McCord

[kcsu]

This. Nixon deserves a TON of credit for this year's success. The players execute, but he almost always put them in a position to succeed. He is the one assistant that would really hurt to lose.

Best OC since George

 

[anomander]

True, but blitzing causes mistakes. We got picked apart anyway, why not throw some wrinkles in? Maybe cause a few extra turnovers or sacks throughout the season which are huge momentum plays. Watching us drop 8 while still having guys wide open is the concern. We had the athletes at the LB position and edges this year to be effective with pressure but we didn’t even give it a try.

Thats why you have to try and mix it up. Give me a toned done version of a Shafer DC defense every time. Defense wasn’t good this year and you look at what we have coming back and not coming in and it’s a cause for concern, especially when Kyle ultimately is denied.

 

[kcsu]

There is a chance that Kyle could do irreparable harm to his pro prospects coming back next season too with the schedule we play. I think he will end up going through the evaluation process regardless of what happens on the waiver appeal, and if he gets a high enough grade he'll be gone.

The odds of him playing himself into a first/second round pick next year are lower than him playing himself into a UFDA deal.

Agreed. I do think that he will end up getting the waiver from the NCAA but i also think that he will end up going pro. I believe that he has played himself into a top 4 round pick. Maybe top 3 rounds. If not, then of course he will come back and take guaranteed money. Anyone would. 2 million in the bank in an annuity is going to produce 50k a year for life for him. Nobody in their right mind passes on that. Either way Kyle is in a good position, and he deserves it.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Thats why you have to try and mix it up. Give me a toned done version of a Shafer DC defense every time. Defense wasn’t good this year and you look at what we have coming back and not coming in and it’s a cause for concern, especially when Kyle ultimately is denied.

We are losing a lot on D. IMO our 4 best players (Diggs, Wax, Barron, Cinco) plus Lewis, Bellamy, Barnes, Gould, Wilson. On top of that IMO we need to replace Duce and McDonald as neither are good enough to start. Also does Grant come back close to 100%? There isn't much talent or anyone to get ecited about. I guess things can't be worse?

 

[Niastri]

In 8 beers deep and if he doesn’t get his last year I’m filing lawsuits. Irreparable harm!

8 beers deep is just about the best time to write a legal filing.

 

[llandz]

He does not know what he is doing yet. That is all I can report. He will be looking everything over. My instinct after our short conversation this morning is I think he will be going to the NFL either way. Just a feeling I had. And I did not ask him directly, I did a cute work around. Wished him luck in whatever he decides, thanked him for our great year, and told him we really are not part of his decision. He has to obviously do what is best for him.

 

[anomander]

We are losing a lot on D. IMO our 4 best players (Diggs, Wax, Barron, Cinco) plus Lewis, Bellamy, Barnes, Gould, Wilson. On top of that IMO we need to replace Duce and McDonald as neither are good enough to start. Also does Grant come back close to 100%? There isn't much talent or anyone to get ecited about. I guess things can't be worse?

That’s how I see it. I’d say right now are best players are Watson, David O, and Grant who was big play or bust. I’d like to see Watson take a leap. I see those 3 as the best returners and I thought Tank Wilson and Jalil Martin looked good last night. I’ve always liked Sparrow, but he seemed to be playing a step slow this season? Maybe getting used to the defense or being forced to drop back in coverage more often. Will be interesting to see who actually plays.

 

[Niastri]

True, but blitzing causes mistakes. We got picked apart anyway, why not throw some wrinkles in? Maybe cause a few extra turnovers or sacks throughout the season which are huge momentum plays. Watching us drop 8 while still having guys wide open is the concern. We had the athletes at the LB position and edges this year to be effective with pressure but we didn’t even give it a try.

We played for containment, which I think was the right strategy considering our mediocre defensive personnel. I think the defense was great considering the personnel, the new scheme, and how many of them came here from other teams. Everybody plays better when they know the scheme and the other guys around them. It took a while, but the defense was way better late than at the start of the season.

I think they chose the strategy of not blitzing for three major reasons.

