Illinois Football Staff Thread

IAmChrisFarley · Mar 7, 2016

If his health is up to par, Tedford should be the first offensive guy on the list IMO. He can coach up QB's, and he is a pretty damn good play caller. Offer him 1 million and be done with it. Then I'd go with Sherman right after him, and still offer him 1 million.

If Lovie does go with a TE coach, throw 500K at Brewster but put the tag AHC on. Then put Hecklinski and Bellamy with him. Those 3 would recruit their asses off.

IAmChrisFarley · Mar 7, 2016

What about Olin Kreutz for OL coach if he can't Hiestand?

Second and Chalmers · Mar 7, 2016

People's reluctance to turn the page from an unsuccessful regime always amazes me.

Clearly Bellamy is a good recruiter and we all love Nate and Phair did a nice job last year and is a Lovie guy. But if our entire staff is gone and a whole new slate of handpicked Lovie choices come in, that is A-OK by me.

Sybok · Mar 7, 2016

IAmChrisFarley said:
If his health is up to par, Tedford should be the first offensive guy on the list IMO. He can coach up QB's, and he is a pretty damn good play caller. Offer him 1 million and be done with it. Then I'd go with Sherman right after him, and still offer him 1 million.

If Lovie does go with a TE coach, throw 500K at Brewster but put the tag AHC on. Then put Hecklinski and Bellamy with him. Those 3 would recruit their asses off.

I like it, but I would put Sherman ahead of Tedford.

Love My Alma Mater · Mar 7, 2016

IAmChrisFarley said:
If his health is up to par, Tedford should be the first offensive guy on the list IMO. He can coach up QB's, and he is a pretty damn good play caller. Offer him 1 million and be done with it. Then I'd go with Sherman right after him, and still offer him 1 million.

If Lovie does go with a TE coach, throw 500K at Brewster but put the tag AHC on. Then put Hecklinski and Bellamy with him. Those 3 would recruit their asses off.

I like your thinking here, especially with Bellamy, Hecklinski and Brewster.

I think I'd lean more to Sherman as 1st choice, but Tedord would be 1a for me.

I am guessing Mikal as db coach. If Holocek is willing to make the jump, he might also come a little bit cheaper (not saying in a bad wY, but going from hs coach to college with little experience means less money) leaving more money for experience like Sherman/Tedford/Brewster..

IAmChrisFarley · Mar 7, 2016

Second and Chalmers said:
People's reluctance to turn the page from an unsuccessful regime always amazes me.

Clearly Bellamy is a good recruiter and we all love Nate and Phair did a nice job last year and is a Lovie guy. But if our entire staff is gone and a whole new slate of handpicked Lovie choices come in, that is A-OK by me.

I agree with this. But what WR coach will come in and recruit like we know Bellamy can? I think Bellamy can be a lot more productive under a stable coach. Especially with the respected Coach Lovie behind him.

Sybok said:
I like it, but I would put Sherman ahead of Tedford.

You can't go wrong with Sherman. I just think you would have to have a great recruiting core around him. He is getting a little older, 61, and may not want to recruit as much.

Love My Alma Mater said:
I like your thinking here, especially with Bellamy, Hecklinski and Brewster.

I think I'd lean more to Sherman as 1st choice, but Tedord would be 1a for me.

I am guessing Mikal as db coach. If Holocek is willing to make the jump, he might also come a little bit cheaper (not saying in a bad wY, but going from hs coach to college with little experience means less money) leaving more money for experience like Sherman/Tedford/Brewster..

I would absolutely love Holocek to come, and I don't think you short change him. 250-300K is what I would offer.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 7, 2016

IAmChrisFarley said:
I agree with this. But what WR coach will come in and recruit like we know Bellamy can?

Pretty confident neither of us know the answer to that question. If Lovie Smith thinks he does, that's good enough for me.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 7, 2016

Everyone just think back to what enormous coups we thought Billy Gonzales and Chris Beatty and Luke Butkus were.

