Kirk Olivadotti - DC

[TheMatador]

His Dad's bend but don't break D was a nightmare. Still, the fins would have been better with the old man as DC this year than **** show they put together this season.

Yes. Just mention the name Olivadotti and I get heartburn over father Tom's defensive philosophy with the Canes. He was DC for our first NC team in '83. He ran a old-fashioned 5-2, sometimes called the "Okie" defense. It was basically read-and-react. He had an open dispute with Jimmy Johnson in the first meeting of the coaching staff when Jimmy became the head coach. They had completely different defensive philosophies, and it is JJ's philosophy that everyone here wants re-established now after Golden (although all of you younger people think it started with Butch). Now to be fair, everybody thought we had a pretty good defense in '83, but the defensive philosophy brought in by JJ was far more effective and more exciting. Olivadotti's defenses had a bunch of slow white guys...and probably some slow black guys.It was disciplined and the kids were insane and tenacious. They never stopped fighting. Still, I would fear that the son might have some of his father in him. I prefer an attacking, disrupting defense which was the character of our old 4-3 brought in by JJ.

 

[TheMatador]

Sorry, I don't recall Tom O. As being regarded as horrendous when he was with the Canes. We had some awesome defenses under him not only during the 83 championship year but also during the formative Jim Kelly and yes Mark Richt years and they were far from a bend don't break defense. Think Jim Burt, Lester Williams, Bob Nelsom, Fred Marion and the list goes on. They were aggressive and knocked teams on their rear ends. Tom was a candidate to succeed Schenells but then we had an AD who knew how to hire HC's and hired Johnson.

Yes they were essentially "bend but don't break" or more appropriately, read and react. I could write paragraphs about that defensive philosophy and how it differs from Jimmy Johnson's attacking 4-3, which is the defense we have run until Golden. True, we had some good defenses during Schnellenberger's period, but nowhere near as effective as those JJ and his successors employed.

Tom O's philosophy was completely different from the Johnson defense.

In fact, Jimmy was forced to keep on a lot of Schnellenberger's assistants. At the first meeting, there was open hostility by Olivadotti toward Johnson. Olivadotti thought he should have gotten the job as head coach. He criticized Johnson's defenses at Iowa State, and kept on dropping a set of keys on the table to show his disrespect.

From what I heard, Johnson asked him not to stay with the program, and Olivadotti got paid but didn't work for that next season. All of our problems in '84 stemmed from a divide on the coaching staff between some of Schnelly's staff and JJ. Some, like Hubbard Alexander, Gary Stevens, and Don Soldinger worked with JJ and they were all successful. Others like Bill Trout, Christ Vagotis, were not so friendly. They immediately left at the end of the season.

When we played UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl, they were totally shocked by our defense, expecting a Johnson-type "blitzkrieg" as one of their coaches said, and they were shocked when Miami's defense sat in place reading and controlling gaps. In fact, Olivadotti Sr. wrote a book called "Coaching the Gap Control Rover Defense."

Look it up.

You don't want Tom Olivadotti's philosophy back at the U.

 

[TheMatador]

Sorry, I don't recall Tom O. As being regarded as horrendous when he was with the Canes. We had some awesome defenses under him not only during the 83 championship year but also during the formative Jim Kelly and yes Mark Richt years and they were far from a bend don't break defense. Think Jim Burt, Lester Williams, Bob Nelsom, Fred Marion and the list goes on. They were aggressive and knocked teams on their rear ends. Tom was a candidate to succeed Schenells but then we had an AD who knew how to hire HC's and hired Johnson.

Yes they were essentially "bend but don't break" or more appropriately, read and react. I could write paragraphs about that defensive philosophy and how it differs from Jimmy Johnson's attacking 4-3, which is the defense we have run until Golden. True, we had some good defenses during Schnellenberger's period, but nowhere near as effective as those JJ and his successors employed.

Tom O's philosophy was completely different from the Johnson defense.

In fact, Jimmy was forced to keep on a lot of Schnellenberger's assistants. At the first meeting, there was open hostility by Olivadotti toward Johnson. Olivadotti thought he should have gotten the job as head coach. He criticized Johnson's defenses at Iowa State, and kept on dropping a set of keys on the table to show his disrespect.

