Hindsight is 20/20, but looking back, that Pitt poster wrote one of the few rational posts in the DM hiring thread.
We have the lowest talent level I've ever seen..
- Thread starter RutgersSam
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Hindsight is 20/20, but looking back, that Pitt poster wrote one of the few rational posts in the DM hiring thread.
While I gave DC's as examples where a positive impact was realized, I was not suggesting changing DCs or the there should be a co-DC. A co-OC would be a good way to go.Sterlin Gilbert on Charlie Strong's staff may be available, but he is making $900K (cough), and he has bounced around quite a bit--he coached Temple HS in Texas when Zach Allen was there.
Yea I realize that. I was only mentioning those guys were names I brought up as possible DCs for us at one time. We don't need a co-DC, Ash is a defensive coach so it's not necessary on that side of the ball. That's why didn't even make a suggestion for it. Both the names I mentioned were OCs. I only suggest co-OC because it's something Meyer has done in the past so I could see Ash doing the same. It seems like a more realistic option than firing Mehringer outright year 1 on a 2 year contract without any of his personnel. But that depends on Ash deeming it necessary and on budget constraints.
I wouldn't want the Texas OC or frankly any OC Strong chose there. I mentioned in the other thread that I think that was his biggest undoing at Texas. He could never get the offense right and was a little confused about filling the OC position. First he stuck with his offense from Louisville, then realized the switch to the spread but kept the same OC, then went with a guy on staff who was from OU but hadn't been an OC with that offense in years and then finally landed on Gilbert this year. While I'm open minded on Mehringer whether we get a co-OC or not, I hope Ash doesn't let this be his undoing as well.
I wouldn't worry as much about current premium salaries of a coach though because when they've been fired they'll either be subsidized partially from the former school or won't be getting squat and be happy to get another job. The only worry is if another money bags school comes around for the same guy. There are other schools like Baylor and Texas Tech that might have some upheaval but they don't run the kind of spread we do so not sure if it would be a fit. Maybe if Helfrich gets let go their OC Matt Lubick. This is only his first year at OC too though after Frost left but they've done well on offense. Still have to wonder about Helfrich's influence and how much is Lubick. Their defense is the problem so someone on the offensive staff might be okay but again low on OC experience.
I would not be wedded to OC's who only have P5 experience. There do not seem to be that many available.
On the flip side of our situation is Cal, where offensive-minded Sonny Dykes is in his fourth year and faltering with third year DC Art Kaufman. Cal puts up tons of points, but gives up a ton and one half. Good Article on Dykes here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/...le-which-doesnt-bode-well-for-his-cal-future/
Just hope we don't wind up in the same situation with Ash down the road, but you never can tell. A couple of other co-OC candidates worth looking at are:
Cal's OC Jake Spavital, who previously held the same position at Texas A&M-problem is he is only 31 years old. But he coached Geno Smith at WVU under Holgoresen, and under Sumlin at A&M.
Eric Morris at Texas Tech is another interesting OC who may be available, but also young. Texas Tech has put up some insane offensive numbers this year all for naught.
WMU's OC is an interesting name. While not P5, he does have P5 experience at Rutgers. Captain Kirk anyone?
I've said in the past I wanted someone who can create a strong offense and specifically through a spread because IMO that was the best way to outperform your perceived status on the college landscape. We've seen examples many times over the years. It can be more plug and play friendly as well when it's installed. But that doesn't mean the defense can just be garbage, you have to have at least a mediocre defense and then you have a chance to possibly make some noise.
As to the names you mention, I don't think Cal and Texas Tech run the same kind of spread. As far as I know that's more of an air raid throw the ball all over rather than the power spread we run that's why I don't mention names from Baylor and Texas Tech etc.. too much. So I'm not sure how much of a mesh there is. Oregon has in the past been more in the mold that we run. I'm not wedded to anything in particular as good HCs and coordinators can come from various places. Just looking for aptitude, specifically aptitude that I as a fan can at least track a little over said person's career.
Like I said though, he's only been OC there for a year after Frost has left. He's the son of Sonny Lubick so nice lineage but still short on experience. He's been WR coach at various stops before in his career.
Yes this was the first red flag for me. I said it back in Dec. ..it reminded Shea's two week vacation.
I respectfully disagree, but time will be the judge. As just one example, we probably have the only punter in all of D1 who can consistently hit 18 yard punts! It's not a coincidence that Flood looked like a decent coach with Schiano's talent in the first year in the Big10, but looked like a chump last year once his SUNY-Albany type recruiting classes kicked in along with huge player attrition. This staff can't fairly be judged until they get a couple of years to recruit to their system.
Wasn't the offense for Pitt this season impacted rather significantly by the return of James Conner ? He's pretty talented.
I remember when before Flood was fired and he continued to recruit bad there were so many people continuing to defend his recruiting because we are able to win some games. Of course, it was because he was piggybacking off Schiano's recruits but so many here would call you out for heresay if you pointed that out and would say you were just being negative and trolling.
There was literally a frequent poster on this board that stated "Flood's job wasn't to recruit NJ" - quite possibly the dumbest statement I have ever read on this board.
