Sunseri vs Thompson

[Herman Hickman]

The thought that it could've been Zook means I completely welcome Sunseri if this news is true.

As bad as Saban's staffers are as head coaches, they've done a pretty decent job in the coordinator's role after leaving the nest.

I'd rather take a chance with Sunseri than see a retread with a very inconsistent record as a coordinator come into town for the job.

 

[BeecherVol]

This reminds me of when people wanted Trooper Taylor to be the OC.

I think it is different in that some wanted Taylor as OC because they thought UT would lose him if they didn't promote him. (I was fine with him leaving if that was how he felt)

IMO, most that have jumped on LT getting his DC shot have come out since the list has become more clear (Sunseri) and decided that LT is just as good or a better option.

 

[gunner]

Actually Sunseri has been a DC on 2 separate occasions, Illinois St. and Alabama A&M, but that's not saying much. I hope Sunseri turns out to be a homerun hire, but I just dont see much of a difference in hiring him or promoting Lance Thompson. Sunseri is a great position coach to have on staff, but in terms of running a defense at big stage school is yet to be known.

Yea, my statement was misleading, he has been a DC before just not at a D1 school, I apologize for the misleading statement. Lance has been a DC before at a D1 school or whatever they are calling it these days.

 

[justingroves]

That's all you need to know. You can look at any coach that has been a positional coach for a long time and ask the same question. Why wasn't Baggett ever considered to be an OC over some other positional coaches with his great resume? Fact is, coaches usually know who is more suited to be a DC. There is a reason other teams have looked into Sunseri as DC while Thompson's main opportunity was UAB HC. Not a knock on Thompson, but he may not be DC material.

Both Sunseri and Thompson have been DCs before

 

[peerless98]

How is Sunseri anymore proven than Thompson? Answer me that.

Not sure if serious

 

[tvols75]

Both Sunseri and Thompson have been DCs before

Yes but not in the SEC. SEC teams have went after Sunseri recently. Thompson has not been shown interest by SEC teams that I know of. He is a position coach, and he has been loyal and has been rewarded nicely in salary. Glad to have Thompson.

 

[justingroves]

Not sure if serious

It's a legitimate question.

 

[gunner]

Not sure if serious

That's what I want to know, it appears to me that both are qualified to be a DC so why not just promote Lance to keep consistency within the program.

 

[keepitreal4vols]

Sunseri's coordinator or higher positions:
Assistant Head Coach Alabama
Special Teams Coordinator at Michigan State
Special Teams Coordinator at LSU
Defensive Coordinator at Alabama A&M
Assistant Head Coach Pitt
Interim Head Coach (1 game) Pitt
Defensive Coordinator Illinois State

Lance Thompson
Defensive Coordinator at UCF
Assistant Head Coach in charge of Recruiting LSU
Defensive line coach Bama

Sunseri is 5 years older than LT.
In 2003 Sunseri's DL at the Panthers produced 32.5 sacks and produced two pro bowlers.

He produced at least one Pro Bowl defensive lineman in five of six seasons as defensive line coach. The Panthers were among the top 10 in the NFL in terms of fewest yards allowed in four of his seven seasons and made three playoff appearances.

Excellent chart. I find it ironic that Sunseri was hired to replace LT at Bama.

 

[Vol_in_PDX]

Although it says nothing about his DC qualifications, I love the fact that Sunseri was a walk-on at Pitt and became team captain and consensus All-American.