Football Coaching Staff / Coaching Carousel Thread

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#2,026      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
The one thing that is apparent in reading this board is that people that think Lovie is on a downward trend

Oh I don't think anybody really thinks we're on a DOWNWARD trend.

Here's the reality: we have been absolutely dumpster-fire pathetic on the field from back to front of all three of Lovie's seasons here, a country mile below any conceivably reasonable expectations. Just a catastrophic disaster that not a single person here, nor anyone at the DIA saw coming in March 2016. Everyone thought we would be meaningfully better and if you deny that you're lying, period.

So it's not "which way is the needle pointing?". It's "we're trapped at the bottom of a well, is there a way out?"

To which my answer is a firm, resolute "maybe!"
 
#2,027      

illiniCA

DC Area
Oh I don't think anybody really thinks we're on a DOWNWARD trend.

Here's the reality: we have been absolutely dumpster-fire pathetic on the field from back to front of all three of Lovie's seasons here, a country mile below any conceivably reasonable expectations. Just a catastrophic disaster that not a single person here, nor anyone at the DIA saw coming in March 2016. Everyone thought we would be meaningfully better and if you deny that you're lying, period.

So it's not "which way is the needle pointing?". It's "we're trapped at the bottom of a well, is there a way out?"

To which my answer is a firm, resolute "maybe!"

I really don't see how anybody doesn't see the needle pointing up at this point.... The offense has improved and recruiting has improved. The Illinois job is more appealing than it was 3 years ago and if we hire another HC than the option should be better than they were 3 year ago. The key is for JW to recognize the right time to transition and continue to improve the program overall (IMHO).
 
#2,028      

Dren1

Glenview, IL
Anyone have any thoughts about Mike Bellamy potentially returning for the open RB coaching spot? The possibility was brought up elsewhere.
 
#2,029      
Anyone have any thoughts about Mike Bellamy potentially returning for the open RB coaching spot? The possibility was brought up elsewhere.
Anyone have any thoughts about Mike Bellamy potentially returning for the open RB coaching spot? The possibility was brought up elsewhere.
There have been conversations. He would help in state recruiting.
 
#2,030      
This is one that really stings but is fully understandable. Never mind the fact that's joining the staff of a person he knows, he made what, 225K last year? He's going to make a lot more than that now.
This has been known it might happen for some time according to reports and JW. Going to the NFL to work with his someone he has before.
 
#2,032      
For anyone who is ok with Miles on the staff b/c he knows the system/playbook in and out, how do you reconcile that with the fact that he was on the staff last year in a similar capacity that put out one of the worst defenses in Illinois history?

I thought we turned the corner with a solid recruiting class, but with all of the coaching departures and their subsequent replacements, I don't feel so positive anymore.

Are we glossing over the fact that Lovie was responsible for the defense last year as well? Are we just expecting it to get better because another year passed and sophomores become juniors and it will just click? We have replaced almost the entire coaching staff with extremely inexperienced coaches, on top of what was already a very suspect defense.

I truly am hoping for the best, but that really doesn't mean much when it comes to Illinois sports in general...

For one, he came on during the season and coached DB's and not LB'ers. Two, all the transfers out from the year before hurt. We lost multiple starters. But mainly because, unlike the OL that everyone says benefited from stability, the defense was the opposite. Did it start the same starters two games in a row? We started three frosh in the secondary at times. The DL and secondary had everything from injuries and suspensions causing this. The defense wore down as the game went on. Go review first half vs second half and this was the case in most games. Not all. Next season, the defense should be better on paper alone. They lose what, one starter and a part time starter? They add five DL, three LB'ers and two secondary players. There are starters in the LB'er and secondary. Also would not be surprised in seeing three new LB'er starters next season. That unit made a lot of poor reads. Very rarely are defense with all the player issues we had, very good.
 
#2,033      
This has been known it might happen for some time according to reports and JW. Going to the NFL to work with his someone he has before.

Which is fully understandable. While disappointing for us, anyone using this as a sign of our imminent demise is off base and doing so for reasons with underlying intentions.
 
#2,034      
Oh I don't think anybody really thinks we're on a DOWNWARD trend.

Here's the reality: we have been absolutely dumpster-fire pathetic on the field from back to front of all three of Lovie's seasons here, a country mile below any conceivably reasonable expectations. Just a catastrophic disaster that not a single person here, nor anyone at the DIA saw coming in March 2016. Everyone thought we would be meaningfully better and if you deny that you're lying, period.

So it's not "which way is the needle pointing?". It's "we're trapped at the bottom of a well, is there a way out?"

To which my answer is a firm, resolute "maybe!"

