2024 FOOTBALL Staff Thread

[NCDawg]

I know we are 9 months from our next game and there's not shit else to talk about, but maybe, as a fan, who gives a shit who our O-line coach is?

I do find it strange that we hired an OL coach and DL coach without hiring an OC and DC first.

[StarkVegasSteve]

This is very dumb.

We had 3 first round draft picks. So did Clemson, so did Alabama. But they had more defenders drafters late, and they had more drafted in the next few years. Ie, Clemson and Bama had the same elite talent but more talent and depth behind them. Moreover, Clemson and Bama had elite offenses helping them out too- ours did it with a 3 and out as their only rest. Lastly, Lupoi and pretty good DCs in their own right.

For Shoop to have. A better defense than Clemson or Bama was impressive as hell.

I am telling you all what I was told by multiple guys on at 18 defense, 2 of which being 1st round picks. Shoop did not have much to do with any of it. Brian Baker played almost as big of a role as Shoop. They told Shoop all he ever had to do was blitz 4 and they would get to the QB

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Arnett didn?t hire the WR coach from Utah. That was a forced hire as was David Turner. That was Brad?s doing. Just like bringing Knox back.

Also Getsy was the ?assistant WR coach? btw and left after a year because he couldn?t stand that Joe didn?t have structure.

I'm not saying Moorhead was a good coach. I did say that Arnett hired those people, but I do t really care if it was him or Peterson.

Point is, we were able to pay these assistants enough for them to come here. Like real coaches that had experience at the p5 level coaching the position groups we hired them to coach here.

If we could afford it 6, 4, and 1 year ago, we can afford it now too.

The question is, why are we bringing analysts and a OL coach with no P5 experience? Is it because nobody wants to work for Lebby? Because he refuses to hire anyone he isn't friends with? Or because he genuinely believes these guys will be better coaches if given the chance than the sitting P5 coach alternatives? Charitable answer is that last one, but it does seem like a stretch doesn't it?

[shoeless joe]

Is it so much about who we “could hire” back then or is it more about who Lebby wants to hire?

[Homedawg]

I do find it strange that we hired an OL coach and DL coach without hiring an OC and DC first.

The OC isn't the OC so that doesn't matter. And coaches hire position coaches all the time wo having coordinators first.

[BankerDog]

I'm not saying Moorhead was a good coach. I did say that Arnett hired those people, but I do t really care if it was him or Peterson.

Point is, we were able to pay these assistants enough for them to come here. Like real coaches that had experience at the p5 level coaching the position groups we hired them to coach here.

If we could afford it 6, 4, and 1 year ago, we can afford it now too.

The question is, why are we bringing analysts and a OL coach with no P5 experience? Is it because nobody wants to work for Lebby? Because he refuses to hire anyone he isn't friends with? Or because he genuinely believes these guys will be better coaches if given the chance than the sitting P5 coach alternatives? Charitable answer is that last one, but it does seem like a stretch doesn't it?

How about trust the guy in his decisions until you don?t have a reason to? Friend, Schdmit, Brock, Dewhurst had previous experience-how did their units look this year? Bump did too-how did they look? Barbay?

Give the guys a chance. Half the people on this board hated Hev but those same people are now 1) Talking about how he was decent recruiter and 2) a great coach after years of talking how bad he was. Give the guys a chance to coach a unit before questioning a hire.

[dawgday166]

How about trust the guy in his decisions until you don?t have a reason to? Friend, Schdmit, Brock, Dewhurst had previous experience-how did their units look this year? Bump did too-how did they look? Barbay?

Give the guys a chance. Half the people on this board hated Hev but those same people are now 1) Talking about how he was decent recruiter and 2) a great coach after years of talking how bad he was. Give the guys a chance to coach a unit before questioning a hire.

I agree with this and nowadays am a "wait and see" guy myself.

However, right now my skepticism is growing due to one main reason.

In Barbay's and Selmon's PC, Barbay was talking up our football program and stated that there were many coaches who had reached out to him and were interested in a job on his staff.

Right now it's not looking like that is necessarily the case. But I'll continue to wait and see for 2 or 3 or so years.

It does kinda make me nervous tho cause Barbay made assurances that he adapted offenses to personnel depending on their skill sets, which he didn't seem to do this year.

[Todd4State]

I'm optimistic about Cooper after listening to an interview with him. I think it's import that he and Lebby are familiar with the offense which is the case obviously.

I also like the fact that Cooper has been with Charley Pell at Western Carolina and North Texas with Eric Morris so he has some modern Air Raid experience that could add some ideas to Lebby's offense.

On the surface I think Cooper will be a good recruiter.

But the thing no one is talking about is Lebby bringing in Matt Holocek. That's a really big coup as far as QB coaches go.

[Todd4State]

I agree with this and nowadays am a "wait and see" guy myself.

However, right now my skepticism is growing due to one main reason.

In Barbay's and Selmon's PC, Barbay was talking up our football program and stated that there were many coaches who had reached out to him and were interested in a job on his staff.

Right now it's not looking like that is necessarily the case. But I'll continue to wait and see for 2 or 3 or so years.

