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Message
The Case for Mel Tucker
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:25 pm
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:25 pm
Let me preface, Tucker is one of many candidates. He isn't my first or maybe even second choice. I want Fickell.
Bio:
49 years old
Playing career
1990–1992, 1994 Wisconsin
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1997–1998 Michigan State (GA)
1999 Miami (OH) (DB)
2000 LSU (DB)
2001–2003 Ohio State (DB)
2004 Ohio State (co-DC)
2005–2007 Cleveland Browns (DB)
2008 Cleveland Browns (DC)
2009–2011 Jacksonville Jaguars (DC)
2011 Jacksonville Jaguars (interim)
2012 Jacksonville Jaguars (AHC/DC)
2013–2014 Chicago Bears (DC)
2015 Alabama (AHC/DB)
2016–2018 Georgia (DC/DB)
2019 Colorado
2020–present Michigan State
Obviously a strong, strong resume based on where he has coached and under who he has coached. Nick Saban(3 times), Barry Alvarez, Jim Tressell, Kirby Smart, etc.
He is an ace recruiter. Here are the top recruits per 247 that he was a primary or secondary recruiter for:LINK /
Many of these guys are the savages on UGA's defense this year.
Let's take a look at overall roster building.
Per the 247 Talent Composite, he inherited the 9th best roster in the Pac 12 at Colorado. In 2020, Colorado improved to 8th. Sure, just 1 spot, but we're talking about a university that simply does not care.
Now at Michigan State, much has been discussed about his creampuff 7-0 record, and that is valid. However, MSU currently has the 7th best roster in the Big 10. MSU is also currently sitting 17th nationally, 4th in the Big 10, 1 spot behind Michigan. That is an improvement from an average ranking of 38th nationally the previous 5 years. Bottom line, the dude can identify and acquire talent. He inherited a hot mess at MSU, both on and off the field. If he flops in the remaining games, which is possible, then he likely won't be a candidate, BUT it does look like he's building something strong up there.
Fianlly, his introduction press conference at MSU was impressive. He starts talking at the 11 minutes mark- LINK
Main take aways: Credits Barry Alvarez, Nick Saban, Jim Tressell, and Romeo Crenel as his mentors. Also, his 3 pillars: Grattitude, Responsibility, Loving Football.
He seems to be the most disliked of the "candidates", and I say "candidates" because nobody really knows. I understand the lack of a sexy name, but worrying about how splashy the hire is is only for egos. Let's dig into the meat and potatoes.
Bio:
49 years old
Playing career
1990–1992, 1994 Wisconsin
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1997–1998 Michigan State (GA)
1999 Miami (OH) (DB)
2000 LSU (DB)
2001–2003 Ohio State (DB)
2004 Ohio State (co-DC)
2005–2007 Cleveland Browns (DB)
2008 Cleveland Browns (DC)
2009–2011 Jacksonville Jaguars (DC)
2011 Jacksonville Jaguars (interim)
2012 Jacksonville Jaguars (AHC/DC)
2013–2014 Chicago Bears (DC)
2015 Alabama (AHC/DB)
2016–2018 Georgia (DC/DB)
2019 Colorado
2020–present Michigan State
Obviously a strong, strong resume based on where he has coached and under who he has coached. Nick Saban(3 times), Barry Alvarez, Jim Tressell, Kirby Smart, etc.
He is an ace recruiter. Here are the top recruits per 247 that he was a primary or secondary recruiter for:LINK /
Many of these guys are the savages on UGA's defense this year.
Let's take a look at overall roster building.
Per the 247 Talent Composite, he inherited the 9th best roster in the Pac 12 at Colorado. In 2020, Colorado improved to 8th. Sure, just 1 spot, but we're talking about a university that simply does not care.
Now at Michigan State, much has been discussed about his creampuff 7-0 record, and that is valid. However, MSU currently has the 7th best roster in the Big 10. MSU is also currently sitting 17th nationally, 4th in the Big 10, 1 spot behind Michigan. That is an improvement from an average ranking of 38th nationally the previous 5 years. Bottom line, the dude can identify and acquire talent. He inherited a hot mess at MSU, both on and off the field. If he flops in the remaining games, which is possible, then he likely won't be a candidate, BUT it does look like he's building something strong up there.
