Link: Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard is leaving the Badgers program after the bowl 👀👀👀

[rtr90]

I don’t hate Golding. It’s not personal. He is a football coach, not a politician( ok I hate some politicians.) what aggravates me about his defense is third down and long. How many times did opposing teams gain 10,15 or so yards to make a first down. Stats do not always tell the whole story.

the longer the better for opposing teams .. that is the single reason we didnt finish games on defense this year

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Maybe he only has those stats because he has the best players in the country. You have to take that into account. What would his stats look like at Michigan State or Wisconsin or Iowa?

Why?

No disrespect intended, but that is why CNS recruits at a high level.

 

[TitleWave]

In Golding's four full seasons calling plays on defense, he had the four worst Alabama defenses since the 2007 season! Even by that statistic!

Thing is, perception is the reality with Gol*brick - you could tell some of the older-timers here that he's had the worst 'Bama defenses since the 1957 season and the visuals we've committed to memory from such a misalliance of talent under his "direction" wouldn't offer a scintilla of contradiction or rebuttal...

 

[CoolBreeze]

Maybe he only has those stats because he has the best players in the country. You have to take that into account. What would his stats look like at Michigan State or Wisconsin or Iowa?

Golding is in his second season as UTSA’s defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach. In his first season with the Roadrunners, he helped lead the program to six wins and its first-ever bowl game, while his defense set several school records, including single-season records for tackles (934), tackles for loss (77), sacks (27) and quarterback hurries (38).


Golding’s 2017 defense ranked seventh in the FBS, allowing just 287.8 yards per game. The Roadrunners also finished eighth in scoring defense (17.0), second in first downs defense (166) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (112.19). UTSA’s improvement during Golding’s tenure was evident, as the Statesmen allowed 156 less yards per game and 16.8 less point per game in 2017 compared 2015.

Nick Saban announces hiring of UTSA's Pete Golding as assistant

Nick Saban announced the addition of Texas at San Antonio defensive coordinator Pete Golding to Alabama’s defensive coaching staff when he addressed reporters Friday evening.

247sports.com

 

[CB4]

I wonder if Pete set any records at UTSA for “DPI by DB’s” or “LB’s So Lost You Only Find Them on Milk Cartons”?

 

[Countrytider2]

I wonder if Pete set any records at UTSA for “DPI by DB’s” or “LB’s So Lost You Only Find Them on Milk Cartons”?

I love Saban, and am no Pete Golding apologist….but our DB’s haven’t turned around to play the ball in years..and you know who coaches the DBs…

 

[KrAzY3]

Golding’s 2017 defense ranked seventh in the FBS, allowing just 287.8 yards per game.

I don't think anyone is disputing that Golding was a bit of a commodity when Saban hired him. At the time, he might very well have been considered a top ten DC. Then again, Anthony Grant was also a hot commodity when Alabama basketball hired him, and we know how that turned out.

The reason might very well be the same one. Success at a lower level of competition does not guarantee success at a higher level. Anthony Grant did extremely well at VCU, then struggled at Alabama.

In this case, UTSA played the 140th ranked schedule in 2017! So did he do well at that lower level, but that did not transition to Alabama. I have noted a few times that the highest ranked defense he's coached was at UTSA. That's actually really problematic considering how much more he's had to work with at Alabama.

He just might not be cut out for the Power 5, Alabama is his first Power 5 job, he didn't even attend a Power 5 school, he had 0 experience at this level and it shows. Obviously the coordinators he was matched up with were at a different level and in-game adjustments seem to be a weakness of his.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I don't think anyone is disputing that Golding was a bit of a commodity when Saban hired him. At the time, he might very well have been considered a top ten DC. Then again, Anthony Grant was also a hot commodity when Alabama basketball hired him, and we know how that turned out.

The reason might very well be the same one. Success at a lower level of competition does not guarantee success at a higher level. Anthony Grant did extremely well at VCU, then struggled at Alabama.

