What Coaches Do You Want To Stay? [Archive] - SoonerFans.com Message Boards

Eielson

11/9/2014, 06:24 PM

I'm not claiming to be an expert on who is being coached up or not, and I certainly don't watch game film. I'm just casually explaining what I see as a fan here. I just thought it would be interesting to see what everybody says.

Personally, I haven't given up on Stoops, and probably won't anytime soon. I like the moves we made two seasons ago bringing in two new line coaches. I think we may need some more of that this offseason.

HC - Bob Stoops

Keep. I can't imagine any improvement coming next year by replacing him. If he goes 8-5 the next two years, I'll sing a different song, but top 10 seasons aren't to be taken for granted.

Co-OC/QB - Josh Heupel

Replace. This discussion has been beaten to death here, so I don't feel anymore is necessary.

Co-OC/WR - Jay Norvell

Keep. The WRs aren't great right now, but I expect they will be next year, and they've been consistently good since he got here in 2008. I think he may be spoiling us here with guys like Broyles, Saunders, Stills, Brown, Shepard, Quick (?), etc. I think WR may have been our best overall position over the last 5 or so years, and he may be our best recruiter (assuming he's the guy bringing in the WRs). Too bad Gardner and Metoyer didn't work out.

RB - Cale Gundy

Keep. I question some of his rotations, but he's put together some pretty impressive stables of RBs. Similar story to Norvell.

OL - Bill Bedenbaugh

Keep. We brought him in with Montgomery before last year. We've probably had the two best running seasons of Stoops' tenure since, and the QBs have had plenty of time to throw. Looks like a great hire to me. We'll see how he does with his own guys.

TE/ST - Jay Boulware

I have no clue.

DL - Jerry Montgomery

Keep. Another hire I've liked so far. We'll see how the DL performs of the next few years, but I'm in no hurry to make a switch.

LB - Tim Kish

Replace. Our LBs have left a lot to be desired overall since he got here, and I feel they're pretty crucial in a 3-4. He's atop my replacement list alongside Heupel.

CB - Bobby Jack Wright

We're weak at CB this year, but we were pretty strong here last year. Replacing him, even if he were our clear weak link, isn't a reasonable idea. No way would Stoops do it. That might be what we need, though (see Mike Stoops discussion).

S - Mike Stoops

I don't want to replace him. I think he still has what it takes to lead our defense, but he's really struggling with the safeties. I can't believe we're not better at safety by now, and I'm starting to think he's going to need some help.

jiminy

11/9/2014, 07:27 PM

Re Mike Stoops - you have to wonder if he's still got the fire in his belly. He was one of the most respected coordinators, got a HC shot at Arizona, and was not successful there. Was coming back under big brother's wing a letdown for him? Maybe he's mailing it in, to an extent. We sure seem to be unprepared a lot. I have this vision of every other DC in the league burning the midnight oil to come up with a specific scheme/game plan to beat OU, while our guys are sleeping in cashmere beds. No idea how close it is to the truth.

Sooner8th

11/9/2014, 07:30 PM

If you are a coach on the defensive side of the ball, your job should be in jeopardy, brother of the head coach or not. Heupel should be gone too. Let's say he can't recruit, can't develop qp's - as a OC he sure as hell needs to be able to have rhythm and timing with play calling. Go back and look at the last drive Alabama had in regulation and see what a professional playcaller looks like.

aero

11/9/2014, 08:58 PM

Agree with Eielson. Good summary. And also Sooner8th. While I think the offense is pathetic, defense wins championships. This years defense is not championship caliber. I think they have done enough to have won 2 of the 3 losses, I also think they could do much better. Seems like we have no consistent disruptive forces on the D line and seldom get pressure on the qb.

Snrinhouston

11/9/2014, 09:13 PM

Clean house. 16 years is probably too long for most coaches to stay at one program. It seems to be the case with Stoops. The lack of results the past six years are undeniable.

Curly Bill

11/9/2014, 09:14 PM

Clean house. 16 years is probably too long for most coaches to stay at one program. It seems to be the case with Stoops. The lack of results the past six years are undeniable.

You put too little faith in the Stoops faithful!

Soonerfan88

11/9/2014, 09:15 PM

Cale Gundy
Jerry Montgomery
Jay Norvell (for now at least)
Bill Bedenbaugh (for now at least)
Tim Kish (for now at least, but on a very short rope)

I agree with this list of assistants. I don't even want Josh kept as QB coach as I don't think he develops them at all.

