My list probably changes daily, so I reserve the right to compile a new list whenever the **** I want:
1. Justin Fuente
2. Jeff Brohm
3. Hue Jackson
4. Tom Herman
5. Butch Davis
I don't think our main issue is talent. Our talent could obviously be better, but I think our main issue is X's & O's, especially on offense.
The name of the game in college football today is scoring points. I want an elite offensive mind who routinely puts up 50-burgers. I think that will energize the program and make Miami exciting again. Defensively, I think a smart coach will be able to field a good unit. Golden wasn't a smart coach, and thus he de-emphasized speed and instincts, which is the bedrock of our recruiting base.
By contrast, when Justin Fuente go the Memphis job, he said, "We're going to recruit fast, fast, fast guys on defense." His defense is struggling a bit this year because they lost their DC and 8 starters, but last year they were ranked 27th. I don't have any doubt Fuente would be able to field a good defense at Miami. He coached under Gary Patterson, so he knows what a top-tier defense is supposed to look like. Speaking of Patterson, Fuente said he learned how to build a program from him, and Patterson puts a big emphasis on SPEED. In 2005, Texas Tech put up 70 points on TCU. The next year, TCU beat Texas Tech 12-3. At the post-game presser, a reporter asked Patterson how did he shut down Texas Tech's offense, and he said, "Speed, baby." If we hire Fuente, no more Dallas Crawfords and Shayon Greens chasing guys around.
The other thing I like about Fuente is he does more with less. He took over a dreadful Memphis program that was 5-31 before he got there, and he's beating everyone in conference (as well as hanging with--and now BEATING--the big boys) despite having the lowest rated recruiting classes in the AAC.
Jeff Brohm at
#2 I'm sure will rustle some jimmies, but I like the cut of his jib. I don't talk about him much because he's a dark horse and I'm sure he won't get any consideration, but I think he's an up-and-coming offensive guru. He learned under Bobby Petrino and his offense puts up video game numbers. The thing I've always liked about Petrino's version of the spread is he still runs out of power formations and utilizes the TE. Brohm is basically Louisville's version of Dorsey. Petrino cited his creativity as a gameplanner and his ability to make halftime adjustments as strengths. He's still green as the top man, but I think he has the qualities to do damage with more resources.
Hue Jackson might be at the top if he had more recent college experience, but I think he would figure things out. The fact he contacted US last year is a good sign, but he's having so much success this year, he'll probably land an NFL gig.
Herman is obviously one of the hot names, and I would take him in a heartbeat. My only issue with him is that EVERY offense he's coordinated uses the QB as a runner. I'm not against using a dual-threat QB at all. I'd just prefer a scheme that doesn't leave the most important player to unnecessary hits. Clemson's season was derailed last year when Watson went down. Baylor could be in trouble this year because Seth Russell broke his neck while dropping his shoulder on a run. When Herman was at OSU*, Braxton Miller wrecked his shoulder and had to switch positions, JT Barrett broke his ankle on a run, and Cardale Jones was taking some pretty big hits on designed runs when he took over. Again, I'm not against running the QB. You just have to be smart about it. I liked the way Oregon used Mariota. They rarely exposed him to big hits. Most of his running was on read keepers when he had a ton of daylight, or on scrambles. Chip Kelly mentioned specifically how he didn't want to run his QB the way Urban Meyer ran Tebow with all the QB Power plays. Chip just wants a runner that can keep the defense honest. This isn't a deal-breaker for me regarding Herman, but it's just something to look at. What would he do with Kaaya? Would his offense still be potent without a QB who can run? He's a bright guy so I'm sure he's figure something out, but there just isn't any evidence to date.
I'd certainly take Butch, but I have concerns that I've mentioned in many threads. He's not really an X's & O's guy. His bread n' butter is out-talenting people. He can do that because he's such a great evaluator, but I don't wanna see some crusty-*** coordinators like Jimmy Raye and Dave Campo or some ****. I'm not saying he'd do that, but he's hired dud coordinators in the past (Coker, Bill Miller, John Shoop, Everett Withers). Plus, he's conservative in nature. He's content sitting on a 23-7 lead. That 2000 squad could've been much more savage. If he had run up the score more (back when that **** factored into the BCS), we might've played for the title. And didn't he have a conniption when Soldinger put Portis in the game at Washington? I remember people talking about how Butch was losing his **** about Portis being in the game, even though he was the only guy making plays. Butch isn't off the table, but I think we need someone who's on the rise.
