I phrase the thread as this because we’ve still got half a season left for some guys to prove themselves. But I’ll give my thoughts on why I’ve got certain coaches on or off and I’d love others thoughts too. It’s hard to evaluate recruiting with this staff considering the heavy role Barton has, but I’ll give some credit to assistants
Not on Hot seat:
Lustig: (ST and TE)
This is the easiest one. Special teams have been great, and the TEs not being good is more of a talent thing, and I think he’s doing a good job in recruiting.
Bailey: (WRs) Another really easy one. They’ve been the best unit on the team, the freshman have been good right away, and he’s got another strong WR class in 24
Everett: (RBs) The RBs have been fine, and he’s got 2 of the highest rated RBs committed we’ve ever gotten
Nick Lezynski: (LBs) The LBs have been okay. The recruiting has been good enough
Hot Seat:
Dan Jackson: (DBs) He’s recruited some highly rated guys, but the on field product is just too bad
AJ Blazek: (OL) He got a lot of hype after last year, but this year makes 2 out of 3 awful years for the OL under him. All of the returning OL seem to have regressed, a lot like we were saying in his first year.
Haye and Black: (DL) I believe Haye coaches DEs and Black coaches DTs. I have more of an issue with Haye here because the main reason he’s still here is because he’s seen as a good recruiter. Well that’s kind of irrelevant considering the DL has been poor since he became DL coach in 2019. I’m not sure they need to tie up money in mutliple DL coaches, especially considering that’s not paying any dividends right now
Joey Lynch: (OC and QBs) I thought Lynch’s playcalling was pretty good with Wright last year; but it hasn’t been nearly as good with Swann or when Seals was QB. I might have more issue with him as QB coach since Swann and Seals both really regressed as sophomores, and we saw a guy like Fitch build a good plan around what Seals could do as a freshman.
Nick Howell: (DC) This is Clark’s defense, but things look way different than they did under Minter. With him, guys were a little slow but it seemed like they were in the right positions and would make tackles. Under Howell guys are not doing either of those things, and they’ve struggled at times to get their best players on the field.
Not on Hot seat:
Lustig: (ST and TE)
This is the easiest one. Special teams have been great, and the TEs not being good is more of a talent thing, and I think he’s doing a good job in recruiting.
Bailey: (WRs) Another really easy one. They’ve been the best unit on the team, the freshman have been good right away, and he’s got another strong WR class in 24
Everett: (RBs) The RBs have been fine, and he’s got 2 of the highest rated RBs committed we’ve ever gotten
Nick Lezynski: (LBs) The LBs have been okay. The recruiting has been good enough
Hot Seat:
Dan Jackson: (DBs) He’s recruited some highly rated guys, but the on field product is just too bad
AJ Blazek: (OL) He got a lot of hype after last year, but this year makes 2 out of 3 awful years for the OL under him. All of the returning OL seem to have regressed, a lot like we were saying in his first year.
Haye and Black: (DL) I believe Haye coaches DEs and Black coaches DTs. I have more of an issue with Haye here because the main reason he’s still here is because he’s seen as a good recruiter. Well that’s kind of irrelevant considering the DL has been poor since he became DL coach in 2019. I’m not sure they need to tie up money in mutliple DL coaches, especially considering that’s not paying any dividends right now
Joey Lynch: (OC and QBs) I thought Lynch’s playcalling was pretty good with Wright last year; but it hasn’t been nearly as good with Swann or when Seals was QB. I might have more issue with him as QB coach since Swann and Seals both really regressed as sophomores, and we saw a guy like Fitch build a good plan around what Seals could do as a freshman.
Nick Howell: (DC) This is Clark’s defense, but things look way different than they did under Minter. With him, guys were a little slow but it seemed like they were in the right positions and would make tackles. Under Howell guys are not doing either of those things, and they’ve struggled at times to get their best players on the field.
