Here's hoping to BU summer of madness 2.0
The Illinois Defensive Coordinator Search
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Ugh, this isn't good. I understand it, I'm happy for Walters, and agree it's a natural result of a good football program. Better to be losing coordinators to promotions than to be firing them for underperformance.
But ... I liked Walters, and no, we won't be able to plug the "next guy up" in there and expect similar results. We're either going to have to land a really great DC, or we're going to take a step back on that side of the ball. He's the best coordinator we've had in here for a long, long time.
But ... I liked Walters, and no, we won't be able to plug the "next guy up" in there and expect similar results. We're either going to have to land a really great DC, or we're going to take a step back on that side of the ball. He's the best coordinator we've had in here for a long, long time.
I’ve seen a lot of smoke about potential NFL DC opportunities for Leonhard, but who knows?
Jim Leonhard please...
My question here is, most things I saw when Cryst was fired was that it was now or never to hand the reigns to Leonhard, then he gets passed up for Fickell. Now, I assume he was beat out for the Purdue job by Walters....? If all of this is true, I'd have to assume he's got a pretty bad taste.
Because you don't think he'll take another DC job? What P5 HC jobs are still open?
I personally think it makes sense this late in the hiring cycle. Not entirely disagreeing, just want to know your angle on this.
BB keeps making the right decision with whatever obstacles are put in his way. More than fine with Kane or Leonhard
Leonhard is a top DC at the college level, no drop off if he is added. Illinois would just have the same situation come up of replacing him when he takes a HC job if they go this route.
Leonhard is a top DC at the college level, no drop off if he is added. Illinois would just have the same situation come up of replacing him when he takes a HC job if they go this route.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Is part of the calculus that Leonhard may only be a short 1 or 2 year solution at DC whereas Kane may be a longer term solution if things go well?
I think you go with the best guy regardless...which I think is part of the reason Leonhard is even available, whisky went for the best guy available
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
Like Walters?
Honestly, we may not have been able to expect similar results HAD we kept RW.
We lose a lot of NFL talent from the D this year.
Having a 1st round CB basically eliminating 1/3 of the field and the opponent’s best WR allows a good DC to get very creative with play-calling and blitzes.
100 percent agree. It's going to be tough for the new DC, because even if he's every bit as good as RW, we're not likely to repeat this season's result.
I'm no insider, but I think it's somewhere between likely and certain that Leonhard goes to the Packers. They tried to hire him last year.
It's not even worth comparing to this year. We allowed the fewest points an Illinois defense has allowed since the 1960's. It was literally half as many points as several of our defenses in recent years.
We could be a very good defense next year and still give up 100 more points over the course season. It's not a standard that can reasonably be used as a benchmark.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
well, its not like he and Bret are strangers .
He definately takes the call and sees what the offer is, if there is one.
If Kane does well, he will leave too, that’s the beauty of it.
Competent head coaches get people promoted.
Other great coaches see the desirability for the vacant position so they compete for it.
The HC chooses the best, then rinse and repeat.
Hopefully BB makes a good hire!
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
I'm guessing the new DC will be named very, very soon. Possibly today.
The HC has to be competent but not an egomaniac...there's a reason that Pat Fitzgerald has zero coaching tree after 17 years at NW
If so, I bet it’s Kane. Easy choice for the promotion. Lock him up!
It’s now only Mississippi State (RIP Coach Leach).
Maybe Bret kept telling RW that the BIG west is the place to be! /s
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
They aren't strangers at all, that's true.
But it should be noted that the only time they ever worked together was Leonhard's senior year as a player, which was BB's first as DC. Both were at Wisconsin a long time, but they only intersected that one year.
There's something weird going on with Leonhard's unwillingness to leave the state of Wisconsin. I doubt he's in play for us.
The two reasons I like the Kane thing
1. It burnishes the value of the "coordinator-in-waiting" job Kane would be leaving. If you prove that conveyor belt works, coaches will be lining up to get on the beginning of it.
2. The resources that would otherwise be dedicated to bringing in those DC qualifications could be redirected toward filling Kane's vacancy with the elite rainmaking recruiter this staff is still missing. If Kane is capable of the DC role, and I think everyone believes he is, the "Mayor of Littyville" role is the bigger hole, IMO.
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