Spring Practice

[REDEYE]

Red-Eye.....It's obvious you've been around football and more specifically West Coast football for a long time, what is the "real story" as to why (Pac-12) football is not playing on the same level that teams in the past have. We both remember when a USC or UCLA or Washington or even Stanford or Oregon (during the Mariotta era) would be actual contenders for a National Championship, the fact is the Pac-10-12 has had 9 NC teams dating back to 1954. None of this past greatness seems to be happening during the past 5 or 6 years....maybe longer.

You mention in your post that a Defensive Coordinated is needed at Oregon, why is it so hard for a program like the U of O to find a good quality coach in some backyard out on the West Coast.........I always though the West Coast was a hotbed for players and coaches....Heck, offenses were named for the area, "The West Coast Offense"...Albeit the 49's........Do do you think West Coast football (the Pac-12) will rise to the top again someday.

Is this Pac-12 "drought" a trend that could become even greater in the years ahead or do you chalk it up to a normal cycle that occurs with all college football conferances over the long years.. I would love to hear your take on all of this.....

I think it starts with USC.. Trojans use to be the standard bearer in the Conference... IMO , they haven't had the right coach in place since Carroll left , and that includes the current coach... When your top program isn't living up to its image , recruiting slides... The reason the Huskies are back , is they finally got a top coach , a proven coach... Stanford is still a top flite program.. We've been pretty good at times . with coaching stability for quite a good stretch.. Kelly leaves , we hire the wrong guy back to back and have to struggle to get back to where we can contend again.. The rest of the conference doesn't take football seriously enough to make this a great league... bad hires , bad histories , and some schools not in the best geographical areas to recruit... When USC get back to its stature , you probably will see the league follow suit...

It won't be hard to get a good DC out here.. This just happened , so the search is just beginning.. I'm sure other guys can chip in to with the reasons, but coaching is a huge reason in my mind

 

[Albatross]

I think it starts with USC.. Trojans use to be the standard bearer in the Conference... IMO , they haven't had the right coach in place since Carroll left , and that includes the current coach... When your top program isn't living up to its image , recruiting slides... The reason the Huskies are back , is they finally got a top coach , a proven coach... Stanford is still a top flite program.. We've been pretty good at times . with coaching stability for quite a good stretch.. Kelly leaves , we hire the wrong guy back to back and have to struggle to get back to where we can contend again.. The rest of the conference doesn't take football seriously enough to make this a great league... bad hires , bad histories , and some schools not in the best geographical areas to recruit... When USC get back to its stature , you probably will see the league follow suit...

It won't be hard to get a good DC out here.. This just happened , so the search is just beginning.. I'm sure other guys can chip in to with the reasons, but coaching is a huge reason in my mind

I think the pac needs 1 solid team. USC obviously had great teams, but Oregon picked up the slack when they went down. Not gonna be a conference that is solid from top to middle bottom, but the top teams can make some noise.

I remember going back and forth with you when the ducks were rolling......good times my friend. Maybe we can get back to that. You are one of the good guys!:toast:

 

[cloverleaf]

*Alabama and West Virginia announce future home-and-home series between the two
football programs. Bama visits Morgantown on Sept. 5, 2026, with West Virginia return-
ing the trip to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 4, 2027. Saban, a native of West Virginia, would be
74 years old for the first game at Milan Puskar Stadium.

*Vanderbilt has extended the contract of coach Derek Mason. Mason just finished his
fifth season and has compiled a 24-38 overall record. He is just 9-31 in SEC play. I
guess beating rival Tennessee three straight gets you an extension at Vanderbilt. Bad
decision in my mind.

*The Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC combine to sign nearly 80 percent of junior college players
who join Power 5 teams. No conference is more reliant on JUCOs as the Big 12, whose
ten teams signed 203 JUCO players in the past five years. Kansas leads the way with 41
of them. The ACC has signed the fewest among Power 5 conferences.

*Kentucky stays in-house by promoting Brad White as its new defensive coordinator. He
was on the staff as linebackers coach last year.

*Amir Hall won the Black Football Player of the Year Award. The Bowie State quarterback
won the award for the second straight year. Hell, I didn't even know such an award existed.
Can you imagine...…...naw, better not go there.

 

[REDEYE]

I think the pac needs 1 solid team. USC obviously had great teams, but Oregon picked up the slack when they went down. Not gonna be a conference that is solid from top to middle bottom, but the top teams can make some noise.

I remember going back and forth with you when the ducks were rolling......good times my friend. Maybe we can get back to that. You are one of the good guys!:toast:

Yea it was great...I thought we were the best team in football the year we lost to Auburn.. We had elevated past USC even with Carroll still at USC.. Its hard to stay up there with the elites.. We might have an advantage to get back in picture . mostly because not as many good teams out west as in south and Midwest.. Y

You know how it is now , back in the picture with GA....no coincidence , a great coach seems to be in place

 

[REDEYE]

early futures for me

GA 9/1
Texas 30/1
Ducks 55 /1

 

[Albatross]

Alabama will head into spring drills with SEVEN new assistant coaches. In what has
become an annual event, Saban has to essentially rebuild his coaching staff. Here's
a look at the new Tide staff.

