This program cannot hire a mediocre, or even marginally good coach. Texas can. So can FSU. We, however, need someone who is REALLY good at recruiting (either or both evaluating and closing) or at coaching them up. If you look at our history, we've had some great coaches -- Schnelly, JJ, Erickson, and Butch. All were GREAT at something or at a combination of things, even Erickson, who was an alcoholic disaster and a bad recruiter, but who could coach them up on offense. Right now, we have a coach who is an organized, diligent recruiter, but not really a great one -- either in evals or in closing. He's clearly a below average Xs and Os coach. As long as this is the case, we're going to be suffering through some tough *** Signing Days, regardless of whether there is a cloud or whether it's sunny as balls.
I think there is truth to this statement.
My biggest issue with Al is that I don't see him as a good gameday coach. I don't see him as an X's and O's guy that can "out-coach" quality competition, I don't see any ability to make adjustments on the fly, I don't see innovation.
Some of the bigger schools with larger budgets may be able to get away with hiring innovative coordinators to supplement the head coach. Look at Georgia - Mark Richt is an offensive mind, but they can afford to throw nearly $1 million at an innovative D-Coordinator in Pruitt.
Given Miami's budget, I don't see this as a sustainable strategy, which is why the head coach here has to bring something to the table, at least on one side of the ball.
I don't know if Al truly brings any value in that regard.
I also agree with your assessment that he falls under the "good, not great" category of recruiters, which probably isn't enough given that we'll need superior talent to overcome coaching deficiencies.
I think he's improved as a recruiter and that he's still learning south Florida. Despite that, there are no moral victories in recruiting, and the amount of talent leaving the region is disappointing (particularly over the last two years). I agree he will never get
everyone, but the hit rate needs to improve.
Also, we need to do a better job of recruiting certain positions. The recruitment of defensive tackles has fallen into the "you have to try hard to ***** up this badly" realm.
I'll be interested to see this board next year at this time. I know I'll be labeled as a doomsdayer, but given the talent on the roster and schedule for next year, anything more than 8 wins would surprise me. We'll see if the tune changes to the "one more year" crowd.
Of course, hopefully I'm terribly wrong, we win the ACC, make it to a BCS bowl game, and I have to eat crow.
