When, Precisely, Would You Like Me to Panic Over Our Lack of a Defensive Coordinator?
by T Kyle King on Jan 8, 2010 4:01 PM EST
in Football
27 comments
The new year was barely here before MaconDawg told us not to panic, then David Hale told us not to panic, then Paul Westerdawg told us not to panic, then Doug Gillett told us not to panic. It’s been my experience that, when that many people are trying to calm me down, there’s usually good reason for me to panic.
Perhaps it is simply my role to serve as the resident Chicken Little of Bulldog Nation; I am happy to provide that service, because my confidence has not been rewarded in the last couple of years. When you expect the worst, your only options are to be proven right or pleasantly surprised. (In my defense, I don’t display nearly the negativity of some fans of other schools, although I am not as sanguine about the Bulldogs’ 2010 prospects as some other commentators.)
I agree that the proof is in the pudding; at the end of the day, it’s all about the result. I agree that there are many misconceptions about this search. The problem, though, is that events do not unfold in a vacuum.
It is a false dichotomy to suggest that the result can be removed from the process; anyone who says otherwise hasn’t been paying adequate attention to the words of the guy who just won his second national championship in a seven-year period with two different schools: Nick Saban produces results because he is all about "The Process." An atmosphere of uncertainty also hampers a team’s recruiting efforts in the final month before national signing day.
The perception of the process also affects the result. Paul Westerdawg cleverly observed, "Let's say you ask out Miss September, and she turns you down. Then you ask out Miss October, and she turns you down as well. Who cares if you still end up with Miss December?" The problem, as I argued during the basketball coaching search, is that being turned down by Miss September and Miss October likely impacts your chances with Miss December. (And, by the way, what’s Paul’s problem with Miss November, anyway?)
Finally, ours is not the only team looking for a defensive coordinator. Since the "Fire Willie Martinez" movement reached its successful culmination over a month ago, Florida State has hired Mark Stoops, Illinois has hired Vic Koenning, Florida has hired George Edwards, and Kirby Smart may have become a candidate for Texas Tech’s head coaching job. Just today, Georgia Tech entered the market for a new defensive coordinator. This ain’t a rec sports league where everyone gets a trophy; this is a game of musical chairs, and, if all the good defensive coordinators are taken when the music stops, you’re stuck.
Accordingly, I will provide the emotional counterpoint to the rest of the Dawgosphere’s insistence upon being calm, cool, and collected, just as so many of us believe our new defensive coordinator should provide the fire to Mark Richt’s ice. However, so as not to ignore utterly the advice offered by MaconDawg, David, Paul, and Doug, I will fall back on this observation, which was offered by former World Series of Poker champion Amarillo Slim:
The result of one particular game doesn’t mean a damn thing, and that’s why one of my mantras has always been "decisions, not results." Do the right thing enough times and the results will take care of themselves in the long run.
While I try to take solace in that sentiment, I also find comfort in these words from Paul Westerdawg:
I think we'll have our DC by Sunday at the latest.
Well, all right. If Paul says so, I’m willing to be patient until the end of the weekend . . . but then I’m going back into panic mode, people!
Go ‘Dawgs!
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I would suggest . . .
10 a.m. eastern, Tuesday morning. No particular reason, but a line must be drawn somewhere, and it will be drawn hee-yah!!!Oops, sorry, went into Captain Picard mode there.
And I’m not as optimistic as Paul. If it is an NFL guy it could drag out longer depending on where contract negotiations stand.
Now is as good a time as any
to panic, I suppose. I couldn’t tell you who Auburn’s defensive coordinator is or if they have one if you offered me a $5 bill. I would recommend therapy if you are actually concerned over a lack of a defensive coordinator. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I could spell or pronounce Auburn’s coach’s name if you offered me a $5 bill. Chiznik or something. He looks like kind of a dork, as does Georgia’s coach. Georgia’s coach has kind of a dense look to his face, if you have noticed. Like he is trying to appear simultaneously amused and bored. I watched part of the Georgia-Florida game and noted this. There is some coach in Kansas I think who is the fattest person I have seen in eons.
by Auburn '07 in Manhattan on Jan 8, 2010 4:37 PM EST reply actions
stream of consciousness is your blogging friend.
