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Cooper McDonald, 2020 3* LB, Justin (Northwest), TX (Committed)

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  • dirtysouwfdawg
    dirtysouwfdawg Member Posts: 14,086
    NLdawg said:

    NLdawg said:

    NLdawg said:

    FirePete said:

    FirePete said:

    Tequilla said:

    I’m going to laugh if this guy turns out to be really good

    I think he is going to be good,
    Tequilla said:

    I’m going to laugh if this guy turns out to be really good

    @NLdawg this is an example of what I meant by evaluating the process of recruiting isn’t about grading the player, it’s about grading the coach.


    No one thinks Cooper McDonald or Mason West are going to be bad players. At least I don’t and I really try not criticize abilities and projections of HS kids. Differentiating a player’s abilities and how well of a job a coach did recruiting isn’t really a “strawman argument” when people often blur the lines by saying stuff like this or saying that UDUB did a good job of recruiting LB’s in 2017 just because Joe Tryon is good.
    Ohh I understand that the coach is not doing their part.

    But I am looking at from a roster point of view he has the tools to be a good player. So he is not Kyler many who is eating up roster spot
    No I got you. I just wanted to show examples of how people can read what you posted and then make the jump to equate: if a player is good = the job of recruiting by the coach
    I agree to an extent. But if you’re saying we can’t evaluate the quality of a coach’s recruiting work relative to how that player turns out, I think that’s wrong. A big (maybe the biggest) part of recruiting is projecting how a guy will develop after 2-3 years in the program. That’s where we’ve separated ourselves from most programs.

    The counter to this is the thought that nearly everyone will develop to their potential in our program so we need to go after the highest ceiling guys bc our program is sure to get them to that ceiling. While it’s certainly true that our program can be gas on the fire for the most talented guys, the buy in we expect is extraordinary. There are guys who lack the make up to handle it and flame out. If a coach fails to project in that regard and we waste a scholly, that’s as bad or worse than missing on targets or process failures.

    TLDR: How a player turns out is relevant to evaluation of the recruiting job.
    It’s really not that relevant tho. That’s moving the goalposts. If Skinny turns out to be a stud for us for two years even, does that mean we did a good job recruiting him? Of course not. Just because BBK has a good year doesn’t mean you did a good job of recruiting LB’s in 2015.



    Nick Harris is a good player who didn’t have ANY other D1 offers. Good job on evaluating, horrible job selling your program to the other guys the coaches themselves had ranked higher. Just because Nick Harris is good doesn’t mean we must retroactively go back and say Strausser did a better job recruiting than we thought.



    Talent evaluation =\= ability to recruit.


    Huff deserves eval credit for Gaard but everyone and their mother have offered Murao, Hatchett, Rosengarten. Huff sold those guys and didn’t need to be a great evaluator of hidden talent in order to close the best class possible.



    Jimmy Lake offering Esteen early is a great example of evaluating. Jimmy Lake offering and whiffing on every other guy out west until he offered Jacobe way later than the rest of his top schools an example of poor recruiting sales/management.
    So I guess this is where we differ. To me, talent evaluation is a huge part or one’s ability to recruit. Every dude in the bar can spot the hot chicks. The Bruce Wayne we want closes the one that isn’t going to steal all his money and be on meth after 4-5 years.
    Sorry man I usually don’t downvote stuff but this is just such a reach that it can’t go without acknowledging how stupid this is.
    Cool man. Let’s hire Adrian Klemm. If we’re going to get nasty in the middle of a perfectly civil discussion, let’s start with your behavior toward our recruits on Twitter.
    Bi-polar much?

    If that comment got you like that, you might need to take a walk to get some perspective and to also ensure you can handle this place.

    I’ve taken many walks.
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    FirePete said:

    77 Rose Bowl we trick whipped Michigan and held on to win

    81 Rose Bowl Michigan whipped us physically

    84 Orange Bowl we belonged with Oklahoma but our recruiting was flawed leading to 5 years in the desert.

    James could develop and coach but realized he needed better players

    By 91 we could whip anyone. The fumes lasted until 94 with wins over the Buckeyes and Canes.