I think Bob gets 1-2 more years to turn it around though.

Curly Bill

11/9/2014, 09:17 PM

I agree with this list of assistants. I don't even want Josh kept as QB coach as I don't think he develops them at all.

I think Bob gets 1-2 more years to turn it around though.

Fair enough. I'm not opposed to giving Bob 1-2 more to see if he can find whatever it was he once had. I'd also not be disappointed if he quit tomorrow.

Snrinhouston

11/9/2014, 09:51 PM

Fair enough. I'm not opposed to giving Bob 1-2 more to see if he can find whatever it was he once had. I'd also not be disappointed if he quit tomorrow.

I'd be elated. I've seen enough since the National Championship Game against Florida. No further evidence needed to determine that Stoops cannot compete for another NC. Six years is NOT a small sample size.

Tear Down This Wall

11/9/2014, 10:25 PM

Bobby Jack Wright back to DE coach. Fire Montgomery and Kish. Get a real DT and LB coaches.

Everyone on the offensive side can be let go. The five of them cannot for the life of themselves figure out that we have far more talent at running back than wide receiver. We have no legitimate tight end threat...for yet another season.

Choosing Knight as the starter two seasons in a row is inexcusable. These coaches have been around long enough to understand what is good enough at this level and what isn't. Knight isn't even close.

None of this will happen because Stoops doesn't fire people. He sometimes gets them to "resign."

At the beginning of his tenure, the "Stoops lets the offensive coaches do what they want to do" seemed to work well. But, that was when there were adults in control. Right now, he's got a set of kid coaches who are trying to force fit players into system their talents don't match.

Stoops is loyal. Hooray. But, there isn't a single one of them that wouldn't find another job somewhere else just based on the fact that "University of Oklahoma" is on their coaching resume. So, there's no reason to shed tears over any of their departures.

It's time to let others come in here, fresh blood. Otherwise, we slip into what Texas became under Mack Brown...or worse, Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer. There comes a point where a guy stays so long, that people begin to defend the mediocrity.

How Frank Beamer survived losing to James Madison a couple of seasons ago, I'll never know. But, I know Stoops has enough defenders here that if a Lousiana-Monroe or FCS bit us in the butt like that, he'd be defended by everyone from the fatas*s president, money-grubbing AD, and a host of boosters down the line. I hate that its coming to that, but it may be.

Look at the way many people excuse losses to TCU, Kansas State, and Baylor. It's sickening.

Snrinhouston

11/9/2014, 11:12 PM

Bobby Jack Wright back to DE coach. Fire Montgomery and Kish. Get a real DT and LB coaches.

Everyone on the offensive side can be let go. The five of them cannot for the life of themselves figure out that we have far more talent at running back than wide receiver. We have no legitimate tight end threat...for yet another season.

Choosing Knight as the starter two seasons in a row is inexcusable. These coaches have been around long enough to understand what is good enough at this level and what isn't. Knight isn't even close.

None of this will happen because Stoops doesn't fire people. He sometimes gets them to "resign."

At the beginning of his tenure, the "Stoops lets the offensive coaches do what they want to do" seemed to work well. But, that was when there were adults in control. Right now, he's got a set of kid coaches who are trying to force fit players into system their talents don't match.

Stoops is loyal. Hooray. But, there isn't a single one of them that wouldn't find another job somewhere else just based on the fact that "University of Oklahoma" is on their coaching resume. So, there's no reason to shed tears over any of their departures.

It's time to let others come it here, fresh blood. Otherwise, we slip into what Texas became under Mack Brown...or worse, Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer. There comes a point where a guy stays so long, that people begin to defend the mediocrity.

How Frank Beamer survived losing to James Madison a couple of seasons ago, I'll never know. But, I know Stoops has enough defenders here that if a Lousiana-Monroe or FCS bit us in the butt like that, he'd be defended by everyone from the fatas*s president, money-grubbing AD, and a host of boosters down the line. I hate that its coming to that, but it may be.

Look at the way many people excuse losses to TCU, Kansas State, and Baylor. It's sickening.

Yep. The Bob of 1999 is long gone. Thinking that he'll ever resurface is delusional.

stoopified

11/9/2014, 11:31 PM

Eielson

11/10/2014, 12:40 AM

A lot of people on here are saying that Bob doesn't have it anymore. I don't really understand it.