You are one of the few posters that doesn’t take a stance in either of those categories. I considered you but you are in the minority- want the best and consider yourself a realist. Many of the posters are posting as if the sky is falling.
 
#2,035      

Deleted member 654622

D
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In the video clip from yesterday, Miles directly answered those questions. He knows the playbook backwards and forwards, and he put in the hours.
And that is the reason I asked those questions sir. It is one thing for him to say it, it is another for other people to point it out. I want to know if he is lying or not.
 
#2,036      
He
And that is the reason I asked those questions sir. It is one thing for him to say it, it is another for other people to point it out. I want to know if he is lying or not.

From what I have heard, he is not lying
 
#2,037      

Deleted member 654622

D
Guest
For anyone who is ok with Miles on the staff b/c he knows the system/playbook in and out, how do you reconcile that with the fact that he was on the staff last year in a similar capacity that put out one of the worst defenses in Illinois history?

I thought we turned the corner with a solid recruiting class, but with all of the coaching departures and their subsequent replacements, I don't feel so positive anymore.

Are we glossing over the fact that Lovie was responsible for the defense last year as well? Are we just expecting it to get better because another year passed and sophomores become juniors and it will just click? We have replaced almost the entire coaching staff with extremely inexperienced coaches, on top of what was already a very suspect defense.

I truly am hoping for the best, but that really doesn't mean much when it comes to Illinois sports in general...
I am going with the Jimmys and the Joes over the Xs and Os.
So yes I think they will be better mainly for the fact they will be closer to men and not boys
 
#2,038      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
You are one of the few posters that doesn’t take a stance in either of those categories.

Well, I definitely think the needle is pointing up.

I would have been shocked if we weren't better last year than we were in 2017. We were better, ever so slightly.

I'll be shocked if we're not better next year than we were last year. And if it's ever so slightly again we're done here.

We've reached the thing we've been building towards. I think where I differ from some other posters is that I see optimism and expectations as one and the same animal.
 
#2,039      

Deleted member 633632

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it is 100% true. His wife did not want to move again.

No one is disputing that the Raiders came calling last year and Luke graciously denied...

I think what Mike is saying is that you saying Luke is not a fan of Lovie's decisions is not true, and is heresy. And with all due respect, I have to agree with him...
 
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#2,040      
No one is disputing that Gruden came calling last year and Luke graciously denied...

I think what Mike is saying is that you saying Luke is not a fan of Lovie's decisions is not true, and is heresy. And with all due respect, I have to agree with him...
Well that is also 100% true. Butkus was not happy with the hiring of Miles or the way the search played out. Also was not happy that they backed off a couple O line prospects with no real back up plans in place. Can't force yall to believe what I say/know though.
 
#2,041      
While thinking about the O openings it occurred to me that TE Coach Patterson might be seriously considered for RB Coach if he wants it . Trinity High School obviously had superior athletes but were exceedingly well coached on both sides of the ball . Since he has been on the O side and Trinity will have another bumper class in 2020 if being moved to RB Coach would give him more leverage in recruiting not only there but every where else . That would allow Lovie to find a TE Coach with similar experience as Key or dip back into an inner city High School and find a very successful Head Coach in the same mold as Patterson , think recruiting , but I seriously believe an EXPERIENCED POWER 5 O line Coach is needed .
 
#2,042      
Well, I definitely think the needle is pointing up.

I would have been shocked if we weren't better last year than we were in 2017. We were better, ever so slightly.

I'll be shocked if we're not better next year than we were last year. And if it's ever so slightly again we're done here.

We've reached the thing we've been building towards. I think where I differ from some other posters is that I see optimism and expectations as one and the same animal.

This is probably where things get gray, for me at least. Define "ever so slightly" in terms of what isn't acceptable. The prevailing thought seems to be 6 wins, "bowling or nothing". To me, that's a little tough to get behind. Winning 6 games isn't the end all be all for me if the 6 games we lose are 30+ no-contests. If we win 5 games but the 7 losses are actually competitive (As in, we had a legitimate chance to win in the waning moments), I'm good.

Then again, I don't view 2019 as our window and I'm fully cognizant of the fact that this places me in the minority.
 
#2,043      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
This is probably where things get gray, for me at least. Define "ever so slightly" in terms of what isn't acceptable. The prevailing thought seems to be 6 wins, "bowling or nothing". To me, that's a little tough to get behind. Winning 6 games isn't the end all be all for me if the 6 games we lose are 30+ no-contests. If we win 5 games but the 7 losses are actually competitive (As in, we had a legitimate chance to win in the waning moments), I'm good.

