier in his career but I guess it didn't work out.

Erickson was actually an influence on the EWU HC Beau Baldwin I suggested in the other thread. Could be unrealistic given he's on the West Coast and he may not want to come and we may not look out there plus he might rely on the pass more than we may want. But he's cranked out strong offenses there for quite some time and he's the play caller as well as HC. That kind of track record is easier to see for your typical fan.

Kill used to have 2 OCs at least at the end of his Minnesota tenure, they both were let go when Claeys took over. One was the QB coach and one was the OL coach Matt Limegrover who is now at PSU. The QB coach called the passing plays and the OL coach called the running plays. I hope it's not anything like that. I'd prefer one guy to call the plays with a collaboration beforehand and during the game.

How would you feel about Kill/Wright as Co-OC? Does two lukewarms get you to hot? (ahem).
I kind of agree with you. Al's statement above, "If Jerry Kill is willing to come here, you bring him in, period, end of story" reminded me of Fredo's line in the Godfather "You do not come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that!"
Jerry Kill may be a fine coach and has a lot of experience. But he is no Ralph Friedgen or Moe Greene. That is no disrespect to him.

 

[Knight Shift]

I like him for 1 and 2 but beyond that as OC it's a little more questionable to me. I mentioned Dennis Erickson at Utah with another Urban DC Whittingham. He was co-OC for a year and then demoted. He had been OC way earlier in his career too and I think for longer than Kill, don't know how successful he was back then. He's a national champion and NFL coach too. So like I say I try not to get carried away in the hoopla of the situation ....former HC etc..It's nice but you try to look past it and see if it's really applicable to what we need.

I don't see Kill like Fridge was as the OC/playcaller for national champion GT and the Chargers when they made the Super Bowl. As elder statesmen like adviser sure but as play caller I'm not as sure.

I think this answered my questions.
IF Ash is considering this hire, he may be doing some soul searching and reflecting on his first year as HC, realizing an experienced hand and counsel would be valuable to him. We'll see what this morphs into, if anything.
BTW, I think you (or someone else was high on Limegrover). I read an article last night, that indicated he has no aspirations to be an OC. Maybe he changed his mind after this article, but he seems like he is happy to be in Happy Valley.
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...ized-and-re-energized-as-penn-state-assistant

 

[Knight Shift]

And I just checked with CM - never heard of Jerry Kill.

Oh. You may be right. Passed by a car pulled over with Minnesota plates and heard the driver telling the police officer "I know CM." Maybe it was somebody else from Minnesota.

 

[rutgersguy1]

How would you feel about Kill/Wright as Co-OC? Does two lukewarms get you to hot? (ahem).
I kind of agree with you. Al's statement above, "If Jerry Kill is willing to come here, you bring him in, period, end of story" reminded me of Fredo's line in the Godfather "You do not come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that!"
Jerry Kill may be a fine coach and has a lot of experience. But he is no Ralph Friedgen or Moe Greene. That is no disrespect to him.

That's just the hoopla talking like I said. I try not to get carried away in that and look a little deeper...as much as your typical fan can at least. It's hard to point to the offensive accomplishments as playcaller/OC in Kill's career that you can easily see in Fridge's.

The HC experience and working in the B10 definitely, the OC eh I'm not sure. Like I said look at Dennis Erickson at Utah as co-OC for 1 year before being removed. Great resume as HC but did it translate and he had been an OC at this level way earlier in his career. Funny enough he's noted as an influence on the EWU HC I mentioned who is cranking out very good offenses as HC/playcaller.

I'm never one to shout and complain in general so if this was the combo then so be it. I'm okay with them just not excited. Wright could be good it's just the track record is a little short for me to judge that's all. Kill too as an adviser could be helpful but as OC don't know. Together maybe they're good I don't know. It's better than I felt about Mehringer when he got hired because at least there's some experience there. Someone like Hazell who was mentioned at one time I was more staunchly against.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I think this answered my questions.
IF Ash is considering this hire, he may be doing some soul searching and reflecting on his first year as HC, realizing an experienced hand and counsel would be valuable to him. We'll see what this morphs into, if anything.
BTW, I think you (or someone else was high on Limegrover). I read an article last night, that indicated he has no aspirations to be an OC. Maybe he changed his mind after this article, but he seems like he is happy to be in Happy Valley.
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...ized-and-re-energized-as-penn-state-assistant

Yup I said I was interested by him but then a few posts later in the same thread I rescinded that after reading the same article. The guy's heart doesn't seem into being an OC and the work neccessary so it's better to move past him.