From what I heard, Johnson asked him not to stay with the program, and Olivadotti got paid but didn't work for that next season. All of our problems in '84 stemmed from a divide on the coaching staff between some of Schnelly's staff and JJ. Some, like Hubbard Alexander, Gary Stevens, and Don Soldinger worked with JJ and they were all successful. Others like Bill Trout, Christ Vagotis, were not so friendly. They immediately left at the end of the season.

When we played UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl, they were totally shocked by our defense, expecting a Johnson-type "blitzkrieg" as one of their coaches said, and they were shocked when Miami's defense sat in place reading and controlling gaps. In fact, Olivadotti Sr. wrote a book called "Coaching the Gap Control Rover Defense."

Look it up.

You don't want Tom Olivadotti's philosophy back at the U.

You mention Bob Nelson? He was classic stay-at-home tackle. Not suited for an attacking defense. That's the wrong example.

 

[RepTheGables]

Dolphins fans (and I'm one of them) can be over-sensitive b*tches. Colossal expectations for a franchise that has been committed to losing for over 20 years.

In other words, don't punish Kirk for the alleged sins of his father.

 

[Ashevegas Cane]

I'm old enough to remember those early 80's teams to a degree but I gotta say, what has the kid done on his own because I don't frankly giveba **** about whta the old man did 30+ years ago in the NFL. Both games have changed a lot. Sorry I'm not more sympathetic to the memoirs posted here but I was hoping this might stem into a discussion of what the current Olivadotti might bring to the table.

 

[MIATL]

So, we're hiring this guy because he went to high school in South Florida and coached with Richt at UGA?

What about his actual accomplishments? What elite defensive staffs has he been connected to?

 

[UknowWhat]

Dolphins fans (and I'm one of them) can be over-sensitive b*tches. Colossal expectations for a franchise that has been committed to losing for over 20 years.

In other words, don't punish Kirk for the alleged sins of his father.

I agree... We can do 1000 things right... but we will be judged by the 1 thing we did wrong... We judge him based on his Dad's performance while working for the Dolphins.. and not the fact that he was the DC when UM won their first title ever... Maybe there is some Mojo... The last time an Olivadotti was a DC at UM the Canes were NC

 

[407cane]

So, we're hiring this guy because he went to high school in South Florida and coached with Richt at UGA?

What about his actual accomplishments? What elite defensive staffs has he been connected to?

To the fans maybe.. No way in **** richt hires this bum

 

[Gatorhater]

Sorry, I don't recall Tom O. As being regarded as horrendous when he was with the Canes. We had some awesome defenses under him not only during the 83 championship year but also during the formative Jim Kelly and yes Mark Richt years and they were far from a bend don't break defense. Think Jim Burt, Lester Williams, Bob Nelsom, Fred Marion and the list goes on. They were aggressive and knocked teams on their rear ends. Tom was a candidate to succeed Schenells but then we had an AD who knew how to hire HC's and hired Johnson.

Yes they were essentially "bend but don't break" or more appropriately, read and react. I could write paragraphs about that defensive philosophy and how it differs from Jimmy Johnson's attacking 4-3, which is the defense we have run until Golden. True, we had some good defenses during Schnellenberger's period, but nowhere near as effective as those JJ and his successors employed.

Tom O's philosophy was completely different from the Johnson defense.

In fact, Jimmy was forced to keep on a lot of Schnellenberger's assistants. At the first meeting, there was open hostility by Olivadotti toward Johnson. Olivadotti thought he should have gotten the job as head coach. He criticized Johnson's defenses at Iowa State, and kept on dropping a set of keys on the table to show his disrespect.

From what I heard, Johnson asked him not to stay with the program, and Olivadotti got paid but didn't work for that next season. All of our problems in '84 stemmed from a divide on the coaching staff between some of Schnelly's staff and JJ. Some, like Hubbard Alexander, Gary Stevens, and Don Soldinger worked with JJ and they were all successful. Others like Bill Trout, Christ Vagotis, were not so friendly. They immediately left at the end of the season.

When we played UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl, they were totally shocked by our defense, expecting a Johnson-type "blitzkrieg" as one of their coaches said, and they were shocked when Miami's defense sat in place reading and controlling gaps. In fact, Olivadotti Sr. wrote a book called "Coaching the Gap Control Rover Defense."

Look it up.

You don't want Tom Olivadotti's philosophy back at the U.

You mention Bob Nelson? He was classic stay-at-home tackle. Not suited for an attacking defense. That's the wrong example.

