We need to read this multiple times. This is the crux of our issue on defense. Saban is the bigger problem here. Hence, why he takes up for Pete publicly. He knows he is not given Pete a free hand to design the defense and call it accordingly.
The problems on defense go beyond CPG and won't be fixed by just firing CPG or any of the position coaches either. Coach will have to make changes too.
If he changes DCs and depending on who he brings in, will tell us alot about how much longer Saban intends to coach. If he retains CPG and most of the position coaches, he only has 2-3 more years left. If it's someone with more pedigree, then it's probably 3-5 more years.
Im not taking up for CPG per se, but we need realize CPG may be a prodigy but if the prodigy is required to play within the existing structure.
How many of us had bosses that didn't realize our potential given resistance to change?
Ummm....
Golding is basically the only defensive coordinator out of like, 7 or 8? That hasn't had a top ten scoring defense running Saban's scheme (at Georgia or Alabama).
The problem is clearly Golding. The defense was #1 two consecutive years before Golding took over and wrecked it. Is the argument really that from one season to the next Saban suddenly became the problem and Golding has no role in it?
One thing changed, Golding got hired!
Some people don't seem to appreciate the role Golding had in 2018 as well. He wasn't just co-DC, he took over for calling the defense as well. I don't know exactly when, but since we know he took over that means he was calling plays at the end.
Well... the defense actually did progressively worse in each of the last 6 games! That's really a remarkable achievement, but it's also a remarkable achievement to take over a defense that hadn't been outside of the top 10 once in a decade and managing to stay outside of the top 10 for your entire tenure.
Resistance to change? Kirby is literally hiring anyone else who worked under Saban (even graduate assistants) in any capacity and and having top ten defenses. If we're going to make comparisons here, it's like a new chef taking over at the best restaurant in the world, and turning it into a mediocre restaurant. But, when things so south you blame the existing menu at the best restaurant in the world, instead of the person who took over and clearly isn't doing a good job.
Saban gave Golding the best defensive scheme in college football. It Golding can't manage with that, that's only due to his incompetence.