OC/QBs - Steve Sarkisian (OC Atlanta Falcons)
DC/LBs - Pete Golding (Alabama)
ST/TEs - Jeff Banks (Alabama)
RBs - Charles Huff (RBs Mississippi State)
WRs - Holman Wiggins (WRs Virginia Tech)
OL - Kyle Flood - (OL Atlanta Falcons)
DL - Brian Baker (DL Mississippi State)
LBs - Sal Sunseri (DL Florida)
CBs - Karl Scott (Alabama)
Ss - Charles Kelly (DC Florida State)

Spring practice starts next month so these new guys will have to hit the field
running. You can bet they are putting in a lot of hours now getting ready.

Truly remarkable how Saban continues success with the turnover he has annually.

 

[cloverleaf]

Truly remarkable how Saban continues success with the turnover he has annually.

I agree. Also amazing is the number of coaches who want to come to Bama as anaylyst.
It's almost like a school for coaches.

 

[REDEYE]

I agree. Also amazing is the number of coaches who want to come to Bama as anaylyst.
It's almost like a school for coaches.

Would you consider Sark as a failure with his time at Bama ?..

 

[cloverleaf]

*Since Kirby Smart became the coach of the Dawgs in 2016, Georgia has signed 18 5-star
prospects. During the same time, Alabama has signed 14 5-star prospects. The lesson here
is Kirby Smart is a heck of a recruiter.

*Since David Shaw took over for Jim Harbaugh as Stanford's head coach, he has averaged
10.2 wins per season. In my book, he is one of the most underrated coaches in college football.
The entrance standards for Stanford are difficult.

*Virginia Tech added a quarterback Saturday, announcing that Braxton Burmeister intends to
transfer from Oregon. Burmeister, a sophomore, saw limited action behind Justin Herbert and
when Herbert elected to come back for his senior year, decided to transfer. Virginia Tech was
down a quarterback after former starter Josh Jackson decided to transfer to Maryland.

*Former No. 1 recruit Jaelan Phillips will transfer from UCLA to Miami. The former 5-star line-
backer was the nations overall top dog in the class of 2017. Phillips played in only ten games
in two seasons with the Bruins. He has a history of concussion problems.

*Twelve teams won two or fewer games last fall. I will predict a major turnaround for two
of those teams. I see North Carolina and Arkansas as two teams that will make major im-
provements. Winning seasons may be a stretch but they will be greatly improved.

*All this Texas HYPE is off the charts since winning their bowl game. A bit optimistic in my
humble opinion.

As always, welcome your opinions...……………………………...

 

[cloverleaf]

Would you consider Sark as a failure with his time at Bama ?..

No, because Saban brought him back.

I and many other Bama fans reserve judgement on our new offensive coordinator. He certainly has
the horses to work with, knowing the quarterback, running back and receivers are all above the norm.

 

[REDEYE]

No, because Saban brought him back.

I and many other Bama fans reserve judgement on our new offensive coordinator. He certainly has
the horses to work with, knowing the quarterback, running back and receivers are all above the norm.

whether it was USC , or the Falcons , just think the guy is overrated ...

 

[Albatross]

whether it was USC , or the Falcons , just think the guy is overrated ...

Sucked ass in ATL. Is he sober?

 

[cloverleaf]

Oregon is hiring Boise State defensive coordinator Andy Avalos as its new DC.
Avalos has spent the past four years at Boise and will now replace Jim Leavitt
who was ask to leave.

 

[cloverleaf]

Northwestern: Hunter Johnson, a quarterback transfer from Clemson will battle for a starting
job this spring. The 6-2, 210 pounder was the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and No. 30 player
overall prospect in the Class of 2017. The 5-starrecruit was rated higher than Georgia's Jake
Fromm coming out of high school. He ran the scout team last year and should be the starter
this season. NW's coaches were impressed with his talent level.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores took the field Wednesday for the first day of spring practice with
six quarterbacks in camp competing to replace four year starter Kyle Shurmur. Reports are that
redshirt junior Deuce Wallace and Ball State grad transfer Riley Neal are leading the pack.

Illinois: I just can't understand how Lovie Smith got a contract extension. He is 9-27 with a
defense that has gotten worse each year under his leadership (61st, 86th, 128th). Also getting
worse is fans attending games and this merits a contract extension. Good grief athletic director!
When Smith is fired after the 2019 season, they should send the AD packing with him.

Spring drills will be going balls to the walls this month. Would love information about your
favorite team as news develops.

 

[cloverleaf]

NOTRE DAME will start spring practice today trying to have its third double-digit win
season in a row for the first time since the 1991, 1992 and 1993 stretch. During those
three years, the Irish were 31-5-1 with three major bowl wins. Spring practice will
include 14 practice sessions and the annual Blue-Gold Game on April 13. Offensively,
finding replacements at receiver and running back will be a priority. On defense, re-
building the middle of the defense, especially linebacker will get full attention.

