Who are the defensive minded HC candidates?

#1
bpalmer28

bpalmer28

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#1
Most of the possible options being discussed of offensive guys, but after giving it some thought, I'm thinking defensive-minded head coaches provide more stability in highly competitive environments like the SEC.

I think Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina got it right with Saban, Smart, and Muschamp, respectively. The real USC and the Seattle Seahawks got it right when they hired Pete Carrol. You've got Bob Stoops... Gary Patterson... Mark Dantonio... all defensive guys. I think even Ed Orgeron may bring that kind of stability to LSU.

Now, obviously there's some offensive guys who've built/maintained stable programs over the years: Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, Les Miles, Dabo Swinney, James Franklin... but all of those guys have been also been able to field a solid defense year-in and year-out despite changes at defensive coordinator, which shows that they understand how to coach winning defense despite their offensive backgrounds.

So again I ask you, who are the best realistic defensive-minded candidates for the Tennessee head coaching job?
 
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#3
#3
volfan_28 said:
Most of the possible options being discussed of offensive guys, but after giving it some thought, I'm thinking defensive-minded head coaches provide more stability in highly competitive environments like the SEC.

I think Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina got it right with Saban, Smart, and Muschamp, respectively. The real USC and the Seattle Seahawks got it right when they hired Pete Carrol. You've got Bob Stoops... Gary Patterson... Mark Dantonio... all defensive guys. I think even Ed Orgeron may bring that kind of stability to LSU.

Now, obviously there's some offensive guys who've built/maintained stable programs over the years: Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, Les Miles, Dabo Swinney, James Franklin... but all of those guys have been also been able to field a solid defense year-in and year-out despite changes at defensive coordinator, which shows that they understand how to coach winning defense despite their offensive backgrounds.

So again I ask you, who are the best realistic defensive-minded candidates for the Tennessee head coaching job?
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What about Sal Sunseri, he seems like a solid candidate
 
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#6
#6
No way of knowing really. Seeing as how we still currently have a HC and all.
 
#11
#11
vols1707 said:
Who wouldn't ? Why leave a program you have build to the top 1/3 of college football year in and out to rebuild a Tennessee team in the toughest conference to win in?
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Bored? Challenge? $$? Wants to see if he could go toe to toe with the best in the SEC weekly? Ego can lead a guy to do lots of questionable things.
 
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#14
#14
Burger said:
The SEC isn't tough right now.
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Which is why I think the conference is struggling... we've gotten soft. The only "tough" teams are Alabama, Georgia, and recently LSU. Vanderbilt, Florida, and Arkansas try to be, but they don't have the players or lack a coach able to teach discipline, competitiveness, and resiliency.

Everyone else is trying to rely on high-powered offenses to win games and it's not working... not consistently. Overally, we've become a very soft conference.
 
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#15
#15
Volz4lif3 said:
Patterson thats who I want wearing the orange..
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Not coming here! He agreed to an interview before and never showed up! He isn't leaving TCU they are ranked #4 in the country and in a much easier conference to win since he never has to face Saban. This is a Pipedream! But he is a good Coach!
 
#16
#16
joevol33 said:
Venables, Strong
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Volz4lif3 said:
Patterson thats who I want wearing the orange..
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These are the only 3 reasonable candidates that I can think of, and I really don't think Patterson is coming.

I'm beginning to think if we hire an expert at coaching defense OR bring in someone who can teach a traditional pro-style offense while keeping Shoop as the DC, we can make a quick jump back into competitiveness.

Without a solid defense, we'll probably end up a step below programs like Auburn and Ole Miss because even though people like Kelly and Brohm can coach great offense... so can people like Malzahn and Freeze and where has that gotten them?

Also, you can expect South Carolina to get better under Muschamp. He's an excellent teacher of defense, but he's not the kind of guy who will be pursued by bigger programs. He'll end up with a team that has a bunch of 4th and 5th year players who have been taught the same defense for 4 or 5 years while continuing to develop physically. They may struggle to score consistently, but they'll always be tough to beat.
 
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#17
#17
In today's football it's usually better that the head coach be more offensive minded. There are a few exceptions to this belief but I would prefer to have an elite defensive coordinator that way you won't have to worry about that side of the ball and have and offensive head coach that can step in and call plays in crucial moments of games. That's how I look at it at least.

But if we do go defensive then Venables is probably number one on the list.
 
#21
#21
Burger said:
The SEC isn't tough right now.
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Exactly.
They still have a tough perception but reality its down significantly.
This would be a good time for a solid coach to come in while east is down and basically do what saban did.
West was down and easier before he got there
Not saying it would happen but it is a prime time to come in and become great coach
I'm wanting Kelly but Patterson is the ultimate just don't think he will leave down here
 
#22
#22
johnrlansford said:
Not coming here! He agreed to an interview before and never showed up! He isn't leaving TCU they are ranked #4 in the country and in a much easier conference to win since he never has to face Saban. This is a Pipedream! But he is a good Coach!
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If we can't outpay TCU, we have fallen. Before, he might have been the 6th or 7th best option, now he should be 1st or 2nd. You make solid points, but I believe if Tennessee makes a good presentation and a solid offer, we can get him. He has been on the cusp down there, but we have the resources and facilities to take him to the top.
 
#23
#23
I think Jeremy Pruitt could be a great hire great D.C. Has rings at multiple schools an absolute force in recruiting. His defenses have never finished worst than 15th and that was year one at Georgia. I think it could be a home run
 
#24
#24
WCVB616 said:
I think Jeremy Pruitt could be a great hire great D.C. Has rings at multiple schools an absolute force in recruiting. His defenses have never finished worst than 15th and that was year one at Georgia. I think it could be a home run
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Where is he now? I can’t keep up, don’t remember where I saw him last.
 
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