When Sumlin hired Coach Snyder, I felt it was an underwhelming hire but looking back, it was probably in line with where we were as a program/defense. It was a big hire in terms of importance and it didn't work out, which makes this hire even more important.
It has been said that this go-round Sumlin has an open checkbook to make this hire and all rumors are pointing to us swinging for the fences.
It just so happened that Will Muschamp was fired from his head coaching position by Florida, instantly making him the top defensive coordinator available. Shortly after Sumlin let go of Snyder, Auburn followed suit and let go their DC and threw their name in the ring. There are also very strong rumors that South Carolina is going after him - but they haven't fired their DC yet.
I think he is the #1 target for Coach Sumlin and the rest of the candidates hinge on his decision.
Will Muschamp
- Georgia '94
- Base 4-3 defense
- 2001 LSU - Linebackers
- 2002-2003 LSU - Defensive Coordinator
- 2004-2005 Miami Dolphins - Asst HC/Co-DC
- 2006-2007 Auburn - Defensive Coordinator
- 2008-2010 texas - Defensive Coordinator/Head Coach in Waiting
- 2011-2014 Florida - Head Coach
Rush D PassD Total D Scoring D
========== ========== ========== =========
2002 LSU 134.1 (40) 152.7 (2) 286.8 (8) 18.3 (15)
2003 LSU 67.0 (3) 185.0 (18) 252.0 (1) 11.0 (1)
2004 NFL ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
2005 NFL ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
2006 AUB 124.2 (45) 168.2 (14) 292.3 (19) 13.9 (7)
2007 AUB 124.7 (29) 173.2 (6) 297.9 (6) 16.9 (6)
2008 tu 83.5 (3) 259.4 (104) 342.9 (51) 18.8 (18)
2009 tu 72.4 (1) 179.6 (19) 251.9 (3) 16.7 (12)
2010 tu 139.6 (44) 161.6 (6) 300.2 (6) 23.7 (49)
2011 FLA 132.7 (40) 166.9 (7) 299.5 (8) 21.3 (20)
2012 FLA 93.9 (4) 192.5 (17) 287.5 (5) 14.5 (5)
2013 FLA 142.4 (33) 171.8 (7) 314.3 (8) 21.1 (15)
2014 FLA 116.8 (12) 194.2 (23) 311.0 (9) 21.2 (24)
There isn't much more that needs to be said. His defenses are always sick. Only twice since 2002 has his defense been worse than 9th in the country - across four different schools.
He also coached under Nick Saban from 2001-2005.
The biggest concern, in my opinion, is that if we hire Coach Boom, we're going to go through this entire ordeal again in a couple of years because he's going to get another HC opportunity.
Bud Foster
- Murray State '80
- Base 4-2-5 defense
1983-1985 Murray State - Outside LB
1986 Murray State - Outside & Inside LB
1987-1992 Virginia Tech - Outside LB
1993-1994 Virginia Tech - Outside/Inside LB & Special Teams
1995 Virginia Tech - Co-Defensive Coordinator
1996-2014 Virginia Tech - Defensive Coordinator
Rush D PassD Total D Scoring D
========== ========== ========== =========
1999 75.9 (2) 247.3 (3) 10.5 (1)
2000 99.3 (16) 224.4 (77) 323.6 (27) 22.6 (45)
2001 71.6 (2) 166.3 (8) 237.9 (2) 13.4 (2)
2002 121.4 (29) 213.6 (56) 335.1 (32) 18.8 (21)
2003 136.0 (39) 231.5 (76) 367.5 (51) 23.0 (45)
2004 115.2 (21) 152.8 (4) 268.0 (4) 12.9 (2)
2005 93.4 (8) 154.2 (3) 247.6 (1) 12.9 (2)
2006 91.2 (11) 128.2 (1) 219.5 (1) 11.0 (1)
2007 86.6 (5) 210.3 (31) 296.9 (4) 16.1 (3)
2008 104.4 (14) 175.0 (16) 279.4 (7) 16.7 (9)
2009 128.4 (40) 167.1 (11) 295.5 (12) 15.6 (9)
2010 155.9 (64) 205.6 (40) 361.5 (52) 20.6 (26)
2011 104.1 (14) 200.6 (31) 304.6 (10) 17.6 (7)
2012 134.1 (28) 199.1 (24) 333.2 (18) 22.9 (32)
2013 110.9 (10) 172.7 (8) 283.6 (4) 19.3 (11)
2014 144.8 (41) 186.8 (14) 331.7 (17) 20.4 (17)
Once in the last 11 seasons has his team been outside of the top 20 in total defense. Wow.
Foster has coached with Frank Beamer for his entire career, starting as a GA in 1981 when Beamer took over the Murray State HC job. He has always been a defacto HC in Waiting at Virginia Tech, turning down countless jobs, but in recent years he has started to inquire about HC jobs as they come open.
So why now? There are some who think that Foster might now be passed over by VT when Beamer retires in order to get fresh blood in the program. He doesn't even need to worry about a new wardrobe - bring all your Hokie maroon with you.
Honestly, this would be a HUGE hire.
