Ephraim Banda

[Mr. Dynasty1]

Weird hire. I get that it's only Safeties but Richt has no relationship with this guy so this is strictly a Diaz hire. Richt's got a lot of trust in Diaz right now.

It's a little scary knowing that we've got two young bloods coaching up DBs especially considering how weak our secondary is. I really hope they can put it together because we're going to rely on some inexperienced players this season.

It's really not weird at all. Richt has hired Diaz to the HC of the defense because Richt will be neck deep in calling plays and coaching QBs. He's letting Diaz pick his own guy at a very significant position in Diaz's defense.

It's good that you can be against a hire but still try and find some sense of "let things play out" unlike other people on here.

 

[TemplarCane]

I have to side with the nay-sayers on the overall defensive hires. Diaz has been an average-at-best DC, and now we're left to hope that a resurgence in South Florida recruiting and two 'up-and-coming' coaches lift the defense from mediocrity.

I get that Richt isn't going to be able to hire an all-star assistant staff - not possible. But Coach Kool is the only defensive hire with a top resume.

Richt had better land Ivey or an equivalent savage for S&C.

 

[Jeeperaf]

So the solution to everyone's concern about Diaz's scheme needing elite DB coaches is hire two guys who have never coached on the college level before.

When, not if, we get roasted next year, I don't want to hear a single complaint about our players or the old coaches. This is the staff now. Dig your heels in and defend it. But it is a terrible, terrible defensive staff outside of Kool.

I agree...let it play out on the field next year and see what happens. Either your prediction will be accurate...

Or not...

 

[Zbrod95]

So the solution to everyone's concern about Diaz's scheme needing elite DB coaches is hire two guys who have never coached on the college level before.

When, not if, we get roasted next year, I don't want to hear a single complaint about our players or the old coaches. This is the staff now. Dig your heels in and defend it. But it is a terrible, terrible defensive staff outside of Kool.

Banda was a coach at Texas and miss state dude

 

[Gi0logy]

Weird hire. I get that it's only Safeties but Richt has no relationship with this guy so this is strictly a Diaz hire. Richt's got a lot of trust in Diaz right now.

It's a little scary knowing that we've got two young bloods coaching up DBs especially considering how weak our secondary is. I really hope they can put it together because we're going to rely on some inexperienced players this season.

It's really not weird at all. Richt has hired Diaz to the HC of the defense because Richt will be neck deep in calling plays and coaching QBs. He's letting Diaz pick his own guy at a very significant position in Diaz's defense.

It's good that you can be against a hire but still try and find some sense of "let things play out" unlike other people on here.

Not sure if you're referring to me but I was pretty laid back. I didn't go Fullf*ckboy status like someone else that everyone is sick of.

I'm not completely against the hire I just think it's a weird one. I'd much prefer to have experienced coaches than inexperienced ones. I also think it's a little scary knowing how weak our secondary is. But I do think it could work out and I hope it does. Just offering my concerns, nothing wrong with that.

 

[ThomasM]

But it's at the position that will make the secondary's job so much easier. It ALL starts up front, and we snagged the best in the business. Dominate the front and the rest will be fine.

I have to side with the nay-sayers on the overall defensive hires. Diaz has been an average-at-best DC, and now we're left to hope that a resurgence in South Florida recruiting and two 'up-and-coming' coaches lift the defense from mediocrity.

I get that Richt isn't going to be able to hire an all-star assistant staff - not possible.

But Coach Kool is the only hire with a savage resume.

 

[JgDaCane]

I have to side with the nay-sayers on the overall defensive hires. Diaz has been an average-at-best DC, and now we're left to hope that a resurgence in South Florida recruiting and two 'up-and-coming' coaches lift the defense from mediocrity.

I get that Richt isn't going to be able to hire an all-star assistant staff - not possible.

But Coach Kool is the only hire with a savage resume.

Guess what alot of the "nay-sayers" have to realize Miami is no longer an Elite program. Who do you people expect to come coach here? Sure its painful to admit but lets keep it real here.

 

[Mr. Dynasty1]

Weird hire. I get that it's only Safeties but Richt has no relationship with this guy so this is strictly a Diaz hire. Richt's got a lot of trust in Diaz right now.

It's a little scary knowing that we've got two young bloods coaching up DBs especially considering how weak our secondary is. I really hope they can put it together because we're going to rely on some inexperienced players this season.

It's really not weird at all. Richt has hired Diaz to the HC of the defense because Richt will be neck deep in calling plays and coaching QBs. He's letting Diaz pick his own guy at a very significant position in Diaz's defense.

It's good that you can be against a hire but still try and find some sense of "let things play out" unlike other people on here.

Not sure if you're referring to me but I was pretty laid back. I didn't go Fullf*ckboy status like someone else that everyone is sick of.

I'm not completely against the hire I just think it's a weird one. I'd much prefer to have experienced coaches than inexperienced ones. I also think it's a little scary knowing how weak our secondary is. But I do think it could work out and I hope it does. Just offering my concerns, nothing wrong with that.

Nah man not you

 

[88]

What's green

 

[Porterhouse]

Either way, the combination of Banda and Rumph are still significantly better than Paul Williams.

There is absolutely zero evidence of this aside from blind optimism.

 

[The Franchise]

Weird hire. I get that it's only Safeties but Richt has no relationship with this guy so this is strictly a Diaz hire. Richt's got a lot of trust in Diaz right now.

It's a little scary knowing that we've got two young bloods coaching up DBs especially considering how weak our secondary is. I really hope they can put it together because we're going to rely on some inexperienced players this season.

