Article: What to expect from Monte Kiffin

[Staxxxx]

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This is not a very flattering article toward Kiffin but certainly worth a read. I'm only posting a few excerpts here that stand out to me but because I already had a few concerns about bringing Kiffin I'm probably being a little biased in my selection. I recommend clicking on the link and reading the whole article.

Let’s start with Monte Kiffin’s “resignation.” Understand this: the fact that he was allowed to leave ostensibly on his own terms was a gesture of respect to the father of USC head coach Lane Kiffin, and not a choice Kiffin had say in. Over the last month of the season, it became the program’s worst-kept secret that Monte Kiffin was on the way out and a replacement was heading in. So while Kiffin’s resume is unmatched as a defensive coordinator, just keep in mind that this is also a coach who a major college program felt it would be better off without.

But, after watching the last three seasons of Kiffin’s defensive game-planning, it’s the schemes that are of much greater concern. It’s certainly understandable why the architect of the Tampa 2 would be reluctant to deviate from a defense he created and changed the sport with, but in his USC tenure Kiffin was almost comically obstinate. Not only did Kiffin stick to the basic personnel set of his Cover 2 the overwhelming majority of the time, but he hardly ever played man, either, in spite of him having the conference’s best cover corner in Nickell Robey (what that means for Mo Claiborne and Brandon Carr, who knows?).

When the going got tough, Kiffin’s recourse was to stick it out and hope that the other team would eventually play into his defense rather than adjusting to their attack. Too often, that approach failed. Case in point, against UCLA, redshirt freshman Brett Hundley connected on 15 of his first 17 passes, most of which came on the same combination of easy swing passes or throws over the middle of the zone. That pattern repeated itself over the course of the entire game, in spite of his line being unable to generate much of a pass rush without blitz help or that freshman quarterback finding the same windows over and over again.

Speaking in Kiffin’s favor, there is this: though: the players do like Monte the person. He still is a great teacher, still hands-on, and emphasizes explaining the concepts over yelling at his charges. Such an approach will likely work even better back in the NFL with grown men instead of college kids. The problem is the concepts he’s teaching and espousing increasingly appeared obsolete in the face of newer, faster, smarter offenses.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

The wild card is the lack of scholarships at his disposal. Ultimately, a scheme will only be as successful as the players playing it allows it to be. We'll find out.

 

[Miller]

This guy hit on something I just put in another thread...evolution of offenses

I think the difference is how his defense is getting exposed. It isn't college vs pros as much the newer spread type offenses vs Cover-2 where they flood the zones and overload the safeties and CBs. They are adept at finding the holes. Since he was in the league 5 years ago it has become a much more pass happy league with teams spreading it out and teams like Washington using the read option. Teams like Washington, Carolina and some others can give the Cover-2 fits.

Now I'm not saying he isn't smart and can't adjust. I'm just throwing out why people might have concerns after his college stint.

 

[Denim Chicken]

This mirrors my concerns about JG too—lack of adjustability. Now that we will have two coaches that can’t seem to adjust to game conditions and stick by their respective schemes regardless, my optimism for next season in waning. I think the FO is making the wrong moves.

 

[Risen Star]

It's certainly a legitimate concern. That debacle in USC definitely didn't help matters.

 

[xwalker]

It's certainly a legitimate concern. That debacle in USC definitely didn't help matters.

How did Nickell Robey become the "conference’s best cover corner" if the scheme was holding him back as much as indicated in the article?

 

[InmanRoshi]

This guy hit on something I just put in another thread...evolution of offenses

I think the difference is how his defense is getting exposed. It isn't college vs pros as much the newer spread type offenses vs Cover-2 where they flood the zones and overload the safeties and CBs. They are adept at finding the holes. Since he was in the league 5 years ago it has become a much more pass happy league with teams spreading it out and teams like Washington using the read option. Teams like Washington, Carolina and some others can give the Cover-2 fits.

Now I'm not saying he isn't smart and can't adjust. I'm just throwing out why people might have concerns after his college stint.

Why didn't anyone expose the Seahawks or Bears running the exact same scheme?

The college game is completely different in general. Different hash marks proving the offense to work with a wider field, clock stoppages between first downs, 19 year old kids, recruiting. If we're evaluating coaches based off of college, let's go get Dana Holgrenson or Mike Leach to run our offense.

 

[RS12]

Yep my biggest concerns after watching Monte coach at USC the last three years were 1) lack of adjustments made on pass defense as offenses would carve up the middle of field all day long on the Trojans, I'v never really cared for zone, there are always soft spots. 2) The fact that the NFL is adjusting its game to what the colleges are producing spreads, pistols, etc. and Monte looked lost trying to stop those.

