DC Search Update?

What about Marcus Freeman, DC at Cincinnati? Saw his name mentioned on the 247 board by someone other than a mod over there. He's drastically improved their defense the last 2 years in a pass-happy and high-scoring league. He's young and on the rise so he'd be a little bit of a gamble but could be a high upside choice. Here's Cincy's defensive stats the last 3 years:

2017 (1st season): 93rd scoring defense, 31.7 PPG, gave up 224 passing YPG & 204 rushing YPG for total of 428 YPG

2018: jumped all the way up to the 8th scoring defense, 17.2 PPG, gave up 191 passing YPG & 111 rushing YPG for total of 302 YPG and averaged 1.5 TO's per game

2019: 24th scoring defense, 20.6 PPG, gave up 223 passing YPG & 138 rushing YPG for total of 361 YPG, averaged 2 TO's per game

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Originally Posted by MaroonFlounder

I like the talented young D-Line. The back half of the defense will struggle.

Combined with the fact that air raid will have our Defensive guys right back out there, continuously.

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That’s not true. WSU defended the fewest plays in the PAC-12, 3 of the last 4 years. A lot of people have a false belief that his air raid is some type of HUNH or up tempo offense. That not true. They only are defending about 65-70 plays a game.

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Originally Posted by Really Clark?

That’s not true. WSU defended the fewest plays in the PAC-12, 3 of the last 4 years. A lot of people have a false belief that his air raid is some type of HUNH or up tempo offense. That not true. They only are defending about 65-70 plays a game.

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What a lot of people don't understand is that Leach's offense basically has running plays, except they're just not actual running plays. Short slants, screens, quick outs; they serve the purpose of a running play, except it just stretches the field. Those plays burn clock just like any rushing play.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

Just offer Jay Bateman and call it a day.

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Why would Bateman leave UNC ? Hell the Navy coach wouldn't leave, why would Bateman?

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Originally Posted by Spiderman

Why would Bateman leave UNC ? Hell the Navy coach wouldn't leave, why would Bateman?

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Double his salary. It's why most folks change jobs

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Originally Posted by Spiderman

Why would Bateman leave UNC ? Hell the Navy coach wouldn't leave, why would Bateman?

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edit. delete

I still think we need to make another run at Randy Shannon. He supposedly makes $300K there at UCF - would he really turn down more than double the pay to stay in FL?

And I wonder if Walters comes back into play if LSU doesn't want him

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Originally Posted by Spiderman

Why would Bateman leave UNC ? Hell the Navy coach wouldn't leave, why would Bateman?

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We can offer more money and an opportunity to coach in the SEC. I mean, we've been able to draw elite DC's going back to at least the 1990's. We can offer pretty close to top dollar now. I don't think UNC would outbid us if it came down to it.

My top two are Bateman and Rocky Long. Either one.

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Originally Posted by bobcat91

Double his salary. It's why most folks change jobs

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Didn't help with Newberry

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

We can offer more money and an opportunity to coach in the SEC. I mean, we've been able to draw elite DC's going back to at least the 1990's. We can offer pretty close to top dollar now. I don't think UNC would outbid us if it came down to it.

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If that were all there was to it, Newberry be here.

Again, why, other than money, would he come?

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Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew

Look like I was wrong & some things went left.

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That?s one reason I value your posts. People who stand up and admit when they missed one are generally the ones with the best and most trustworthy info.

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Originally Posted by Spiderman

Didn't help with Newberry

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wow

Just wow

I think the Newberry deal was about living location honestly. These younger coaches and families dont want to be in rural MS when they have a choice.

Kind of hoping the Pirate has a back up plan ready when things like this happen. Maybe he's been working on that today. I just think we will all be surprised and happy when the announcement is made. Fingers crossed!

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Originally Posted by Spiderman

If that were all there was to it, Newberry be here.

Again, why, other than money, would he come?

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Not necessarily. It depends on what the candidate values. I can understand Newberry wanting to bring in people he is comfortable with. A good working relationship is important. He may be playing the game like Napier. He probably made a poor financial decision.

As I said- it's a more prestigious league. It's more pay and upward mobility. That can lead to a head coaching job. And Leach has a good history of producing head coaches.