1) Little in the way of pass rush. We very rarely had any pressure from our front 4, even before Diggs started playing some lb to make up for Wax being injured. Blitzing is supposed to increase pressure, not generate it from scratch. Increased defensive line pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be supplemented by additional blitzing in the future. But this year, it was only going to take a guy out of coverage without actually disrupting the QB most of the time.

2) We really didn't have the defensive backs to play press on opposing receivers. We gave up a lot of long passes, even though we were playing to keep them in front. Imagine how much worse it would have been if we were taking guys out of coverage/contain to fail on blitzes on many plays?

3) We had the offense to win games. We didn't need to dominate opposing offenses with our defense, just do enough to let McCord win the game. We will need more stops next year, because we won't score as easily.

Fran's already working on the solution for all of this: recruiting.

Next year is going to have a bunch of big boys that dream and team recruited. Our line depth and quality is going to be better next year than this. Our defensive backs, while young, are deeper and more talented (or at least guys that Fran recruited and is developing) than this year's DB group.

Between hopeful improvement on birth the defensive line and the defensive backs, we'll be able to get better pressure on opposing QBs and cover opposing receivers better one on one. Also, we will be able to afford linebackers blitzing because the defensive tackles will fill holes instead of needing LB help.

Hopefully, Fran really likes what he sees in the spring, and is able to fill holes through the spring portal where he sees them. I expect the talent level is going to be better, and this year's experience will really help this year's young players who will be the backbone of next season's defense.

 

[Nick44]

Best OC since George

McDonald? Yeesh.

 

[wfschrec]

McDonald? Yeesh.

No Deleone… I think however Nixon is better.

 

[qdawgg]

seen more slants in this game then we did the whole Babers era

Babers was told he wasn’t allowed to use the middle of the field……

 

[pokercuse08]

The 5 to play 4 is pretty solid. What constitutes a season, less than 5 games played, is solid.

Solid based on what?

That wasn’t the basis of the ruling. A governing body can’t impose arbitrary, capricious, and contradictory rules, especially when those rules negatively impact commerce and the ability to earn.

How is 5 games a season, 4 games not a season, anything other than arbitrary? Who's it in the best interest of? And who is 5 to play 4 in the best interest of?

If you were explaining this system from scratch to an alien who just landed on Earth, what would you give as the reason the NCAA exists and the basis for these "solid" rules?

If Kyle goes to the League, I hope he lands in Minnesota. O'Connell is a great HC for him. Come in as QB3 with JJ McCarthy as QB1. Maybe Kyle beats him out in 2 or 3 years. They have a good OL, balanced attack and super receivers. Better to go to Minny as a UFA than one of the NYC teams in the 5th round.

I think it would be in his best interest to land with a coach who's good at developing QBs. Kansas City would be interesting. Could learn a year as QB3, then back up an early 30s QB who tends to get banged up most years. Probably gets a handful of games on tape years 2-3 and if he does well, gets a chance to start somewhere.

There is a chance that Kyle could do irreparable harm to his pro prospects coming back next season too with the schedule we play. I think he will end up going through the evaluation process regardless of what happens on the waiver appeal, and if he gets a high enough grade he'll be gone.

The odds of him playing himself into a first/second round pick next year are lower than him playing himself into a UFDA deal.

I would argue that $2M guaranteed right now and a UDFA deal is a better short AND long term outcome than being a 5th round pick right now.

$2M guaranteed, then $2.8M over three possibly with some guaranteed (250K-300K isn't unusual), control the situation you end up in. Ends up being $4.8M over four, maybe 48% of it guaranteed.

VS.

$4.4M over four, not guaranteed, no control over the situation you end up in.

Being able to pick your team from a list of suitors has a lot of upside, you can choose a coaching staff that's a good fit to develop you and/or a roster you're more likely to make.

Financially speaking I think coming back is clearly better unless he's going to be a third round pick or higher. That's before we even get into the front loaded nature of the money if he comes back, and that $2M can be invested and growing already.

Developmentally, Nixon being a great OC helps make the case for staying more enticing. Yeah he may get to spend more time at his craft in the NFL, but he's going to get waaaaay fewer reps.

He'll probably be running scout team, getting a handful of practice reps, and zero regular season reps. Maybe a game's worth of preseason reps. If he comes back he gets the lion's share of the reps.

