Mullen speaks
- Thread starter Drebin
- Start date
Kinda blows the footballscoop version of the story out of the water.
I don't get how people deny he's learning and evolving as he goes. He's addressed every single complaint along the way -- other than Hevesy and Sallach to this point, and I think at least one of those gets addressed this off-season. Last season was the first time I thought he had truly "lost" an off-season -- and he still greatly upgraded the off-field staff which we seem to be reaping the rewards from. Maybe also between 2010 and 2011 when Diaz/Hud left and the recruiting class go butchered(even though it was still an awesome class given what we know now). He's definitely winning this off-season though.
The fact that we don't seem to be recruiting another QB hard seems interesting to me also. Perhaps been in contact with Sandberg? I know he came to bowl practices. IMO, he's a bad spring away from being out of baseball. Just no advancement toward perceived potential in the sport. That could be such an ideal situation for us that there is just no way it happens. We aren't that lucky.
I don't get how people deny he's learning and evolving as he goes. He's addressed every single complaint along the way -- other than Hevesy and Sallach to this point, and I think at least one of those gets addressed this off-season. Last season was the first time I thought he had truly "lost" an off-season -- and he still greatly upgraded the off-field staff which we seem to be reaping the rewards from. Maybe also between 2010 and 2011 when Diaz/Hud left and the recruiting class go butchered(even though it was still an awesome class given what we know now). He's definitely winning this off-season though.
The fact that we don't seem to be recruiting another QB hard seems interesting to me also. Perhaps been in contact with Sandberg? I know he came to bowl practices. IMO, he's a bad spring away from being out of baseball. Just no advancement toward perceived potential in the sport. That could be such an ideal situation for us that there is just no way it happens. We aren't that lucky.
A few things come to mind reading this:
- I agree that Mullen is evolving year over year in a net positive way. I do think he's a little resistant to do that at times, so it might take him longer to get there. I think this year was an eye-opener for him. I love the Grantham hire and think it's a potential program changer for us, but I would've loved to have seen him go after a big time DC earlier in his career.
- There are still some areas that are shockingly bad this far along in his tenure. It's reasonable to expect a bad year here or there, but to be consistently bad at special teams, particularly kicking the ball, or to be so bad consistently at recruiting the offensive line - those are historical trends that haven't been fixed yet. I'm hearing good things this recruiting cycle, but I'll have to see it to believe it.
- It seems to me that we've taken a step back in our S & C program - would love to see renewed focus there.
- The Sanderg thing is interesting, but as old as he is now, I don't know that he would want to come in here and be a backup. I think if he returns to football, he's wanting to go somewhere where he can play. With Fitz and Key, he's likely not going to see the field here unless there's an injury.
Overall, I'm happy with Mullen and love the Grantham hire, not that he needs my approval. Still lots of room for growth, though.
- I agree that Mullen is evolving year over year in a net positive way. I do think he's a little resistant to do that at times, so it might take him longer to get there. I think this year was an eye-opener for him. I love the Grantham hire and think it's a potential program changer for us, but I would've loved to have seen him go after a big time DC earlier in his career.
- There are still some areas that are shockingly bad this far along in his tenure. It's reasonable to expect a bad year here or there, but to be consistently bad at special teams, particularly kicking the ball, or to be so bad consistently at recruiting the offensive line - those are historical trends that haven't been fixed yet. I'm hearing good things this recruiting cycle, but I'll have to see it to believe it.
- It seems to me that we've taken a step back in our S & C program - would love to see renewed focus there.
- The Sanderg thing is interesting, but as old as he is now, I don't know that he would want to come in here and be a backup. I think if he returns to football, he's wanting to go somewhere where he can play. With Fitz and Key, he's likely not going to see the field here unless there's an injury.
Overall, I'm happy with Mullen and love the Grantham hire, not that he needs my approval. Still lots of room for growth, though.
I remember thinking Mullen's special teams were light years ahead of Croom's, so when you get down thinking about them, remember how ****** we used to be. Leon Berry and Sean Brauchle were instant upgrades. Of course, it could be that simple, that those guys were just good ST players and we haven't had anything like them since they left. Plus we are on a different platform as far as expectations now.
No excuse for the offensive line. I think I've been pretty vocal about that here.
No excuse for the offensive line. I think I've been pretty vocal about that here.
I've never gotten an exact answer -- and have looked up the exact wording to the rules several times which are open to interpretation -- but I'm >50% sure Sandberg's LOI is still binding to us. People seem to be misremembering just how good that guy was in high school. 5 months ago people said he would have been the 5th best QB on our roster. That was asinine. I don't necessarily think he would win the job after Fitz because I think Thompson is the next Cam Newton -- but he would compete for a starting spot here. And would definitely fill a void that allows us to redshirt Keytaon.
