Coaching Changes

ChicagoFalcon · Post by **ChicagoFalcon** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:10 pm

And no...I don't mean Brandon, I really like his style of coaching! We need a better supporting cast. Does anyone have any info on this one. Sorry if I missed any previous posts on this one. Special Teams, Defensive Coach and ESPECIALLY SPECIAL TEAMS! I'm tired of those guys showing up to the game in the short bus.

DrDesert · Post by **DrDesert** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:04 pm

We don't even have a special teams coach.....could you tell? I'm also questioning the defensive coordinator selection. It just seemed like we never tried to do anything different when teams were getting 8-10 yards per carry against us. Maybe we just need some better personnel, but that's what coaching is all about......making adjustments with the players you have. I also like Brandon's style and am entertained by watching the Falcons play.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:11 pm

I think the jury is still out on Coach Lovitt...as it should be. He had no time to prepare for last season. Give him the off season to see what he comes up with before passing judgement. Now, if the D doesn't improve in 2006? Then I think we'd have a legitimate beef.

ST coach...yeah, we need one BADLY.

Coach Brandon? I'm still behind him 100%. What I hope to see in 2006 is a dire sense of urgency to win that title. Whatever it takes, within the rules, to win the MAC.

GO FALCONS!

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:24 pm

DrDesert wrote: I'm also questioning the defensive coordinator selection.

]He was let go by Clemson for a reason.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:38 pm

transfer2BGSU wrote:
DrDesert wrote: I'm also questioning the defensive coordinator selection.
]He was let go by Clemson for a reason.

He was also hired by BG for a reason. Lovett is the only one on the staff that deserves a little bit of slack. He had very little time to evaluate personnel or teach his schemes last season. I think it would be wise to let him have a full offseason before we go running him out of town on a rail.

I'm excited to see what he can do with the influx of young talent we have on the defensive side of the ball (Smith, Lewis, Briggs, Mahone, Jackson)

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:55 pm

transfer2BGSU wrote:
DrDesert wrote: I'm also questioning the defensive coordinator selection.
]He was let go by Clemson for a reason.

Yes..he was let go at Clemson because his head coach was a chickensh*t backstabber who axed a few assistants to keep the alumni and AD off his back....

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:59 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:He was also hired by BG for a reason.

You're absolutely right - because Coach Beckman went down to Columbus.

But instead of hiring an up-and-comer to replace him, we hired an former ACC defensive coordinator who was fired by Clemson.

I can understand hiring a former head coach as your defensive coordinator (Friedgen hiring Blackney). But I cannot understand hiring a defensive coordinator who was just fired by his previous employer as your DC.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:04 pm

transfer2BGSU wrote:
Jacobs4Heisman wrote:He was also hired by BG for a reason.
You're absolutely right - because Coach Beckman went down to Columbus.

But instead of hiring an up-and-comer to replace him, we hired an former ACC defensive coordinator who was fired by Clemson.

I can understand hiring a former head coach as your defensive coordinator (Friedgen hiring Blackney). But I cannot understand hiring a defensive coordinator who was just fired by his previous employer as your DC.

If I were an AD, and I had a choice between an up and comer and a coach with years and years of positive results and experience at large programs, I don't choose the up and comer. It's not even close.

See Flipper's response for why he was fired.

Salsa · Post by **Salsa** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:14 pm

I think Flipper is right. The last few years the Clemson head coach (Tommy Bowden?) has greatly disappointed the Clemson faithful. There was increasing pressure on him, including a loud chorus of shouts that he be fired. Bowden tried to hold off the wolves by letting go of some assistant coaches, including his offensive and defensive coordinators.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:32 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:If I were an AD, and I had a choice between an up and comer and a coach with years and years of positive results and experience at large programs, I don't choose the up and comer. It's not even close.

I'm asking questions here, not picking a fight ...

What was Lovitt's track record before BG? How did his defenses rate? Did he produce a lot of great players?

