Coaching Carousel (Football)

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#226      
ChiefGritty
So in doing some internet digging I am relatively satisfied that Partridge/Mike MacDonald and Hauck/Rocky Long both broadly represent a similar defensive concept, lighter fronts, more blitzing, more uncertainty of who and where the pressure is coming from on any given down.

A few reasons spring to mind as why that might be a transition we want to make

- A sense that good players who are fast and good players who are smart are cheaper and easier for Illinois to attain in depth in this marketplace than good players who are big

- A sense that we're living on borrowed time playing our current style against more modern offenses. As anyone who has seen us against tempo spread teams, especially if you've been there in person, the extent of the hijinks Bielema gets up to in order to slow the opponent down and keep his guys fresh are comical, shameless, and highly vulnerable to subtle changes in referee interpretation of the substitution rules.

- Re: the above, a sense that tempo spread is no longer the rare aberration that we need a special gameplan for, but the standard the whole thing should be built to stop, with old school Iowa-style attacks the rare exception. The Big Ten West is dead (but not forgotten :cry:)

- Some degree of duress based on how the DL situation shook out in the portal
 
#227      
Boricua Illini
Not a panic, plan B.
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I buy that it was Coach's plan B...

Plausible that Hauck retired last week after Bielema told him he would go in a different direction, and after Coach's Plan A declined, Hauck was called again.
 
#229      
Chillinini
Username said:
I just wonder how the kids are going to feel being coached by a 60+ y.o. white guy from Montana. I really hope this works out, but this is the first cultural reference that comes to mind. I hope someone comes and shows me how wrong I was in the fall.

Getting Old Baby Boomer GIF by MOODMAN
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Grampa Simpson Grandpa GIF by MOODMAN
 
#230      
TampaToo
WeWillWhen said:
I saw Rocky Long's defenses first hand at UCLA and San Diego State. Aggressive. Lots of blitzing. Hard hitting. If Hauck can get our guys to play like that, we'll be happy.
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I think that will be the secret to the sauce. Do we have enough players that fit this scheme and if not how long to get the right personnel in place?
 
#231      
jamie13197
It's a horrible hire and makes no freaking sense. Are we playing AA ball or major league. Guess it is minors!
 
#233      
mattcoldagelli
ChiefGritty said:
So in doing some internet digging I am relatively satisfied that Partridge/Mike MacDonald and Hauck/Rocky Long both broadly represent a similar defensive concept, lighter fronts, more blitzing, more uncertainty of who and where the pressure is coming from on any given down.
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Caveating this that I understood our approach on defense and then realize that injuries limited our options further......I don't know why we have been so blitz-averse when that seems to be the surest way to disrupt all but the savviest or most mobile college QBs.
 
#234      
ChiefGritty
mattcoldagelli said:
Caveating this that I understood our approach on defense and then realize that injuries limited our options further......I don't know why we have been so blitz-averse when that seems to be the surest way to disrupt all but the savviest or most mobile college QBs.
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I think the fact that we launched the Bielema-era success with a platoon of NFL DB's (coached by Aaron Henry) painting the Mona Lisa in base cover 2 on every 3rd and 9 has basically dictated our philosophy from there, until now.
 
#238      
2X2L
As long as Josh and Bret, other honchos at Illinois are happy with the hire, I'm happy. Don't like off-field issues during Hauck's time at Montana. But that was then.

And Coach Hauck is only 61? Put me out to pasture at my age.

"What -- me worry?"
 
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#239      
Illini4Christ
Bobby definitely pushes a hard-nosed, physical style of play. His Griz teams were known for that.

According to his old players, he emphasizes temperament and intensity over complex "X's and O's," which seems like a perfect fit for Bret Bielema's "famillly" and "Illinois Tough" culture.

It might be what we needed because we didn’t have the quality of defense that we need recently.

He has some great players coming and on the current roster, this intensity and toughness may just put us over the top.

And he is liked in this small circle of college football coaches. His peers recently recognized his standing in the coaching community by voting him as president of the AFCA for 2025.
 
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#241      
HereSoIDontGetFined
I was excited we might get someone from the NFL but now that I'm finding out it was Partridge I'm kinda glad we didn't get him. Don't want anyone that had anything to do with the disaster that unfolded in Ann Arbor...
 
#242      
Captain 14
From a trusted source in Missoula...'Hauck has never called defense a single second in his 38 year career. The 3-3-5 defense could never stop Montana State or NDSU.'
His words not mine.
 
#243      
cookie86
Werner acts like this was beliemas #1 guy and the partridge thing was just a smoke screen
 
#248      
Iamgroot
Im not trying to be negative but severely unchecked with this hire.This guy has no interest in recruiting is reversed more as offensive guy from everything ive read and could find on him.idk if we weren't willing to spend what was necessary for a upgrade to ahen or if we waited to late to start looking but I cant see how this can be looked at in any other way then a downgrade.I truly hope im wrong but wow am I completely underwhelmed with this hire.How can we go from stoops,partridge,walters etc to a guy that has no DC experience i really dont get this.I truly hope im wrong and if I am I promise I'll be the first to eat crow just cant believe this the best we could do.I never thought id say this but this hire is giving me I miss Ahen vibes all the way around
 
#249      
AirTran
Username said:
Yeah - that's a good call, and this was just my initial reaction. He obviously gets to fill out his staff and hopefully that goes really well and helps balance it out. That said, for me, it's hard to ignore the change from a 37 y.o. former B1G player from FL to a 61 y.o. guy from Montana. I also fully acknowledge that Ahen was not getting it done so I'm not saying it was working under him or he is the model that we should be emulating.

According to Google AI, "Defensive coordinators in college football often fall within a median age range of roughly
43 to 52 for top-performing units, generally tending to be slightly older than their offensive counterparts to prioritize experienced schematic knowledge. While youth movement trends exist, new Power Five hires (2018-21) averaged 48.2 years old, with many over 45.
  • Average Age & Experience: Top defensive coordinators are frequently in their 40s or early 50s, a "sweet spot" that combines established, in-depth scheme development with the energy to coach.
  • Hiring Trends: A 2018-2021 study of 43 new Power Five, major-hire roles showed an average age of 48.2."
Also, no matter what you or I think about demographics being important or not, I do wonder what the perception is among current players, future recruits, and all of their families.

I really hope this is an outside the box stroke of genius by BB, and he has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt. I do think that it's fair to point these things out and not just immediately react positively and ignore some potential concerns. I'll leave it at that other than to say Go Illini!
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What the hell does being 61 years old have to do with wether he is the best fit. Did you Google that one? Football teams consist of 120 integral parts. That is something that BB has emphasized since he arrived. And all of a sudden the age of the new DC which is a above some contrived "sweet spot" based on an internet search has some impact on his ability to coach the Illini D. I will tell you something. If you ran an organization or company, I don't think the "best and brightest" are going to work for you.
 
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#250      
Iamgroot
Illinialldayeveryday said:
Where is the no calling plays on D coming from?
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From the articles I've read he was described as a offensive coach his team averaged 41 ppg this season not 1 mention of him defensive play calling even there defense as a whole.Grant it its early I imagine the hype machine will put things out there but as far as I could find theres not much if anything about his defensive prowess.I truly hope im wrong but has me wondering as a fan of the beloved how committed we are to winning in football
 
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