To be fair, Tom's old defense was much more effective than Al's. But the point you make about slow white guys is spot on. the read/react was basically always used to compensate for lack of quick feet with quicker thought process(yes yes yes that sounds racist but that is how it works out.) If you are fast, thinking just slows you down getting to the ball. If you are slow, thinking give you better idea of where the ball in going. It is insane to forfeit the the speed advantage should have over everyone by using a read and react defense. JJ did for our defense what Howard did for the offense and between them they revolutionized college football. Let's hope Mark takes us back to that and not just today's SEC stuff that only survives because Donna killed our team.

 

[TheMatador]

Dolphins fans (and I'm one of them) can be over-sensitive b*tches. Colossal expectations for a franchise that has been committed to losing for over 20 years.

In other words, don't punish Kirk for the alleged sins of his father.

I agree... We can do 1000 things right... but we will be judged by the 1 thing we did wrong... We judge him based on his Dad's performance while working for the Dolphins.. and not the fact that he was the DC when UM won their first title ever... Maybe there is some Mojo... The last time an Olivadotti was a DC at UM the Canes were NC

Yet it was the very same defensive philosophy that Jimmy Johnson introduced that took us to another level, and revolutionized college football. I was very disappointed when Tom Olivadotti was not picked to succeed Schnellenberger. Now, I think it was a blessing in disguise. The 5-2 read-and-react defense would have eventually become obsolete. Somebody else would have introduced it somewhere else, and we would have still been sitting back on our heels. As As far as whether we should visit the sins of the father on the son, just the name causes me concern. I'd want to know a lot more about the son's philosophy--which I don't--despite the fact I live in the D.C. area. I just don't pay much attention to the Redskins.

 

[AUcane]

lol at citing Olivadotti's defense for the 83 NC team as a positive. That guy was a mediocre DC most of his pro career who never evolved out of his conservative scheme.

 

[252cane]

So, we're hiring this guy because he went to high school in South Florida and coached with Richt at UGA?

What about his actual accomplishments? What elite defensive staffs has he been connected to?

Doesn't matter about elite staffs he has been on. What matters is how good has he been at his job and looking at his track record he has been pretty **** good.

 

[WaterburyCane]

Kirk should not be hired ac DC because he isnt AS qualified as others we can hire...not because of his last name. Im personally tired of this program being the place where you get a promotion and cut your teeth into a new role. Realize you have what, about 11 staff positions to fill and you may have a few that you fill with someone whose next step it is.....but in this particular case, where you have an offensive minded head coach...no....proven DC is needed so Richt can focus on the offense, game planning, recruiting, personell, camps, CEO "stuff".

For you younger UM diehards, bare with us older fellas...that Olivadotti name carries more scars than you can imagine if you are a old Dolphin fan. Think of it this way, 20 years from now if we needed to hire a DC and someone on a message board brings up this LB coach from the Redskins named Zippy D'Onofrio, what are your initial reactions going to be? Times that by 10 and you get what old school Dolphins fans feel when hearing that name.

Let's hire the best proven DC savage we can get/afford and lets get back to that happy place.

 

[252cane]

Kirk should not be hired ac DC because he isnt AS qualified as others we can hire...not because of his last name. Im personally tired of this program being the place where you get a promotion and cut your teeth into a new role. Realize you have what, about 11 staff positions to fill and you may have a few that you fill with someone whose next step it is.....but in this particular case, where you have an offensive minded head coach...no....proven DC is needed so Richt can focus on the offense, game planning, recruiting, personell, camps, CEO "stuff".

For you younger UM diehards, bare with us older fellas...that Olivadotti name carries more scars than you can imagine if you are a old Dolphin fan. Think of it this way, 20 years from now if we needed to hire a DC and someone on a message board brings up this LB coach from the Redskins named Zippy D'Onofrio, what are your initial reactions going to be? Times that by 10 and you get what old school Dolphins fans feel when hearing that name.

Let's hire the best proven DC savage we can get/afford and lets get back to that happy place.

What proven DCs are interested?

 

[The Svengali]

Tom Olividotti single handily cost the Dolphins at least 2 titles in the 80's. He was terrible. Worst than Onofrio

I don't want anyone with Olividotti DNA at Miami

This^^^^^

All of the blind experts on this site are already blowing the guy. Not surprised.

Even more disturbing are the drooling imbeciles who want nothing to do with Kirk Olivadotti because they hate his dad for being ****** with the Dolphins in the 80s.