Hmmm ... I think I see my afternoon dissolving into non-productive tasks ...

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:38 pm

Didn't have to dig that deep.

Check it out on his bio page

Some highlights ...

"Last year, Clemson was 11th in the nation in pass defense efficiency (103.4), 23rd in pass defense (191.6), 26th in total defense (327.3) and 29th in scoring defense (20.8). In 2003, his defense was a major reason Clemson finished the year with nine wins and a top-25 ranking. The defense allowed just 19.2 points per game, one of the top-25 figures in the nation."

If you read deep enough, you get the sense that his teams are exceptional at pass defense.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:45 pm

1987alum wrote:Didn't have to dig that deep.

Check it out on his bio page

Some highlights ...

"Last year, Clemson was 11th in the nation in pass defense efficiency (103.4), 23rd in pass defense (191.6), 26th in total defense (327.3) and 29th in scoring defense (20.8). In 2003, his defense was a major reason Clemson finished the year with nine wins and a top-25 ranking. The defense allowed just 19.2 points per game, one of the top-25 figures in the nation."

If you read deep enough, you get the sense that his teams are exceptional at pass defense.

How are they at run defense? Just curious because the easiest way to defend the pass is to give up buttloads of rushing yards so nobody bothers to throw on you.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:00 pm

hammb wrote:
How are they at run defense? Just curious because the easiest way to defend the pass is to give up buttloads of rushing yards so nobody bothers to throw on you.

If they were 26th in total defense (or 29th in scoring) they couldn't have been that bad against the run. Look at the yard average if they gave up 191.6 in the air and a total of 327.3 per game, they probably gave up and average of 135 on the ground. They stil had to be somewhere in the top 50 in rushing defense, probably top 40.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:16 pm

hammb:

Good catch.

2004
Digging into the NCAA Web site, we find that his last Clemson squad (2004) ranked 41st in the nation against the run; BG under Beckman was 37th. They ranked 23rd against the pass; BG under Beckman ranked 104th.

Overall: Clemson was 26th in the nation in overall defense; BG was 69th. Clemson was 29th in scoring defense, BG was 43rd.

Other details: BG was third in the nation in 2004 in turnover margin (thank you, Omar Jacobs) while Clemson was 100th. BG was 36 in turnovers created, while Clemson was 97th.

2003
Clemson was 35th in the nation in rushing defense (in company with teams like West Virginia and Alabama); Bowling was 59th (similar to Texas & Marshall).

Clemson was 38th in pass defense (similar to Purdue & Oregon State) while BG gave up three more yards a game, ending up 42nd.

Clemson was 29th in overall defense; BG was 48th. Clemson was 20th in scoring defense, BG was 33rd.

Clemson was 67th in turnovers gained (23) while BG had one less and was 79th.

2002
Clemson was 48th in total defense, 62nd in scoring defense; they were 60th in rushing defense and 35th in passing defense.

BG was 59th in total defense, 54th in scoring defense; they were 55th in rushing defense and 53rd in passing defense.

2001
Lovett was at Auburn...
Auburn ranked 39th in total defense, 48th in scoring defense; they were 42nd in rushing defense and 52nd in passing defense.

BG was 21st in total defense, 22nd in scoring defense; they were 4th in rushing defense - yes, 4th and 76th in pass defense.

2000
Auburn was 14th in total defense (BTW, Toledo was 3rd in the nation), 28th in scoring defense. They were 15th in rushing defense and 41st in pass defense.

BG was 48th in total defense, 69th in scoring defense. They were 38th in rushing defense and 67th in pass defense.

Let the debate begin!

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:24 pm

1987alum wrote:
Let the debate begin!

Really, when you look at the fluctuations in the numbers you presented, I don't think you can tell anything about one particular coach. The fact that Lovett has his defenses consistently in the top half may be something. These rankings appear to be largely due to one teams athletes and what other teams have done. It takes very little difference in actually yardage to affect a ranking by 5 or more places.