There was literally a frequent poster on this board that stated "Flood's job wasn't to recruit NJ" - quite possibly the dumbest statement I have ever read on this board.
Why is it that just a year ago,, and certainly two years ago, Hicks was a tremendous playmaker for us yet this new coaching staff has made him the invisible man.
That is not on Hicks, that is on the coaches. PERIOD.
WRONG. None of the teams you mention have had a Top 100 recruiting class in the last five years. I'd be surprised if any of them have more than 5 three star players on their roster. Rutgers was 78th last year and the four years before that all were below 60. There are about 40 three star players (a few higher) on the current roster.
Knight
Let me make a couple of comments about Narduzzi, Canada and NC State.
Pat Narduzzi has known Matt Canada for a long time. In the past they have both coached together at northern Illinois.
I believe when NC State became aware he was leaving for Pitt they let him go. He was at NC State as OC for 3 years.
Look at his numbers at North Carolina State. Under Canada's direction NC State averaged 30 ppg his first two seasons. In 2015 (last season with NC State), the Wolfpack scored 33.2 ppg, the 3rd highest in school history.
Do these production numbers warrant the OC to be fired.
So NC State lets Canada go and what is their result this year (5-6).
Narduzzi said at the hiring that Matt Canada is an innovative offensive mind, excellent QB teacher and recruiter. Matt has delivered on everything that Narduzzi said he would. Happy to have him and hope he remains with Pitt. I believe Narduzzi is the real deal and Penn State fans know it also.
Back to Rutgers
As I stated previously, Rutgers (IMO) had the talent in place at this stage to be a mid-level B1G team (6-6) with the right coaching. You have to adapt your offensive schemes to fit your current talent and adjust as your future recruiting changes to implement your new offense. I am not saying that ASH and staff will not be good in the future but to me (IMO) they seem to be making rookie mistakes because they lack enough experience to compete with other P5 (B1G) teams.
OC/DC transitioning to HC can work. Pitt has proved that with Paul Chryst (OC) and now with Pat Narduzzi (DC). However, both of these guys had many years of experience as B1G OC's or DC's. Narduzzi had 11 years I believe.
OC and DC are the guys that can have the greatest effect on turning around a program.
Watch what ASH does going forward.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
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Don't think we disagree on anything. And I wasn't trying to sully Matt Canada. There was an article up about him somewhere (it had a paywall) about whether it was a mistake for NC State to "fire" him. Agree on most everything you said about RU, however, when we lost Janarion Grant, it was evident that was our achilles heel for the season. I think we are more than OK with defensive coaching experience. But it is odd how light we are on offensive expertise:
Defense:
Ash- 20 years; 5 years as DC for P5 teams
Niemann (DC)- 30 years; 5 years as DC at Northern Illinois
Burnam (DL)-18 years; 6 years in P5
Busch (DB)- 28 years; 15 years in P5
Henry (DBs)-1 year
Offense:
Mehringer (OC)- 5 years, no P5 experience even as coordinator
Blazek (OL) -14 years; no P5
Kuhr (RB)- 2 years at JMU; no P5
Williams (WR)- 10 years; 3 years P5
That's 77 years of experience (97 if you count Ash) and 26 years of P5 experience on defense versus 31 years and 3 years of P5 on defense. Just on paper alone, it seems experience on offense may be helfpful.
The numbers you posted illustrate the lack of experience on offense.
The interesting thing worth watching is will ASH make changes (in some way admitting some staff mistakes) or go with the current staff and blame it mostly on lack of talent.
On a positive note, Ash and staff have been able to recruit well. Now he will have to keep them through NLI day.
It would be good to end your season on a positive note by beating Maryland which you have a reasonable chance of doing.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
LOL
I hope we do but I don't put the W in the column until the game is over.
I will tune into the Rutgers/Maryland game to see the strategy Ash and staff will put together for the final game. Although only 1 game, ending on a positive note is important for Rutgers and Pitt.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
Talent level might be equal to the lower third (not middle) of the Big Ten, but throw in a brand-new coaching staff without that much experience in their current roles AND the fact that coaching staff is using a system the lower-third-level talent was not recruited to play, and you pretty much get what we have seen this year. (I'm including the game-day issues in the "without that much experience" part to account for the size of the margins.) The question is, will better talent be utilized better? And, will bringing in people THIS staff wants to run ITS system automatically make it better? After that, the questions become more like "Will the coaching staff improve with experience?"
Those answers, in all likelihood, will all be yes. But when you're 2-9, 0-8, you need all of those things to happen in a way that translates quickly to game day. If signing day goes well, I will be patient -- again -- next season.
Those answers, in all likelihood, will all be yes. But when you're 2-9, 0-8, you need all of those things to happen in a way that translates quickly to game day. If signing day goes well, I will be patient -- again -- next season.
Sure, if you add the caveat, relative to our competition.
If you think back on some of the teams our really bad ones beat, there was worse out there. Not saying we aren't really bad. Just when folks start throwing around absolutes like "ever", if back away some.
