I was at the BC game sitting right above the team and got a great first-hand look at how our coaches interact with the team. One thing, especially, stuck out to me was the dynamic between the defensive linemen and Jason Taylor vs Joe Salave'a.
JT was constantly coaching up kids. A couple of times, while the O was on the field, the D line would all huddle together and go over game planning. JT was impressive, diagraming out plays and giving both group and individual assignments. Salave'a was just there along for the ride, and tbh, wasn't sought out by the players when they weren't on the field. When not acting as JT's sidekick, he was kind of standing by himself.
Unlike a lot of guys on here, I know how invaluable Joe's role is as a pipe to the Poly community. I want him on this staff, and honestly am fine with the JT/JS tandem as is.
But make no mistake, the entire DL is run by Jason with Joe acting as his de facto assistant. And rightfully so. Jason is going to be a DC and head coach some day soon. The guy's always present, diagnosing the opposition and coaching up kids, and he just exudes leadership. He'd bringing in the DEs. But he runs the whole DL. And I'm shocked we're not having DTs banging down the doors to play under him.