Croom was able to get Ellis Johnson. Joe got Bob Shoop. Dan landed Manny, Geoff, and Grantham despite being a known ass and hard to work for. Why can't we get Bateman?

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Originally Posted by Bothrops

I think the Newberry deal was about living location honestly. These younger coaches and families dont want to be in rural MS when they have a choice.

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It's certainly not like living in an area with close to 7M, and even larger when Baltimore is added in. If he's used to living in a large city, Starkville would be a culture shock. After googling him, he comes from Kennesaw State (a similar sized metro as Washington), but also coached at Sewanee, definitely a rural area.

He also might be used to coaching highly disciplined players at the Academy and doesn't want to give that up.

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Originally Posted by Bothrops

I think the Newberry deal was about living location honestly. These younger coaches and families dont want to be in rural MS when they have a choice.

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Not an issue in today's society with millionaire coaches and today's technology. Most head coaches have second homes nowadays.

It certainly takes something you really deem valuable to turn down $400k or more of salary

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

This. Pruitt had them playing hard and that comeback bowl win showed how far they had come from a team that earlier in the season would've packed it in after being down like that. He appears to have changed the culture of that program. They gave bama a tough game too.

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I agree. A lot of people thought Tennessee was a dumpster fire when they lost to Georgia State to begin the season. Pruitt is a good coach, demands discipline, and got Tennessee on the right path. They had a good recruiting year this year, also. If we had hired Pruitt instead of Moorhead, we would have been better off. Guess things turned out good for us, however, since now we have Leach.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

Not an issue in today's society with millionaire coaches and today's technology. Most head coaches have second homes nowadays.

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That last sentence may be true, but I disagree, I think it's a problem for us.

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Originally Posted by Bothrops

I think the Newberry deal was about living location honestly. These younger coaches and families dont want to be in rural MS when they have a choice.

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He's not all that young. Graduated Baylor in 1998, so assuming he was 21 then makes him 44 now.

https://navysports.com/sports/footba...n-newberry/645

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Originally Posted by Irondawg

It certainly takes something you really deem valuable to turn down $400k or more of salary

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Maybe we didn't offer that much more than he's making now. Being an up-and-comer I doubt we offer then over $1M. Probably more like $750K at best.

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Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew

Clayton White - WKU
David Reese - UAB
Scottie Hazelton - Kansas St
Jay Bateman - UNC

Some names to remember

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I like Hazelton and Bateman would be ok. But I know nothing about the other two. Im pretty disappointed if this is the list. We have more money than we have ever had to get a legit LEGIT staff and probably the biggest DC hire that I can ever remember this is the list. Kinda bummed here. Go get a proven dawg to run the defense make somebody say no. Im hoping this has already happened and I dont mean it being just Newberry either.

Im praying for Hazelton I know he could do it

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Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg

Only if he hires the wrong guy. Whether or not you've heard of him is meaningless.

Personally, I think once DCs are competent, there is very little difference between them.

Defense above all else is decided by talent & speed. Offense is where I care much more about hiring.

Mullen had a different DC almost every year at MSU & he still won

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If that was all it was you could coach it. Nobody is playing the south panola delta stack defense and saying sic em. Not in this league you'd better get somebody who can coach

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Originally Posted by KOdawg1

You can sugar coat it all you want, and no I'm not panicking, but I'm not thrilled with the way this is going. WSU's defensive guys have done nothing that have warranted coaching in the SEC. They may be good coaches, but anyone on a staff that finished 11th in the Pac12 in total defense, 286 passing yards, 170 rushing yards, and 31 points a game should not be promoted to the SEC. I don't care if there was a talent gap or if they fired the DC mid-way through the year. SEC ready coaches don't finish in the bottom of weak defensive conference. I wish Leach would've hired a DC and let him assemble the staff. If I'm a DC and I see that half of my defensive staff is already assembled for me with guys from the shittiest defense in the Pac12, I'm saying thanks but no thanks.

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I agree. I like Darcel McBath he is a good coach and was a great player at TTU. He will be a good one here if he is coming like the word is. But the rest Im not big on at all. This is the first thing I've had some worries about since we hired Leach

This hand wringing is laughable. No one had even heard of Newberry until 5 or so days ago and now folks are acting like we just missed out on a cant miss DC.