I also am much more interested in the quality of the performances as reflected by empirical metrics, S&P, FEI, etc, than I am just purely looking at the W-L record in terms of defining how good the team is. However, two things:

1. Because our schedule is so weak, I think being a terrible 6-6 team is much, much more likely than being a genuinely very competitive 5-7 one. It's not impossible, but it's not an outcome I'm really focused on the way others seem to be (understandably, since it makes an interesting discussion point).

2. The trappings of a bowl, the extra practices, the fun trip for the team, the sense of accomplishment, has some real meaning beyond just reflecting the quality of the team. We really need that stuff to demonstrate some sort of viability here. And IF we get it, even if it's a backdoor 6-6 by a genuinely bad team, I don't know how you would fire Lovie with so much returning and such a comfortable contract situation.

So that's why I say 6 or bust.
 
#2,044      

mattcoldagelli

The Transfer Portal
Zero things have changed. It's bowl or bust in 2019. Fine to be annoyed by our hires, but they only matter in the context of whether the move us towards or away from that objective, and I won't pretend to know enough about the inner workings of our staff to credibly make an argument one way or another.
 
#2,045      
I also am much more interested in the quality of the performances as reflected by empirical metrics, S&P, FEI, etc, than I am just purely looking at the W-L record in terms of defining how good the team is. However, two things:

1. Because our schedule is so weak, I think being a terrible 6-6 team is much, much more likely than being a genuinely very competitive 5-7 one. It's not impossible, but it's not an outcome I'm really focused on the way others seem to be (understandably, since it makes an interesting discussion point).

2. The trappings of a bowl, the extra practices, the fun trip for the team, the sense of accomplishment, has some real meaning beyond just reflecting the quality of the team. We really need that stuff to demonstrate some sort of viability here. And IF we get it, even if it's a backdoor 6-6 by a genuinely bad team, I don't know how you would fire Lovie with so much returning and such a comfortable contract situation.

So that's why I say 6 or bust.

Perfectly logical view point. I personally, however, do not see it that way.
 
#2,046      

Deleted member 649710

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I am sure there are many dozens of highly qualified candidates for the open positions at this point of the coach hiring cycle who are ready to jump at the opportunity to move to East Central Illinois and work for a coach on one of the hotter seats in college football. [/sarcasm off]
 
#2,047      

BananaShampoo

Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
I am sure there are many dozens of highly qualified candidates for the open positions at this point of the coach hiring cycle who are ready to jump at the opportunity to move to East Central Illinois and work for a coach on one of the hotter seats in college football. [/sarcasm off]
Yet somehow we got Vic Koenning and Petrino to come when the Zooker was in a similar situation. It's very doable. Just have to be motivated enough to, you know, actually do it.
 
#2,048      

Deleted member 633632

D
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Well that is also 100% true. Butkus was not happy with the hiring of Miles or the way the search played out. Also was not happy that they backed off a couple O line prospects with no real back up plans in place. Can't force yall to believe what I say/know though.

I feel you bro! There's definitely a lot going and im sure the internal discussions have not always been the prettiest...

May I ask what O-Line recruits those were please? Thanks in advance 40

& guys, it's been a hectic week with fiscal budgets and grants due, plus i had the flu in the midst of it! 😷😡😡

So I really was wanting to know... Did Shammond sign!? 😎

All will be fine and we will win! Lovie has 40 years of experience in the politics of NFL and college football. Don't freak out. As long as we continue to project in an upward trend, increasing our yearly win totals and not getting blown out by 63 points to our rival ever again... we will be fine! 😂😂
 
#2,049      
Yet somehow we got Vic Koenning and Petrino to come when the Zooker was in a similar situation. It's very doable. Just have to be motivated enough to, you know, actually do it.

This, otherwise Olaf is saying that Keynodo Hudson isn't qualified?
 
#2,050      
That's the deal now right? I see people saying that they think he stays with 5 wins. If we eke out 5 wins by sweeping our non-con and getting 2 wins in conference, again, how the hell
Then again, I don't view 2019 as our window and I'm fully cognizant of the fact that this places me in the minority.
I never viewed 2019 as a window either. JW and Lovie were all in that it would take time and that Lovie would get time. Recruiting seemed to improve and the OC was a hit.

Then this round of coaching departures and replacements happened. On its face, it appears things aren’t good. Months looking for a DC. Nepotism. etc.

Perhaps Lovie feels there have been to many voices on the defensive side. Maybe things are fine.

Time will tell but it does give JW an out if it all back fires. Failure to put together a good staff should have come in year one and never looked back. A lot riding on 2019 now that probably wasn’t before.
 
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