Rate the DC hire

[Irondawg]

The resume looks strong but knowing that he wasn?t doing the full game plan or calling the plays has me worried. That?s the part that separates Good DCs from position coaches.

The only clip I?ve watched was 2 years old and he didn?t come across as having that commanding presence but that can change in 2 years. I do like the 3-3-5 in concept for us.

I?ll give it a C right now just based on the fact there are so many unknowns.

What I really don?t want to happen is to look back and think we really messed up with Newberry (assuming we could have made it work). Granted he had only been a high level dc for 1-year as well.

[ShotgunDawg]

On creativity & ceiling an A+

On floor & the chances we see another Sirmon situation C-

We don't know. I like the idea though. We'll see if it can be executed

[yjnkdawg]

LOL Some people on this board worry about something, before there is even a reason to worry. Well, Newberry decided he didn't want to make a move this year. So you don't have to worry about that MSU messed up anything there. I'm not giving any rating now because any rating is only pure speculation, with no facts to back it up on how he will perform here.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Grading the hire before any games are played is like a teacher grading a test without looking at the test itself.

We can look at how smart a student is and how good they've scored in the past and have a decent idea of their grade on the test, but we still dont know until you look at the answers and any guess is pure speculation.

To make matters worse, this "student" has virtually no test history we can go on.

[Todd4State]

I'll give it an A.

I'm satisfied but the only reason it's not an A+ is because of the questions about how much input Long had vs. Arnett. That's a minor concern though and I believe he will be fine.

[mparkerfd20]

Grade: C-

Guy was never really the DC, just had the title. He admits so himself.

"Everyone knows coach Long is the defensive coordinator,? Arnett said. ?He was generous enough to give me a title?he calls (the defense). He?s the guy who is generating the game plan.?

https://thedailyaztec.com/90011/sports/zach-arnett-promoted-to-defensive-coordinator-for-aztecs/

[Percho]

Grade: C-

Guy was never really the DC, just had the title. He admits so himself.

"Everyone knows coach Long is the defensive coordinator,? Arnett said. ?He was generous enough to give me a title?he calls (the defense). He?s the guy who is generating the game plan.?

https://thedailyaztec.com/90011/sports/zach-arnett-promoted-to-defensive-coordinator-for-aztecs/

August 15, 2018

[Pennywise]

I'm pleased.

https://hackernoon.com/drafts/l19i32lb.png

[Pennywise]

Grade: C-

Guy was never really the DC, just had the title. He admits so himself.
I'm glad that Mike Leach is making these decisions and not you. And I bet he's talked to Long and knows more about Arnet and his abilities/skills than any of us.

[bobcat91]

Grade: C-

Guy was never really the DC, just had the title. He admits so himself.

"Everyone knows coach Long is the defensive coordinator,? Arnett said. ?He was generous enough to give me a title?he calls (the defense). He?s the guy who is generating the game plan.?

https://thedailyaztec.com/90011/sports/zach-arnett-promoted-to-defensive-coordinator-for-aztecs/

That was his first year. Long admitted last year Arnett took over. Our fans arent happy unless they are running a coach down

[BhamDawg205]

Well all the hire will start 100, until their preparation and on the field performance says different.

[TheLostDawg]

Come on. Some of you guys are too serious. This is just a fun topic.
I'll give him 4/5. I think that he could be 5* but considering how we don't know if he called plays and how this formation lives and dies more than most on how prepared the opposing offense is to pick up what we're doing it could easily be Simon bad.
I'm optimistic though and like the gamble because it can pay off big time and just what we need. We just better hope this guy is the real deal.

[Dawgface]

Solid B with potential of being an A in the end.

[Walkerhill]

The resume looks strong but knowing that he wasn?t doing the full game plan or calling the plays has me worried. That?s the part that separates Good DCs from position coaches.

The only clip I?ve watched was 2 years old and he didn?t come across as having that commanding presence but that can change in 2 years. I do like the 3-3-5 in concept for us.

I?ll give it a C right now just based on the fact there are so many unknowns.

What I really don?t want to happen is to look back and think we really messed up with Newberry (assuming we could have made it work). Granted he had only been a high level dc for 1-year as well.

B. If you add Rocky Long in an off field analyst position, A+.

[FISHDAWG]

An offensive mind like CML knows what he likes and doesn't like in opposing defenses and ML has seen a lot of them and a lot of DC's .... even if it's 3rd or 4th choice I'm siding with Leach because he knows way more than most of us about this.... Starting with A+ just for the out of the box thinking

[Gypsy_RoadDawg]

My thoughts exactly!! I think Leach knows more than all of us. I can't give a grade until I have something to go by.

[mparkerfd20]

That was his first year. Long admitted last year Arnett took over. Our fans arent happy unless they are running a coach down

Never said I wasn't happy. Cautiously optimistic is the words I would use. But knowing that, I can't give him better than a C at this point.

[mparkerfd20]

I'm glad that Mike Leach is making these decisions and not you. And I bet he's talked to Long and knows more about Arnet and his abilities/skills than any of us.

Yep I'm glad too because I just don't know. I'm optimistic that it works out and think that it probably will.

[Johnson85]

My only concern is that I think it may come with a painful adjustment period. My understanding is that his defense prioritizes speed and will sacrifice size to get it. But I don't see a lot of speed on our D right now. I know we can get some by playing people at a different level (i.e., make a safety an OLB, make a bigger LB a rush end, etc), but outside of that, the depth chart doesn't seem to be built for his D. But calling my understanding superficial might be giving it too much credit. Still worries me.

[Saltydog]

Not sure we've got the personnel to run that D. Nonetheless, on paper I'm giving the hire a "C".

[maroonmania]

An offensive mind like CML knows what he likes and doesn't like in opposing defenses and ML has seen a lot of them and a lot of DC's .... even if it's 3rd or 4th choice I'm siding with Leach because he knows way more than most of us about this.... Starting with A+ just for the out of the box thinking

I will always defer to CML when it comes to offense. On the defensive side though, he is certainly open to being questioned. Its not like he has never hired a bad DC because he has. Hoping this works out well and on paper it looks pretty good but just hard to know how much total input Arnett had in actually running the defense at SDSU. Plus its a new scheme for us, so there may be a transition period and I am not certain we currently have the personnel to run a 3-3-5 at a high level. I think most thought we would be stronger this year on the DL than in the secondary.

[Huntsville Dawg]

I will let you know his grade sometime in November. I'm still just enjoying not having to sit through another season of Moorhead.

[Scared_Hitless]

Honestly probably a solid "B" it is going to be a fun type of defense to watch. Going to give up some big plays, but should have lots of TFLs and takeaways to balance it out. If we can become a turnover type defense with Leach on Offense we may score alot of points. So from the perspective I see why we did it.