It does kinda make me nervous tho cause Barbay made assurances that he adapted offenses to personnel depending on their skill sets, which he didn't seem to do this year.

The big difference between Barbay and Lebby is Barbay didn't really have a defined identity that he could clearly communicate. That was a huge red flag for me. We know what Lebby is going to do. There is no question about that.

Also Barbay had never really called plays on his own and had never worked for a non offensive head coach who was there for oversight. Lebby coached under Brent Venables so there is no question when I watch Oklahoma film it's Lebby calling the plays.

Lebby's influences are also night and day compared to Barbay. Briles, Heupel and Kiffin compared to former Iowa OC Greg Davis and Larry Kueck.

[dawgday166]

The big difference between Barbay and Lebby is Barbay didn't really have a defined identity that he could clearly communicate. That was a huge red flag for me. We know what Lebby is going to do. There is no question about that.

Also Barbay had never really called plays on his own and had never worked for a non offensive head coach who was there for oversight. Lebby coached under Brent Venables so there is no question when I watch Oklahoma film it's Lebby calling the plays.

Lebby's influences are also night and day compared to Barbay. Briles, Heupel and Kiffin compared to former Iowa OC Greg Davis and Larry Kueck.

All good points but I was sorta comparing stating something which actually isn't or doesn't turn out to be true. Not sure if that is the case with regard to Lebby's statement on coaches wanting to come here or not just yet, but so far it doesn't appear to be shaping up that well.

We'll see what happens tho.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Obviously I hope these hires work out and have trust that Lebby knows what he's doing. That said:

1) this is a message board, we're allowed to state our concerns as well as praise the hires.

2) C34 is saying we're too poor to hire people with good resumes. My comments are more about calling that narrative out than it is criticizing Lebby. These hires are concerning on paper but they may be great hires in reality... but we absolutely can afford to hire a P5 onfield coach as our last 3 new HCs did just that

[Todd4State]

All good points but I was sorta comparing stating something which actually isn't or doesn't turn out to be true. Not sure if that is the case with regard to Lebby's statement on coaches wanting to come here or not just yet, but so far it doesn't appear to be shaping up that well.

We'll see what happens tho.

We're going to have to hunker down at this point IMO. A lot of (most) candidates are going to be coaching in bowl games. This staff won't be complete until January if I had to guess.

The QB coach is someone we should be very excited about. He's developed guys into first round picks. And he has been with Lebby for awhile. Cooper is coming from North Texas who did not make a bowl. The other two hires are Bumphis and Turner who are MSU guys which I'm Ok with. We need to keep some guys for recruiting continuity and to help Lebby get re-acclimated to the area.

If Holocek is on the field- which may or may not be the case, Dan and Leach both had QB coaches that were off the field staff and I'm pretty sure Holocek was off the field at Ole Miss- then we have about half of our offensive staff completed. All we need is a RB and a TE coach. With Lebby being the OC then we could potentially do some other things as well. Like have Holocek off the field and hire an outside receivers coach and let Bumphis coach slot/inside receivers.

Actually, not having an OC should allow us to overspend on a DC. I don't think we have the money constraints that some are touting. We've historically attracted elite DC's even during 1980's Felker MSU (Jim Carmody). I'd rather us take our time and get an elite guy rather than knee jerk reaction hire Geoff Collins. Especially given the fact that our last staff was put together very quickly and we see how that turned out. Other than OC which we had trouble hiring in part because we essentially put their staff together before we even interviewed them. I could definitely see us offering at least 1.5 million if we wanted to a DC.

[CoachT14]

I'm optimistic about Cooper after listening to an interview with him. I think it's import that he and Lebby are familiar with the offense which is the case obviously.

I also like the fact that Cooper has been with Charley Pell at Western Carolina and North Texas with Eric Morris so he has some modern Air Raid experience that could add some ideas to Lebby's offense.

On the surface I think Cooper will be a good recruiter.

But the thing no one is talking about is Lebby bringing in Matt Holocek. That's a really big coup as far as QB coaches go.

I think Holocek is going to be off the field.

[DCdawg]

Apparently Cooper won't be the OL coach. I won't link Football Scoop, but we are set to hire Cody Kennedy away from Arkansas.

[Pancho]

well well

[sack07]

Cody Kennedy is good hire. Granted, Arkansas OL did not light the world on fire this year but he is highly regarded in the industry. Had a great run game at Tulane with Fritz.

[DownwardDawg]

Apparently Cooper won't be the OL coach. I won't link Football Scoop, but we are set to hire Cody Kennedy away from Arkansas.

Interesting. Arkansas O line was horrible this year. Couldn't block water. Maybe it was talent?

[Todd4State]

Apparently Cooper won't be the OL coach. I won't link Football Scoop, but we are set to hire Cody Kennedy away from Arkansas.

Nevermind then. LOL.

[Todd4State]

I think Holocek is going to be off the field.

Very possible. And I'm fine with that recruiting QB's is a different animal.

[TrapGame]

Interesting. Arkansas O line was horrible this year. Couldn't block water. Maybe it was talent?

It was going from Briles to Enos. The three years Briles was there they had a pretty damn good OL.