Not to be anti-opinions and discussion, but I think we ought to have a healthy respect for our own ignorance with respect to the assembling of a group that is going to cover the necessary bases and mesh well behind the scenes. We know the money is there and we know the leadership is there.

brokensaphire · Mar 7, 2016

No more "Co-" Coordinators

I thought Co-Coordinator under Beckman was a complete joke. It meant three things to me when I heard that was his decision, oh so many moons ago:
1. the defense probably won't be very good
2. there will be too many voices in the room
3. the defense is essentially under the master control of a guy who couldn't coach a purple clod of dirt to lie still, even if it is hurt.....

I will be relieved when Lovie names a singular DC. During defensive meetings there need be only one voice and Lovie is smart enough to understand that. Practice time is the time for specialty coaching. Young men need to know exactly who is leading defense, offense and special teams. By the way, I can guarantee one thing that will happen very quickly under Lovie: special teams will be good. It is the phase of the game that is easiest to improve with the right scheme, discipline and sheer hustle. Coach Smith knows games can turn quickly with superior special teams.:thumb: Imagine that! Expect a ST coach with a pedigree.

:chief:

Love my Illini

lstewart53x3 · Mar 7, 2016

brokensaphire said:
I thought Co-Coordinator under Beckman was a complete joke. It meant three things to me when I heard that was his decision, oh so many moons ago:
1. the defense probably won't be very good
2. there will be too many voices in the room
3. the defense is essentially under the master control of a guy who couldn't coach a purple clod of dirt to lie still, even if it is hurt.....

I will be relieved when Lovie names a singular DC. During defensive meetings there need be only one voice and Lovie is smart enough to understand that. Practice time is the time for specialty coaching. Young men need to know exactly who is leading defense, offense and special teams. By the way, I can guarantee one thing that will happen very quickly under Lovie: special teams will be good. It is the phase of the game that is easiest to improve with the right scheme, discipline and sheer hustle. Coach Smith knows games can turn quickly with superior special teams.:thumb: Imagine that! Expect a ST coach with a pedigree.

Love my Illini

Special teams is also a function of depth. Typically deeper teams have better special teams, since the back up guys fill that unit.

MadSeason · Mar 7, 2016

Second and Chalmers said:
Everyone just think back to what enormous coups we thought Billy Gonzales and Chris Beatty and Luke Butkus were.

Not to be anti-opinions and discussion, but I think we ought to have a healthy respect for our own ignorance with respect to the assembling of a group that is going to cover the necessary bases and mesh well behind the scenes. We know the money is there and we know the leadership is there.

Good post. This isn't Beckman who when Campbell stayed at Toledo had no idea how to build a staff.

Lovie has been around a long time. He knows who he wants wear and likely their ability to mesh or not.

Love knows what amount of carryover we need for continuity, what amount of recruiters, coaches etc.

Apollonio · Mar 7, 2016

Love My Alma Mater said:
Lane Kiffin is not leaving Nick Saban and Alabama for anything short of a head coaching job IMHO. Possible exception is an NFL coordinator position

Lane isn't coming here, but he's not exactly popular amongst his fellow coaches in Tuscaloosa. Though Saban likes him, and likes what he's done for his offense, and that's probably all that matters.

But there's a reason Lane interviewed at UCLA.

bigruss22 · Mar 7, 2016

Can somebody explain the Mike Sherman love? I just don't really see the fit as a college OC.

MadSeason · Mar 7, 2016

bigruss22 said:
Can somebody explain the Mike Sherman love? I just don't really see the fit as a college OC.

I tend to agree but he's had a world of experience and had some pretty good offenses at A&M. If he has semi retired to coach high school somewhere I question his appetite for a challenge like this.

I'd rather have a younger guy whose had success at College level, but I'll trust Lovie

Second and Chalmers · Mar 7, 2016

bigruss22 said:
Can somebody explain the Mike Sherman love? I just don't really see the fit as a college OC.

Both college head coaching experience (which I hope is present somewhere on the staff) and good NFL experience as an OC. Is he still hungry for it though?

DeadPanic · Mar 7, 2016

Second and Chalmers said:
Both college head coaching experience (which I hope is present somewhere on the staff) and good NFL experience as an OC. Is he still hungry for it though?

He was also a head coach in the NFL for about 6 years.