And that's all comparing being a mid round pick to bring an UDFA after another year. It could also go the other way, and he could end up being a first rounder. Then it's not even close.

 

[OttosShoes]

He does not know what he is doing yet. That is all I can report. He will be looking everything over. My instinct after our short conversation this morning is I think he will be going to the NFL either way. Just a feeling I had. And I did not ask him directly, I did a cute work around. Wished him luck in whatever he decides, thanked him for our great year, and told him we really are not part of his decision. He has to obviously do what is best for him.

Thanks for sharing and godspeed to him. And it’s a win for us either way; getting kids to the NFL is huge for recruiting.

That said I still want the appeal won. Decision should be his to make and not a bureaucrat's.

 

[kcsu]

We played for containment, which I think was the right strategy considering our mediocre defensive personnel. I think the defense was great considering the personnel, the new scheme, and how many of them came here from other teams. Everybody plays better when they know the scheme and the other guys around them. It took a while, but the defense was way better late than at the start of the season.

I think they chose the strategy of not blitzing for three major reasons.

1) Little in the way of pass rush. We very rarely had any pressure from our front 4, even before Diggs started playing some lb to make up for Wax being injured. Blitzing is supposed to increase pressure, not generate it from scratch. Increased defensive line pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be supplemented by additional blitzing in the future. But this year, it was only going to take a guy out of coverage without actually disrupting the QB most of the time.

2) We really didn't have the defensive backs to play press on opposing receivers. We gave up a lot of long passes, even though we were playing to keep them in front. Imagine how much worse it would have been if we were taking guys out of coverage/contain to fail on blitzes on many plays?

3) We had the offense to win games. We didn't need to dominate opposing offenses with our defense, just do enough to let McCord win the game. We will need more stops next year, because we won't score as easily.

Fran's already working on the solution for all of this: recruiting.

Next year is going to have a bunch of big boys that dream and team recruited. Our line depth and quality is going to be better next year than this. Our defensive backs, while young, are deeper and more talented (or at least guys that Fran recruited and is developing) than this year's DB group.

Between hopeful improvement on birth the defensive line and the defensive backs, we'll be able to get better pressure on opposing QBs and cover opposing receivers better one on one. Also, we will be able to afford linebackers blitzing because the defensive tackles will fill holes instead of needing LB help.

Hopefully, Fran really likes what he sees in the spring, and is able to fill holes through the spring portal where he sees them. I expect the talent level is going to be better, and this year's experience will really help this year's young players who will be the backbone of next season's defense.

spot on. Great post

 

[Archimedes]

We played for containment, which I think was the right strategy considering our mediocre defensive personnel. I think the defense was great considering the personnel, the new scheme, and how many of them came here from other teams. Everybody plays better when they know the scheme and the other guys around them. It took a while, but the defense was way better late than at the start of the season.

I think they chose the strategy of not blitzing for three major reasons.

Great job. I believe in Erob. He had some really good defenses at A&M. They were excellent against the run. I'm friends with someone else from Jimbo's old staff. He loved Elijah. Based on his feedback, I'm only 95% convinced Fran is the most personable coach and best recruiter on our staff.

The question is whether Elijah's schemes can succeed without a depth chart full of SEC talent. It's worth waiting to find out because he's a big time coaching talent. If Elko can't get it done, don't be surprised if ERob's name pops up down there again.

 

[bnoro]

$2M guaranteed, then $2.8M over three possibly with some guaranteed (250K-300K isn't unusual), control the situation you end up in. Ends up being $4.8M over four, maybe 48% of it guaranteed.

VS.

$4.4M over four, not guaranteed, no control over the situation you end up in.

Being able to pick your team from a list of suitors has a lot of upside, you can choose a coaching staff that's a good fit to develop you and/or a roster you're more likely to make.

Financially speaking I think coming back is clearly better unless he's going to be a third round pick or higher. That's before we even get into the front loaded nature of the money if he comes back, and that $2M can be invested and growing already.

Developmentally, Nixon being a great OC helps make the case for staying more enticing. Yeah he may get to spend more time at his craft in the NFL, but he's going to get waaaaay fewer reps.

