Coordinators Thread

[topseed]

Which is why hiring established head coaches sucks more than newer hires... the old guys recycles old ideas with old buddy coaches... new guys usually have to bring in more diversified coaches, which leads to innovations...

But even if you hire a younger guy with no experience as a head coach, he is still going to bring along a lot of people he's familiar with to fill out his staff. That's just how it goes. Seems like McCarthy is mixing in some younger guys with the more experienced coaches, so that's good.

 

[Crossdogblitz]

I can certainly understand how some fans see McCarthy "hiring his buddies" as a form of nepotism and I kind of got caught up in that too. I wanted Abdul Hodge for the TEs coach and George Barnett for the OL coach (both from Iowa and a consistent top OL award winner) to at least get an interview and I was hoping Jim Leonhard (formerly Asst HC, Def in Denver but now DC in Buff.) as the DC since Denver's defense is very tough and we routinely drafted Wisconsin players but eff me, here we are. I also wanted them to retain Gerald Alexander, BUT I can understand the reasoning in hiring and getting the old band back together. McCarthy wants one message being distributed throughout the team and I'm sure he thinks the best way to do that is through known commodities. This especially is in play if the staff is expanded. One voice, one message. I am not a fan of some of the hires but I understand why its going down.

 

[slashsteel]

I can certainly understand how some fans see McCarthy "hiring his buddies" as a form of nepotism and I kind of got caught up in that too. I wanted Abdul Hodge for the TEs coach and George Barnett for the OL coach (both from Iowa and a consistent top OL award winner) to at least get an interview and I was hoping Jim Leonhard (formerly Asst HC, Def in Denver but now DC in Buff.) as the DC since Denver's defense is very tough and we routinely drafted Wisconsin players but eff me, here we are. I also wanted them to retain Gerald Alexander, BUT I can understand the reasoning in hiring and getting the old band back together. McCarthy wants one message being distributed throughout the team and I'm sure he thinks the best way to do that is through known commodities. This especially is in play if the staff is expanded. One voice, one message. I am not a fan of some of the hires but I understand why its going down.

He was initially retained just found a promotion opportunity and went with it.

I think there is a lot of coaches that theoretically can fit together. But getting them to fit schematically and be confident that they fit at the end of the day perhaps not an easy task..

 

[Crossdogblitz]

He was initially retained just found a promotion opportunity and went with it.

I think there is a lot of coaches that theoretically can fit together. But getting them to fit schematically and be confident that they fit at the end of the day perhaps not an easy task..

I'm on the fence with Jason Simmons....bottom 5 w/ the Commanders last season, but they collapsed as a team overall last year too. In '24, they were in the top 3, then in '25 bottom 5. Why the huge swing? With a secondary with only 2 out of 5 starters, I'm really curious as to how this group is built.

 

[slashsteel]

I'm on the fence with Jason Simmons....bottom 5 w/ the Commanders last season, but they collapsed as a team overall last year too. In '24, they were in the top 3, then in '25 bottom 5. Why the huge swing? With a secondary with only 2 out of 5 starters, I'm really curious as to how this group is built.

You have Whitt back there too in the secondary he had a couple years where his secondaries led the league in INTs.

With that 1 2 punch I am not overly concerned.

Then you have a DC that is the polar opposite of Austin in where he made due with less while being less predictable in his schematic approach. He is basically a good camouflage type. Gives you one look and drops into another.

For me the overall collective lessens my concern for if say it was a one on one situation which won’t be the case. That side of the ball will have a lot of experience pounding the table.

 

[Crossdogblitz]

You have Whitt back there too in the secondary he had a couple years where his secondaries led the league in INTs.

With that 1 2 punch I am not overly concerned.

Then you have a DC that is the polar opposite of Austin in where he made due with less while being less predictable in his schematic approach. He is basically a good camouflage type. Gives you one look and drops into another.

For me the overall collective lessens my concern for if say it was a one on one situation which won’t be the case. That side of the ball will have a lot of experience pounding the table.

I hear ya, Whitt is good, no problems there. Simmons is the one I have questions about. Alexander was an up and comer and very good by all reports and that's why they brought him back in '25 after leading the league in INTs in '22. If I have one force in Whitt and a second force in Alexander I would have a better overall product than a force in Whitt and a suspect force in Simmons. He better coach his azz off this year, or it will be seen as a nepotism hire.

 

[slashsteel]

I hear ya, Whitt is good, no problems there. Simmons is the one I have questions about. Alexander was an up and comer and very good by all reports and that's why they brought him back in '25 after leading the league in INTs in '22. If I have one force in Whitt and a second force in Alexander I would have a better overall product than a force in Whitt and a suspect force in Simmons. He better coach his azz off this year, or it will be seen as a nepotism hire.

I would think they should be able to better that dynamic duo from last season.

The Steelers D was like the Cheers of the NFL. Where everyone knows your… game.

 

[Crossdogblitz]

I would think they should be able to better that dynamic duo from last season.

The Steelers D was like the Cheers of the NFL. Where everyone knows your… game.

I really think that was more Austin than Alexander but that's cool. I am not going to grade individual players within a scheme when their traits showed otherwise. The DBs seemingly acceptance to giving up the sticks was more scheme than talent imo.

 

[slashsteel]

I really think that was more Austin than Alexander but that's cool. I am not going to grade individual players within a scheme when their traits showed otherwise. The DBs seemingly acceptance to giving up the sticks was more scheme than talent imo.

Definitely agree the scheme did them no favors.

It was like they took two vanilla safe schemes on both sides of the ball that were set up to live in their fears of losing instead of the risks you take to scratch your way to meaningful wins.

Pretty glad to see both sides done away with.

I do think they need a capable FS and a CB brought in that would help upgrade the room.

 

[Crossdogblitz]

Definitely agree the scheme did them no favors.

It was like they took two vanilla safe schemes on both sides of the ball that were set up to live in their fears of losing instead of the risks you take to scratch your way to meaningful wins.

Pretty glad to see both sides done away with.

I do think they need a capable FS and a CB brought in that would help upgrade the room.

Definitely, the new approach to attacking offenses will be sorely welcomed.

I absolutely love Elliott at SS but yes a FS pick is needed. I would also take two CBs within the top 100. They need another outside CB and a NCB. Indiana's Isaiah Ponds, although small is an absolute criminal like Mike Sainristal (UM) last year and Kentucky's Hairston. Miami's Keontai Scott is another that just screams Steeler. I'm taking Colton Hood at 21 if no WR is available. They have to go WR or CB at 21 imo. DL if all else fails.