 

[Knight Shift]

That's just the hoopla talking like I said. I try not to get carried away in that and look a little deeper...as much as your typical fan can at least. It's hard to point to the offensive accomplishments as playcaller/OC in Kill's career that you can easily see in Fridge's.

The HC experience and working in the B10 definitely, the OC eh I'm not sure. Like I said look at Dennis Erickson at Utah as co-OC for 1 year before being removed. Great resume as HC but did it translate and he had been an OC at this level way earlier in his career. Funny enough he's noted as an influence on the EWU HC I mentioned who is cranking out very good offenses as HC/playcaller.

I'm never one to shout and complain in general so if this was the combo then so be it. I'm okay with them just not excited. Wright could be good it's just the track record is a little short for me to judge that's all. Kill too as an adviser could be helpful but as OC don't know. Together maybe they're good I don't know. It's better than I felt about Mehringer when he got hired because at least there's some experience there. Someone like Hazell who was mentioned at one time I was more staunchly against.

Who are your top 3 right now. Longo is gone and let's assume Limegrover is off the table.
In no particular order:
1. Todd Fitch
2. Wright
3. Glenn Thomas

 

[KingHigh]

We played Minnesota last year didn't we? Didn't we almost beat them? No thanks. LOL

 

[rutgersguy1]

Who are your top 3 right now. Longo is gone and let's assume Limegrover is off the table.
In no particular order:
1. Todd Fitch
2. Wright
3. Glenn Thomas

Top 3 in general that I've looked up a little
1. Beau Baldwin EWU HC 2. Dan Werner 3. Tony Franklin

Top 3 that have been mentioned somewhere with regards to us (subject to change if I bother to read more lol)
1. Tony Franklin 2. Todd Fitch 3. Ryan Carty/Brian Wright

 

[Knightmoves]

I like Jerry Kill if for no other reason than his name alone.

 

[miker183]

I like Jerry Kill if for no other reason than his name alone.

But, the name might be better for a DC. LOL.

 

[Knight Shift]

Top 3 in general that I've looked up a little
1. Beau Baldwin EWU HC 2. Dan Werner 3. Tony Franklin

Top 3 that have been mentioned somewhere with regards to us (subject to change if I bother to read more lol)
1. Tony Franklin 2. Todd Fitch 3. Ryan Carty/Brian Wright

I forgot Ryan Carty, who should be on my list (and any list IMO). Maybe even at the top.

Beau Baldwin? He's a west coast guy. Wouldn't his next logical progression to be HC at a San Jose State or SDSU or Boise State or something like that?

Wonder what becomes of Dan Werner, and he is intriguing. From a short ESPN article:
"Werner's main responsibility on the staff was quarterbacks, and they usually played well under his watch. His two main starters during his tenure -- Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly -- are both among the school's top five in career passing yards."

Fired for #31 in Total Offense in the mighty SEC? #13 passing offense? #45 Scoring offense? They scored 43 points against Alabama!!!!!! WTF?

 

[Knight Shift]

I like Jerry Kill if for no other reason than his name alone.

Well, the other guy who just left killed our offense.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I forgot Ryan Carty, who should be on my list (and any list IMO). Maybe even at the top.

Beau Baldwin? He's a west coast guy. Wouldn't his next logical progression to be HC at a San Jose State or SDSU or Boise State or something like that?

Wonder what becomes of Dan Werner, and he is intriguing. From a short ESPN article:
"Werner's main responsibility on the staff was quarterbacks, and they usually played well under his watch. His two main starters during his tenure -- Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly -- are both among the school's top five in career passing yards."

Fired for #31 in Total Offense in the mighty SEC? #13 passing offense? #45 Scoring offense? They scored 43 points against Alabama!!!!!! WTF?