In this case, UTSA played the 140th ranked schedule in 2017! So did he do well at that lower level, but that did not transition to Alabama. I have noted a few times that the highest ranked defense he's coached was at UTSA. That's actually really problematic considering how much more he's had to work with at Alabama.

He just might not be cut out for the Power 5, Alabama is his first Power 5 job, he didn't even attend a Power 5 school, he had 0 experience at this level and it shows. Obviously the coordinators he was matched up with were at a different level and in-game adjustments seem to be a weakness of his.

My take is that the dude knows defense and built one in his own mold at UTSA before coming to Alabama. Could be that Saban's D is just not a good fit for him. Could be he is still learning the nuances of the Saban D. Regardless, the dude is no numbskull despite the fact that our players have not thrived under his tutelage. Could be that a fresh start and amicable parting of ways would be in the best interest of both parties.

 

[lowend]

Sounds like what we have with Golding is a version of the Peter Principle at work.

 

[mlh]

My take is that the dude knows defense and built one in his own mold at UTSA before coming to Alabama. Could be that Saban's D is just not a good fit for him. Could be he is still learning the nuances of the Saban D. Regardless, the dude is no numbskull despite the fact that our players have not thrived under his tutelage. Could be that a fresh start and amicable parting of ways would be in the best interest of both parties.

At the risk of being castigated, I'll just throw this out there. I've wondered the same thing. I wonder what he could do if he had full control of the defense and could do what he wanted, rather than running "Saban's defense."

 

[Countrytider2]

My take is that the dude knows defense and built one in his own mold at UTSA before coming to Alabama. Could be that Saban's D is just not a good fit for him. Could be he is still learning the nuances of the Saban D. Regardless, the dude is no numbskull despite the fact that our players have not thrived under his tutelage. Could be that a fresh start and amicable parting of ways would be in the best interest of both parties.

With the talent we have, honestly we should never have to blitz. Let the D Line do their job; ie: pressure the QB, Stop the run.
Play two high safeties almost all the time.

If I never see that double A gap blitz that never gets home on 3rd and long, it won’t be soon enough.

We could simplify the defense in half and get much better results. At least players wouldn’t be looking to the sideline while the ball is being snapped. They could just play without having to think so much.

It’s frustrating.

 

[Bama_N_Va]

you guys kill me
Here is another.

2022 College Football Team Defense | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Check out the 2022 College Football Team Defense and more about College Football at Sports-Reference.com

www.sports-reference.com

And another

College Football - Defensive Stats

College Football Defensive Rankings Defense wins championships, although usually only in the SEC. If you are a regular college football bettor, you are aware that defense wins bets as well and not just UNDER wagers. We rate the best college football defenses in more than a dozen key stats...

www.oddsshark.com

and another

College Football Team Defense Stats 2021-2022 - Points Against, Sacks & More

College Football team defense stats for 2021-2022 including points against, QBR against, sacks allowed, as well as rushing and passing yards per game allowed.

www.covers.com

and another

2023 College Football Defense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Defense Total team stat leaders for the 2023 NCAAF Regular Season.

www.espn.com

All at or around the top 10. I get you hate Golding. That’s fine. But he’s a Top 10 DC according to the stats.

And those are just the next 4 that came up on my search.

What do the stats say for in-conference games only?

 

[CoolBreeze]

With the talent we have, honestly we should never have to blitz. Let the D Line do their job; ie: pressure the QB, Stop the run.
Play two high safeties almost all the time.

If I never see that double A gap blitz that never gets home on 3rd and long, it won’t be soon enough.

We could simplify the defense in half and get much better results. At least players wouldn’t be looking to the sideline while the ball is being snapped. They could just play without having to think so much.

It’s frustrating.