Kicking game -- Mullen gave up special teams duties a couple of years back and delegated them to Knox. He hired a kicking specialist last year and has offered the first pure kicker a scholarship in his tenure this year. He's OVing this weekend after hitting a couple kicks, including a ~ 50 yarder, in the Army game. Not really sure how much of it is his fault when established kickers that are good one year fall apart the next. That's happened several times already. It's ultimately all on him -- and he should have had good backup plans in place -- that much is true. And I agree that special teams hasn't been as good as it should be. Some talk of going to a dedicated special teams coach this off-season and Mullen being the QB coach himself.
Hevesy -- agreed. Been better the last couple of classes, but still wish we would make a move here.
Kicking game -- Mullen gave up special teams duties a couple of years back and delegated them to Knox. He hired a kicking specialist last year and has offered the first pure kicker a scholarship in his tenure this year. He's OVing this weekend after hitting a couple kicks, including a ~ 50 yarder, in the Army game. Not really sure how much of it is his fault when established kickers that are good one year fall apart the next. That's happened several times already. It's ultimately all on him -- and he should have had good backup plans in place -- that much is true. And I agree that special teams hasn't been as good as it should be. Some talk of going to a dedicated special teams coach this off-season and Mullen being the QB coach himself.
Hevesy -- agreed. Been better the last couple of classes, but still wish we would make a move here.
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Not disagreeing with you on the kicking thing - there are arguments to be made in defense of Mullen. I only speak of it because it's a trend. Even in 2015, when Graves was accurate, he couldn't kick anything further than 40 yards. I think it's two things - recruiting good kickers and not just trusting that you can find a walk on to come in and win the job, and two, coaching them up when they get here. You mention things that he's done and they're good signs. I hope we get the kicker on board that's visiting. It's just been a long trend for this program to struggle here and it directly contributed to three losses this year, so it's gotta be fixed with some urgency.
I remember when Dan got to State he made the specialists go through the same workouts as the rest of the team, which is a huge no-no. As the season went on Hutchins and Brauchle's range and accuracy dwindled.
I say that to say this - Dan shouldn't be handling special teams because he obviously doesn't know how to coach special teams, but bringing in a former NFL specialist as an assistant satisfies my complaint. It's not reasonable to expect something out of that relationship in year one with the same personnel.
Side note: kickers and punters should not be doing any weight training, at least in the lower body.
Kickers and punters shouldn't do any lower body weight training? That surprises me because soccer players do.
IF... we can get the D fixed & established this upcoming football year. Fitz will be a senior w/ K. Thompson getting mop up time in 18. (O- line) of course. Should be very good.
With Ross and Holloway gone who handles kick/punt returns next year? May the fleas of a thousand stray dogs infest the crotch of the first one that mentions Jamoral Graham
Mixon did well when he did return kickoffs, no shuffling feet just straight ahead looking for a gap. I hate the feet shufflers... they never get very far.
Since we are all looking for the last few pieces on our team, I would like to throw in a wish for a TALL WR with glue hands to be Fitz's next go to guy on 3rd down. The one that will go get the ball if it is a little high or behind them.
Agree with the rest of you about a quality kicker. It needs to be priority #1 with what we already have.
Then I would spend all the rest of the schollys on OL, both top rated and projects, but... we need some nail chewers with bad attitudes that like planting LBs and Safeties on their ***. An example would be Dillion Day. Y'all remember that 3 star OL with no huge offers but a mean streak.
Since we are all looking for the last few pieces on our team, I would like to throw in a wish for a TALL WR with glue hands to be Fitz's next go to guy on 3rd down. The one that will go get the ball if it is a little high or behind them.
Agree with the rest of you about a quality kicker. It needs to be priority #1 with what we already have.
Then I would spend all the rest of the schollys on OL, both top rated and projects, but... we need some nail chewers with bad attitudes that like planting LBs and Safeties on their ***. An example would be Dillion Day. Y'all remember that 3 star OL with no huge offers but a mean streak.
I think Jamal Couch and Reggie Todd could,potentially be those nice surprises next year as big WR. Reggie Todd apparently had about as good of a Bowl practice week(s) as the you could've had.
They shouldn't be doing squats and leg presses with the DL, no. "Any" was a poor choice of words, but specialist should have an entirely different workout routine than the rest of the team that involves a heavy dose of inclined running.
Relaying information from former players. Apparently Dan came in and threw the specialists in with all the rest of the players and it had its effects on how they performed down the stretch. Judging by Graves, I doubt that's still going on.
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