The most interesting part of the press conference was when asked about the difference between himself and Pete, Jimmy talked about "the focus on the X's and O's and football strategy." I understand Pete viewed coaching as more than just football, and building men, but dude... Your first job is as a football coach. Had strategy to, you know, actually winning games taken that much of a backseat? I know it seemed like it from the outside, but that's a pretty damning quote.
Pete had a pretty complicated offense. It didn’t look that way, and a lot of the playcalling was obvious, but no young guy seemed to pick it up quickly.
I don’t like Jimmy harping on that. It’s almost like he has to prove that he is smart. I want to hear about kicking the shit out of the other team.
Ultimately tho, all of this is sizzle and he will either win or lose and it will have nothing to do with the press conferences.
Just because it was complicated doesn't mean it was strategically sound. It was kind of a jumbled mess. I get what you're saying, but I didn't get the feeling Jimmy was trying to prove he was smart.
I got the sense that Jimmy watched our offense trip over their dicks for years being too cute, and as a defensive mind, knew it was easy to shut down. I like the idea of a defensive minded coach hiring an offensive coordinator because he can vet them through a lens of "what makes my life hell?" Do that.
Petersen's offense was always supposed to be so complex it was hard to defend, but ended up so complex to implement it was hard to run. Finding the right balance between complex to defend but easy to implement is what we need.
Hamden is a goner (or demoted to QB coach but that would mean hiring another offensive coach and dropping a D coach and that's not likely).
Sounds like Gregory is a goner per Lake's comments about special teams (and his lack of recruiting in 2016 and 2017 hurt badly this year). A soft landing for Gregory could be Fresno State with Tedford or going back to Cal and coaching for Wilcox.
Huff is a good recruiter but the OL underwhelmed too many times this year. He could be in line for a raise and title promotion (associate head coach or something along those lines).
I'm thankful that this process will could be helpful financially. Lake is making about $1.5 million less than Petersen was and it's unlikely the coach they'll replace him with will be making $1.1 million. Even with paying more for a better OC, it never hurts to save about $2 million in 2020 since the department is still paying off the stadium debt.
Can't edit, but just now reading Caple's latest and this addresses what we're both getting at @RoadDawg55 :
Here’s what Lake said later to a small group of reporters, asked if he favors a particular offensive style: “I know what I don’t like facing. I know what creates problems. I know what’s easy from a defensive standpoint. And we’ll continue to research what will be the best style. But I do know this: It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be bruising, it’s going to be attacking and it’s going to be aggressive.”
You aren’t out on the road recruiting unless you are expected to be part of the staff going forward
Always pay attention to what isn’t being said vs what is ... what about a picture doesn’t make sense
Thanks for the ambiguity, Grinolds.
In all seriousness though, I don't think many people actually thought Huff was on the chopping block. He's recruiting well and despite the disagreement about the success of the OL, he's not coaching an obviously flawed unit. Hamden, Gregory, and apparently Paopao (according to sonics) are the only coaches with potential couch sales incoming.
Can't edit, but just now reading Caple's latest and this addresses what we're both getting at @RoadDawg55 :
Here’s what Lake said later to a small group of reporters, asked if he favors a particular offensive style: “I know what I don’t like facing. I know what creates problems. I know what’s easy from a defensive standpoint. And we’ll continue to research what will be the best style. But I do know this: It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be bruising, it’s going to be attacking and it’s going to be aggressive.”
That’s good to hear. I like the idea of being physical. I think it’s the easiest way to have year in, year out success in the PAC 12. It’s a soft conference, although it’s gotten less so.
I just wish the Chipster got fired from UCLA and was available to hire on as the OC.
Jimmy being a first time coach that was internally promoted after being with Pete for the past 8 years is going to have a little bit harder time finding an established OC; his connections are a more limited and there are going to be some OCs that are going to be hesitant to work for a first time HC or want to bring a bunch of their own assistants.
If Jimmy expects/wants to hang on to almost the entire existing staff he is really going to limit his options.
Sounds like he will try to hang on to Huff and maybe Adams atleast.
Comments
Always pay attention to what isn’t being said vs what is ... what about a picture doesn’t make sense
I thought Jim Moore was dead
Sounds like Gregory is a goner per Lake's comments about special teams (and his lack of recruiting in 2016 and 2017 hurt badly this year). A soft landing for Gregory could be Fresno State with Tedford or going back to Cal and coaching for Wilcox.
Huff is a good recruiter but the OL underwhelmed too many times this year. He could be in line for a raise and title promotion (associate head coach or something along those lines).
I'm thankful that this process will could be helpful financially. Lake is making about $1.5 million less than Petersen was and it's unlikely the coach they'll replace him with will be making $1.1 million. Even with paying more for a better OC, it never hurts to save about $2 million in 2020 since the department is still paying off the stadium debt.
Here’s what Lake said later to a small group of reporters, asked if he favors a particular offensive style: “I know what I don’t like facing. I know what creates problems. I know what’s easy from a defensive standpoint. And we’ll continue to research what will be the best style. But I do know this: It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be bruising, it’s going to be attacking and it’s going to be aggressive.”
I'm fairly confident (insert mediocre coach) will be better than (insert mediocre coach).
Always thrilling to know you're retaining a defense that loses to every team that takes running the ball seriously. This should work out well.
Your 25 year plan to lose a Rose Bowl is still firmly in place. It will be interesting.
In all seriousness though, I don't think many people actually thought Huff was on the chopping block. He's recruiting well and despite the disagreement about the success of the OL, he's not coaching an obviously flawed unit. Hamden, Gregory, and apparently Paopao (according to sonics) are the only coaches with potential couch sales incoming.
Jimmy being a first time coach that was internally promoted after being with Pete for the past 8 years is going to have a little bit harder time finding an established OC; his connections are a more limited and there are going to be some OCs that are going to be hesitant to work for a first time HC or want to bring a bunch of their own assistants.
If Jimmy expects/wants to hang on to almost the entire existing staff he is really going to limit his options.
Sounds like he will try to hang on to Huff and maybe Adams atleast.
If Jimmy keeps him Jimmy owns the results