Bob's finest three game stretch is, and always will be, when he beat #11 Texas, #2 KSU, and #1 Nebraska in 2000. The next best 3-game stretch happened last year, though. When we lost to Baylor, I felt as hopeless as I've felt under Stoops. I thought we'd lose at least 2 more games, and had a good chance at dropping 3. Following that game up with an ISU victory was expected, but I was very impressed that we went into Manhattan and stole a game from Old Man Snyder with that team. Then we went on the road and stole another game in Stillwater, and followed that up with a beatdown of the the SEC Monster.

If you were to list the 10 worst QB performances of the last 15 years, I'd imagine about half of them came last year. We've had 7 and 8 win teams that were undisputedly QB'ed better than that team. The fact that our team was top ten at the end of the year was nothing short of a miracle. When you look at a team in the top ten that is QB'ed that poorly, you'd expect to see the rest of the team littered with 1st and 2nd round players. The reality is, we only had 2 guys drafted, and they were both 4th rounders.

To me, that was Bob's 2nd finest season as HC.

Sooner91ATL

11/10/2014, 07:24 AM

To me, it all starts and ends with the man at the top. The HC is responsible for hiring his staff. I take no issue with the staff if they are underperforming. The issue is with their boss to take action. Same holds true for the AD - he should take action if his staff is not getting the job done. At this point, I don't care if Bob goes or stays (he won't be going voluntarily any time soon...maybe when his kids graduate HS). But if he stays he needs to get to the bottom of what is wrong at least for my expectations. Blaming coaches isn't going to work because there is no end to the blame. It just needs to be fixed, and only two people in the athletic program have the immediate power: Stoops or Castiglione.

SoonerMarkVA

11/10/2014, 08:33 AM

Kish,Norvell and BJ Wright would be on my chopping block,IF I made those decisions.Ever since Wright took over the secondry our DB play has sucked.Before Norvell,we always had around 6 quality wrs in the rotation.the last couple of years we have been lucky to have 3.I think the play level and number of quality lb recruits has suffered. Thank God I don't have to make that call.

Yeah, this is pretty much my list, too. Also, Heupel demoted back to QB coach only and have him on the field. Our QB play when he's been the QB coach and *on the field* was outstanding. Since he's been OC and in the booth, dreadful.

EatLeadCommie

11/10/2014, 08:50 AM

At a bare minimum, what Eielson said, though I'd add Norvell to the chopping block. There's no way Heupel can be let go without elevating Norvell, in my opinion. If they're co-OCs, then they are co-responsible for the constant brainfarts.

BJW is close to the chopping block. We have always kept him around as a recruiter primarily.

Turd_Ferguson

11/10/2014, 09:24 AM

I just showed this thread to Bob and he said all y'all could suck his taint.

Tear Down This Wall

11/10/2014, 10:17 AM

Bobby Jack Wright is a far better DE coach than secondary coach. Move him back there. Everyone else can go...unless, they grab the reigns of reality.

SoonerStormchaser

11/10/2014, 10:57 AM

Man...I actually clicked this thread expecting to read a bunch of whiny BS...instead I actually see some halfway to well-thought opinions on the subject.

I like Bob...but he's proving to be loyal to a fault. What has made coaches like Saban so successful in the past decade? They go out and find the talented assistant/positional coaches who can best relate to and coach their players. When that coach gets hired somewhere else because of his success, they go and find the next one...they don't rest on their laurels and RARELY hire from within. And if it isn't working out, they send them packing. I'm sorry, but I just haven't seen this happen with Bob...and I don't think he will ever win another NC at OU so long as he continues this culture.

aero

11/11/2014, 02:38 PM

It kind of reminds me of Mack Brown. He hung on to some coaches too long and then it was too late. Seemed kind of desperate and sad at the end. I don't know who needs to go but I would like to see a badass defense again. And the offense doesn't seam like it has a plan. Just seems like they call whatever play. Its like whoever is calling the plays isn't watching the game or thinking about the situation. Maybe just it says on this here paper to call this play next. Whatever is going on, it doesn't look good. Looks novice at best.

birddog

11/11/2014, 03:00 PM

Sooner8th

11/11/2014, 03:56 PM

One thing we haven't discussed is when saban hired kiffen the president of the university didn't tell him no like boren did when bob wanted the fat man back.

Hell, saban probably told his president after he hired kiffen.