    Then we started losing big games again because we didn't develop and recruiting slid

    By Gilby we had nothing

    Everything does matter because nothing lasts forever

    Petersen is close but you can't be satisfied. Ever.

    Talent, coaching, facilities, and support.

    race does the current state of the program feel like the late 80 again?
    The late 80s were shit by and large. 89 we finally showed some life. The Freedom Bowel announced we were for real, and everything else flowed from that.

    The last three years have been far better than the late 80s across the bored except we don’t have that signature bowl win.
  • guntlove
    guntlove Member Posts: 784
    NLdawg said:

    NLdawg said:

    NLdawg said:

    FirePete said:

    FirePete said:

    Tequilla said:

    I’m going to laugh if this guy turns out to be really good

    I think he is going to be good,
    Tequilla said:

    I’m going to laugh if this guy turns out to be really good

    @NLdawg this is an example of what I meant by evaluating the process of recruiting isn’t about grading the player, it’s about grading the coach.


    No one thinks Cooper McDonald or Mason West are going to be bad players. At least I don’t and I really try not criticize abilities and projections of HS kids. Differentiating a player’s abilities and how well of a job a coach did recruiting isn’t really a “strawman argument” when people often blur the lines by saying stuff like this or saying that UDUB did a good job of recruiting LB’s in 2017 just because Joe Tryon is good.
    Ohh I understand that the coach is not doing their part.

    But I am looking at from a roster point of view he has the tools to be a good player. So he is not Kyler many who is eating up roster spot
    No I got you. I just wanted to show examples of how people can read what you posted and then make the jump to equate: if a player is good = the job of recruiting by the coach
    I agree to an extent. But if you’re saying we can’t evaluate the quality of a coach’s recruiting work relative to how that player turns out, I think that’s wrong. A big (maybe the biggest) part of recruiting is projecting how a guy will develop after 2-3 years in the program. That’s where we’ve separated ourselves from most programs.

    The counter to this is the thought that nearly everyone will develop to their potential in our program so we need to go after the highest ceiling guys bc our program is sure to get them to that ceiling. While it’s certainly true that our program can be gas on the fire for the most talented guys, the buy in we expect is extraordinary. There are guys who lack the make up to handle it and flame out. If a coach fails to project in that regard and we waste a scholly, that’s as bad or worse than missing on targets or process failures.

    TLDR: How a player turns out is relevant to evaluation of the recruiting job.
    It’s really not that relevant tho. That’s moving the goalposts. If Skinny turns out to be a stud for us for two years even, does that mean we did a good job recruiting him? Of course not. Just because BBK has a good year doesn’t mean you did a good job of recruiting LB’s in 2015.



    Nick Harris is a good player who didn’t have ANY other D1 offers. Good job on evaluating, horrible job selling your program to the other guys the coaches themselves had ranked higher. Just because Nick Harris is good doesn’t mean we must retroactively go back and say Strausser did a better job recruiting than we thought.



    Talent evaluation =\= ability to recruit.


    Huff deserves eval credit for Gaard but everyone and their mother have offered Murao, Hatchett, Rosengarten. Huff sold those guys and didn’t need to be a great evaluator of hidden talent in order to close the best class possible.



    Jimmy Lake offering Esteen early is a great example of evaluating. Jimmy Lake offering and whiffing on every other guy out west until he offered Jacobe way later than the rest of his top schools an example of poor recruiting sales/management.
    So I guess this is where we differ. To me, talent evaluation is a huge part or one’s ability to recruit. Every dude in the bar can spot the hot chicks. The Bruce Wayne we want closes the one that isn’t going to steal all his money and be on meth after 4-5 years.
    Sorry man I usually don’t downvote stuff but this is just such a reach that it can’t go without acknowledging how stupid this is.
    Cool man. Let’s hire Adrian Klemm. If we’re going to get nasty in the middle of a perfectly civil discussion, let’s start with your behavior toward our recruits on Twitter.
    Oh boy, not sure this place is for you, fren. Maybe PM the Eyerish Dog... he can dial you in.
  • DodgyBloke
    DodgyBloke Member Posts: 957
    Film nerds is his film better or the same as Smalls??
  • guntlove
    guntlove Member Posts: 784

