Ezekiels Creatures

September 15th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^

Paywall, didn't read.

I wonder if Matt Weiss will soon be a name on head coaching hire lists. Or maybe he would be hired head coach here if Jim Harbaugh leaves.

JonSnow54

September 15th, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^

This is an FYI to everyone making the paywall comments - you can currently get a subscription to The Athletic for six months for one dollar per month.  That is $6 total for 6 months.  I just did this to read the Aidan Hutchinson article (click here if interested) they posted last week.  I also set a reminder in my calendar for early March to cancel, hah.

I don't normally subscribe to any paywall sites, but one dollar a month was a deal too good to pass up, IMO.

Blue@LSU

September 15th, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^

I don't know. It would be kind of fun to watch them suffer a long, slow decay. Just like the Ottomans, other conference teams can slowly pick them apart as they become the "Sick Man of the B1G". And then just when they thought they couldn't fall any further, they lose to Rutgers. 

Rashman

September 15th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^

LOL, sorry.  Fair point.  Here are a few worthwhile blurbs.  

Before joining Jim Harbaugh’s staff last year, Weiss developed a reputation in Baltimore as something of a savant with numbers, tendencies and patterns. Originally an assistant to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Weiss was the person to call if anyone on staff had questions about data or analytics, Pagano said.

...

As Harbaugh described it before the season, innovation is part of Weiss’ job description. Harbaugh said he has never met a play he didn’t like, and he has a history of surrounding himself with offensive coaches who bring fresh ideas. Weiss’ creativity and attention to detail make him the ideal sounding board.

“We make the perfect blend, really, between Matt and myself,” Harbaugh said.

...

“With coach Weiss coming from the Ravens and being with Lamar, he has so much wisdom and knowledge about the quarterback run game,” McCarthy said. “I do feel like that adds a different dimension to our run game. It allows more space for blocks and allows the second-level defenders to worry about me running the ball.”

Amazinblu

September 15th, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^

Carpet - which games this season will reflect whether Weiss / Minter can call a game?

UConn - this Saturday - won’t be a test, or certainly shouldn’t be one.

Maryland - I think “yes”,

@ Iowa - hmm, probably not, unless the Hawkeyes find a new OC,

@Indiana - this will be tougher than Iowa - and, the Hoosiers could be undefeated when they meet,

Penn State and MSU - yes,

@Rutgers - possibly,

Nebraska - no,

Illinois - possibly,

@ the Shoe - yes.

TrueBlue2003

September 15th, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^

If you're "smart" in football terms, doesn't that apply almost solely to your ability to call a game?  What other kind of smart matters in football?  Knowing the full periodic table?

I think for football coaches (HC and coordinators) the traits that matter:

1. Recruiting: can you recruit the right players and enable them to do what they need to do?

2. Management/Delegation - can you hire the right assistants and enable them to do what they need to do?

3. "Smarts" - can you install the right plays for your personnel and use the right plays at the right time?

4. Organization - this could perhaps go in bucket one but organization matters a lot.  Ability to keep the whole org on task and in alignment

5. Inspiration - can you motivate / inspire the team to work towards the common goal.

Carpetbagger

September 15th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^

Smart comes in two forms. Ability to learn and ability to transform that knowledge into practical application.

I don't doubt the former. The latter is unproven. For both Minter and Weiss.

To the person who noted that Minter has been a DC. Have you looked at his defensive ranking at those places? Yikes. Talent limited no doubt. Nevertheless, check back later.

I hope they are both great. Evaluations start with Maryland and the final exam is just after Thanksgiving.

TrueBlue2003

September 15th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^

Uh, ok so by ability to learn you mean ability to memorize? 

Because again, that's not all that important in football.  Being football "smart" applies only to your ability to transform knowledge into practical application. 

Fine if you think the jury is still out on whether each of them can do that but I'm merely saying that's the only kind of smart that can make someone football "smart".

Although I bet that Weiss had a larger role in calling games last year than you think.  Don't forget that Josh Gattis had no experience as an OC when he arrived and he was flat out terrible in 2019 and 2020.  So it appeared that he did not know how to transform his knowledge into practical application, at least for two years.

It's almost certain that Harbaugh and Weiss had more play calling responsibility last year (2021) and that was a reason for a partial turnaround by the offense, ie Weiss is almost certainly a better play caller than Gattis, although the bar may not be high there.  If you listened to roundtable, they commented on how much more coherent the game plan was against Hawaii and how the counters made sense, etc etc.

Carpetbagger

September 15th, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^

Great job jumping to a conclusion. Not sure where you got the idea I was unaware Minter was a DC. He's been a DC. Twice in fact. 1 year at Vandy and a few years at one of the FCS-FBS transition teams. Ga Southern? I'm deliberately not looking it up.

Would YOU care to look up his defenses rankings at those stops? Turrible. I'm assuming neither situation was conducive to his succeeding, so I'm giving him an incomplete rather than assuming he is bad.