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My two negative talking points Re: Dave Aranda

Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:08 am
Posted by Lester Earl
Member since Nov 2003
278480 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:08 am
Disclosure: I like Dave Aranda, I trust Dave Aranda more than any defensive minded coaching prospect out there.

But for all the “Napier is one of us talk”, Aranda is the only coaching prospect on here that escapes being talked about negatively. So here it is:

1) Took over an 11-3 program, where the coach was poached, not fired, and went 2-7 in Y1, by a combined score of 131-218.

My thoughts; yes, the Covid year was tough on first time head coaches taking over programs,, but you compare say what Aranda did, to Lane Kiffin(who took over for a fired coach, in a much tougher conference), and you must ask how much further hiring an offensive minded coach goes. More of that in point 2.

Ole Miss, in a year, immediately went from 4-8 to 5-5, and being in every single game.

Scoring offense went from 82—>14th nationally,

Matt Corral has developed from a 59% passing turnover machine, to a Heisman finalist. Just some food for thought



2) Aranda Coach O’d his first year offensive coordinator choice, firing Larry Fedora (as well as LSU’s Jorge Munoz) after one year.


The perils of hiring a defensive minded coach is that you have to nail the offensive coordinator hire. Outside of Nick Saban, who obviously gets the best players, is there another defensive coach that does this consistently & fields championship level teams? If so, let’s talk.

My fear for Aranda, much like Alabama, is LSU will ge used consistently as a stepping stone for OCs. Now that isn’t a bad thing if you nail every single hire, but Aranda proved out the gate that he wasn’t ready for that. He is just in his second year, so I am not saying he will always fail at that, but who really knows?

People say hire Grimes, or bring in Tom Herman. Which looks great for next year. But what about in 2024 or 2025? These guys are gone by then. 1 or two years & the door is revolving again. This is the SEC. it’s not as forgiving as it is at Baylor. You have to nail this consistently as Coach O has shown.

Riley, Kiffin, even Napier, you have the foundation on offense to always be one step ahead of this. Continuity, teaching a lasting philosophy throughout each class that does not change, & having players buy in.
Posted by Adam Banks
District 5
Member since Sep 2009
31917 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:12 am to
quote:


The perils of hiring a defensive minded coach is that you have to nail the offensive coordinator hire. Outside of Nick Saban, who obviously gets the best players, is there another defensive coach that does this consistently & fields championship level teams? If so, let’s talk.




Kirby Smart fields championship level teams consistently.




Offensive minds are also FAR more common these days so it’s easy to luck into one like your boy Ed.


Also trying to compare Napier to those other offensive minds in your post is hilarious.
This post was edited on 11/21/21 at 11:14 am
Posted by SLafourche07
Member since Feb 2008
9928 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:14 am to
quote:

so it’s easy to luck into one like your boy Ed.




Now do all his other seasons.
Posted by Finchboyz
Choclate city
Member since May 2018
514 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:14 am to
I’m not disagreeing with your summary of Aranda’s first year but you must remember he was hired near the end of LSU’s championship run. So he had to prep for the playoffs, title game and then immediately afterward get on a plane to Baylor.

Posted by koLSU86
Member since Aug 2012
3471 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:15 am to
quote:

The perils of hiring a defensive minded coach is that you have to nail the offensive coordinator hire.


This goes both ways. If you have an offensive minded coach then they need to nail the DC hire all the time.
Posted by wildtigercat93
Member since Jul 2011
112335 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:15 am to
quote:

The perils of hiring a defensive minded coach is that you have to nail the offensive coordinator hire


You have to nail the other coordinator hire no matter what the specialty is for the head coach, this makes no sense
Posted by Lester Earl
Member since Nov 2003
278480 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:17 am to
quote:

Kirby Smart fields championship level teams consistently.


Once

And even so, their QB play could cost them a championship
Posted by Adam Banks
District 5
Member since Sep 2009
31917 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:19 am to
quote:

so it’s easy to luck into one like your boy Ed.



Now do all his other seasons.



I’m just proving that a blind squirrel can find a nut. With Ed and any primarily recruiting based hires rather than Xs and Os you have to hit on both sides of the ball.

With Aranda you will have a top level defense that keeps you in games regardless of the offense. When he moves up and lucks into an OC he will win a championship

With Riley you have a top level offense that keeps you in games regardless of defense. When he licks into a DC he will win a championship


With other candidates who aren’t exceptional on one side of the ball *cough* Napier *cough* you have to hit on both coordinators (also hoping that he accepts that he will give up the reigns on offense which is clearly not guaranteed)
This post was edited on 11/21/21 at 11:20 am
Posted by Greace
Member since May 2009
4696 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:19 am to
Its no use. This place is a shitshow. So much shite is based on who wins the weekend before. As soon as Napier and Aranda lose a game both of them will be off the watchlist
Posted by misey94
Hernando, MS
Member since Jan 2007
23327 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:21 am to
quote:

People say hire Grimes, or bring in Tom Herman. Which looks great for next year. But what about in 2024 or 2025? These guys are gone by then. 1 or two years & the door is revolving again. This is the SEC. it’s not as forgiving as it is at Baylor. You have to nail this consistently as Coach O has shown. Riley, Kiffin, even Napier, you have the foundation on offense to always be one step ahead of this. Continuity, teaching a lasting philosophy throughout each class that does not change, & having players buy in.