If Muschamp is 1A, then Bud Foster is 1B
I also have to respect his hat bill - that's good work there
Brent Venables
- Kansas State '92
- Base 4-2-5 defense
- 1993-1998 Kansas State - Linebackers
- 1999-2003 Oklahoma - Co-DC/Linebackers
- 2004-2011 Oklahoma - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- 2012-2014 Clemson - Defensive Coordinator
Rush D PassD Total D Scoring D
========== ========== ========== =========
2002 OU 107.9 (14) 185.3 (25) 293.1 (10) 15.4 (6)
2003 OU 113.2 (20) 146.4 (2) 259.6 (3) 15.3 (5)
2004 OU 94.6 (6) 204.4 (48) 299.0 (13) 16.8 (11)
2005 OU 90.6 (4) 216.1 (56) 306.7 (13) 23.1 (37)
2006 OU 98.7 (16) 188.4 (41) 287.1 (16) 17.3 (19)
2007 OU 110.3 (17) 228.1 (59) 338.4 (26) 20.3 (19)
2008 OU 116.5 (20) 251.5 (99) 367.7 (68) 24.5 (58)
2009 OU 92.9 (8) 179.7 (20) 272.6 (8) 14.5 (7)
2010 OU 148.9 (58) 212.9 (51) 361.9 (53) 21.8 (33)
2011 CLEM 176.9 (83) 217.5 (50) 394.4 (71) 29.3 (81)
2012 CLEM 155.9 (57) 240.3 (71) 396.2 (63) 24.9 (48)
2013 CLEM 155.7 (52) 201.0 (16) 356.7 (25) 22.2 (24)
2014 CLEM 97.7 (7) 161.9 (3) 259.6 (1) 17.6 (7)
Brent Venables is a great defensive coach, and a very good recruiters, but I can't stand him. Mostly it is from the way the Corey Nelson recruitment went. That said, I was able to work past the same issue with Kingsbury a couple years ago so I could make due.
I don't think he is in quite the same cut as the two guys I have above - and the numbers show it. He left OU because Bob Stoops wanted to hire his brother, whichever one just got fired from where ever, to be their DC.
His defense is known to be fluid in terms of formations - and he likes to blitz and blitz and blitz some more.
Bo Pelini
- Ohio State '90
- Base 4-3 defense
- 1994-1996 San Francisco 49ers - Defensive Backs
- 1997-1999 New England Patriots - Linebackers
- 2000-2002 Green Bay Packers - Linebackers
- 2003 Nebraska - Defensive Coordinator
- 2004 Oklahoma - Co-Defensive Coordinator
- 2005-2007 LSU - Defensive Coordinator
- 2008-2014 Nebraska - Head Coach
Rush D PassD Total D Scoring D
========== ========== ========== =========
2003 NEB 119.3 (24) 177.9 (11) 297.2 (11) 14.5 (2)
2004 OU 94.6 (6) 204.4 (48) 299.0 (13) 16.8 (11)
2005 LSU 91.5 (6) 175.3 (11) 266.9 (3) 14.2 (3)
2006 LSU 97.1 (14) 145.7 (3) 242.8 (3) 12.3 (4)
2007 LSU 106.1 (12) 182.7 (9) 288.8 (3) 19.9 (19)
2008 NEB 116.2 (21) 233.4 (89) 349.9 (55) 28.5 (80)
2009 NEB 93.1 (9) 178.9 (18) 272.0 (7) 10.4 (1)
2010 NEB 153.1 (63) 153.6 (5) 306.8 (11) 17.4 (9)
2011 NEB 158.5 (64) 192.2 (18) 350.7 (37) 23.4 (42)
2012 NEB 192.5 (90) 168.1 (4) 360.6 (35) 27.6 (58)
2013 NEB 156.2 (53) 214.6 (33) 370.8 (40) 24.8 (50)
2014 NEB 176.5 (78) 196.3 (26) 372.8 (48) 24.8 (48)
Bo Pelini is one of those guys that I look at and think of being a defensive coordinator for life. He is a really good defensive coordinator - I'd even go so far as to say elite. He's a decent head coach, but his bread and butter is coaching up defenses.
Like Muschamp, Pelini was fired from his head coaching gig at Nebraska within the last few weeks. He was consistently good but never great - winning 9 games, 10 games, 10 games, 9 games, 10 games, 9 games, 9 games. It wasn't enough for the Huskers.
Frankly, just employing him to have the Fake Pelini twitter account stay alive would be doing the entire college football world a huge favor.
Also like Muschamp, I think Pelini will get another head coaching job within the next couple of years.
Others
There are also whispers of guys like Greg Mattison (DC at Michigan - who just fired HC Brady Hoke) or Dave Steckel (DC at Mizzou) or Gene Chizik (former Auburn HC).
Mattison is a great coach but I don't break out in a smile when I think of my excitement level. I would take him - but it would be one of those "awe man, we missed out on ______" and then in a year or so realize how well he's doing.
Steckel is probably the least sexy name on the list but I'd be very pleased with him - his Mizzou defenses have been stout - particularly up front, but he has been with Gary Pinkel since the dawn of time and I'd be really surprised if he took a lateral move within conference.
Chizik? No thanks. He had a few good seasons but overall he a cut below all the guys I've listed above. I also can't get the image of him wearing his black leather jacket during the Cam Newton season, which for reasons unknown to me just drives me crazy. Also - need to steer clear of the Chiz Rags.
Hopefully, Sumlin can get the right guy in the right time frame. All of our mid-term recruits need to know who their coach will be before they finalize their decisions. I felt like the process of hiring Snyder took too long back in '12 and we lost out on a couple of JUCO defensive players that could have really helped us.
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