Simply put, I don't think it's a bad hire. It's definitely an expected hire. Kareem Brown was / is not ready. Coach Melvin has tons of experience. And I think that Al Golden has been hearing the noise from everywhere, from Chickillo (his own ex player) to all the football aficionados and former UM greats that he has got to change his scheme to the players' strength rather changing these local players to Golden's Penn State Scheme. If indeed Al Golden as far as Al is concerned wants to go a little radical from his own penchant to see more of 4-3 (in trying to be more successful), then would he go with his own guy (that he knows) while he is feeling this more aggressive scheme out? …or shall he try it out with a coach he is unfamiliar with? Would a zebra change his stripes? This Al Golden last tango at UM ! Rather he wins at UM in 2015 and becomes attractive for another gig, or drops games as 2014 and gets fired.
There's no question that Uncle Melvin with his old Fu Manchu face hair (lol) has loads of Football experience coaching the Defensive line, therefore neither UM nor hardly any dead man walking coach could ever go wrong here with that hire now.
Kevin Patrick may have turned out to be another Coach Barrow ending up clashing with Golden in regard to the Temple/PSU philosophy, and Coach Patrick may want to go faster than Golden could ever bring himself to go in changing/tankering the defensive scheme. Uncle Melvin Davis is the ultimate safe choice for not only Golden, but also for our most promising young DTs & Des coming up the ranks who have to transition from 100% lame scheme to more aggressive schemes; no doubt this Coach Melvin has seen it all.