"Sometimes, you just can't get rid of a bomb." - batman
Some info on Grantham
Since Grantham has worked for 6 football teams, he has also worked for 6 head coaches over the last 20 yrs. In order we have:
1990 – 1995 at Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer
1996 – 1998 at Michigan State under Nick Saban
1999 – 2001 at Indianapolis Colts under Jim Mora
2002 – 2004 at Houston Texans under Dom Capers
2005 – 2007 at Cleveland Browns under Romeo Crennell
2008 – present at Dallas under Wade Phillips
Y’all think he might’ve learned something under some of those coaches? More importantly, does learning from these 6 men mean he is what we need?
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
Playoffs? Playoffs?!?!
Aside from Jim Mora pere—-I’m not convinced any of the Morae know the first thing about coaching; certainly, they know nothing about giving interviews—-I think that’s a fine pedigree. I wouldn’t have a problem in the world with hiring Grantham . . . I’m just ready for this to be done. We’re burning daylight, and, if we wait too much longer to hire the best, we’re going to wind up hiring the best available. In the world in which we live, that’s not good enough.
Go 'Dawgs!
the fact of the matter is it doesnt matter
If it takes another month, so be it. I said Mid Jan the first week of December. That gives me one more week to the 15, but i meant more of up until the last week of Jan. I dont care if we dont have a DC until March frankly. Recruting is all but done. Seems we have lost one bad recruit, which I dont care, with one sitting the fence, which I dont care. Because the single most important thing is getting a guy and his associates that can do a damn good job and are willing to work at it for at least 3 years.
None of the guys that have been picked up by other schools are guys I want anyway. And we were never getting Kirby Smart and Bumpas may not be all that afterall. If we are offering half a million to a guy – I would rather he be the right guy or no guy.
The process is important and the perception of it, but the perception of the process can and will change dramatically if we land a whale and NFL ties were the reasons for the delay. And I really want an NFL guy unrelate to UGA that has the intestinal fortitude own up to failures as needed, and (privately) stand up to CMR when needed. CMR doesnt need a friend – he needs a “# 1” to get with MaconDawg’s Star Trek reference.
Ultimately, the proof is on the opening kickoff and thereafter of 2010. If the Dawgs start handing our opponents dougnuts for a score – nobody is going to care about any of this.
"Sometimes, you just can't get rid of a bomb." - batman
+1 woof woof woof
Seems to be the most appropriate response in support or your astute observations.
Run Lindsay Run!
We should surrender....
According the the Techies, it doesn’t matter who we hire b/c their coordinator will be better.
Of course he will!!! Who in their right minds wouldn’t want to be the DC for a team that:
- Plays in a conference where hoops is king
- Has mostly sub-par athletes on that side of the ball
- Runs an offense that, if not designed to compensate for a weak D, de facto does
- Fired his predecessor for winning the conference with all the aforementioned riches
- Is the prettiest fat girl in the state
Seriously, they might pull a Van Gorder out of their stinger-holes, but really? I was more surprised by this firing that I was by Jim Mora (Jr)’s. Just when GIT looks like they might become a relevant and dangerous opponent, they pull a move like this. Ah, schadenfreude….
I don't think most Tech fans were surprised
The offense was terrible this year. Yes, they could have waited until they went 4-4 in the conference, but I think it’s better to make the move before the slide.
I mean "defense was horrible"
of course. The offense bailed them out several times (see the FSU game), but that shouldn’t be necessary.
Two of the three games Tech lost this year were due to a defensive that was all but invisible (the Orange Bowl was due to an Iowa defense we didn’t have the talent to block).
Particularly when such a slide would take you back two years . . .
. . . instead of better than a decade. The nouveau riche recognize a fistful of missing dollars before old money does.
You’re right, though, CraigT. Paul Johnson recognized that his offense routinely bailed out Dave Wommack’s defense and that several games the Yellow Jackets ought to have won comfortably were turned into nailbiters needlessly. A bad bounce here or there, and the Engineers easily could have been looking at a season as mediocre as Georgia’s. Mark Richt waited too long; Paul Johnson didn’t act a moment too soon.
