Memphis
- Thread starter MikeR0102
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Yup was just mentioning this in the other thread. They did a nice job stabilizing things after Ole Miss went up 14-0 on its first 2 possessions and Memphis was shooting themselves in the foot with mistakes and penalties. They've done a nice job bouncing back. 24-14.
Was watching the college pre game show and they were going over possible coaches for USC and USCe. They mentioned coaches that was brought up on this board, Fuente, Herman, Doc Holliday, Campbell and RHULE.
I mentioned Fuente is definitely one I could see at USCe. I think Herman is a name I'd more likely expect to see at USC over Fuente. He's from Cali and his demeanor just seems to fit that environment better.
I was just going to start a thread about Memphis, but of course I won't now. How did they get so good so fast? It was a very short time ago that they were on an amazing losing streak and were probably one of the bottom five FCS teams in the country.
They pumped a lot of Fed Ex money into building new facilities. Got lucky with a good unknown coach. They want out of the AAC and doing everything in their power to make it happen.
Good coaching, That's why I'm always big on that over recruiting. If you can do both well then great but if I have to choose one get me the coach over the recruiter. Leave recruiting to the staff, lower level staff specifically (position coaches etc..).
He's found another good qb in Paxton Lynch who most say will be in the NFL. This is after developing Andy Dalton at TCU. I read both were 2 stars for those into that stuff. I like that. It means he's finding guys on the lower level that he can develop and mold. Having done it twice makes it less likely to be a fluke too. Same for the potent offense he developed at TCU and now again at Memphis. Again less likely to be a fluke based on a handful of players and rather the HC is the constant.
They've lost their DC to Missouri (now ranked 11th overall) and I think 8 starters and 5 backups on defense from last year. Those are huge losses on one side of the ball. As you'd expect their defense has slipped into the 100s but they're still overcoming. It may catch up to them eventually but they're doing a good job thus far doing their best to overcome those losses.
They pulled the trigger on firing a bad coach quickly. They saw 3-21 in 2 years with Larry Porter and got him out of there. Plus they are in an area with a lot of HS talent nearby. It still took Fuente 3 years to have a good year, and that may be buoyed by their schedule. Sports-reference.com had their schedule at 97th out of 128th last year and has them at 113th so far this year. Their last 3 games have all been decided by 7 points or less.
The deeper I dig, there may be some smoke and mirrors to the whole thing, but I'm still impressed by their performance today.
I'd like to see more, as in repeat last year's performance to see consistency but I don't think it's smoke and mirrors. Did you read above how much they lost on defense from players to their coordinator who's doing a solid job at Mizzou now. To continue winning at the level is pretty good considering the losses on that side of the ball. If it lasts we'll see but so far so good.
This Ole Miss game was house money to me. I always say conference performance is important. Those are your peers and who you have to beat and so far they've done it even after losing that much on defense. People are gaga for Rhule who hasn't even done it for 1 year yet and he's on the easier half of the conference this year. His toughest game will be Memphis. Memphis is on the same side with Houston and Navy. If you look at Rhule's rankings as coordinator they weren't impressive at all and at least a couple weeks ago when I checked neither were Temple's on offense/defense.
You never know for sure how a coach will do when he steps up but he's done a nice job at Memphis bringing them up from the bottom of the barrel.
Another TD 31-14 Memphis.
SEC over rated? The Spread offense strikes again. How many pro set offenses are there now? Can't be more than 10 programs that have winning seasons?
Oh I agree with a lot of what you say, and maybe smoke and mirrors is the wrong term, but the ball has seemed to bounce their way quite a bit.They lost to Ole Miss by 3 TDs last year and now they are up by 17 on them. If they win this one, they are in the driver's seat for the Group of 5's automatic New Year's 6 bowl bid. I like the fact that he has a strong background as a coordinator. He's definitely on my shortlist.
Why don't more NFL teams run the spread if it works so well in college? Yes, guys are bigger, faster, and stronger, but it's so on both sides of the ball.
Maybe there aren't enough good defensive backs with speed to cover all the receivers in college. There enough of them in the NFL.
