FloridaGatorforLife
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There’s nothing like a little success to break up a good thing. That’s why it’s not terribly surprising that Urban Meyer’s staff is undergoing change these days.
Part of the reason is that Florida won a national championship and the profiles of assistant coaches have been elevated. And then, of course, there is always a certain amount of attrition.
Losing three coaches off a staff is not devastating, but without question it changes the dynamics of the group. And, most importantly, it changes chemistry.
When the history is written about the 2006 National Champion Gators and its coaches, Meyer’s staff will most likely be remembered as excellent teachers, strong motivators, determined recruiters, good in-game decision makers and dedicated staff members with good chemistry who shared a common vision.
That’s not to say they couldn’t improve in some areas, which is why at least one of the three positions was vacated. Although popular with his peers and regarded as a good recruiter, running backs coach Stan Drayton wasn’t getting the production out of his position players. And ball security, which is one of the four mantras of Urban Meyer’s “Plan to Win” became a serious issue. So did the inability of some backs to learn pass blocking.
Kenny Carter was brought in from Vanderbilt to replace Drayton. It was no coincidence that Carter’s presentation on ball security impressed the boss.
Meyer and others were sorry to see Doc Holliday leave because he was such a stickler for detail in recruiting and very quietly developed his safeties to play at a high level. But Holliday heard mama callin’ and was offered a substantial raise with a multi-year contract to return to his alma mater. At his age and station in life, it was just too good a deal to pass up.
That spot won’t be filled for a while. It’s not entirely true that somebody is already waiting in the wings, because until Charlie Strong and his defensive staff are able to review the tapes and determine what needs they have, they won’t know which coach will be the best fit.
Consider this: If Meyer is able to hire another front-line coach, he might even shuffle some of the position coaches to get him. You’ve heard of taking the best athlete --- this would be taking the best coach.
The biggest loss without question was Greg Mattison, the first person Meyer called when he thought he might be getting the Florida job. Mattison’s experience will be missed and his teaching and nurturing of his defensive linemen was a key to winning the national championship. He was very close to his lineman, especially players like Ray McDonald, Jarvis Moss, Steve Harris and Derrick Harvey --- all of whom played brilliantly in the 41-14 win over Ohio State.
The consensus is that Dan McCarney was an excellent replacement and his background as an Iowa player and assistant coach, Wisconsin assistant, South Florida assistant and Iowa State head coach will be a huge asset.
Meyer always wanted to hire his “All-Star Staff” one day. By the time he was named Florida’s new coach, he already had a list of who those “All-Stars” were and it didn’t take long for them to get the band together.
Previous relationships would play a big part in the decision making. He had coached with quite a few of them at Colorado State and Notre Dame.
“The last four or five years when I thought this might happen, I made a list of names,” Meyer confessed. “I wanted that ‘All-Star Staff’ and at Florida you should be able to do that. I wanted to pick the best coaches I’d been around and have them on my staff.”
In the end, it depends upon how this new group blends --- Strong, McCarney, Chuck Heater, Dan Mullen, Billy Gonzalez, Steve Addazio, John Hevesy and the three new guys. And yet, as important as the chemistry of this new group may be, they will only be as good as the players that they get to coach.
http://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/why_meyers_staff_underwent_change/3239
Part of the reason is that Florida won a national championship and the profiles of assistant coaches have been elevated. And then, of course, there is always a certain amount of attrition.
Losing three coaches off a staff is not devastating, but without question it changes the dynamics of the group. And, most importantly, it changes chemistry.
When the history is written about the 2006 National Champion Gators and its coaches, Meyer’s staff will most likely be remembered as excellent teachers, strong motivators, determined recruiters, good in-game decision makers and dedicated staff members with good chemistry who shared a common vision.
That’s not to say they couldn’t improve in some areas, which is why at least one of the three positions was vacated. Although popular with his peers and regarded as a good recruiter, running backs coach Stan Drayton wasn’t getting the production out of his position players. And ball security, which is one of the four mantras of Urban Meyer’s “Plan to Win” became a serious issue. So did the inability of some backs to learn pass blocking.
Kenny Carter was brought in from Vanderbilt to replace Drayton. It was no coincidence that Carter’s presentation on ball security impressed the boss.
Meyer and others were sorry to see Doc Holliday leave because he was such a stickler for detail in recruiting and very quietly developed his safeties to play at a high level. But Holliday heard mama callin’ and was offered a substantial raise with a multi-year contract to return to his alma mater. At his age and station in life, it was just too good a deal to pass up.
That spot won’t be filled for a while. It’s not entirely true that somebody is already waiting in the wings, because until Charlie Strong and his defensive staff are able to review the tapes and determine what needs they have, they won’t know which coach will be the best fit.
Consider this: If Meyer is able to hire another front-line coach, he might even shuffle some of the position coaches to get him. You’ve heard of taking the best athlete --- this would be taking the best coach.
The biggest loss without question was Greg Mattison, the first person Meyer called when he thought he might be getting the Florida job. Mattison’s experience will be missed and his teaching and nurturing of his defensive linemen was a key to winning the national championship. He was very close to his lineman, especially players like Ray McDonald, Jarvis Moss, Steve Harris and Derrick Harvey --- all of whom played brilliantly in the 41-14 win over Ohio State.
The consensus is that Dan McCarney was an excellent replacement and his background as an Iowa player and assistant coach, Wisconsin assistant, South Florida assistant and Iowa State head coach will be a huge asset.
Meyer always wanted to hire his “All-Star Staff” one day. By the time he was named Florida’s new coach, he already had a list of who those “All-Stars” were and it didn’t take long for them to get the band together.
Previous relationships would play a big part in the decision making. He had coached with quite a few of them at Colorado State and Notre Dame.
“The last four or five years when I thought this might happen, I made a list of names,” Meyer confessed. “I wanted that ‘All-Star Staff’ and at Florida you should be able to do that. I wanted to pick the best coaches I’d been around and have them on my staff.”
In the end, it depends upon how this new group blends --- Strong, McCarney, Chuck Heater, Dan Mullen, Billy Gonzalez, Steve Addazio, John Hevesy and the three new guys. And yet, as important as the chemistry of this new group may be, they will only be as good as the players that they get to coach.
http://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/why_meyers_staff_underwent_change/3239
