There’s pure employees turnover — primarily assistants getting poached for higher alternatives elsewhere — after which there’s what Ohio State and LSU are purportedly doing. Every head coach is beneath strain to make adjustments after showings lower than program requirements, and if historical past is a sign of something, it’s that the fixes higher work — or else.
Workers alterations originating from grumblings inside the program aren’t nice indicators for Ryan Day and Brian Kelly (See: Fisher, Jimbo.) It means each LSU and OSU skippers are heading into subsequent season on various levels of sizzling seats, and might be anticipated to appropriate what could or is probably not damaged, precise revenge on their rivals, and do all of it whereas successful as convincingly as doable en path to a playoff berth.
Is that this actually essential, Ohio State?
Day’s offense, normally the crown jewel of the Massive Ten, by no means utterly bought going this season, and now the Buckeye coach is reportedly tinkering with play calling and probably the QB coach. Brian Hartline’s first yr as offensive coordinator could be his solely season as these duties look like shifting elsewhere.
Reviews say Day is looking for a new offensive coordinator, who might be empowered to judge and alter his assistants accordingly. Quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis is on an expiring contract, and doubtless isn’t tremendous stoked about his job safety after Kyle McCord’s blasé yr. With Day attempting to scapegoat his method out of the crosshairs, somebody has to take the autumn.
The difficult half relating to that plan is Hartline is likely one of the greatest, if not the most effective, extensive receivers coach within the nation. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the most recent first-round decide he’s produced, so no matter demotion/restructuring occurs there, ideally it’s achieved deftly sufficient to not piss off Hartline.
To me, that is foolish. The temper in Columbus is further bitter as a result of the Wolverines are taking part in for a title. Ohio State followers’ irrational anger over shedding to their rival is anticipated, but it surely additionally might be damaging. Whereas the Cotton Bowl was ugly, Devin Brown was the backup all season, and he bought damage within the first quarter. Bowl wins at the moment are coin tosses for coaches with depleted rosters and third-string QBs, but they’re nonetheless anticipated to place a sophisticated product on the sphere.
The coach who tabbed Will Howard as the reply to the Buckeyes’ quarterback conundrum is the one coach who ought to be fired. If that was Day, so be it.
Nevertheless, Ohio State is months previous taking a deep breath, stepping again and attempting to make an goal evaluation. The wheels are in movement for an offensive overhaul that followers higher hope doesn’t find yourself as a homonym.
Did Brian Kelly miss the LSU-Mizzou sport?
In Baton Rouge, Kelly’s protection received Jayden Daniels the Heisman, however removed from sufficient video games. Seeing as Kelly is likely one of the greasier head coaches going, he fired defensive coordinator Matt House and three different assistants on that aspect of the ball this week.
Enter now ex-Missouri D-coordinator Blake Baker, whose protection allowed 21 factors per sport this season. On the floor, it’s high quality, I suppose. LSU followers watched Daniels and the offense go for 49 factors and 533 yards towards Baker’s group in Columbia, in order that they’re assuredly completely satisfied that he’s now the highest-paid assistant coach within the nation.
The SEC East additionally was low-key rubbish in 2023. Joe Milton routinely missed Tennessee’s usually explosive ability gamers all season, and Georgia didn’t have Brock Bowers towards the Tigers. Hell, Baker’s group gave up 500 yards to a 5-7 Florida crew. Clearly, the expertise degree might be elevated within the bayou, with Harold Perkins Jr. on the prime of that listing.
The linebacker was All-SEC first-team as a freshman, however had an up-and-down yr in 2023 largely as a result of he was taking part in out of place for many of it. Friday was the final day to enter the switch portal for the winter window, so so long as Perkins sticks round via spring ball, every little thing is cool. He did tweet “It ain’t funny when the bunny got the gun” throughout this week’s restructuring.
I’m not going to faux to know what meaning, or decipher the social media posts of a sophomore in faculty, however Kelly emits heavy dictator vibes. That’s why there are few information conferences as enthralling as Brian Kelly’s under-fire information conferences. And we’re going to get lots extra of these if the LSU protection fails to carry out like an LSU protection subsequent yr.
There’s a doable upside to all of this, however that’s contingent on the brand new hires delivering outcomes. Adjustments saved Jim Harbaugh’s job at Michigan, so they might work. It’s simply an ominous signal at any time when a head coach begins changing assistants out of self-preservation.