Tear Down This Wall

11/11/2014, 05:08 PM

Not sure about kish. His bio spans 30 years at various places and recently as dc for mikey. Maybe he was hired based on his time at Arizona. Bob said it would make for a "seamless" transition. BJW has been around forever(might as well bring back merv) so I'm ok with getting a new guy. The line coaches are new so I'd let them get their players in before giving em the axe. Heupel is too big for his khaki britches at this stage. Basically if I was Bob, a guy who is respected all over the country, I'd make some phone calls. I'm sure he's aware that the program has slipped and I believe he can fix it.

Let them "get their players"? What the hell is that? Did Bob Stoops have to wait to "get his players" before winning the national title in 2000. No! The 2000 starters were by far guys left over from Blake.

Get coaches in here who can light a fire under the players' backsides the way Stoops' original staff did in 1999 and 2000. I guarantee you that the guys Bedenbaugh and Montgomery inherited when they were hired were by far better prospects than what Stoops' original staff inherited.

You can either coach them or you can't. At a school like Oklahoma, the talent is there.

"Get their players." Nuts. Every player on the roster they coach is their player from the day they sign on to become a coach here!

KantoSooner

11/11/2014, 05:11 PM

Let's turn the game around just a bit. Instead of just listing who we'd fire, step up and tell us who you'd replace them with. I'm curious to see if any names start repeating.

birddog

11/11/2014, 05:32 PM

Let them "get their players"? What the hell is that? Did Bob Stoops have to wait to "get his players" before winning the national title in 2000. No! The 2000 starters were by far guys left over from Blake.

Get coaches in here who can light a fire under the players' backsides the way Stoops' original staff did in 1999 and 2000. I guarantee you that the guys Bedenbaugh and Montgomery inherited when they were hired were by far better prospects than what Stoops' original staff inherited.

You can either coach them or you can't. At a school like Oklahoma, the talent is there.

"Get their players." Nuts. Every player on the roster they coach is their player from the day they sign on to become a coach here!
Dude they haven't been here long enough to tell the 2 star guys that north Texas isn't a good academic school.

soonerboomer

11/11/2014, 06:54 PM

As I said earlier in the season, I want a new defensive coordinator, a new quarterback, and a new offensive play caller. I was very pleased to read in today's Daily Oklahoman that Bob Stoops made it perfectly clear that every position will be open next year. He stated this in answer to a question concerning Trevor Knight. I'm hoping that our transfer from Texas Tech is the starting QB next year and that the other offensive coordinator calls the offensive plays next year. Obviously, I want Mike Stoops to go. I convinced that he isn't the right coach as Oklahoma's defensive coordinator.

Breadburner

11/11/2014, 07:27 PM

We missed at Recruiting a solid Qb...It's that simple.....Maybe Mayfield is the answer to that hole in our game.....

BoulderSooner79

11/11/2014, 07:46 PM

I think the get-back coach has done a stellar job - I can only recall a couple of sideline warnings.

aero

11/11/2014, 08:10 PM

We missed at Recruiting a solid Qb...It's that simple.....Maybe Mayfield is the answer to that hole in our game.....

I agree. It's such a critical position. We've had pretty good luck. But it happens. Look at Texas. They had VY then Colt but have struggled ever since. An int here, missed read there, hold the ball too long... plays that maybe don't seem huge but sometimes the difference between sustaining a drive and scoring as opposed to giving the ball back and sending the D back out. Enough adds up. I think Mayfield might be a decent stop gap. He seemed to be a pretty good qb. Most of the time they either have it or they don't. And if they don't they probably won't. I never got the sense LJ had "it" and same with TK. I appreciate that they are good guys and would never wish anything but the best for them. I just would prefer a more capable, perhaps dynamic, qb.

rhombic21

11/12/2014, 01:05 AM

I think some perspective is useful here. The loss to KSU was pretty flukey (and was only by 1 point), and the TCU loss is increasingly looking like a pretty reasonable game to lose (4 points on the road to a top 5 team). The Baylor loss was embarrassing, and clearly there are some major changes that need to happen, but they are also a top 10 team.

Let's not get carried away, the discussions of getting rid of Stoops are ridiculous at this point. And it's not going to happen, so it's stupid to talk about.

I agree with getting rid of Heupel and Kish. Heupel is pretty self-explanatory. If there was a way to keep him on as a QB coach, that would be ideal. Our QB production when Wilson was the OC and Heupel was the QB coach only was very good. We even won a Big 12 championship with a converted WR playing QB, and there was noticeable progression for the QBs over time. This has not been the case since Wilson left. Landry did not progress at all his final two years, Bell did not progress or improve much last year, and Knight continues to struggle a year and a half in with basic reads and decision-making. Moreover, the last several years, our offense has failed to establish a clear identity and to make adequate use of the skill sets that the QBs and other skill position athletes have. This has been discussed to death.