He'll probably be running scout team, getting a handful of practice reps, and zero regular season reps. Maybe a game's worth of preseason reps. If he comes back he gets the lion's share of the reps.

And that's all comparing being a mid round pick to bring an UDFA after another year. It could also go the other way, and he could end up being a first rounder. Then it's not even close.

The issue is these are completely hypothetical numbers. What if our collective can't offer him $2m? What if he gets hurt next year and doesn't get a UDFA deal?

If I was in his position, and had the NFL scouts telling me I'd be a 4th/5th rounder in this draft, which is one of the weakest at QB in recent memory, I'd leave. Because the closer you get to that draft, all of the sudden that 4th/5th round grade becomes a 3rd if you play the press game right.

 

[bnoro]

Great job. I believe in Erob. He had some really good defenses at A&M. They were excellent against the run. I'm friends with someone else from Jimbo's the old staff. He loved Elijah. Based on his feedback, I'm only 95% convinced Fran is the most personable coach and best recruiter on our staff.

The question is whether Elijah's schemes can succeed without a depth chart full of SEC talent. It's worth waiting to find out because he's a big time coaching talent. If Elko can't get it done, don't be surprised if ERob's name pops up down there again.

But Elijah was the DL coach there. He wasn't a DC and he wasn't calling the plays.

 

[Archimedes]

But Elijah was the DL coach there. He wasn't a DC and he wasn't calling the plays.

True. He'd need to put a few good seasons here before he'd get a look at HC A&M.

 

[wfschrec]

But Elijah was the DL coach there. He wasn't a DC and he wasn't calling the plays.

He was named co-DC and associate HC in 2023

 

[bnoro]

True. He'd need to put a few good seasons here before he'd get a look at HC A&M.

As Head Coach? LOL he's nowhere close

 

[Archimedes]

As Head Coach? LOL he's nowhere close

Not now, I agree.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think both statements are true:

The defense was poor and underperformed, and ERob is responsible for that.

ERob will be the biggest reason why the defense improves next season.

 

[bnoro]

Not now, I agree.

He'd have to put a couple good seasons together before getting a DC look there. That's what I thought you meant.

 

[SuFTW]

Solid based on what?

How is 5 games a season, 4 games not a season, anything other than arbitrary? Who's it in the best interest of? And who is 5 to play 4 in the best interest of?

If you were explaining this system from scratch to an alien who just landed on Earth, what would you give as the reason the NCAA exists and the basis for these "solid" rules?


I think it would be in his best interest to land with a coach who's good at developing QBs. Kansas City would be interesting. Could learn a year as QB3, then back up an early 30s QB who tends to get banged up most years. Probably gets a handful of games on tape years 2-3 and if he does well, gets a chance to start somewhere.


I would argue that $2M guaranteed right now and a UDFA deal is a better short AND long term outcome than being a 5th round pick right now.

$2M guaranteed, then $2.8M over three possibly with some guaranteed (250K-300K isn't unusual), control the situation you end up in. Ends up being $4.8M over four, maybe 48% of it guaranteed.

VS.

$4.4M over four, not guaranteed, no control over the situation you end up in.

Being able to pick your team from a list of suitors has a lot of upside, you can choose a coaching staff that's a good fit to develop you and/or a roster you're more likely to make.

Financially speaking I think coming back is clearly better unless he's going to be a third round pick or higher. That's before we even get into the front loaded nature of the money if he comes back, and that $2M can be invested and growing already.

Developmentally, Nixon being a great OC helps make the case for staying more enticing. Yeah he may get to spend more time at his craft in the NFL, but he's going to get waaaaay fewer reps.

He'll probably be running scout team, getting a handful of practice reps, and zero regular season reps. Maybe a game's worth of preseason reps. If he comes back he gets the lion's share of the reps.

And that's all comparing being a mid round pick to bring an UDFA after another year. It could also go the other way, and he could end up being a first rounder. Then it's not even close.

I don’t think it’s so clear. If he is betting on himself long term, I think it’s the NFL. He will finish his rookie contract quicker and get to his second contract where the bigger bucks are sooner.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

Only NFL tomorrow is depressing I need more bowl games.