the footballscoop blurb said the primary job here is to upgrade the talent. If true, Grinch seems like a guy that would have taken the job a week after Breske was fired. Then he has A LOT more time to hit the road and get some other kids to help us out.
I still wonder, why wait well over a month to make this DC hire?
- Thread starter ttowncoug
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As far as the footballscoop blurb, I don't think the DC is going to have a ton of recruiting responsibility.
As far as the timeframe goes, assuming that Leach had a specific guy in mind, I think it's safe to assume that Grinch was not guy. Also, it seems clear that Leach used the time between the AC and the start of the dead period to recruit, rather than fill the DC slot.
He wasn't the first choice that's why it took so long. I was expecting something more than this, but after watching some tape on him and reading about him, he sounds like a solid back up plan. I think he could be the next Barry Odom. He coached linebackers at Missouri, went to Memphis to coordinate the defense, turned that defense around in three years and now is back at Missouri as their defensive coordinator. Stekel is a great defensive coordinator and he's worked for the last 3 years as a coach. If you look at his resume, it's impressive, he worked for Chip at New Hampshire, got hired on at Wyoming, produced at Wyoming and then got hired on at Missouri.
I also think it's safe to say that recruiting didn't miss a beat without a defensive coordinator.
I also think it's safe to say that recruiting didn't miss a beat without a defensive coordinator.
Well, the new defensive coordinator, whoever he was, would not have been able to hit the road. It was the dead period. After Breske was fired and the Cougars didn't have a defensive coordinator, they landed like 11 defensive verbal commits. I don't think it was a coincidence that they got this done the day dead period ended. It's clear that they missed out on their No. 1 option.
The tape on him is he's an attention to detail guy and seems like a work-a-holic. Obviously Leach did his homework here. I sure he got the tip/reference from Yost. Whether he's recruiting or scouting, I whole-hearted believe his marching orders are to upgrade the talent.
Let's be honest, we probably missed out on 1-2 guys. The first one I think we were in on was mutually interested until he got the oregon state offer. From there we restarted, and struck out on Diaz too. It felt like we were waiting around on him to see if he got better offers. Then after that I think we held new interviews to find someone totally new. I don't think Pendergast turned us down, I think leach decided against him. He was there for the taking.
The "missing out" part is a big assumption on everyone's part. It's also very possible that the big splash hire candidates didn't impress in interviews or didn't have the philosophy, fire, expectations, etc... that Leach and Moos wanted. The interview process is a 2-way street, even with the big boys. I like our hire.
I'm wondering what the rest of Coach Leach's staff thinks of this hire. The guy is relatively young, and has no D Coord. experience.... there are guys there with more experience, isn't there?
If it is a good staff they embrace it, look at it as opportunity
to improve WSU and their own stock, that Leach hires the best fit. If they sulk and in fight you will see Rosie, Levy and Yarno all over again.
But you raise a good point why in years past the DC would hire the key people in on his staff. Knowing Joe's dedication, I would suspect he will continue to his job with passion. My guess is Ken Wilson will continue to be all out in recruiting.
to improve WSU and their own stock, that Leach hires the best fit. If they sulk and in fight you will see Rosie, Levy and Yarno all over again.
But you raise a good point why in years past the DC would hire the key people in on his staff. Knowing Joe's dedication, I would suspect he will continue to his job with passion. My guess is Ken Wilson will continue to be all out in recruiting.
Considering their comments on Twitter and other tidbits I've heard from people close to the staff, they're beyond excited.
If the staff was not happy with the last DC,then maybe that s why they are now happy. Players know who can play and coaches know who can or cannot coach. Perhaps the coaches will carry him on their shoulders after the first victory.
With the numbers they already have committed not sure
it was ultra important from a recruiting standpoint. This wasn't who leach had in mind or as you point out he would have pulled the trigger earlier, IMO.
But as the players came off the board Leach broadened his horizons and I am sure Yost made the connection. while many thought game planning was huge, I would say in several games if they got any DB play at all they would have won. Maybe that was what sealed it for Leach. The truth is how could they be worse? They have no way to go but up. And I think he is probably a better fit than C Pender...
it was ultra important from a recruiting standpoint. This wasn't who leach had in mind or as you point out he would have pulled the trigger earlier, IMO.
But as the players came off the board Leach broadened his horizons and I am sure Yost made the connection. while many thought game planning was huge, I would say in several games if they got any DB play at all they would have won. Maybe that was what sealed it for Leach. The truth is how could they be worse? They have no way to go but up. And I think he is probably a better fit than C Pender...
Re: inner circle of coaches
Obviously, there is an inner circle with regard to young coaches that none of us, not even the high IQ football experts on this website are familiar with. I know that within mega sales organizations, there are a few names that everyone is familiar with. People who are clearly "management material."
Leach has a broad coaching tree, so I'm sure he had a lot of information on AG, even though many of us hadn't heard about him. He knocked his interview out of the park, our other coaches loved him, and he was highly recommended by guys like Chip Kelly, Gary Pinkel, and others.
He might not have been a plan A, but that doesn't mean he's not a fantastic coach. In fact, his energy and drive may be more important to us than what any other candidate would have brought to the table. Time will tell.
The hiring timeline means nothing to me. Getting it right does.
Obviously, there is an inner circle with regard to young coaches that none of us, not even the high IQ football experts on this website are familiar with. I know that within mega sales organizations, there are a few names that everyone is familiar with. People who are clearly "management material."
Leach has a broad coaching tree, so I'm sure he had a lot of information on AG, even though many of us hadn't heard about him. He knocked his interview out of the park, our other coaches loved him, and he was highly recommended by guys like Chip Kelly, Gary Pinkel, and others.
He might not have been a plan A, but that doesn't mean he's not a fantastic coach. In fact, his energy and drive may be more important to us than what any other candidate would have brought to the table. Time will tell.
The hiring timeline means nothing to me. Getting it right does.
Re: inner circle of coaches
I'm looking forward to WSU's new D Coord to be a HOMERUN hire! I'm supporting him 100% and CML too !
Bring on the WINS !!!!
I'm looking forward to WSU's new D Coord to be a HOMERUN hire! I'm supporting him 100% and CML too !
Bring on the WINS !!!!
Re: inner circle of coaches
But it's clear that Grinch is a rising prospect, and there finally appears to be enough depth with which to work.
This post was edited on 1/15 5:05 PM by YakiCoug
Any hire brings with it some unknowns. Like Chris Ball before him, Grinch arrives without the title "defensive coordinator" on his resume. But compare the numbers on the roster with what with the last regime compiled. Look at the interest other schools showed in many of these guys (Ekuale had an Oregon offer, for example). WSU has brought a pair of 4-star JC defenders into the fold (Luani and Mitchell); we have several d-linemen who will be upperclassmen. This once was cause for optimism from fans. It might be a bit tougher building a defense now, though. Pac-12 offenses are incredibly diverse, and we can no longer bring in academic risks the way we did in the past (Brian Forde, Mark Fields, Chad Eaton, to name a few) to get a quick fix.
But it's clear that Grinch is a rising prospect, and there finally appears to be enough depth with which to work.
This post was edited on 1/15 5:05 PM by YakiCoug