Kramer116 · Mar 7, 2016

brokensaphire said:
I thought Co-Coordinator under Beckman was a complete joke. It meant three things to me when I heard that was his decision, oh so many moons ago:
1. the defense probably won't be very good
2. there will be too many voices in the room
3. the defense is essentially under the master control of a guy who couldn't coach a purple clod of dirt to lie still, even if it is hurt.....

I will be relieved when Lovie names a singular DC. During defensive meetings there need be only one voice and Lovie is smart enough to understand that. Practice time is the time for specialty coaching. Young men need to know exactly who is leading defense, offense and special teams. By the way, I can guarantee one thing that will happen very quickly under Lovie: special teams will be good. It is the phase of the game that is easiest to improve with the right scheme, discipline and sheer hustle. Coach Smith knows games can turn quickly with superior special teams.:thumb: Imagine that! Expect a ST coach with a pedigree.

Love my Illini

To be fair to the whole idea of Co-OC or Co-DC thought, both Ohio State and MSU have Co-OC and Co-DC sets ups currently.

Jacob · Mar 7, 2016

Kramer116 said:
To be fair to the whole idea of Co-OC or Co-DC thought, both Ohio State and MSU have Co-OC and Co-DC sets ups currently.

Quit being reasonable and understanding some coaches are trying to build their resume

TheSecretWeapon · Mar 8, 2016

chiefini said:
Two questions: A significantly important role that hasn't been mentioned is who will be the recruiting coordinator? Also, I remember hearing somewhere that the players were advocating for Bellamy to be retained. Does anybody know if there is any truth to that?

along these lines, i thought i heard the guys on BTN talking about how schools like OSU have HUGE support staffs because there arent number limits imposed by the NCAA. Is that correct? Could a school basically have 10+ recruiting coordinators as long as they don't recruit off campus?

Doak1960 · Mar 8, 2016

I wouldn't be surprised if coach Phair had a little to do with the Lovie hiring?

EfremWinters84 · Mar 8, 2016

Doak1960 said:
I wouldn't be surprised if coach Phair had a little to do with the Lovie hiring?

He'll clearly be influencing which of the current coaches receive offers to stay.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Mar 8, 2016

TheSecretWeapon said:
along these lines, i thought i heard the guys on BTN talking about how schools like OSU have HUGE support staffs because there arent number limits imposed by the NCAA. Is that correct? Could a school basically have 10+ recruiting coordinators as long as they don't recruit off campus?

The support staff can help with some of the grunt work surrounding recruiting but they can't actually do any recruiting. It's more about offloading other work from the coaching staff so they can spend their time on the important parts of the recruiting process.

ButkusDaBear · Mar 8, 2016

IAmChrisFarley said:
If his health is up to par, Tedford should be the first offensive guy on the list IMO. He can coach up QB's, and he is a pretty damn good play caller. Offer him 1 million and be done with it. Then I'd go with Sherman right after him, and still offer him 1 million.

If Lovie does go with a TE coach, throw 500K at Brewster but put the tag AHC on. Then put Hecklinski and Bellamy with him. Those 3 would recruit their asses off.

Absolutely! If Hecklinski isn't retained, I hope the DIA (Ifund) offers him a job. :thumb: I think retaining Bellamy is a no-brainer

mhuml32 · Mar 8, 2016

Second and Chalmers said:
Everyone just think back to what enormous coups we thought Billy Gonzales and Chris Beatty and Luke Butkus were.

Not to be anti-opinions and discussion, but I think we ought to have a healthy respect for our own ignorance with respect to the assembling of a group that is going to cover the necessary bases and mesh well behind the scenes. We know the money is there and we know the leadership is there.

A lot of people were excited about the recruiting potential, but there was doubt how Billy would be as an OC.

midastouch11 · Mar 8, 2016

ButkusDaBear said:
Absolutely! If Hecklinski isn't retained, I hope the DIA (Ifund) offers him a job. :thumb: I think retaining Bellamy is a no-brainer

I would sign up for this. I think retaining Bellamy is important, but I don't want to fill too many position coach roles, I'm anxious to see what Lovie Smith has up his sleeve with $4,000,000 to work with.