The LB play has gone from a strength of the defense when Venables was here to a unit that has consistently struggled, even with fairly good talent. Also, from what I understand about recruiting, it seems like we are not getting our high priority LB targets, which suggests that he is also not a strong recruiter.

I think it would be a mistake to get rid of the DL coach. Our DL has actually improved dramatically over the last two years, in terms of talent. The main problem with the DL right now is that our scheme essentially only rushes 3 on many downs, which makes it virtually impossible to generate pressure. Plus, the 3-4 dictates that your DL have to be bigger to eat up blocks against the run, so that limits your ability to generate a pass rush. Your pass rush should really be coming from the LBs or safeties on blitzes. When we sit back and rush 3, the DL is probably not going to be a major factor in the game, simply by scheme.

Our secondary play has been poor. It is hard for me to know whether that is due to position coaching or the scheme. Very few DBs are going to look good when you give the opposing WRs huge cushions and then do not rush the passer aggressively. At that point, you let the offense completely dictate things, and it takes a very special kind of athlete in the secondary to make it work. It is also probably worth noting that the scheme may be a result of a lack of confidence in the back-end to hold up. Particularly at the safety position, it feels like we've gotten burned a lot this year when they have tried to play more aggressive man to man coverage. Prior to this year, however, we were actually much better in the secondary than we had been for the last couple of years under Venables.

I do not think it is quite time to get rid of Mike Stoops, but I do think he needs to make some changes in the philosophy of the defense, to be more aggressive. If people beat us because they have better athletes or just make a bunch of great plays, that's acceptable. When people beat us because we more or less concede things to them, that's harder to accept. I would much rather go down swinging than sit back and get picked apart over and over. Not saying we need to send the house all game, but at least rush 4 (Striker or Grissom should be rushing the passer almost every down), and put the DBs in more aggressive coverage alignments. This super passive stuff just isn't going to work in modern college football.

SoonerMarkVA

11/12/2014, 08:16 AM

I agree with getting rid of Heupel and Kish. Heupel is pretty self-explanatory. If there was a way to keep him on as a QB coach, that would be ideal. Our QB production when Wilson was the OC and Heupel was the QB coach only was very good. We even won a Big 12 championship with a converted WR playing QB, and there was noticeable progression for the QBs over time. This has not been the case since Wilson left. Landry did not progress at all his final two years, Bell did not progress or improve much last year, and Knight continues to struggle a year and a half in with basic reads and decision-making. Moreover, the last several years, our offense has failed to establish a clear identity and to make adequate use of the skill sets that the QBs and other skill position athletes have. This has been discussed to death.

Like a light switch.

It goes back even further. When Heupel has been on the field (either as a player, a grad assistant, or a QB coach) our QB play has been outstanding. When he hasn't been on the field (coaching elsewhere, or in the booth) it has been average at best.

I would be interested in at least (assuming Stoops isn't going to fire Heupel) having Heup back on the field, preferably starting right away, but if not then definitely starting next year. I can easily see how it would be totally different having to talk to your coach on a headset vs. having him right there. A lot of communication is non-verbal, for one thing. For another, on the field both Heup and the QB are looking at things from the same perspective. Heup may be missing certain cues due to that. The best situation, IMO, would be getting a fresh OC (whoever that may be) to replace Norvell and getting Heup to stay as QB coach.

Eielson

12/30/2014, 04:43 PM

This should be our main discussion for the first part of the offseason. I don't usually follow assistant coach moment very closely, so I'm not sure how quickly things will develop.

Heupel needs to go, and maybe Norvell, but we're looking great at OL and RB. Norvell has brought in a lot of talent, but I'm not sold on how well he truly develops it.

Monty is one of only two coaches I'm confident about not only bringing in great recruits, but also developing them. Oddly enough, those two guys are his most recent hires, so that's reason for optimism if he cleans house.

We need to get rid of at least two of the other three defensive coaches. Major changes need to happen at DC, but I'd be fine if that came in the form of switching back to a 4-2-5 instead of completely replacing him (at least for now). I'd also be fine with getting rid of him, because what we're doing in the secondary isn't working.