 

[noshame]

This mirrors my concerns about JG too—lack of adjustability. Now that we will have two coaches that can’t seem to adjust to game conditions and stick by their respective schemes regardless, my optimism for next season in waning. I think the FO is making the wrong moves.

You guys are not thinking far enough ahead.

It will all come together next year, we'll have a top 5 pick, some good qbs to choose from, and a whole new coaching staff.

As an aside, I'd give 2 years pay if Monte walks up to the mic at his introduction and says "and now for something completely different" and walks off. What a grand off season.:laugh2:

 

[Apollo Creed]

This once great franchise, has now become a joke, for two decades.

 

[jterrell]

If Kiffin couldn't take a series of 4 and 5 star recruits and play his system in college what makes anyone think he can take a series of guys drafted with a 3-4 in mind and play it?

This is literally insane. 72 year old coach brought in to reform a defense with no cap space and limited draft resources.

The only good news is Kiffin is so old once it becomes apparent it won't work here he'll be gone and we can start fresh new an entirely new staff.

This is basically guaranteed to fail.

 

[cowboysooner]

If Kiffin couldn't take a series of 4 and 5 star recruits and play his system in college what makes anyone think he can take a series of guys drafted with a 3-4 in mind and play it?

This is literally insane. 72 year old coach brought in to reform a defense with no cap space and limited draft resources.

The only good news is Kiffin is so old once it becomes apparent it won't work here he'll be gone and we can start fresh new an entirely new staff.

This is basically guaranteed to fail.

What could go wrong?

This is the Jerryest of Jerry moments in his career as football czar.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Why didn't anyone expose the Seahawks or Bears running the exact same scheme?

The college game is completely different in general. Different hash marks proving the offense to work with a wider field, clock stoppages between first downs, 19 year old kids, recruiting. If we're evaluating coaches based off of college, let's go get Dana Holgrenson or Mike Leach to run our offense.

Excellent point. How'd the Fun 'N Gun work out for Spurrier in Washington? I also don't get this obsession with people on how to stop the the read option. The read option will eventually stop itself. In the NFL you are only going to see it from four teams. San Francisco, Seattle, Carolina and Washington and you will be seeing less of it as those QB's get older and develop their passing games. It's simply not a sustainable offense in the NFL.

In my opinion Kiffen is still a relevant defensive coach but if I had a choice it would be Smith.

 

[Apollo Creed]

What do I expect to see a lot of under Kiffin?

Naps.

 

[MRV52]

This is my concern also, that we are an the verge of hiring a DC that his defensive philosophies are no longer valid in todays game. I am not interested in what he did in the past. Today's game is different and you have to be able to adjust. I think this hire will be a bad one for this team:bang2:

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Just just can't picture this move (if it's made) not ending badly. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Staxxxx]

I'm concerned. While I do believe we have the personnel to run a 3-4 or a 4-3 the Tampa 2 is about as far toward the other end of the spectrum from what we've been playing as it gets. I believe that when healthy we have as the talent on the defensive side of the ball to be a top 5 defense but I'm not sure that a Tampa 2 would play to the strengths of our existing defensive players. I don't think the Mo, Carr, and Sens, are necessarily at their best in zone coverage and I haven't really seen enough of Church to have an opinion there. Lee and Carter are a little bigger than your typical T2 linebackers and but I think they play fast enough to play in this system. I'd imagine that Carter will be the MLB and Sean Lee the WLB but I'm not sure who the SLB on our roster is. I think Hatcher and Ratliff can play inside and may even excel there and really have no problem with Spencer and Ware on the ends.

I guess what bothers me the most here is that if we switch to the T2 then we're probably going to have to pull a couple defensive starters out of the draft or in free agency this off-season when I personally think we should be looking to acquire a couple of starters this at other positions and by that I mean the offensive line.

I'd like to see someone come in here with some creativity. Maybe run a combination of 3-4 and a traditional 4-3 which fits the personell we have now a little better. At 73 I'm pretty sure this is Kiffin's last hurah and I question how creative or flexible he's willing to be as opposed to go with what you know.

There are also some concerns, as the author pointed, out over his inability to adjust to the college game and now there are some of those concepts making their way into the NFL and even our division.

If he's hired I'll roll with it and you probably won't hear much complaining from me but for now I'll continue to hope that we continue to beat the bushes for a little bit.

 

[burmafrd]

so who is this Mike Pelluci?

Does he have any cred or is he just another mediot?

 

[CalCBFan]

I can't remember the last time we could "cover over the middle" The middle of our field has been wide open for opposing QBs for years; since Jimmy left. I blamed it on Campo, but a lot of passes were completed over the middle since he left. Doesn't sound like it's going to get any better...

 

[Eddie]

Great, another dinosaur who can't adjust to the changing game.

We're gonna love this upcoming ride.