I agree with the issue with Baldwin and in other posts I've said not sure how realistic he would be. He's been on the West Coast and and not sure he'd want to come here or if we'd look there. It would be a combo reverse Chip Kelly/Joe Moorhead type move. He has interviewed for FBS jobs but has fallen short so maybe an intermediate step as OC somewhere on this level will get him his shot if he's successful. I think that's why Moorhead took the PSU job. He makes about 200K at EWU.

I like Werner and he's a fired OC but realistically our chances are probably better for a fallen star P5 former OC than a current one. I liked that he worked with Freeze too who is known to be a good offensive coach when he was at the lower levels.

Franklin I've read a little about and I believe he actually left being the Cal OC to be the MTSU OC voluntarily. This is what I mean when I say you never know for sure what's in a guy's mind so can never rule anything out 100%.

 

[Jabanero]

Bring him in for the Kill!
Veteran coach with Big 10 experience, a no-brainer for this young staff, hopefully in an advisory role.
Who cares about the $$, it's not like it's ours..

 

[BlockR]

perfect set up would be Kill as an administrative Offense Coach along with Wright...Again,Kill on staff would immediately make him the most experienced and knowledgeable Coach ,someone Ash and all first timers on staff currently could use the help from.VERY worried about a Carty type comming from that level,not so much Wright however from Mac..Mcdaniels and Merhingher were two wonder kids comming from lower levels..and both were big busts..beware the third time is not the charm..

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Good coach but his health issues have to be factored in too.

 

[mdk01]

You are correct. But still think if he's hired as an advisor, it's not a "staff" role..and we can add an OC, or an OC plus someone else if the 2nd "staff" slot is added.

I'm just saying I'd rather him take on the type of role Fridge had after his 1 year as OC. He didn't recruit, didn't take a staff spot, didn't attend games. He would just help out from home. I'd rather Kill does this.

Didn't Fridge call plays for a year from the coaches box? For the record, an experienced coach on a staff this young would be a good thing.

 

[beaced]

Why? He's been an OC once in his career - at Saginaw Valley State, in the mid 90s.

Why? The teams that he's led as head coach have been, to be generous, "average".

Why? He doesn't actually BRING ANYTHING to the equation except for the fact that he's 55 years old. So what?

Jerry Kill isn't Ralph Friedgen. He's not some elder statesman of football offense. There's no vast treasure trove of knowledge in his head. You want an old-timer, advisor / mentor / Xs & Os genius, hire Tery F*ckin' Shea.

This exercise is a waste of time and has zero upside.

Don't
know if you are serious about Terry,BUT,he can Coach QB's and he has a bright O mind.HC , here ,was not a good thing for him.

 

[beaced]

Kill is a victim of Epilepsy.Has had Gran Mal seizures.Not having the cares and chores of being an HC might take a lot of stress from him and might work as an OC.BUT,lets get a younger ,healthy guy who can do as well or even better.

 

[RuSnp]

I just don't see the draw.

If we're paying him half a mil and we have to bring in another guy as co-OC then you're talking about 750k / yr, minimum. Maybe closer to 900k, depending on who that other guy is.

For that money you could get the Whole Magilla in one guy.

And I just checked with CM - never heard of Jerry Kill.

Pretty much this. We are going to solve the O problem with "limited" (at least compared to our peers) funds by .... hiring two guys with "limited" funds? Confuses me this does.

 

[BlockR]

Pretty much this. We are going to solve the O problem with "limited" (at least compared to our peers) funds by .... hiring two guys with "limited" funds? Confuses me this does.

you have Merhingers salary..then get a donor to pay for other position..depends on what Kill would want $$.we also dont know if there will be other coaches leaving and the NCAA allows for another coach starting I think in Spring 2017

 

[Knight Shift]

perfect set up would be Kill as an administrative Offense Coach along with Wright...Again,Kill on staff would immediately make him the most experienced and knowledgeable Coach ,someone Ash and all first timers on staff currently could use the help from.VERY worried about a Carty type comming from that level,not so much Wright however from Mac..Mcdaniels and Merhingher were two wonder kids comming from lower levels..and both were big busts..beware the third time is not the charm..

Here's the perfect set up. Kill as senior advisor Roy Istvan, currently at Cornell as OC, but previously killed it at Buffalo as OC.
We have an explosive offense. RU's tag line-- KILL ROY WAS HERE!!!!!