Definitely keep Gundy, Monty, and Bed. The rest can go, and Heupel HAS to go.

ddub0224

12/30/2014, 05:21 PM

A good QB makes a coach look good. A good QB can help a mediocre defense. The problem is that except for last year's Sugar Bowl win, we haven't had good QB play in a while. So the problem is two-fold....is it poor recruiting or poor development? Either way it falls on the man who is over not only that position but the offense as a whole. Heupel. The buck stops there. I'm tired of calling out what the play is going to be and I never played a down on the defensive side of the ball a day in my life. I appreciate him as a player and always will, but he has to be let go as both OC and QB coach.

bigfatjerk

12/30/2014, 05:24 PM

Cale Gundy may be the only one. But I'm not sure how much is really just Perine being a star and him being a RBs coach. The rest should be looked at as being replaced. I haven't been a big fan of the play of any of the offense or defense that much.

Soonerjeepman

12/30/2014, 05:30 PM

so, how does the time table work out IF there are going to be changes. I can honestly say and believe that nothing will happen. He made a point in his presser to say OU is the only school to win min 8 games a year since 2000.

I'd imagine that if we don't hear anything by the end of the week or early next week it will be status quo.

Not only are other coaches needed to be hired, but I'm sure every recruit will be curious as well.

SoonerorLater

12/30/2014, 05:58 PM

He made a point in his presser to say OU is the only school to win min 8 games a year since 2000.

OK got it. Now 8 wins per year is the benchmark we need to be looking at.

Jacie

12/30/2014, 06:13 PM

Eielson

12/30/2014, 06:56 PM

OK got it. Now 8 wins per year is the benchmark we need to be looking at.

I wouldn't say it's our benchmark, but it's an impressive statistic. If it were as easy to win 8 games year in and year out as most posters on here make it out to be, then we wouldn't be the only team capable of doing it.

Eielson

12/30/2014, 07:06 PM

Now, looking ahead to 12/30/15, what if Oklahoma sinks farther? What is the answer to the OP if we look back to now and wish the Sooners had won as many games next season as they did this one? Do we hold Bob to that 8-games/year standard and what if he falls below it?

What if Stoops has the worst season of his entire career next year? Yeah, if so, he'd be pretty close to the door, but it's a pretty silly game to play. What if he has the best season of his career and goes 14-0?

NorthernIowaSooner

12/31/2014, 12:03 PM

HC - Bob Stoops - Keep
I give him another year but improvement needs to be seen on the field. 8-5 seasons like this one are unacceptable and he knows that. Hopefully we see the fire restored but it seems we've been hoping for that for a few years. Another 8-5 season and I'll consider moving him to the fired side.

Co-OC/QB - Josh Heupel - Fire
It's not working out, which is a shame. It's like realizing your high school sweetheart just isn't that great. I'd like him to stay on as QB coach but no one takes that demotion.

Co-OC/WR - Jay Norvell - Keep
Good recruiter from what I can tell (I don't follow it that closely), and has had some successful receivers. Seems to do better with the small squirrely guys than the big DGB types but we'll see.

RB - Cale Gundy - Keep
Pretty obvious. RBs perform every year and he always has a quality group.

OL - Bill Bedenbaugh - Keep
OL could run block really well, weren't great in passing or getting a push when needed but still not a bad unit. I also understand he's a pretty good recruiter at a position that demands quality assessment of prospects and is the most important unit on the field in my opinion.

TE/ST - Jay Boulware - Keep
I don't really know how to assess him but he told Stoops not to re-kick in Bedlam so at least he seems to know what he's doing even if Bob didn't.

DL - Jerry Montgomery - Keep
Great recruiter from what I understand. DL was disappointing at times this year but have shown flashes under his watch.

LB - Tim Kish - Fire
What does he bring to the table? LB position lacks depth and quality.

CB - Bobby Jack Wright - Re-assign
Move into a different role in the Athletic Dept. The CBs were awful this year.

DC/S - Mike Stoops - Fire
Doubt this happens but with the defense's performance coupled with his ridiculous interview answers, I don't think he has what it takes. Hire someone else to run the defense if he wants to stay on in a lessor role.

cherokeebrewer

12/31/2014, 01:07 PM

NorthernIowasooner expresses basically how I feel, but I don't see Bob firing his brother...

SicEmBaylor

12/31/2014, 01:13 PM

NorthernIowasooner expresses basically how I feel, but I don't see Bob firing his brother...

I would fire my sister just for the satisfaction of firing my sister.

Soonerjeepman

12/31/2014, 02:41 PM

OK got it. Now 8 wins per year is the benchmark we need to be looking at.

that was Stoops, not me...