    Tequilla said:

    Tequilla said:

    Happy to be proven wrong but it’s unrealistic to think you are always going to get your top choices ... few schools at best even sniff this IMO

    Back in the day it was always recruit the top 3 in the West and we’re doing our job if we got one ... the LA schools were always going to be tough to beat ... but the key was getting comparable talent and then developing it better

    By and large Gregory isn’t considered a strong recruiter and he’s an easy target because of it

    For better or worse, this commit is proof that the work and messaging we are doing in Texas is starting to pay off ... the real proof will come if we’re ever able to pull elite kids West

    Sure, but it's the measuring stick for how well a coach recruits. When year in and year out certain coaches routinely miss their top 2, 3, 5 guys, yeah, they won't be considered strong recruiters. It's not too complicated. Gregory is an 'easy target' because he keeps missing.

    As for Texas, it's always been about resources spent and results to show for it. Results haven't matched up with the opportunity cost, and Coop doesn't really move the needle (that's what I call my dick.)
    I don’t think anybody is claiming that Gregory is a strong recruiter ... so you’re not disagreeing with really anybody

    What I’m suggesting is that what is being considered the bar (do you close your top targets) needs to benchmarked to determine performance. Right now it’s just pissing and moaning. My guess is that few programs get their top targets consistently ... taking a look at the number of offers extended by schools really confirms this.

    As for Texas, time will tell. There’s got to be a reason why we’re pumping resources into Texas ... there’s a reason besides that the coaches are stupid
    Except that part of the "difference" of our? recruiting strategy is not to offer unless kids show mutual interest in us? so IT IS WORSE than someone like Oregon spamming offers that misses on their top 2-3 targets. If you miss on kids that were never coming here anyways, then fine, it is what it is. We? are missing on kids that show initial interest in us?, then talk to Bob, and decide, "Nevermind, I don't want to go there." That's definitely a red flag.

    I don't think a lot of our subpar recruiting coaches are going anywhere, I just wish Petermen would maybe help them with something they obviously are struggling at a bit more.
    This.

    Great fucking poast, Bot.
  • Tequilla
    Tequilla Member Posts: 20,098
    We’re also targeting guys that just about every legit school wants

    So yes, it is true that we are being selective

    It is also true that we’re still largely hitting on top 3-4 targeted players

    I’m not having the Gregory is a great recruiter conversation because he isn’t.

    But the arguments presented here in evaluating recruits are one sided at best and need to be benchmarked

    Also, Jimmy Lake largely whiffed on his top tier this year and it’s not uncommon that he whiffs a decent amount (by the standards of some) each year

    It’s why everything needs to have a healthy balance of short term takes and LIPO
  • LaMichael_Corleone
    LaMichael_Corleone Member Posts: 1,316

    Film nerds is his film better or the same as Smalls??

    Lol. That’s not fair to this kid.
  • TacoSoup
    TacoSoup Member Posts: 148
    dnc said:

    FirePete said:

    77 Rose Bowl we trick whipped Michigan and held on to win

    81 Rose Bowl Michigan whipped us physically

    84 Orange Bowl we belonged with Oklahoma but our recruiting was flawed leading to 5 years in the desert.

    James could develop and coach but realized he needed better players

    By 91 we could whip anyone. The fumes lasted until 94 with wins over the Buckeyes and Canes.

    Then we started losing big games again because we didn't develop and recruiting slid

    By Gilby we had nothing

    Everything does matter because nothing lasts forever

    Petersen is close but you can't be satisfied. Ever.

