ACC Coaches talk Anonymously 2019 Edition [Athlon]

[brcane1]

ACC Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2019

It's not easy getting college football coaches to honestly comment on another coach, player or team. Most coaches don't want to give opposing teams bulletin

athlonsports.com

Miami

"One of the most unique ‘first years' I think we've ever seen, between Manny (Diaz) leaving the program for Temple and then coming back to replace Mark (Richt). You've got consistency in relationships on your defense. Then you add in the new ‘Transfer Portal U,' and they're going to look totally different at a lot of places in Week 1. If it works, everyone will try to copy it."

"The guys we've seen coming in from the portal have made them more athletic, more competitive right away. The actual high school recruiting class wasn't good by their standards."

"Defensively, keeping all three linebackers makes them good right away, add that with the new guys at defensive end, and that one from Virginia Tech is good (Trevon Hill)."

"Dan Enos is going to bring more of a pro-style look into Miami. I think if you're looking at Tua (Tagovailoa) and (Jalen) Hurts and what Alabama did, that's more of him adjusting to the superior talent an Alabama gets. We think you aren't going to see them go heavy on RPO. To be clear — you'll see it, or at least you should because they have guys who can do it, but they will go more pro base and build off that."

"It's obviously Tate Martell's job to lose at quarterback. He's better than anyone they had while Mark Richt was there."

"They’ve got a lot of questions, but the biggest one is if Manny can put the right culture in. You have to give them the edge that Miami needs but not overdo it."

 

[jmcanes22]

"It's obviously Tate Martell's job to lose at quarterback. He's better than anyone they had while Mark Richt was there."

I didn't know Wisconsin was in the ACC.

 

[JgDaCane]

Always enjoyed these for some odd reason lol

 

[OriginalCanesCanesCanes]

Where is the clown saying Diaz was going to be exposed for running a gimmick defense a couple of years ago?

 

[JgDaCane]

Where is the clown saying Diaz was going to be exposed for running a gimmick defense a couple of years ago?

I recall that.

 

[brcane1]

Where is the clown saying Diaz was going to be exposed for running a gimmick defense a couple of years ago?

It was said at least two years in a row too.

 

[KevinCaneFace]

Where is the clown saying Diaz was going to be exposed for running a gimmick defense a couple of years ago?

That was probably Paul Johnson or Jimbo and theyre gone.

 

[South Side Chi Cane]

Why would a Diaz defense be called gimmicky in the first place??

 

[Memnon]

What they said about FSU: (Lol)

"That staff was probably too optimistic last year. Willie Taggart got his dream job and all that, but that roster had serious problems."

"The offense did not work at all under Walt Bell; that was a really bad fit with the players and with Taggart, and now they're banking on Kendal Briles. The upside is that he usually gets successful quick. Look at Houston and FAU — he can put guys in and adjust on the fly. The system won't look that much different than last year, but you have a guy in Kendal who is really going to control all phases. Taggart trusts him; they go way back."

"They have to get better on the offensive line. They were handed a short roster, but they also didn't look well coached at all. It killed their run game."

"James Blackman is good enough to start, but you have to think Alex Hornibrook didn't transfer for one year not to play. Either one will be an improvement over Deondre Francois. To put it politely, he didn't look ‘coachable' at times last year, and they need someone at that position in this season to help them sell their new era."

"Defensively, they're strong, especially in the back. They're going to be a lot deeper at linebacker especially.

"They lose Brian Burns in the pass rush, but they have some scary dudes inside on that line."

"It’s still a really young roster with a lot of gaps from some bad recruiting years before Fisher left."

 

[hoops156]

What they said about FSU: (Lol)

"That staff was probably too optimistic last year. Willie Taggart got his dream job and all that, but that roster had serious problems."

"The offense did not work at all under Walt Bell; that was a really bad fit with the players and with Taggart, and now they're banking on Kendal Briles. The upside is that he usually gets successful quick. Look at Houston and FAU — he can put guys in and adjust on the fly. The system won't look that much different than last year, but you have a guy in Kendal who is really going to control all phases. Taggart trusts him; they go way back."

"They have to get better on the offensive line. They were handed a short roster, but they also didn't look well coached at all. It killed their run game."

"James Blackman is good enough to start, but you have to think Alex Hornibrook didn't transfer for one year not to play. Either one will be an improvement over Deondre Francois. To put it politely, he didn't look ‘coachable' at times last year, and they need someone at that position in this season to help them sell their new era."

"Defensively, they're strong, especially in the back. They're going to be a lot deeper at linebacker especially.

"They lose Brian Burns in the pass rush, but they have some scary dudes inside on that line."

"It’s still a really young roster with a lot of gaps from some bad recruiting years before Fisher left."

wasn't fisher bringing in top 5 classes?

 

[brcane1]

Why would a Diaz defense be called gimmicky in the first place??

Remember the phrase "gap integrity" that No D used to preach? Diaz is on the complete opposite end of that spectrum where he often allows his guys to improvise and use their instincts instead of rigidly designed responsibilities. The Manolo Havoc is pretty out there stylistically on some other levels too, but we've shown that can work. Closest comparable system might be Grantham, come to think of it.