NorthernIowaSooner

12/31/2014, 03:56 PM

NorthernIowasooner expresses basically how I feel, but I don't see Bob firing his brother...

Yeah I don't think that will happen either. It may be the downfall of Bob.

aurorasooner

12/31/2014, 06:21 PM

Yeah I don't think that will happen either. It may be the downfall of Bob.I'm pretty much ok with that list.

Huepel's got to go or take a step down to position coach unless he's being handcuffed from the top. He just hasn't got it as a play caller unless he's being micromanaged, then admit it and stop it because it just flat sucks. Then turn him loose and give him another year. Another offensive offensive year like this though, and we won't be able to recruit any QBs or WRs worth a $*&^ here.
We're probably going to have to score a half a hundred, or at least in the 40s, in 4/5 games next year to win them, and we damn sure aren't doing that with this chitty play calling/ predictable offensive game planning. Man, getting skunked or getting skunked until Clemson showed us some mercy, is just pathetic.

ashley

1/1/2015, 12:05 PM

I was hearing last summer that Bobby Jack was telling some of his best buddies he might retire after this year.

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 05:41 PM

Stoops - Keep
Heupel - Move back to QB coach only
Gundy - Keep
Norvell - Move back to WR only
Bedenbaugh - Fire
Boulware - Fire

Hire Stanford's Mike Bloomgren and make him OC as well; or Michigan State's OL coach, Mark Staten.

If you can't pry Bloomgren off Stanford, make a run at Michigan State's Dave Warner, who has been OC and QB coach. Has actually coached QBs to the NFL. Would be the adult in the room to babysit/mentor Heupel out of his Leach-like stupor, a la BJW to Montgomery.

It wouldn't take a coach like Warner 11 games to figure out that Perine is the starter and everyone else subs in as needed.

My guess is, after sending QBs to the NFL, I doubt Warner would be fooled by any Practice Squad Manziels the way Heupel, Norvel, and Stoops were.

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 05:44 PM

M. Stoops - Keep
Kish - Fire
Montgomery - DTs only
BJW - Move back to DE, have him teach/mentor Montgomery on DTs as well

Eielson

1/1/2015, 05:47 PM

I'm going to pretend like those last two nonsensical posts never happened.

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 06:21 PM

I'm going to pretend like those last two nonsensical posts never happened.

Good. While, you're at it, pretend we didn't go 8-5 as well.

SoCalBigRed

1/1/2015, 06:22 PM

Mike Stoops would most certainly be gone. The interview, while just an interview would have been the nail in the coffin, as if getting schooled by his old co-coach (both brothers) in the bowl game wouldn't do it.

Bob needs an ego check and while I don't wish to see Mike, "fired"... I would like to see him move on. He's also in charge of who's coaching where and he's obviously having issues plugging people into the right areas of expertise. We've known BJW was lousy with the defensive backfield, when he was hired! We hired him for recruiting and working closer to the line. I remember the whole argument for/against the guy and he was primarily brought in, to grab those kids from texas because of his deep ties to the HS programs. Even the texas fans at the time told us... "don't put him in charge of the defensive backfield"

In fact, I see a lot of big head egos, in the program that need to be put in check. Bob and Mike's first and foremost, however. I'm like others... willing to give him another year or two to turn it around, but if we come into next season, standing pat... that would be shortened to the end of the season.

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 06:27 PM

DC / Secondary

(1) Throw all the money you can at Georgia DC/Secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt. Make him the sole DC; Mike helping him w/secondary.

(2) If attempt to get Pruitt fails, keep Mike at DC, then hire one of these secondary coaches, listed in order of preference:

a: Ole Miss's Jason Jones
b: Clemson's Mike Reed, or
c: Miami's Paul Williams

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 06:49 PM

LB

Combo LB/Special Teams:
Michigan State's Mike Tressel or Georgia Tech's Andy McCollum

Co-DC / LB scenario:
Penn State's Brent Pry

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 06:53 PM

TE

No brainer. Newly fired Bruce Chambers. Solid, solid recruiter. Longtime results at TE for Texas.

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 06:58 PM

With the exception of the Tressel suggestion, these coaches are not in any way affiliated with Mike Leach and/or Iowa/Youngstown.

I give nephew Tressel a pass because he's a generation younger than the Stoops brothers. Thus, this wouldn't be another pal hire a la Kittle.