    Talent, coaching, facilities, and support.

    race does the current state of the program feel like the late 80 again?
    The late 80s were shit by and large. 89 we finally showed some life. The Freedom Bowel announced we were for real, and everything else flowed from that.

    The last three years have been far better than the late 80s across the bored except we don’t have that signature bowl win.
    Going 4-4 against ASU in the 80's is the biggest indictment against DJ
  • RaceBannon
    RaceBannon Member, Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 113,725 Founders Club
    TacoSoup said:

    dnc said:

    FirePete said:

    77 Rose Bowl we trick whipped Michigan and held on to win

    81 Rose Bowl Michigan whipped us physically

    84 Orange Bowl we belonged with Oklahoma but our recruiting was flawed leading to 5 years in the desert.

    James could develop and coach but realized he needed better players

    By 91 we could whip anyone. The fumes lasted until 94 with wins over the Buckeyes and Canes.

    Then we started losing big games again because we didn't develop and recruiting slid

    By Gilby we had nothing

    Everything does matter because nothing lasts forever

    Petersen is close but you can't be satisfied. Ever.

    Talent, coaching, facilities, and support.

    race does the current state of the program feel like the late 80 again?
    The late 80s were shit by and large. 89 we finally showed some life. The Freedom Bowel announced we were for real, and everything else flowed from that.

    The last three years have been far better than the late 80s across the bored except we don’t have that signature bowl win.
    Going 4-4 against ASU in the 80's is the biggest indictment against DJ
    John Cooper was a tuff football coach

    Too bad Bitchfork wasn't born yet
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839

    TacoSoup said:

    dnc said:

    FirePete said:

    77 Rose Bowl we trick whipped Michigan and held on to win

    81 Rose Bowl Michigan whipped us physically

    84 Orange Bowl we belonged with Oklahoma but our recruiting was flawed leading to 5 years in the desert.

    James could develop and coach but realized he needed better players

    By 91 we could whip anyone. The fumes lasted until 94 with wins over the Buckeyes and Canes.

    Then we started losing big games again because we didn't develop and recruiting slid

    By Gilby we had nothing

    Everything does matter because nothing lasts forever

    Petersen is close but you can't be satisfied. Ever.

    Talent, coaching, facilities, and support.

    race does the current state of the program feel like the late 80 again?
    The late 80s were shit by and large. 89 we finally showed some life. The Freedom Bowel announced we were for real, and everything else flowed from that.

    The last three years have been far better than the late 80s across the bored except we don’t have that signature bowl win.
    Going 4-4 against ASU in the 80's is the biggest indictment against DJ
    John Cooper was a tuff football coach

    Too bad Bitchfork wasn't born yet
    Huskies can't run in the snow desert!
  • Tequilla
    Tequilla Member Posts: 20,098

    Tequilla said:

    We’re also targeting guys that just about every legit school wants

    So yes, it is true that we are being selective

    It is also true that we’re still largely hitting on top 3-4 targeted players

    I’m not having the Gregory is a great recruiter conversation because he isn’t.

    But the arguments presented here in evaluating recruits are one sided at best and need to be benchmarked

    Also, Jimmy Lake largely whiffed on his top tier this year and it’s not uncommon that he whiffs a decent amount (by the standards of some) each year

    It’s why everything needs to have a healthy balance of short term takes and LIPO

    This sentence alone handicaps what you’re saying about evaluating.


    We’re offering the same kids as these other big schools. Rome Odunze was a late find and we offered him after Penn State and Oklahoma. Evaluating and recruiting are different. I’m sorry that it feels like parsing but offering someone like Esteen early is evaluating well, getting a kid not to visit Colorado who’s best offers are Baylor and Utah is just getting a lazy win. Period.


    I’m not trying to argue or shit on the kid, but we need to get to a level where we look at a failure and call it a failure.
    There’s incomplete information out there ... so just going by timing of offers as your foundation can lead to flawed results and conclusions

    Moreover, there are all kinds of reasons why you win/lose in recruiting.