The Olividotti DNA are to defense what the Schottenheimer DNA are the offense

 

[Brickell]

Tom Olividotti single handily cost the Dolphins at least 2 titles in the 80's. He was terrible. Worst than Onofrio

I don't want anyone with Olividotti DNA at Miami

This^^^^^

All of the blind experts on this site are already blowing the guy. Not surprised.

Even more disturbing are the drooling imbeciles who want nothing to do with Kirk Olivadotti because they hate his dad for being ****** with the Dolphins in the 80s.

The Olividotti DNA are to defense what the Schottenheimer DNA are the offense

Well Marty was pretty good as an NFL coach, Brian not so much..

 

[MIATL]

Respectfully, how are you evaluating his performance?

He coached LBs at UGA, but Grantham was the DC and LB coach, too.

I don't know enough about the guy to be a fan, so I'm open to information. But seems like the guy would be a good fit at LB coach, not DC ...

So, we're hiring this guy because he went to high school in South Florida and coached with Richt at UGA?

What about his actual accomplishments? What elite defensive staffs has he been connected to?

Doesn't matter about elite staffs he has been on. What matters is how good has he been at his job and looking at his track record he has been pretty **** good.

 

[252cane]

Respectfully, how are you evaluating his performance?

He coached LBs at UGA, but Grantham was the DC and LB coach, too.

I don't know enough about the guy to be a fan, so I'm open to information. But seems like the guy would be a good fit at LB coach, not DC ...

So, we're hiring this guy because he went to high school in South Florida and coached with Richt at UGA?

What about his actual accomplishments? What elite defensive staffs has he been connected to?

Doesn't matter about elite staffs he has been on. What matters is how good has he been at his job and looking at his track record he has been pretty **** good.

Kirk was ILB coach and grantham coached OLBs because uga was a 3-4 defense. I believe alec ogletree was a 1st round pick under him. Wouldn't say I'm a fan but he is a good coach.

 

[WaterburyCane]

Kirk should not be hired ac DC because he isnt AS qualified as others we can hire...not because of his last name. Im personally tired of this program being the place where you get a promotion and cut your teeth into a new role. Realize you have what, about 11 staff positions to fill and you may have a few that you fill with someone whose next step it is.....but in this particular case, where you have an offensive minded head coach...no....proven DC is needed so Richt can focus on the offense, game planning, recruiting, personell, camps, CEO "stuff".

For you younger UM diehards, bare with us older fellas...that Olivadotti name carries more scars than you can imagine if you are a old Dolphin fan. Think of it this way, 20 years from now if we needed to hire a DC and someone on a message board brings up this LB coach from the Redskins named Zippy D'Onofrio, what are your initial reactions going to be? Times that by 10 and you get what old school Dolphins fans feel when hearing that name.

Let's hire the best proven DC savage we can get/afford and lets get back to that happy place.

What proven DCs are interested?

Well that's Richt's job. But there are, I believe 128 FBS schools with a DC...not to mention some NFL position coaches who have run a defense. I'd bet we are willing to make someone top 15 paid DC's in the country if we needed to. Best talent pool in the country in our backyard. A new coach whose last DC hire was not a shabby get in Pruitt and seems to be able to recruit good coaches....and a coach who seems like is willing to hand over the reigns of the defense to this hire with some level of autonomy without being a micro manager. I'd have to believe there are some possibilities of hiring someone who is a safer bet to kick *** than Kirk O.

 

[The Franchise]

Kirk should not be hired ac DC because he isnt AS qualified as others we can hire...not because of his last name. Im personally tired of this program being the place where you get a promotion and cut your teeth into a new role. Realize you have what, about 11 staff positions to fill and you may have a few that you fill with someone whose next step it is.....but in this particular case, where you have an offensive minded head coach...no....proven DC is needed so Richt can focus on the offense, game planning, recruiting, personell, camps, CEO "stuff".

For you younger UM diehards, bare with us older fellas...that Olivadotti name carries more scars than you can imagine if you are a old Dolphin fan. Think of it this way, 20 years from now if we needed to hire a DC and someone on a message board brings up this LB coach from the Redskins named Zippy D'Onofrio, what are your initial reactions going to be? Times that by 10 and you get what old school Dolphins fans feel when hearing that name.

Let's hire the best proven DC savage we can get/afford and lets get back to that happy place.

What proven DCs are interested?

He doesn't know which proven DCs are interested just like you don't know which proven DCs aren't interested.