Why, obviously this all based on my opinion.
First, not a big fan of offensive minded head coaches. He reminds me of Terry Bowden redux, small fast scat backs that would get obliterated in the SEC.
I am not a spread fan, I think it is an interesting offense, but I think you have to recruit perfect players, I don't know that those players are located in the south.
They play such a different style of football, I just don't think he would be successful in the SEC. I base that decision on the fact that every time they have played an SEC team they have been beaten.
Finally, I just don't care for him. He seems like a cocky motherfucker that hasn't done shit.
Again, not advocating for him, but I'll address each point of your opinion with mine.
Bowden could only get those players, he couldn't recruit. Not sure Kelly can either, as he's only had one top 10 class the last 5 years. To that point, he's winning in a league that is not up to par with the SEC, and he's doing it without SEC level players. People always talk about "how'd he do vs the SEC?" Well whatever it was, it was with lesser players across the board. Schemes and playcalling don't win games, players do. By the way they played us pretty tight in the BCS Title game.
Agree, they do play a different style of football. That's the predominant style of football being played at High Schools, and all levels of college across the land. Bammer's pro-style attack is the exception, not the rule. Tell me they don't need a certain type player to fit that system too. Namely HUGE ATHLETIC O linemen, and big, between the tackles runners. So, you have to recruit to your system, no matter what. That said, I think people make a bigger deal about that than it really is. A good OC can fit football players in to his system in some way even if they aren't his ideal prototype. The south has every player you could possibly need or want for for any type system, and has them to spare. That said, the hardest players to find at any level are a great pro style QB, followed by big, quick, athletic linemen. And that's the biggest reasons for the proliferation of spread, no huddle offenses.
But here's what I'm getting at, because this is where we find ourselves. What would we all want first and foremost? A proven SEC HC. Well, Saban aint coming. Coach Boom isn't proven, and he's not coming even if he was. Spurrier? Too old. Miles? Clown. Richt? Can win 10, but can't win it all. James Franklin? Is he proven to be a winner with one .500 season at Vandy? Mullen? Yeah, right. Dooley? Jury still out, but might consider coming. Thought he'd be good, but he inherited a bad situation. He has shown improvement this season though. Still, can't say it would be a good move, and many would hate it. Kevin Sumlin is a proven winner, but at lower levels, and runs a Mumme/Leach/Air Raid, Spread/No Huddle. Nobody else worth mentioning. Oh, Petrino? Sorry, he A: won (10 games, no championship) with smoke and mirrors, and B: is an offensive minded HC, with, C: a shit ton of off the field baggage. Urban Meyer? Oh that would be ironic! Tuberville 2.0? Hmmmm. Does reuniting with an old flame after a bad divorce ever work?
BTDub, watching Pats vs Broncos...Pats in a hurry up, spread, no huddle.
Next move? Consider a proven SEC assistant, namely off the Saban coaching tree, or a proven HC from outside the SEC, where they all play a different brand of football, probably spread oriented, and where defense isn't a priority.
Do we hire a guy that says he'll continue the move towards a pro style type program overall, or a guy that says "I'll try to win a championship".
What about a championship level coach from FCS? There are some great coaches at those little schools. However, their job is much different than a D1 HC. They're actually still football coaches. They don't have the pressures of media, and fans. They've never had to deal with the attitudes of entitled 4 and 5 star players. Some very good football coaches at lower levels with no experience at things that can make or break a coach at this level.
I don't care what offense we run, or what it's called, so long as it scores points. Same on Def, as long as it limits points scored, or smothers opponents, and is played fundamentally sound and they fly around the football. When you take away "scheme" Chip Kelly is just the type of coach I'd like to see hired. He's won conference championships, and played for it all, and done so at a program that was nothing 20 years ago, and still plays with less than SEC level players. When you consider scheme, everybody says we've recruited to "the spread" the last 4 years, and gotten in top talent, so he should be able to come in and score a shit ton of points. But the lingering question is how long would that last in the SEC?
When I really think about it, I see what we have for product on the field, and know a change is imminent, yet there is not a coaching name that comes to mind that makes me giddy, or even confident that it would be the right move. Not a name out there that I think the majority of the fan base could get behind, but I'm convinced there needs to be a change.
145 Replies
22622 Views