    Listening to a recent Evan Weaver about why he went to Cal and he said it was because he wanted to be a leader in establishing something new. It could all be BS rationalization after the fact but the reasons why kids pick schools is far from black and white.

  • UW_Doog_Bot
    UW_Doog_Bot Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 18,044 Founders Club
    Tequilla said:

    We’re also targeting guys that just about every legit school wants

    So yes, it is true that we are being selective

    It is also true that we’re still largely hitting on top 3-4 targeted players

    I’m not having the Gregory is a great recruiter conversation because he isn’t.

    But the arguments presented here in evaluating recruits are one sided at best and need to be benchmarked

    Also, Jimmy Lake largely whiffed on his top tier this year and it’s not uncommon that he whiffs a decent amount (by the standards of some) each year

    It’s why everything needs to have a healthy balance of short term takes and LIPO

    At certain positions. Other positions we are consistently failing at. Funny how there's a strong correlation both ways with the position coaches recruiting.

    Damaged goods? But seriously, I think everyone knows that at DB we've struck out with some top tier talent, we are ok when that hasn't been a consistent theme, when the B plan guys are also "really" fucking good bc Jimmy is a proven great evaluater who can actually pick out diamonds in the rough. We've also leveled up at DB where we are taking our shot at the best of the best and realize our product isn't the best yet. Some failures are bound to be a part of that growth. Not so much with LB recruiting...

    How much longer should we LIPO with Gregory? 5 years? Also, notice, I'm advocating for him and Kwat to get "help" not to be fired. Do what you gotta do to help them succeed. The current modus operandi isn't acceptable at this level.
  • guntlove
    guntlove Member Posts: 784
    dawgs206 said:

    Bob Gregory needs to step it up on the recruiting trail. No other way to say it. He's been a great LB coach and a big reason we've had a dominate defense the past few years, but he's also inherited more than any other position coach.

    -Inherited Dante Pettis and John Ross as return extraordinaires. Last year without the pair we were #108 in Punt return O, #111 in Kick-off Return O... Also, #97 in Punt return D, #76 in Kick-off D. WE SUCKED. That doesn't include not having a kicker that can hit from 35+ yards, which cost us 1 game against Oregon last year and 1 against ASU in 2017. Gregory is likely going to get TWO scholarships devoted to a Punter and long-snapper this class. They better be All-Americans and I don't exactly have faith they will be.

    -This might be a bit of a reach, but no denying he has benefited from our string of DT's. 5 DT's drafted since he got here in 2014, including 2 first rounders and 4/5 drafted in the first 4 rounds. That helps as an ILB coach. He gets credit for BBK, 2016 Azeem and Bierria. The 2019 recruiting class is stacked at ILB and credit him for that, but he's treading water for 2020 and 2021 has MASSIVE potential (with plenty of UW ties) that we need to capitalize on.

    Even if our ILB continues to be top notch, we need to see improvement in special teams play and recruiting or some sort of change is needed. Like having a 10th coach help with OLB/ILB instead of shadowing Jimmy. How much does Cort make at Louisville?




    Really good poast, 206.
  • Tequilla
    Tequilla Member Posts: 20,098
    I feel like a broken record ... but NOBODY is saying that Gregory is a great recruiter.

    Special teams coaching is interesting to me ... we largely failed last year due to a lack of depth at positions that feed into special teams. Some of that is on Gregory.

    Saying our LBs are good because the DL has been good is laughable to me

  • RaceBannon
    RaceBannon Member, Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 113,725 Founders Club
    Special teams sucked last year and most years under Petersen other than D Money punt returns

    Coaches are stubborn. So are bosses. Its hard for them to admit they aren't doing something well because that's how they do it and they are successful so who are you to disagree?

    Lose again to Oregon based on special teams and hit the road Jack
  • Penace
    Penace Member Posts: 496
    If this was the NFL This kid is like a 7th round draft pick or more likely undrafted free agent. A guy that you don't even expect to make the fucking team. Why in the fuck are we accepting his commitment in July?
    Why in the fuck are we offering him in May.
    I'm sorry but his commitment feels like a loss.
  • MelloDawg
    MelloDawg Member Posts: 6,844
    The doog take on this is great.