Go 'Dawgs!
By "Techies"
do you mean one or two idiots making comments on the AJC site?
Are you prepared to accept the Georgia fans posting there as representative of the group?
Be prepared to panic, T. Kyle, under that time
frame. The job is Grantham’s if he wants it. If Dallas wins this weekend, it’ll be at least a week more. If Dallas loses, then there is an outside chance that Grantham is in the fold by Sunday p.m. Texas Tech would be a dumb-ass bunch if they hired Smart to be HC.
The evidence is indeed to the contrary about Texas Tech. Firing the only guy
who would take that job to compete with the likes of UT, Okla, Okla State, A & M, etc. Maybe they can replace him with Mumme, the architect of all this gimmick offense so much in vogue now. Or if they hire Smart, perhaps Smart can convince Chris Hatcher to come be his offensive coordinator (isn’t OC at Texas Tech about equal to the head man at Murray State or whatever?). If I were AD at say Ga Tech, I’d hire Leach and Leavitt as co-head coaches and give’em carte blanche to make some men at the nerd capital.
Not sure I understand.
Why, if it is Grantham or Jones can’t the announcement be made right now? Seems like an NFL position coach could be replaced during the playoffs and if not, UGA could at least make announce the hire so everyone (including you and me) can relax.
by JenniferfromLaJolla on Jan 8, 2010 7:25 PM EST reply actions
By Sunday
We will have a coordinator everyone will be happy with by Sunday (so my sources say). Everyone will be VERY happy.
I hope you're right . . .
. . . but, given how tightly the lid has been clamped down on Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, I’m greeting reports from anonymous sources with even greater skepticism than usual. Everybody knows a guy who knows a guy (or thinks they do), but David Hale, a top-notch professional journalist who is on the trail of this story every day, hasn’t been able to get much in the way of inside information because the word has been sent down that there will be no leaks . . . or else.
I’m not disagreeing with you, RealisticDawg, and, since I don’t know who your sources are, I’m not questioning them . . . but, if they receive their paychecks from the University of Georgia Athletic Association, they put their jobs in jeopardy by telling you (or the person from whom you heard the word) anything.
Go 'Dawgs!
Understood
That’s why all names were left out. If it happens, I fill you in in an email on Monday. Cross your fingers!!
by RealisticDawg on Jan 8, 2010 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks
As I say, I hope you’re right. If you are, I’ll be only too happy to give appropriate credit.
Have a good weekend.
Go 'Dawgs!
Relax Kyle
I have it from an unimpeachable source (Maxwell Smart) that the new UGA DC will be a French choreographer from Cirque du Soleil. He is a tireless trainer and a fanatic on footwork. I am also delighted to say that UF has hired a new DC…..who the hell is George Edwards? When you’re the last dude to nail down a date, sometimes a princess will claim you. Hasty decisions are sometimes worse than late ones. Georgia is due a princess.
I sure hope so
I’m getting sick and tired of having no satisfaction greater than breaking our rivals’ growing number of crystal footballs with our butts.
Go 'Dawgs!
i just fell asleep, woke up, and it still isnt mid Jan. I am still not worried.
"Sometimes, you just can't get rid of a bomb." - batman
Mr. Jones called and asked...
…that you all refrain from interfering with his Super Bowl run and coaching staff. He’s not inclined to assist a SEC rival team of his beloved Razorbacks get one of his coaches before he finishes this season.
How ’Bout Them Cowboys!!!
(The preceding was intended to merely annoy Dallas-haters…ahem Mr. King…. No animals were harmed in the making of this post and should be viewed only by the audience for which it is intended. All rights reserved.)
Run Lindsay Run!
Pollack and SEC Gridiron Live
as reported elsewhere in this blog, are reporting that it’s almost 100% Kirby Smart.
its looking Kyle, like you dont have to panic at all. You are soon to have an announcement it seems, and a guy you wanted...........
patience is a virtue
"Sometimes, you just can't get rid of a bomb." - batman
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