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Originally Posted by bobcat91

This hand wringing is laughable. No one had even heard of Newberry until 5 or so days ago and now folks are acting like we just missed out on a cant miss DC.

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Newberry = Napier

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Originally Posted by bobcat91

This hand wringing is laughable. No one had even heard of Newberry until 5 or so days ago and now folks are acting like we just missed out on a cant miss DC.

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Well it's obvious we missed on at least 1 target now. Being turned down by navy's DC isn't great optics at the very least. Not saying it's time to panic, but concern is more than fair

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Originally Posted by BuckyIsAB****

I agree. I like Darcel McBath he is a good coach and was a great player at TTU. He will be a good one here if he is coming like the word is. But the rest Im not big on at all. This is the first thing I've had some worries about since we hired Leach

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The rest? It’s McBath and one other guy. And the other guy (Phelps) has been a Power 5 DL coach for nine years. He’s got a good resume.

I don’t think it’s fair to evaluate the staff as a whole until it’s finished, but I don’t have a problem with either of the WSU guys he is bringing so far. Don’t think either or those guys are bad coaches at all. Now I would feel differently if the last two hires are both WSU guys, but that seems really unlikely.

The # 1 thing that I've been concerned with is the S&C Department. THAT will make the difference in what we are gonna see in 2020. The most important transition is afoot. Lets all be glad.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Well it's obvious we missed on at least 1 target now. Being turned down by navy's DC isn't great optics at the very least. Not saying it's time to panic, but concern is more than fair

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We got turned down by ULL’s head coach and an NFL assistant with virtually no college experience and still ended up with a sitting Power 5 head coach. I’m not worried about optics or any concerns until we know who the hire is.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Well it's obvious we missed on at least 1 target now. Being turned down by navy's DC isn't great optics at the very least. Not saying it's time to panic, but concern is more than fair

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Didn't realize you was an "optics" guy ** Thought you was a stats guy

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Originally Posted by dawgday166

Didn't realize you was an "optics" guy ** Thought you was a stats guy

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I'm multi-faceted

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Originally Posted by Captain Falcon

We got turned down by ULL’s head coach and an NFL assistant with virtually no college experience and still ended up with a sitting Power 5 head coach. I’m not worried about optics or any concerns until we know who the hire is.

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Fair enough. Just remember whoever it is now, he wasn't our HC's first choice. Doesn't mean the DC is less or a DC or that he can't be successful though

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Fair enough. Just remember whoever it is now, he wasn't our HC's first choice. Doesn't mean the DC is less or a DC or that he can't be successful though

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or second right? Weren't we after Ryan Walters?

So if you are throwing $1m at someone who would you throw it at?

Hazleton, Bateman, someone else?

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Originally Posted by KOdawg1

You can sugar coat it all you want, and no I'm not panicking, but I'm not thrilled with the way this is going. WSU's defensive guys have done nothing that have warranted coaching in the SEC. They may be good coaches, but anyone on a staff that finished 11th in the Pac12 in total defense, 286 passing yards, 170 rushing yards, and 31 points a game should not be promoted to the SEC. I don't care if there was a talent gap or if they fired the DC mid-way through the year. SEC ready coaches don't finish in the bottom of weak defensive conference. I wish Leach would've hired a DC and let him assemble the staff. If I'm a DC and I see that half of my defensive staff is already assembled for me with guys from the shittiest defense in the Pac12, I'm saying thanks but no thanks.

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Yeah I agree. I was really hoping that Leach would understand you can't just outscore people in the SEC. Especially not at MS state. I'm pretty concerned at this point that he's doesn't seem to be putting a lot of stock in defense and recruiting, which doesn't set up well for success. Ive lost my erection after the Leach hire.

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Originally Posted by Irondawg

So if you are throwing $1m at someone who would you throw it at?

Hazleton, Bateman, someone else?

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The one that knows how to scheme against the passing game.

Football has changed over the past 5 years or so. There are many famous DCs that simply wouldn't be all that effective against today's offenses as their defenses were designed to stop the run.

You definitely have to control the running game, but I'd love for Bama & LSU to shorten the game & run on us.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

I'm multi-faceted

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Renaissance man **