Ole Miss isn't out of this game. Just scored back and they run a hurry up spread too so they're capable of it. Like I said though, this game is house money for Memphis IMO.
Even if he repeated with another good performance this year, I'd like to see more but I suspect he'll get hired by someone. He was my this year's Tom Herman. I mentioned Herman a couple years ago and no one here even replied much and most were on Narduzzi (who seems to be doing a solid job early at Pitt btw). I kind of take Herman out of the equation for most schools because of his 2M+ buyout. Fuente was my new Herman this year, basically my top choice out of the mid major/coordinator ranks. McElwain/Chryst were a few years ago before Colorado St./Pitt hired them. If these guys get hired this year, not really sure who's up for next year on my pretend AD list lol.
Always want to see more proof of consistency but sometimes you don't get that chance. Half a year like Rhule or even 1 year if he does well isn't enough for me especially considering I don't see anything special on either side of the ball with Temple and his time as coordinator was unimpressive as well. I hope he's still around if we happen to need it but I don't think he will be.
Even if he repeated with another good performance this year, I'd like to see more but I suspect he'll get hired by someone. He was my this year's Tom Herman. I mentioned Herman a couple years ago and no one here even replied much and most were on Narduzzi (who seems to be doing a solid job early at Pitt btw). I kind of take Herman out of the equation for most schools because of his 2M+ buyout. Fuente was my new Herman this year, basically my top choice out of the mid major/coordinator ranks. McElwain/Chryst were a few years ago before Colorado St./Pitt hired them. If these guys get hired this year, not really sure who's up for next year on my pretend AD list lol.
Always want to see more proof of consistency but sometimes you don't get that chance. Half a year like Rhule or even 1 year if he does well isn't enough for me especially considering I don't see anything special on either side of the ball with Temple and his time as coordinator was unimpressive as well. I hope he's still around if we happen to need it but I don't think he will be.
Game's not over but no matter what I liked Memphis' performance and specifically the resiliency after the start. It looks like they'll need to show that resilience again with this Ole Miss come back
Because no one wants to spend a number two overall pick on a QB (RG3) only to see his season come to an end because of getting clocked too many times. The spread does not work in the NFL.
You can run spread concepts in the NFL tho. The early 90s Buffalo Bills were ahead of their time. The Oilers around the same time had success with a lot of 4 WR sets. The issue is you still have to be able to impose your will and get tough yardage. I guess you can make the same argument about some college teams. Ucla had a 3rd and 1 the other night and came out in a shotgun formation.
It wouldn't shock me if he moved up this year. He's got a good chance to go undefeated.
His record at Toledo looks good but they don't play any good teams outside their conference. Tim Beckman was at Toledo and looks good before being hired by Illinois and failing there. Memphis plays some good teams as well as Houston.
Yup. Would love him to come here but it would never happen. We have to hold on to that vaunted #32 recruiting class after all:)
It's no longer 32 anymore, it's 43 right now and as mentioned a couple of months ago pacing at 49-52 rating at end of season, we are 11th in the Big Ten, very similar to last 2 years. Not being negative
He beat 2 power 5 conference teams on the road this year. I know Iowa State isn't good, but Arkansas was supposed to be. He's played Missouri twice in his 4 years, Florida, Arizona, Cincinnati twice. I don't know who you expect MAC teams to beat, but he is 20-6 in conference play in 3+ years. He is beating his peer schools. As far as Beckman goes, he didn't get fired because of his record, he was fired for off the field issues.
Making it clear I want Fuentes. But with all the openings this year he will probably get a bigger name job even if we did have an opening.
He's okay for me. He's done a nice job with wins there but nothing generally really good on either side of the ball. I think last year they were in the teens in scoring/total offense but otherwise usually in the 40s or so. On defense usually worse although this year ranked 6 in scoring defense and 40s total. On its face looking at his record he looks good and he could get hired this year but I want something to point to that can wow me (top 10 offense or defense) but I don't know. I'm not going to say I don't like him but just ambivalent to this point.
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