Agreed. We have missed on some D Line recruits the past couple of cycles so that is one issue. The D Philosophy is on Coach Saban of which many around here say is too complicated and antiquated (though seems ole Kirb is getting great results). Losing two games and missing the playoffs is blasphemy in T-Town but that is a fact due to what Nick has built. He is on the recruiting trail right now (probly somewhere in Iowa) and has a big weekend full of 5* recruits coming to the Capstone. Maybe sometime next week he can squeeze in fundamental changes to the program but I suspect he is way on top of it already.

 

[TitleWave]

I wonder if Pete set any records at UTSA for “DPI by DB’s” or “LB’s So Lost You Only Find Them on Milk Cartons”?

In Gol*ing's *efense, hah, there ain't none. But if Gol*ing fielded the 7th best FBS *efense in 2017 and USTA had the 140th strongest schedule in the country that year when there are only, like, you know 120 FBS teams, either he was leading the USTA (United States Tennis Association) in *efending the net or playing the likes of Dixie (Utah) State University, which didn't even field a team at the time.

The Anthony Grant analogy with Gol*ing doesn't work - Grant didn't want to be at 'Bama very badly, 'Bama's fanbase very badly don't want Gol*ing to be at 'Bama. And Grant did a respectable job at VCU and as he subsequently has at Dayton, neither of which is the big stage, but both bigger than the stage where Gol*ing proved his (only) *efensive chops.

 

[twofbyc]

Why would he wait to announce his destination, if it's Alabama?

Saban ain’t cutting PG loose before the bowl game, and if (big IF) he’s coming to Bama it’s already planned and the timing is set. PG would never coach again if he bolted knowing he was a goner anyway, and he wouldn’t do that to the players.
If JK draws attention from other teams, that may be an indicator that he’s on the market; if he doesn’t, it’s definitely an indicator that a plan is in place and other schools know. In that case I’d expect a leak after their bowl game - not planned or welcomed but if more than two people know the plan, that’s too many.

 

[KrAzY3]

Could be that a fresh start and amicable parting of ways would be in the best interest of both parties.

I've said before I think he has to take a step backward before he can take a step forward. He's still pretty young, my attitude isn't that he's a lost cause or that he doesn't understand defense. Just that he's not cut out for this job, right now.

I think if he'd accept a Co-DC role and relinquish play calling, and have someone like Pruitt, Phil Parker, or even Leonhard to learn from it could allow him to take the next step forward. I see it a bit like I saw the Hurts situation, in that Hurts needed development and guidance that he had trouble getting when he was a starter. Unfortunately the guy Golding had to kind of learn from was Tosh Lupio and I don't think that's the guy to help him take the next step forward.

Alabama is a really bad place to try to learn on the job.

 

[B1GTide]

Guys, if you think that Golding has put a championship caliber defense on the field then we have no common ground. He has absolutely had championship caliber players. I don't care what the stats say. Golding is not a championship caliber DC. He might be some day, but he is not right now.

 

[AWRTR]

Guys, if you think that Golding has put a championship caliber defense on the field then we have no common ground. He has absolutely had championship caliber players. I don't care what the stats say. Golding is not a championship caliber DC. He might be some day, but he is not right now.

Golding with less natural talent than he had to coach would be absolute train wreck. The sheer talent made up for his awful play calling and game planning as much as it could. Can you imagine what Pruitt would do with that same talent.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Guys, if you think that Golding has put a championship caliber defense on the field then we have no common ground. He has absolutely had championship caliber players. I don't care what the stats say. Golding is not a championship caliber DC. He might be some day, but he is not right now.

Precisely................a half way competent DC would have done much better, and Pruitt would have gone wild

 

[deliveryman35]

I don’t hate Golding. It’s not personal. He is a football coach, not a politician( ok I hate some politicians.) what aggravates me about his defense is third down and long. How many times did opposing teams gain 10,15 or so yards to make a first down. Stats do not always tell the whole story.

Tell me about it……it has been absolutely frustrating. Maybe the most frustrating for me since he has been here was the 2020 SECCG against Florida and this year’s game against Tennessee. When your O scores 50 points, we should not have to worry about the game even being close with the level of talent that we have.