Broyles Award for Mattison?

Submitted by patrickdolan on
Unless things change radically, I would think that Mattison is a likely finalist for assistant coach of the year. Who else would be in the running?

Chester Copperpot

November 13th, 2011 at 6:24 AM ^

I agree that Monken and Chavis definitely have a better shot to win given the success their teams have earned, but I don't think anyone can aruge how much Mattison has brought to the table.  Turning last year's disaster of a defense into a very good unit (not just in comparison, but objectively) is nothing short of miraculous.  Hell, J.T. Floyd was a whipping boy a year ago, and now he has a fan club. 100% pure Columbian awesome.

pasadenablue

November 13th, 2011 at 6:32 AM ^

Oh yeah, in terms of a turnaround, Mattison wins hands down.

 

What he's managed to do with this defense is nothing short of miraculous.  

 

But that defense Chavis has built at LSU is something unlike anything I've seen since those Miami defenses of 1998-2001.  They look like men among boys.  I regularly tune into LSU blowouts, just to watch that defense dismantle teams.  They are a joy to watch, because they almost never miss assignments, they absolutely FLY to the ball, and they hit with unbridled aggression and anger.  It's almost like an NFL defense playing in D-1 football.  It's unfair.

DutchWolverine

November 13th, 2011 at 7:50 AM ^

The turnaround is tremendous, but these awards always do to one of the top ranked teams...not necessarily the most deserving.  Similar to the Heisman, you have to have a great record.  

mGrowOld

November 13th, 2011 at 8:02 AM ^

Exactly right Dutch.  If we win our last two games he'll be in the discussion but unlikely to win (I agree with the posters giving to either Monken or Chaves).

But I mean like dang.  He's in the discussion!  Who would've guessed that at the beginning of the year.

ps: Is it wrong for me to dream about last year's offense couple with this year's defense?  I try not to think about that O getting 6-7 extra possessions each game and not playing from behind all the time.  Damn.....

LSAClassOf2000

November 13th, 2011 at 8:12 AM ^

I am thrilled that Mattison is in this discussion myself. If you had asked me if we could talk about him being considered for the Broyles in August, I admit, I would have struggled to think how this was possible, but after today, I am thinking, "Why the hell CAN'T he win it?" Sadly, he wouldn't be part of the "in" crowd, as has been pointed out here. 

g_reaper3

November 13th, 2011 at 8:13 AM ^

We have given up only 104 points in B1G play compared to 229 points in our first six games of B1G play last season.  Its a shocking improvement, less than half. 

On the offensive side we took a step back, hard to say how much.  From a points standpoint through the first 6 games of B1G play, we have 197 this year versus 212 last year (22 points in OT).  But as Mgoworld points out, much less pressure on the offenses and also better field position, etc.

The hypothetical would be awesome.  But once Borgess gets his style of guys, and Mattison gets the defense even better, we could become really dominant. 

HoldTheRope

November 13th, 2011 at 8:26 AM ^

Other than Mattison, who should easily win this IME...Todd Grantham has done a great job down at Georgia with that defense. UGA has been sort of under the radar this year after they started out 0-2 a la us in 2007, but the defense has looked infinitely better than it did in the derp-filled Willie Martinez years. If it wasn't for him, Richt could've been out of a job after this season. Chavis is not a bad choice either but with that much talent I feel like it's sort of hard to screw that up. He definitely is a good defensive mind though, going back to his days in Knoxville. 

Mr. Yost

November 13th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^

This should be Mattison's award. Period. OK St.'s offense has been explosive. LSU was supposed to have a top 5 defense. Both coordinators are GREAT. But what Mattison has done, has been masterful.

FrankMurphy

November 13th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^

He's certainly deserving because of the turnaround he's orchestrating, but the Broyles award typically goes to a coordinator on a top 5 team, or at least a coordinator of a top 5 offense/defense.