    "I think I trust the coaches more than you."
    "Petersen recruits players, not stars."
    "Steve Emtman was a 2-star"

    Fuck. These are the same people who loved Sark each and every year and were too chicken shit to say they all endorsed Willingham for his 4th year. When you start spouting off nonsense that justifies why a 3-star is an awesome and game changing athlete for us, you should drink bleach.
  • whuggy
    whuggy Member Posts: 2,088
    This thread is really turning into BBK Sucks thread Part II. The backtracking could be entertaining as fuck if/when the kid becomes a big contributor.
  • UW_Doog_Bot
    UW_Doog_Bot Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 18,044 Founders Club
    whuggy said:

    This thread is really turning into BBK Sucks thread Part II. The backtracking could be entertaining as fuck if/when the kid becomes a big contributor.

    Meh, I don't think he sucks but was he one of our "top" targets or did we settle? That's the debate.
  • Tequilla
    Tequilla Member Posts: 20,098

    whuggy said:

    This thread is really turning into BBK Sucks thread Part II. The backtracking could be entertaining as fuck if/when the kid becomes a big contributor.

    Meh, I don't think he sucks but was he one of our "top" targets or did we settle? That's the debate.
    Probably somewhere in the middle

    We could definitely do worse
  • Tequilla
    Tequilla Member Posts: 20,098
    dawgs206 said:

    Tequilla said:

    I feel like a broken record ... but NOBODY is saying that Gregory is a great recruiter.

    Special teams coaching is interesting to me ... we largely failed last year due to a lack of depth at positions that feed into special teams. Some of that is on Gregory.

    Saying our LBs are good because the DL has been good is laughable to me

    We were bad at pretty much everything related to special teams in 2018. Our depth should be better than most of the PAC-12 so that isn’t a great excuse. Are you saying WSU and OSU had better depth in 2018? That is largely coaching.

    I didn’t say our DL is the reason our LB’s are good. I said it makes Gregory’s job easier. Outside of BBK and 2016 Azeem and Bierria I would say our LB’s have been good, but not the strength of our D. If he is going to be a liability in recruiting and special teams (LIPO a little here) we should expect amazing LB play.
    DB depth wasn’t great last year ... huge ST contributors

    LB depth sucked last year ... obviously ST contributors

    K and P have largely sucked for a while ... that’s an issue that’s been around for a while
  • NLdawg
    NLdawg Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2019


    Bi-polar much?

    If that comment got you like that, you might need to take a walk to get some perspective and to also ensure you can handle this place.

    I’ve taken many walks.

    *****


    Look, this is obviously right. I shouldn’t have lashed out, but I did. It’s been danced around here for quite some time. Now I’ve said it directly. Sorry @LaMichael_Corleone, I like your stuff and generally agree with you, but the twitter stuff beyond gifs, likes, and emojis is, IMV, too much. I’ll meet you at 7-11 to settle this as civilized men do.
  • LaMichael_Corleone
    LaMichael_Corleone Member Posts: 1,316
    edited July 2019
    NLdawg said:



    Bi-polar much?

    If that comment got you like that, you might need to take a walk to get some perspective and to also ensure you can handle this place.

    I’ve taken many walks.

    *****


    Look, this is obviously right. I shouldn’t have lashed out, but I did. It’s been danced around here for quite some time. Now I’ve said it directly. Sorry @LaMichael_Corleone, I like your stuff and generally agree with you, but the twitter stuff beyond gifs, likes, and emojis is, IMV, too much. I’ll meet you at 7-11 to settle this as civilized men do.

    I think you’re taking this a lil too seriously my man. And you fucked up the quoting so it makes me look like I said this stupid ass shit. Tough day for ya. Ya hate to see it.
  • NLdawg
    NLdawg Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2019


    Ha ha. Yeah, this has really ruined my day.
  • Ballz
    Ballz Member Posts: 4,735