 

[RU#1fan]

If Jerry Kill is willing to come here, you bring him in, period, end of story. After the year we've had, don't even know how anyone can question this possibility. This staff needs a seasoned veteran, and someone like him should have been brought in, in the first place. If he's healthy enough to interview, he's healthy enough to coach.

This.
Jerry's experience and knowledge this is a no brainier .

 

[Knight Shift]

Pretty much this. We are going to solve the O problem with "limited" (at least compared to our peers) funds by .... hiring two guys with "limited" funds? Confuses me this does.

You know CM too?
Can @RU4Real verify?

 

[Leonard23]

Kill's O hasn't been fast, aggressive, potent or high scoring, so I don't know why anyone wants him. Just because he's experienced, doesn't mean he's the right fit here.

 

[mikemarc1]

Another Local Minn. Report from this morning says he didn't interview here. FWIW.

 

[Knight Shift]

Another Local Minn. Report from this morning says he didn't interview here. FWIW.

Got link?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I think some here are missing out on what John said, and others have alluded to, so I wouldn't worry as much about the type of O Kill ran in the past, or his health, if he is brought in in an advisory/Co-OC type of role. I'm 100% fine with a guy whose O ran, from what I can recall, very efficiently for what they wanted to do, in THAT type of role.

Also, my guess, don't worry about what was spent last year, as opposed to what we can spend now, Hobbs can raise cash my friends.

 

[Rutgers85]

Maybe this kid interviewed and the press got them confused

 

[RUJMM78]

The consensus after reading this thread is that there is no consensus as to hiring Kill.

 

[AshCatchEm]

Jerry had no offense on his teams. So let's continue the Ash disaster. First, Mehringer who had the worst offense in the country at RU. Now Jerry who was known as a guy who had teams with offensive deficiencies. Ash impressed Hobbs because he showed him integrity after Flood. Unfortunately, Ash has nothing else. Need a new head coach for the 2018 season.

Kill's qb's failed to rush for over 600 yards only once when he was there. He certainly knew how to use that element and he never had a talent like Lewis as far as a runner

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Kill's qb's failed to rush for over 600 yards only once when he was there. He certainly knew how to use that element and he never had a talent like Lewis as far as a runner

This is exactly what I'm thinking Ash is thinking re: Kill. His QB's were very successful running and, IIRC, were constantly able to hit wide-open WR's because of it.

 

[AshCatchEm]

This is exactly what I'm thinking Ash is thinking re: Kill. His QB's were very successful running and, IIRC, were constantly able to hit wide-open WR's because of it.

I also wonder if he ever had the natural talent at wr like ahmir, bo, shameen, Harris, and grant

 

[mildone]

This is silly. If last year Kill was named our HC we would have been ecstatic. Now he isn't good enough to be OC

He's an experienced guy and has a winning record as a HC. However presented with Ash or Kill as the option last season, I would've opted for (and still would opt for) Ash as HC. With respect to OC, I don't really see a ton of OC experience on Kill's resume. And we need a really good OC.

In fact I think we need a couple people focusing on the offense. Maybe an up in the booth older guy and a down on the field younger guy that can recruit. Because for the next couple/few years, while we build depth, we're going to have to be smarter than some very smart guys on the other sideline in order to win some games. Two heads are better than one (depending on chemistry).

So if Kill wants to come on as an advisor or something, I'm all in. I will be at least initially disappointed if he's brought in as OC.

And his health concerns me in any role but advisory. The last thing we need is more disruptive events, like one of our coaches having seizures on the sideline. Put him up in the booth, great. On the field, not so great.

 

[BlockR]

gee 2014 B10 Coach of the year..why would we want him? SMH..

Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the league's head coaches and media today.
Dec. 2, 2014




Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the league’s head coaches (Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year) and media (Dave McClain Coach of the Year). He is the second Gopher coach ever to win the award and first since Glen Mason, who was honored in 1999 as the Dave McClain Coach of the Year.



Kill, who is in his fourth year at Minnesota, led the Gophers to an 8-4 record and a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten. The Gophers, who were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten West in a preseason media poll, were one game away from playing for a Big Ten championship.