 

[jmcanes22]

wasn't fisher bringing in top 5 classes?

FSU Had the #2 class in 2016, #5 class in 2017, and #10 in 2018. I don't want to hear that Bull &*(% about the cupboard being bare. Plenty of talent. That being said, I hope Taggart is a lifer at FSU.

 

[brcane1]

"The division title was a great thing for Pat (Narduzzi), but it probably doesn't change much for the program. Year in and year out you always see the same thing from these guys — they reflect Narduzzi in how they're physical and disciplined and really mean working against you, but it's always a question of how far their talent can take them. It's not about a limitation of their culture or their play calling. It's really all about what kind of talent they can get. They're losing a lot of guys heading into this season, and the crowning achievement for that group was a 7–7 run. That's just the reality of the program right now."

Cold blooded

 

[jmcanes22]

"The division title was a great thing for Pat (Narduzzi), but it probably doesn't change much for the program. Year in and year out you always see the same thing from these guys — they reflect Narduzzi in how they're physical and disciplined and really mean working against you, but it's always a question of how far their talent can take them. It's not about a limitation of their culture or their play calling. It's really all about what kind of talent they can get. They're losing a lot of guys heading into this season, and the crowning achievement for that group was a 7–7 run. That's just the reality of the program right now."

That response had to come from my man Willie ..

 

[Memnon]

wasn't fisher bringing in top 5 classes?

Yeah but a lot of those players were not good locker room guys & didn't give AF about anything but themselves. Just a bunch of high ranked me-first types that completely checked out once they started losing.

The Tarvarus McFadden's, Matt Thomas, DaVante Phillips, Ermon Lane's, Josh Sweat's, Deondre Francois's etc..

That when things went bad & their team faced some adversity, they packed it in & folded up.

 

[jmcanes22]

Yeah but a lot of those players were not good locker room guys & didn't give AF about anything but themselves. Just a bunch of high ranked me-first types that completely checked out once they started losing.

The Tarvarus McFadden's, Matt Thomas, DaVante Phillips, Ermon Lane's, Josh Sweat's, Deondre Francois's etc..

That when things went bad & their team faced some adversity, they packed it in & folded up.

You just listed off nothing but top 5 guys at their positions. All 5 stars or high 4 stars. They may have folded but Fisher folded before them. He was the leader of the team. He was distracted by the fact that his wife was being plowed by other dudes. Did I mention those other dudes were Florida Gators. I know it's easier said than done but he lost that team because he gave up.

 

[Ethnicsands]

Yeah but a lot of those players were not good locker room guys & didn't give AF about anything but themselves. Just a bunch of high ranked me-first types that completely checked out once they started losing.

The Tarvarus McFadden's, Matt Thomas, DaVante Phillips, Ermon Lane's, Josh Sweat's, Deondre Francois's etc..

That when things went bad & their team faced some adversity, they packed it in & folded up.

The most amazing thing about Saban is that he has maintained a locker room and culture over years of recruiting top classes ... and turning over assistants along the way. Most other programs, as soon as they start winning, they change their recruiting priorities to go after higher rated kids, and wind up with the type of cultural issues you point to.

 

[Memnon]

What they said about Va Tech:

"Everyone is talking about this program. Something's not right. This isn't what you sign up for getting Justin Fuente from Memphis and being this many years in with no superstars on offense. You just wonder what's going on there. Why are so many kids transferring out? Especially for a guy who, at least we all think, the players really like. It's really hard to forecast these guys."

"They're thin at quarterback and running back. That's not good. The (Ryan) Willis kid will probably start at QB. They need a true feature back to help him out, and they may not have one."

"They have some good receivers; that's where they're strongest on offense."

"Bud Foster is going to do what Bud does. It's not about pressures or blitzes, it's actually about taking the two or three things you do best and stopping that. He's old school. He wants to make you uncomfortable above all else. He wants to make you beat him left-handed. They're really good at winning first down on defense."
(Just my opinion, but I feel like this was a quote from Diaz, no info, just my guess)

"They have some talented players, and they've shown some flashes at times, but you get that feeling that they're moving away from Beamer ball year by year, leaving what made them a famous program."

 

[ThomasM]

FSU Had the #2 class in 2016, #5 class in 2017, and #10 in 2018. I don't want to hear that Bull &*(% about the cupboard being bare. Plenty of talent. That being said, I hope Taggart is a lifer at FSU.

Recruiting classes can be ranked high, but not be all that great. FSU has a LOT of busts, so while their classes look good on signing day, 3 years later they look far worse.

 

[Handsome Squidbum]

The most amazing thing about Saban is that he has maintained a locker room and culture over years of recruiting top classes ... and turning over assistants along the way. Most other programs, as soon as they start winning, they change their recruiting priorities to go after higher rated kids, and wind up with the type of cultural issues you point to.

Those Bama players are paid professionals and are expected to act like it. They better perform up to Saban's expectations or else they'll find themselves in free agency (and driving a Dodge Dart instead of a Dodge Challenger).