There's no real argument that most of the returning corners on the roster will generally improve in time, but we don't have anyone near Kirkpatrick's level on the roster right now. We've got some kids who might eventually turn into solid, quality players, but for a Kirkpatrick-type natural talent, we are basically just sitting around waiting on Tony Brown (and hopefully Marlon Humphrey) to take the field.dre kirkpatrick 2010 vs dre kirkpatrick 2011
the same can be said about any number of our stud DBs during saban's tenure
2011? Absolutely. But the 2012 defense? I'd lean towards no on that one, too. We took a pretty decent step back defensively last year, and although it was overall a better unit (largely because of the presence of Milliner) than what we put on the field this year, the 2012 defense suffered from a lot of the same shortcomings as the '13 unit.Yah, I still laugh at folks saying we need to change schemes. If we had the 2011 or 2012 D we'd be 14-0 right now and celebrating 3 in a row, 4 of 5.
This is my concern regarding LK and also RN.Seems to me, his recruiting is usually followed by violations.
Just a Sample
+1 hereThis is my concern regarding LK and also RN.
Not when he was the OC:Here's what I don't quite get: Nussmeier is being criticized for ineffectual and predictable playcalling, but weren't Trojan fans accusing Kiffin of the very same this season? Perhaps I'm misremembering.
Those are some ridiculous numbers...Under Kiffin in 2005 the USC offense produced numerous school records, averaging 49.1 points and 579 yards per game and becoming the first in NCAA history to have a 3,000 yard passer (Matt Leinart), two 1,000 yard rushers (Reggie Bush and LenDale White), and a 1,000 yard receiver (Dwayne Jarrett). Steve Smith fell a few yards of also surpassing 1,000 yards in receiving. In Kiffin’s three years as recruiting coordinator at USC, the Trojans had the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in college football every year. The Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency by averaging 142.8 passer rating, produced two, 1,000-yard receivers – Dwayne Jarrett (1,105) and Steve Smith (1,083) – and a 3,000-yard passer John David Booty, with 3,347 yards.
Kiffin helped guide USC to a 23–3 win-loss record during his tenure as offensive coordinator, an 88% win percentage
As a said in an earlier post, we've went through this before with someone on our current staff...and they are doing just fine.This is my concern regarding LK and also RN.
They had some great players, but our skill position talent this past year was arguably similar.Not when he was the OC:
Those are some ridiculous numbers...
I think Kiffin's main specialty is recruiting, and Nick's approach of surrounding himself with elite recruiters makes a lot of sense. In Kiffin's three seasons as recruiting coordinator, he had a #1 recruiting class, and while I forget exactly what he did at Tennessee, I know as head coach at USC he was racking up top ranked kids. I think current relationships with recruits is a plus, and for instance he recruited Ricky Town, so I'd think Nick Saban likes the idea of someone that could step in and be an advantage in recruiting.Those are some ridiculous numbers...
Exactly, and the numbers were not.They had some great players, but our skill position talent this past year was arguably similar.
Sorry to hear this, Bill. Hope you are on the mend.Okay, I have been in hospital since 12/26 and all of a sudden I'm looking a Lane Kiffen as OC? My first reaction wasn't good, but I have faith in Coach Saban, if he thinks it's good, I'm in.
This.After all this talk about Kiffin...watch us hire someone completely out of the blue. Ha...
And that he was fired from every job after that. It was so bad Al Davis dissed him... Al Davis. People tend to forget that. Heck, Kiffin made me go from loathing UT to only hating them not becuase I liked him, but because I felt sorry for them.He was so impressive at USC that he was hired by an NFL team...not a college team...after being only a coordinator...not a HC. People tend to forget that nugget.
Which means he's not (currently) a good HC. No biggie. We're not (potentially) hiring him for that. We're (potentially) hiring him based on his impressive resume as an OC. He's not the first person to have excelled as a coordinator but failed when the added pressures of managing the entire team were added - that list is littered with good coaches' names.And that he was fired from every job after that. It was so bad Al Davis dissed him... Al Davis. People tend to forget that. Heck, Kiffin made me go from hating loathing UT to only hating them not becuase I liked him, but because I felt sorry for them.
Yep. I think Lane is a smokescreen myself. I think he's a big name and I think he can be decent if he's on a short leash, but I think we can find a good coach that doesn't have the same liability issues. Also, Kiffin is going to parlay it into a HC position eventually (2-3 years); I'd like a bit more continuity, which is why I wouldn't mind somebody like Burns get promoted; he's been with CNS a while and very well-liked coach (downside is playcalling ability is unknown and he's not a QB coach, which seems to be needed).This.
I won't be shocked regardless as to who is hired. Both McElwain and Nussmeier made me kinda raise my eyebrows a bit...