Fianlly, his introduction press conference at MSU was impressive. He starts talking at the 11 minutes mark- LINK
Main take aways: Credits Barry Alvarez, Nick Saban, Jim Tressell, and Romeo Crenel as his mentors. Also, his 3 pillars: Grattitude, Responsibility, Loving Football.
He seems to be the most disliked of the "candidates", and I say "candidates" because nobody really knows. I understand the lack of a sexy name, but worrying about how splashy the hire is is only for egos. Let's dig into the meat and potatoes.
19
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:25 pm to notDBG
Hard fricking pass
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:27 pm to notDBG
So he's not your favorite candidate, yet you go on to write a thesis paper on him?
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:30 pm to notDBG
Having a long resume is not the same as having a strong head coaching resume.
His stint from 2008-2014 as an NFL DC was awful.
Georgia's defense has improved since he left.
Inheriting a hot mess means nothing if he doesn't do something with that hot mess. Talk to me if they do better than 1-2 more wins to close out the season.
He's disliked because he's a Kentucky or Arkansas or Missouri type hire. Not a supposed "top 5 job" hire.
His stint from 2008-2014 as an NFL DC was awful.
Georgia's defense has improved since he left.
Inheriting a hot mess means nothing if he doesn't do something with that hot mess. Talk to me if they do better than 1-2 more wins to close out the season.
He's disliked because he's a Kentucky or Arkansas or Missouri type hire. Not a supposed "top 5 job" hire.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:30 pm to tigerbait3488
quote:
Hard fricking pass.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:31 pm to Tunasntigers92
quote:
So he's not your favorite candidate, yet you go on to write a thesis paper on him?
Uh, he's not my favorite candidate either, but I think it is over 50% that it is him, so I'm taking the time to re-acquaint myself with him.
The short list is probably Aranda, Franklin and Tucker. You do not have to like that for that to be true.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:33 pm to Ocardowin
quote:
His stint from 2008-2014 as an NFL DC was awful.
Let's be fair - he did good things at Cleveland and Jax. It was at Chicago the Tucker train went off the rails bad.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:33 pm to notDBG
The biggest upside of this dude is the last guy we got from Michigan State turned out ok. That’s not much of a selling point.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:35 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
but I think it is over 50% that it is him, so I'm taking the time to re-acquaint myself with him
You don't know any more than the next guy, your comment is baseless.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:36 pm to notDBG
Never stayed in one spot longer than 3 years, means nobody likes him enough to keep him from going somewhere else
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:37 pm to DaBeerz
quote:
Never stayed in one spot longer than 3 years, means nobody likes him enough to keep him from going somewhere else
every time he left a place was for a promotion At least let’s be honest with the criticism
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:39 pm to notDBG
Not in the nfl
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:39 pm to Ocardowin
quote:
He's disliked because he's a Kentucky or Arkansas or Missouri type hire
Well that’s just not true. Michigan State is a better job than all of those.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:40 pm to notDBG
The dude has never been anywhere more than 2 years.
Why?
I don’t think the answer is always “promotion”
Why?
I don’t think the answer is always “promotion”
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:40 pm to notDBG
I actually came away less impressed after reading all of this....fwiw
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:41 pm to dcw7g
quote:
Well that’s just not true. Michigan State is a better job than all of those.
Eh, it's lateral.
But the overall point is that if we end up with Mel Tucker, we were lied to about how desirable our job was.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:41 pm to DaBeerz
quote:
Never stayed in one spot longer than 3 years, means nobody likes him enough to keep him from going somewhere else
That was the knock on Saban until he landed in Bama.
So, let's look at that -
He was promoted at Cleveland and did a good job replacing Grantham. He lost his job when Crennel lost his. At Jax he was doing a great job, had the interim gig when Del Rio was fired and in the running for the big chair.
He was awful at Chicago.
Since his return to CFB, he had the one year back with Saban, Kirby offered him a promotion, Colorado was a P5 head coaching gig and Michigan State was a >$2m pay raise.
I agree that looking at the 4 corners of his resume, there is nothing stellar about it. I just hope we are hiring the best head coach, period, not the best "fill-in-the-blank" head coach.
This post was edited on 10/17/21 at 9:48 pm
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:43 pm to DaBeerz
Yes, he was never an NFL head coach. You got me. His resume still shows an upward trajectory.
Posted on 10/17/21 at 9:46 pm to notDBG
quote:
Yes, he was never an NFL head coach.
Except interim at Jax for 5 games (2-3).
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