Meh. Six of one, half dozen of the other. The issue is the CEO model, not having a coach who can always handle one side of the ball. We’ve seen Riley not win championships before while getting to the doorstep. Why? Because he didn’t have a defense. It goes both ways. No matter which side a guy specializes in, he will always have to nail the other hire. A great offense can’t cover a terrible defense any more than the other way around.

The bottom line is, Aranda nailed the fix. That says more to me than botching the first hire with a guy he had never worked with before. He didn’t do what O did after it didn’t work out, either. He didn’t make a reactionary swing and miss. He found the right guy and it made all the difference. That shows fast adaptability and decisiveness, both great traits for a head coach early in their career at the top spot.
This post was edited on 11/21/21 at 11:23 am
Posted by Adam Banks
District 5
Member since Sep 2009
31917 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:22 am to
quote:

Once

And even so, their QB play could cost them a championship




Sec champs and in title game prior and essentially has gotten a bid to the playoffs secured already at this point. Puts him in top 5 of active coaches.
This post was edited on 11/21/21 at 11:23 am
Posted by beauchristopher
new orleans
Member since Jan 2008
65994 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:25 am to
quote:

1) Took over an 11-3 program, where the coach was poached, not fired, and went 2-7 in Y1, by a combined score of 131-218.


quote:

My thoughts; yes, the Covid year was tough on first time head coaches taking over programs,, but you compare say what Aranda did, to Lane Kiffin(who took over for a fired coach, in a much tougher conference), and you must ask how much further hiring an offensive minded coach goes. More of that in point 2.



Still not sure anyone should take anything from 2020 seriously. I understand everybody had to deal with it, but everybody was also impacted differently at times. It was just a weird season. I say this for any coach who did bad or good.

I agree with your 2nd point. I rather LSU have a QB guru HC and not have to worry about replacing offenses. I like to see LSU always have good QB play and attract the best QBs.
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
164196 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:25 am to
quote:

The perils of hiring a defensive minded coach is that you have to nail the offensive coordinator hire.

Let's hire Les. He played offense in college.
Posted by Lester Earl
Member since Nov 2003
278480 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:27 am to
quote:

You have to nail the other coordinator hire no matter what the specialty is for the head coach, this makes no sense


Map out the 7yrs of the CFB playoff, all 28 teams & their coaches, and it’s easy to pinpoint what the majority of them all share.

HCs with offensive minded backgrounds, and excellent QB play .


But yes captain obvious, you want good coaches all the way around
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
155705 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:29 am to
quote:

Riley, Kiffin, even Napier, you have the foundation on offense


Riley and Kiffin sure but idk about Napier. His offense just doesn’t really wow me. I feel like every time I’ve watched them they struggle in the red zone and tend to get cute on third down. I wouldn’t hate it but not as enthusiastic as the other 2 and their schemes. And i don’t really want Kiffin at all but his offense is much better than nap.
This post was edited on 11/21/21 at 11:30 am
Posted by jonboy
Member since Sep 2003
7138 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:29 am to
quote:

My thoughts; yes, the Covid year was tough on first time head coaches taking over programs


I thought Baylor had some pretty ridiculous covid protocols and it was understood to be a reason for the record.
Posted by Lester Earl
Member since Nov 2003
278480 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:33 am to
After just a few post, “he is one of us” has never been more true. Kinda how I expected

Posted by CP3forMVP
Member since Nov 2010
14910 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:34 am to
There are some legitimate real concerns about Aranda leading a program like LSU that this board just completely ignores.
Posted by Tiger Voodoo
Champs 03 07 09 11(fack) 19!!!
Member since Mar 2007
21785 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:38 am to
quote:

My fear for Aranda, much like Alabama, is LSU will ge used consistently as a stepping stone for OCs. Now that isn’t a bad thing if you nail every single hire, but Aranda proved out the gate that he wasn’t ready for that. He is just in his second year, so I am not saying he will always fail at that, but who really knows?

People say hire Grimes, or bring in Tom Herman. Which looks great for next year. But what about in 2024 or 2025? These guys are gone by then. 1 or two years & the door is revolving again. This is the SEC. it’s not as forgiving as it is at Baylor. You have to nail this consistently as Coach O has shown.

Riley, Kiffin, even Napier, you have the foundation on offense to always be one step ahead of this. Continuity, teaching a lasting philosophy throughout each class that does not change, & having players buy in.




Lester, you won’t like to hear this, but we’re on the exact same page with the priority for this hire.

I don’t know if you’re a Napier supporter or not, but just based on your reply in the other Napier thread, can I ask if you think Napier truly brings the offensive pedigree to have that side of the ball locked down the way true innovators like Riley or Kiffin would?

I just don’t see it. I know he’s “from that side of the ball”, but I don’t see the real philosophy that assures LSU will be on the cutting edge of offense, and certainly don’t see any QB resume, under Napier.
Posted by Lester Earl
Member since Nov 2003
278480 posts
Posted on 11/21/21 at 11:42 am to
quote:

His offense just doesn’t really wow me. I feel like every time I’ve watched them they struggle in the red zone and tend to get cute on third down


It’s not quite as flashy because he kind of inherited this QB, who is limited, and has just played to his strengths

More run oriented in his own creative way. Winning games the old school way but with new school innovation
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