MaizeBlueA2

January 16th, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^

MacDonald, BJM and Robinson all have LB backgrounds.

MacDonald has coached Ss, so I'm assuming he'll be there.

Minter is coming to coach CBs. 

So that means we're splitting the LBs, someone is coaching DL and Nua is out or BJM is out.

I'm hoping it's something like...

Nua - DTs (or DL)

BJM - DE/OLBs (or just OLBs)

Robinson - ILBs

Minter - DBs 

MacDonald - Ss (helping)

...if we move to a 3-4, this would make sense (although we don't have the personnel for it).

I'm looking at UGAs staff and this is how they are set-up.

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49970

bronxblue

January 15th, 2021 at 4:02 PM ^

Seems like a good recruiter and I think a number of the defensive issues at Florida start at the top with Grantham + Mullen.  I didn't watch a ton of Florida games this year but their LBs didn't seem particularly good or bad.  I have always heard that Grantham's extreme aggressiveness/anger can put guys in not-great positions.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171765

chunkums

January 15th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^

FWIW he was a defensive line grad assistant at Ole Miss in the past. Since we already have Jean-Mary (linebackers) and Macdonald (DC/linebackers), this might make sense.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 29029

JonnyHintz

January 15th, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^

I don’t really think much of the issues at linebacker were on BJM. McGrone was hurt and replaced by a walk-on and even when McGrone was playing, he had a cast on. Depth was an issue, as we just had Ross and McGrone. After that it was a slew of freshmen, walk-ons, and a fullback. The linebackers were by no means good, but there were enough issues going on outside of BJM’s control that I’d give him a pass. 
 

As for the Raven’s staff, we’re taking their linebackers coach as is. Idk who else would be able to coach linebackers from the Ravens that would be more qualified than any of the college coaches. 

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48403

ERdocLSA2004

January 15th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^

I’m afraid I agree with this.  Why does it seem like the longer players stay in this system the worse they get(except maybe OL)?  I hope it was just Browns system and not a sign that they are regressing.  The Dline was very thin so I’m hoping that explains why our LBs seemed to be exploited last year.  

Joined: 01/08/2011

MGoPoints: 15999

bronxblue

January 15th, 2021 at 4:08 PM ^

My concern with BJM has been that he's been attached to Charlie Strong for 10 years and we never really knew how great he was as a stand-alone coach.  I'm willing to give him a pass to an extent but the USF defenses were never really that good and I worry that he doesn't bring much extra as a coach.  And his recruiting has been acceptable but he hasn't seemingly set the world on fire there either.

Anyway, I can sort of see MacDonald just clearing the deck and starting over fresh.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171765

bronxblue

January 15th, 2021 at 7:04 PM ^

Barrett looked really good against Minnesota but, like the rest of the defense, seemed intermittently lost at various other points of the year.  It's always hard to gauge how players perform in an entire defense if parts outside their control are struggling (e.g. the defensive ends struggling to get pressure because of issues in the secondary), but I thought the LBs and Vipers struggled throughout the year and that falls, at least in part, on the LB coach.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171765

gm1234

January 15th, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^

Maybe I’m not remembering correctly, but it seems like Peppers was the only Viper that made an impact in every game...Seems like Hudson had the 1 marquee game against Minnesota and was pretty invisible other than that, Barrett had the 1 marquee game against Minnesota and then was pretty invisible...Is that just my imagination???

edit: for clarity I’m not putting this on the players. Seemed like they were played more in coverage instead of attacking and using their skill set the best.

Joined: 03/16/2020

MGoPoints: 3308

demardorsey

January 16th, 2021 at 8:26 PM ^

Hudson had several excellent games?? I’ve watched every Michigan game that Hudson played in. I would be very interested in you telling me the excellent games he had... He was serviceable but he was far from excellent. Unless we have different definitions of excellent. I can’t really remember watching any game and after it was over saying Hudson was excellent today. Just another guy if you ask me. I think Barrett if coached up has a chance to be a special player on defense but that is just based on athleticism. He looked great against Minnesota and then looked lost the rest of the season. A coaching change should help all of the players on defense. Can’t keep trying to put square pegs in round holes. Hopefully this new staff will implement a system that plays to the strengths of the players. Not a ton of depth on defense but they should be able to hold their biggest rival under 60 points. That is unacceptable and Brown should have been fired 2 years ago for his unwillingness to make adjustments and being too stubborn to his system. 

Joined: 08/17/2018

MGoPoints: 1092

bamf_16

January 16th, 2021 at 9:21 AM ^

The Viper position in Don Brown’s defense is a lot like the QB in Rich Rodriguez’ offense. It has to be a supremely talented player able to fully execute it. The drop off from that to even an above average athlete is steep. Pat White to Denard Robinson to Tate Forcier wouldn’t be nearly as steep a decline in production in most other offenses. Same with this position and Don Brown. Peppers was disruptive more because of his supreme abilities and instincts. Khaleke Hudson is an NFL player too, and look how remarkably steep the drop off (in games not involving Minnesota).

 

Now, to a 230 pound Michael Barrett, the position lost pretty much all of its effectiveness. It was an average LB trying to fill a position that requires significantly more. Plus, Troy Polamalu in Pittsburgh confounded coordinators because he just trusted instincts; there was no way to plan for it since there was seemingly no pattern. Don Brown’s Viper became just another position on film that could be game planned around.

 

Hopefully it’s gone for good.

Joined: 11/20/2010

MGoPoints: 14209

JonnyHintz

January 15th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^

Hamler would have been the 5th highest rated WR in our class. IIRC, Reese was ignored because of Devin Bush. 
 

Not really a cluster effe. Hindsight is 20/20 on the WRs, as nobody could predict Black would be constantly hurt or Martin would transfer a half dozen times. Not like our offense would have featured Hamler much anyway. and the Bush decision was a good one for reasons that shouldn’t need to be explained.

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48403

Laser Wolf

January 15th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^

Rated #34 recruiter in the country in class of 2021 with kids hailing from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas.

Florida has had a pretty good to very good defense since he started in 2018. LB draft picks have been Jonathan Greenard (2020, 3rd round), Vosean Joseph (2019, 5th) and Jachai Polite (2019, 3rd). 

Sounds like a pretty solid hire if only for the recruiting impact. 

Joined: 07/09/2008

MGoPoints: 33416