ALABAMA announced on Friday that spring football will be beginning next Friday, March
8 before taking off for spring break. Practice will resume Monday, March 18, with the
conclusion of spring practice coming Saturday, April 13 with the annual A-Day Game,
which will take place at 1 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN. Bama is breaking
in seven new assistant coaches along with trying to get the players ready for the coming.
season.

MISSOURI starts spring practice Sunday (tomorrow) and head coach Barry Odom has
already named his starting quarterback. Kelly Bryant, who transferred from Clemson will
take over for four-year starter Drew Lock even before going through one practice. One
dark shadow hanging over the program as spring drills begins are NCAA sanctions. The
school is in the process of appealing the postseason ban and other penalties on the foot-
ball, baseball and softball teams. Making matters worse, other schools are allowed to re-
cruit Missouri seniors until the first day of fall classes in August.

 

[cloverleaf]

TEXAS A&M - The Aggies may have difficulty duplicating their 2018 9-4 record this season
because of a very tough schedule that includes road games at Clemson, LSU and Georgia
(the latter two in back-to-back weeks to end the regular season). Add Alabama to the
mix and one could easily see four loses to match last year. On paper, eight wins seems
realistic but with a road win here or there, the Aggies could turn 2019 into a very productive
season.

Texas State...@Clemson...Lamar...Auburn...Arkansas...Alabama...@Ole Miss...Mississippi St...
UTSA...South Carolina...@Georgia...@LSU

 

[cloverleaf]

CLEMSON - According to coach Dabo Swinney, the potty training continues this spring for
his defensive linemen. Clemson's young defensive front are receiving instruction on how to
avoid messes during spring drills. The springtime crash course has been born of necessity
as the entire starting front four across the defense are gone as well as primary backup Albert
Huggins. Anticipated starters Nyles Pinckney and Jordon Williams are missing spring practice
while recovering from surgeries, leaving an inexperienced front four and quite a teaching job
for Tiger coaches.

 

[cloverleaf]

PITTSBURGH - The Panthers surprised some folks last year by winning the ACC Coastal
Division while going 7-7 overall, then posting a 6-2 record in conference play. Could Pitt
repeat in 2019? Not likely but the Coastal Division is wide open with Virginia Tech, Miami
and Virginia in the mix as favorites. This is a division to keep an eye on if these teams
start beating up on each other.

UTAH - The Utes won the Pac 12 South last season while going 9-5 overall and 6-3 in
conference play. In a division that seems to have plenty of parity, Utah may just make
a run for a repeat. Playing on the road against USC and Washington won't be easy but
Kyle Whittingham (112-55) who is entering his 15th season with the Utes may just get
the job done again.

TENNESSEE - Don't sleep on the Vols this season...they will be much better than 2018.

 

[mws]

The FLORIDA Gators seem to be ahead of schedule under Dan Mullen, and they capitalized
on that momentum with a top-10 recruiting class in 2019. This is also a nod that Florida is
in the best shape among the "big three" programs in the state.

Is anybody really surprised that Mullen has things going in the right direction? Most people thought that was a good hire, and the only question is how far he can take them.

 

[cloverleaf]

Quick Hits:

*Nebraska lost 5 games by 5 points or fewer last year.

*Cincinnati won 11 games during 2018 with a freshman quarterback.

*Kentucky loses studs Josh Allen and Benny Snell to the NFL but have enough talent to challenge
as a top tier East Division team.

*Notre Dame (12-1) has road games this season at Georgia and Michigan.

*Syracuse (10-3) averaged over 40 ppg last year and may just have the fire power to do it again
this season.

*Washington's Chris Peterson has established a winning program in Seattle and with Georgia transfer
Jacob Eason stepping in as QB, the trend will continue.

*Georgia's 3 straight Top 10 recruiting classes have Kirby Smart's program in reload mode.

*Texas has been piling up talented recruiting classes and will need them with an early season battle
with LSU.

*Oregon seems to be a team on the come in Mario Christobal's first year. Three of its 4 losses came
on the road.

*Texas A&M lost a lot of talent for 2019 and the schedule is a bear.

*Washington State loses its QB but 4 offensive linemen and 9 of the teams top receivers return.
Also, hotshot QB transfer now on campus.

*Wisconsin was a disappointment in 2018 losing 5 games but should bounce back with 15 or so
starters returning this season.

*Army proved 2017 (10-3) was no fluke by winning 11 last year.

*Did Florida arrive perhaps earlier than expected under Dan Mullen? Will be interesting to see how
2019 plays out.

*Penn State (9-4) disappointed in 2018 and will face a tougher schedule this season.

*Clemson has now won 2 of the last 3 NC but must replace a ton of talent on defense.

*Oklahoma's defense has to improve if the Sooners' are going to remain a national
contender.

*Will Ohio State's Ryan Day be this year's Lincoln Riley, stepping in for a retiring legend?

*Alabama's decisive title-game loss notwithstanding, don't expect much drop-off from the
Tide in 2019.

*UAB had its greatest season in program history last year by winning 11 games. Now the
program must replace 35 seniors...15 of them starters. Ouch!