It's really not weird at all. Richt has hired Diaz to the HC of the defense because Richt will be neck deep in calling plays and coaching QBs. He's letting Diaz pick his own guy at a very significant position in Diaz's defense.

Agree. Richt is putting a lot of faith in Diaz. Could work, or it could fail spectacularly.

Exactly how I see it. Richt is a guy who trusts the guys he hires. He's going all-in with Diaz and is letting him bring the guy in that he wants to bring in.

Diaz can hit the ground running because Kool is going to do his thing, Diaz can coach the LBs the way he wants, and Panda is basically Diaz Jr. coaching Safeties. Diaz doesn't have to take a bunch of time coaching all his coaches this way.

 

[4th-and-14]

Jeez. 3 years as a GA and 1 as a QC assistant. Rumph is just as qualified, if not more so, than this guy. Seems like a waste of a coaching spot.

Really only 1 home-run hire so far, it seems.

 

[Canes_U_Pride]

Could have hired ed Reed instead but whatever

Here goes the ED Reed pipe dream again

If we hired an expirienced Cb coach, it would of been ideal. When you have pleanty of good expirienced coaches, its ok to take a chance on the best safety to ever play the game to be your safety coach. He would of pulled us some 5 stars in the future imo. Really would live E Reed coaching dbs here.

All I'm saying is I really don't care for the hire, hopefully he's a great coach but at this moment I'm not seeing him any more qualified than Reed. Not crying over it but how many better candidates do you think there were other than banda?

 

[The Franchise]

Weird hire. I get that it's only Safeties but Richt has no relationship with this guy so this is strictly a Diaz hire. Richt's got a lot of trust in Diaz right now.

It's a little scary knowing that we've got two young bloods coaching up DBs especially considering how weak our secondary is. I really hope they can put it together because we're going to rely on some inexperienced players this season.

It's really not weird at all. Richt has hired Diaz to the HC of the defense because Richt will be neck deep in calling plays and coaching QBs. He's letting Diaz pick his own guy at a very significant position in Diaz's defense.

I get that but why not go after a guy like Deshea Townsend then? He helped coached DBs under Ray Horton so even though he only coached CBs the past few seasons he's got more experience coaching Safeties.

I'm sure Tony Hughes would have been the first hire for Diaz but he obviously took the job at Jackson State.

How well does Diaz know Townsend? Diaz obviously loves Panda and thinks highly enough of him to coach an integral part of his defense. We're going to find out how it all goes in about 8 months.

 

[Travis Bickle]

3 years as a GA and 1 as a QC assistant. Rumph is just as qualified, if not more so, than this guy.

This makes no sense. If I had 4 years experience in a field, I'd think that would make me more qualified to do the job as opposed to a guy who hasn't even done a single day. But I guess that's just me...

I do agree that I would much rather have a DB coach with more experience, but as someone stated earlier, Richt's defense is going to live or die by Diaz.

 

[TemplarCane]

Either way, the combination of Banda and Rumph are still significantly better than Paul Williams.

There is absolutely zero evidence of this aside from blind optimism.

Well, we do know how bad Williams was. At least we have a baseline, albeit a very low one.

 

[TemplarCane]

But it's at the position that will make the secondary's job so much easier. It ALL starts up front, and we snagged the best in the business. Dominate the front and the rest will be fine.

I have to side with the nay-sayers on the overall defensive hires. Diaz has been an average-at-best DC, and now we're left to hope that a resurgence in South Florida recruiting and two 'up-and-coming' coaches lift the defense from mediocrity.

I get that Richt isn't going to be able to hire an all-star assistant staff - not possible.

But Coach Kool is the only hire with a savage resume.

I hear ya. Even an all-pro secondary has trouble when there's no pass rush.

 

[Notsince1985]

Banda spent the 2015 season at Mississippi State where he served as a defensive assistant under current Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.

During the 2015 season, Mississippi State posted a 9-4 record and posted a victory over North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl. The Bulldogs’ defensive unit held opponents to just 23.2 point per game and ranked in the nation’s top 10 in redzone defense.

In addition, MSU led the nation in fewest pass plays of 20+ yards allowed in 2015, surrendering only 24. Despite several key injuries to seniors, the secondary ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference in passes defended with 63.

Prior to arriving in Starkville, Banda spent three seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Texas from 2012-15. He filled a variety of roles from scripting practices and organizing scouting reports to assisting with the defensive backs. He also worked with both head coach Charlie Strong and former head coach Mack Brown.

In addition to his work on defense, Banda also assisted with the Longhorn special teams.

 

[Al Foil]

Sounds like a terrible guy...

You mean a guy that understands the DC's defense inside and out and can teach it? What are they thinking.

Here's a good quote from a miss state safety in regards to after Hughes took the job at Jackson state and Banda took over his duties for the bowl game

"We have a very great assistant coach named Ephraim Banda," Bryant said. "He is one of the best assistant coaches that I have dealt with. He is an outstanding coach. He knows everything about the game and everything about Coach (Manny) Diaz' defense. He has been with him for a long time since he was at Texas.
"He is just a great man. He breaks everything down to us. He makes us fit in every play and go hard on every snap to show what we can do on the back end."

He is obviously comfortable with Diaz's defense and knows it inside and out. We need that to make the transition easier than only Diaz coaching it. That's what I think is most important about the hire, being another teacher for coach Diaz's D which is a complete opposite of what these players are used to

 

[The Franchise]

Jeez. 3 years as a GA and 1 as a QC assistant. Rumph is just as qualified, if not more so, than this guy. Seems like a waste of a coaching spot.

Really only 1 home-run hire so far, it seems.

The important part of his experience is that he has 4 years working under Diaz. That's a long time to absorb his defense and know everything he wants exactly how he wants it.