Tear Down This Wall

1/1/2015, 07:01 PM

Also, ask Art Briles about Tressel's handling of Sparty's special teams unit...and, whether he can get LBs to intercept passes in the clutch.

If nephew Tressel can get Sparty's white/slow LBs to perform, I'd bet he could do something with the type of athletes we have at LB now.

Eielson

1/2/2015, 12:18 AM

Garrick Mcgee is getting paid 650K as an OC. I think it would be a great investment to bring him in for 1M.

FaninAma

1/2/2015, 10:01 AM

Garrick Mcgee is getting paid 650K as an OC. I think it would be a great investment to bring him in for 1M.

That would be a good get. I would like to get Scott Frost on the staff but I realize that would be difficult. If not him then whoever is immediately below him on the Oregon offensice coaching staff hierarchy.

Eielson

1/2/2015, 10:17 AM

That would be a good get. I would like to get Scott Frost on the staff but I realize that would be difficult. If not him then whoever is immediately below him on the Oregon offensice coaching staff hierarchy.

The thing about guys like Frost is that their next step is a HC position. Coming here as an OC is a horizontal move at best, and even if we did pull it off, they'd be gone a year or two later. McGee is an example of a guy who failed at HC, and may not have ambitions to try again.

SoonerorLater

1/2/2015, 10:37 AM

HC - Bob Stoops - stay....if he does the following
Josh Heupel - gone
Jay Norvell - gone
Cale Gundy - stay (give him a raise)
Bill Bedenbaugh - stay
Jay Boulware - gone

Jerry Montgomery - stay
Tim Kish - gone
Bobby Jack Wright - gone (retire)
Mike Stoops -gone

soonergirlNeugene

1/2/2015, 10:45 AM

graphster

1/2/2015, 12:14 PM

The thing about guys like Frost is that their next step is a HC position. Coming here as an OC is a horizontal move at best, and even if we did pull it off, they'd be gone a year or two later. McGee is an example of a guy who failed at HC, and may not have ambitions to try again.

How much longer do you think Stoops is going to coach? My guess is that it might not be that long. He's always said that he's not going to coach until he's 70, and he's in his mid-50s now. So a guy like Frost could potentially be convinced to come if you gave him a significant pay increase, because he might recognize that if he does well for the next couple years, he could have an inside track at the OU HC position.

I would argue that those are exactly the kinds of people we should be looking to hire. People who have the potential to develop into legitimate successor candidates. Because right now we have nobody on staff, which means that if Bob retires or we do get to a point where he needs to be replaced, we don't have anybody around to replace him with.

BoulderSooner79

1/2/2015, 12:50 PM

How much longer do you think Stoops is going to coach? My guess is that it might not be that long. He's always said that he's not going to coach until he's 70, and he's in his mid-50s now. So a guy like Frost could potentially be convinced to come if you gave him a significant pay increase, because he might recognize that if he does well for the next couple years, he could have an inside track at the OU HC position.

I would argue that those are exactly the kinds of people we should be looking to hire. People who have the potential to develop into legitimate successor candidates. Because right now we have nobody on staff, which means that if Bob retires or we do get to a point where he needs to be replaced, we don't have anybody around to replace him with.

That's a good point, but I don't know how many of these "head coach in waiting" situations work out. The Brown/Muschamp was a very public disaster, but maybe other have been okay. It is clear that there is no qualified HCIW currently on staff.

SoonerorLater

1/2/2015, 01:04 PM

Here is what bothers me about Heupel. He was clearly an effective QB coach. He did an amazing job coaching up Bradford (was he a 2 or 3 star recruit?) and White. You'd think having an offensive coordinator/QB coach would mean that they would have intimate knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of our QBs and even if they couldn't develop the skill level of White and Bradford, that Heupel would be able to tailor our playbook to suit the quarterbacks we have. But neither the elevation of our QBs nor the playcalling adjustments have been made. I could maybe see bringing in a new QB coach if Heupel would not step down from OC, but I just don't see any schematic advantage in keeping him on there if he doesn't have that deep knowledge of our QBs.

To me it seems that there is a misconception about Bradford being sort of a barn find project that was coached to greatness. Sam was the number 12 rated pro style QB (Rivals) in the country that year. He was 5.7 3 star which is as high of a 3 star rating as you can get. I have been told that almost from the git go when he arrived at OU the coaching staff realized they had a very good QB. JH may have done good work but Bradford was already destined to be pretty good player. JH track record since Bradford not nearly as good. I'm just not sure a demotion to QB coach is advantageous to JH or OU.