No Surprise- Hutzler staying

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

Prime 2026

[StarkVegasSteve]

I understand if the reason to keep was for consistency but there really can't be any other excuse I can think of.

That said... we are so screwed. And we thought we hit bottom this year.

I mean I think the simplest thing is that we had no talent. I mean we had 3 guys on D that could start at another P4 program and multiple guys that couldn't crack a G5 or FCS 2 deep. I thought Coleman figured some stuff out later on in the season. We just had no big guys up front to plug the run. I thought we stopped the pass really well in our last 4 games. Allowed an avg of 190. After UGA we actually defended the pass really well outside of that flukey Arkansas game. If we can get some impact guys up front and hold on to our secondary stalwarts of Pollock, Jones, and Smith I think we will improve next year. I mean you saw it in the last game, we left Pollock and Jones on islands a lot and they held up really well.

[StateDawg44]

I mean I think the simplest thing is that we had no talent. I mean we had 3 guys on D that could start at another P4 program and multiple guys that couldn't crack a G5 or FCS 2 deep. I thought Coleman figured some stuff out later on in the season. We just had no big guys up front to plug the run. I thought we stopped the pass really well in our last 4 games. Allowed an avg of 190. After UGA we actually defended the pass really well outside of that flukey Arkansas game. If we can get some impact guys up front and hold on to our secondary stalwarts of Pollock, Jones, and Smith I think we will improve next year. I mean you saw it in the last game, we left Pollock and Jones on islands a lot and they held up really well.

Yes it's possible.

I just don't see what he has to sell for next year to make us attractive to several impact defensive players. We need like Simmons and Sweat combo impact players.

IF Hutzler improves the defense then he might have something to pitch for 2026. But that's assuming we hold on to any of our impact guys as well.

This entire staff has a huge hole to dig out of and will require some major moves in the portal. Not impossible and this will be their first full year of recruiting and not just scrambling to keep the class together. It's possible they can turn this thing around but man it's hard to see at the moment.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yes it's possible.

I just don't see what he has to sell for next year to make us attractive to several impact defensive players. We need like Simmons and Sweat combo impact players.

IF Hutzler improves the defense then he might have something to pitch for 2026. But that's assuming we hold on to any of our impact guys as well.

This entire staff has a huge hole to dig out of and will require some major moves in the portal. Not impossible and this will be their first full year of recruiting and not just scrambling to keep the class together. It's possible they can turn this thing around but man it's hard to see at the moment.

Well we have damn near 20 mil(between 18-19) to move with. That will get it done from a talent perspective. I mean look, we're going to have to overpay this cycle. It sucks but that's what it may take this year to improve and we HAVE to improve. Like others have said, you can't have another 2-10 season next year. But with what we're going to be bringing in, I'm hopeful and a bit bullish we can get to 6-7 wins next year and continue the climb. Hell, Clark Lea won 6 at Vandy after going 2-10,5-7,2-10. It can be done.

[Goldendawg]

I mean I think the simplest thing is that we had no talent. I mean we had 3 guys on D that could start at another P4 program and multiple guys that couldn't crack a G5 or FCS 2 deep. I thought Coleman figured some stuff out later on in the season. We just had no big guys up front to plug the run. I thought we stopped the pass really well in our last 4 games. Allowed an avg of 190. After UGA we actually defended the pass really well outside of that flukey Arkansas game. If we can get some impact guys up front and hold on to our secondary stalwarts of Pollock, Jones, and Smith I think we will improve next year. I mean you saw it in the last game, we left Pollock and Jones on islands a lot and they held up really well.

We lost every SEC game by double digits. This was a combination of little talent and "On the Job Training" at DC in my opinion. This "But didn't we look better" attitude, after 10 losses (including slaughtered by Toledo, who JoMo beat) is one of the problems with our fan base and a very low bar.

[StateDawg44]

It can be done.

I'm not arguing it can't be done.

I'm arguing that I don't have faith in this current staff to do it. I would love to be wrong.

I actually like Lebby and am happy to give him 3. Some of his hires are the problem. We need a new OL coach just as bad as a legit DC.

[Goldendawg]

Yes it's possible.

I just don't see what he has to sell for next year to make us attractive to several impact defensive players. We need like Simmons and Sweat combo impact players.

IF Hutzler improves the defense then he might have something to pitch for 2026. But that's assuming we hold on to any of our impact guys as well.

This entire staff has a huge hole to dig out of and will require some major moves in the portal. Not impossible and this will be their first full year of recruiting and not just scrambling to keep the class together. It's possible they can turn this thing around but man it's hard to see at the moment.

Who are these "impact guys" you speak of that we need to hold on to on "D" outside of Smith, Blanton and then who?

[Really Clark?]

Oh good Lord. Collins is a MASSIVE upgrade from what we currently have.

I'm not paying Collins a fat check for what turned in this year. A min salary I'm fine with if he is our best option but not a fat check.

[TrapGame]

Retaining Hutzler would be the most Mississippi State sh*t ever. Completely unacceptable.

I don't think Hutz is kept as DC. I think he does stay, like Rosie insinuated, but it's not on the defensive side of the ball.

[TrapGame]

I'm not paying Collins a fat check for what turned in this year. A min salary I'm fine with if he is our best option but not a fat check.

You pay him what he's worth. My idea of a fat check must not be your idea of a fat check.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I'm not arguing it can't be done.

I'm arguing that I don't have faith in this current staff to do it. I would love to be wrong.

I actually like Lebby and am happy to give him 3. Some of his hires are the problem. We need a new OL coach just as bad as a legit DC.

Well then let's see what happens. I feel confident we will be getting a new DL coach and possibly a new OL coach. No clue with Coleman. You'd have to pay north of probably 1.5 million to pull a sitting P4 DC and that's the only type of hire you need to make. A G5 DC is no different than Hutzler. A new scheme is not going to help us, it's got to be an influx of talent.

[Jarius]

Well we have damn near 20 mil(between 18-19) to move with. That will get it done from a talent perspective. I mean look, we're going to have to overpay this cycle. It sucks but that's what it may take this year to improve and we HAVE to improve. Like others have said, you can't have another 2-10 season next year. But with what we're going to be bringing in, I'm hopeful and a bit bullish we can get to 6-7 wins next year and continue the climb. Hell, Clark Lea won 6 at Vandy after going 2-10,5-7,2-10. It can be done.

We have a middle of the pack in the SEC NIL budget with a coach who just fielded the worst defense in school history. No one that can make an impact is going to come here when they can get the same money down the street and not ruin their career. Changing defensive coordinators was a must for Lebby to have any chance of succeeding. Even if Hutzler isn’t terrible (he is) no one is coming to play for him when they have similar options. Maybe not no one, but definitely not enough to make up our current talent deficit. You bring up Clark Lea, and the reason he won was because he changed something.

[Really Clark?]

You pay him what he's worth. My idea of a fat check must not be your idea of a fat check.

He made $1.1 Mil last year at UNC, I'm not paying him more than that with what he turned in. I'm not sure he has his defensive coordinator chops anymore. I'd rather pay more for Woods than Collins right now.

[TrapGame]

He made $1.1 Mil last year at UNC, I'm not paying him more than that with what he turned in. I'm not sure he has his defensive coordinator chops anymore. I'd rather pay more for Woods than Collins right now.

He's still better than what we have by a mile.

[R2Dawg]

The defense play calling improved. The talent remained the same.

The talent changed some this year too as we had a lot of injuries. I'm not sure I'm happy about same DC but we did improve on D at end of season. We didn't lose to OM due to the D. 3TO and poor O execution cost us the game.

Interesting that ASU loss looks better now that it did at the time.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The talent changed some this year too as we had a lot of injuries. I'm not sure I'm happy about same DC but we did improve on D at end of season. We didn't lose to OM due to the D. 3TO and poor O execution cost us the game.

Interesting that ASU loss looks better now that it did at the time.

And don't get me wrong. I'm not exactly thrilled about running it back with Hutzler. But I also can say well he had no talent and we showed signs of improvement. Like I have kept saying, if we want to go pluck a sitting P4 DC then by all means go do it. But to make a change just to say you did and end up with a G5 DC who has no recruiting ties to this area and brings no one that can play with him is stupid. If you want to go do what LSU did when they brought in Blake Baker then bring it on. Like if you want to go get Shiel Wood, then by all means do it. The guy has a history of fielding top 25 defenses. But just know, you're going to have to pay 1.3-1.4 to get him. He makes 750K base and with bonuses probably gets up around 850-900K. Add in to that you'll have to buy him out of his contract at Houston and buy out Hutzler if you don't keep him. That's a 3-4 million dollar decision so you better be damn sure that Wood will be the answer. Because if you hire him and strike out with your portal targets that Coleman is already on then you're in the same situation.

[StateDawg44]

Who are these "impact guys" you speak of that we need to hold on to on "D" outside of Smith, Blanton and then who?

We don't have any bonafide impact players on the roster currently. I said that generously giving SVS the benefit of the doubt that we actually get some impact players this coming '25 cycle and Hutzler has something to pitch based off what he brought in this cycle. At this point that's just as possible us getting a couple of studs to transfer here for next season only to see them transfer somewhere else the 2026 season.

Offensively, I'd say Craver would be worth holding on to and Coleman if that's an option. MVB too but he's not really on the radar to leave I wouldn't think.

[TopDawg]

If Lebby is going to hire the new DC, we may as well keep Hutzler.

[Matt3467]

If we needed to lose Croom style to OM for people to pull the trigger on Hutzler then maybe that's what should've happened. How can we justify a guy who has fielded not the worst defense in the SEC but arguably in all of D1?

In the SEC we gave up 10 more ppg than the next up which was Ark and we're last in yards allowed.

121st in 3rd down conversion defense
129th in 4th down conversion defense
130th in opponent 1st downs per game
134th (dead last) in opponent completion % at 72%
128th in yards given up per attempt
109th in opponent passing 1st downs
110th in opponent rush yards per attempt
127th in total yards allowed
122nd in opponent yards per play
132nd in sack % & sacks per game
128th in tackles for loss
108th in takeaways per game
105th in interceptions
130th in opponents average time of possession
130th in opponents time of possession %
131st in opponents punts per offensive score
130th in points given up in the 1st qtr
130th in points given up in the 2nd qtr

This isn't just one of the worst State defenses. This IS the worst defense we have ever fielded and talent deficiency or not there's simply no excuse for keeping this man as DC. As others have pointed out we gave up 41 points to Toledo at home who just lost to Akron. Time to send this guy packing and bring in literally anyone else.

[Johnson85]

Guys Lebby is getting MINIMUM 3 years barring a scandal. Our D will be better next year. We have close to 18 million dollars for NIL. Everyone needs to remain calm, wait 60-90 days, and see what we get out of the portal. I think you will like what we come up with. And yes, Hutzler is a big part of a few of those guys.

Man, I'm a little nervous about what we do with our NIL money. We obviously need to spend a good bit to get out the hole we're in, but nothing I saw this year makes me think we have the staff to justify a big commitment. If we hadn't looked so damn lost on defense, I would say we need to go big just to get back to respectability and generate some momentum.

I guess the team played hard, but with every year being a contract year now and not having the type of players that are going to get somebody to spend on them just based on their measurables, I'm not sure how hard it is to get players to continue playing hard anymore.