I give Coach Allen the highest marks for being able to create a great culture, a vision for the program and an infectious passion that he brings to the team.
He knows football well, especially the defensive side, but I don’t necessarily think he is a “Mastermind of X’ & O’s that gives your team an edge in a close game.”
That doesn’t have to be seen as a knock, as I do think he’s the right guy for the HC role. But like any good leader, it means he should be surrounded by a highly talented coaching staff, especially the coordinators, to delegate a lot of the game planning & in-game adjustments to so he can still set the tone and motivate & hold the staff accountable.
So as we go into game 2, there is a reason people are concerned about a few spots on the staff.
Assuming goal is a staff worthy enough to win B10 and ultimately make Championship playoffs, let’s review the staff.
On Defense, I like new DC Warren, his SEC pedigree, and even post Iowa, I didn’t really see a drop off or a bad game. The one run & not as many sacks/pressure were more critiques, but they played good enough to win.
Womack has ups/downs in his year one but was great last year. I think Warren has a more seasoned team for his year one and will be fine. Keeper.
DL (Peoples’s?) - he seems like a good one and like what I’ve seen here. Not sure we have quite level of DT talent we want yet but DE talent level is improving, and think he is of caliber enough for our goals. Keeper
Shelby Corners & Safeities coach (from Ole Miss) - think both are high caliber, we are getting good recruits, have had a much improved backfield and actually been one of our strengths. Keepers both!
Offense: OC in college FB is so complex and really can differentiate a team. We saw that with our one year with DeBoer. That man oozed creativity and confidence and I thought he used the tools he had very well.
Sheridan is definitely in “prove it” mode. On paper he fits casting: walk on QB at UM, loved by his OC there, time in SEC at Tenn, QB coach at IU, year as TE, and a chance to work under Deboer. Young sharp guy. But think it’s fair to say both he hasn’t been given truly enough time to be judged fairy (CV year last year was NOT normal) so one game so far this season. But he hasn’t already wowed us yet either thus far.
A FAIR assessment gives him this season to play out and see where we turn out. (Because let’s face it, if we beat Cinci, PSU on road & OSU at home and Penix & offense were lights out, people would not be calling for his head!)
But if I had been looking for an OC at time of this hire, I’d have liked to have seen something like QB coach from Clemson or Georgia or a very proven OC from a good program. Hence TBD here but I would LOVE to see Sheridan work out for record! (TBD)
OL Hiller - unlike Sheridan, Hiller has a 4-year body work going into this year 5, and I personally have not been sold on him. Yes I admit he didn’t pass the “eye test” initially but that’s superficial so I moved to just “how is the product on field?” I don’t think he has had unreal recruiting wins, and also had mediocre OL results. IU has had fairly good pass block success. Not perfect and has been lot of pressure but think fair assessment has been “good” pass pro. Running game? NOT been great and he is “run game coordinator” too. Season has started so will see how this year goes, but to me his seat is very warm. (TBD)
TE - forget his name but great HS HC experience and he seems solid. Like the talent getting in this room, think Hendershot gets chance to play in NFL. Keeper!
WR - Heard. Like the talent that’s been coming into this room too. He seems like a good recruiter and good developing players well too. Keeper!
RB - McCollough. I am borderline man crush here. He has a proven track record at highest levels, inspires great confidence and think he is a gold standard example of coaches we could have on staff. Double Keeper
ST - Coach T: I don’t love that he is ST & LB/Husky or whatever title that is too. I think IU could use a 100% ST coach only based on results. We have recruited best in class long snapper, FG kicker and think the Aussie punters all work out. That’s a credit to Tom Allen philosophy there in my view. (You don’t realize how nice it is to have those true experts at those spots until you don’t have them!)
But I haven’t been blown away with our kick return, coverage or same on punt return/coverage. It’s not been god awful, but also hardly best in class either. It’s been more like “meh!” Nothing too memorable. Will see how Season plays out but if it’s not memorable again, maybe he too would have a warm seat? (TBD)
Bottom line, to me only 3 members of staff are on “watch list” (TBD) right now. Tom Allen has made (or had to make) changes after every season and I like almost all of those hires. Hence, I trust at end of season, depending on results, he would tweak as necessary to get the right staff in place.
With that, I am pulling for a great year with great results, and not rooting against anyone!
go Hoosiers!
He knows football well, especially the defensive side, but I don’t necessarily think he is a “Mastermind of X’ & O’s that gives your team an edge in a close game.”
That doesn’t have to be seen as a knock, as I do think he’s the right guy for the HC role. But like any good leader, it means he should be surrounded by a highly talented coaching staff, especially the coordinators, to delegate a lot of the game planning & in-game adjustments to so he can still set the tone and motivate & hold the staff accountable.
So as we go into game 2, there is a reason people are concerned about a few spots on the staff.
Assuming goal is a staff worthy enough to win B10 and ultimately make Championship playoffs, let’s review the staff.
On Defense, I like new DC Warren, his SEC pedigree, and even post Iowa, I didn’t really see a drop off or a bad game. The one run & not as many sacks/pressure were more critiques, but they played good enough to win.
Womack has ups/downs in his year one but was great last year. I think Warren has a more seasoned team for his year one and will be fine. Keeper.
DL (Peoples’s?) - he seems like a good one and like what I’ve seen here. Not sure we have quite level of DT talent we want yet but DE talent level is improving, and think he is of caliber enough for our goals. Keeper
Shelby Corners & Safeities coach (from Ole Miss) - think both are high caliber, we are getting good recruits, have had a much improved backfield and actually been one of our strengths. Keepers both!
Offense: OC in college FB is so complex and really can differentiate a team. We saw that with our one year with DeBoer. That man oozed creativity and confidence and I thought he used the tools he had very well.
Sheridan is definitely in “prove it” mode. On paper he fits casting: walk on QB at UM, loved by his OC there, time in SEC at Tenn, QB coach at IU, year as TE, and a chance to work under Deboer. Young sharp guy. But think it’s fair to say both he hasn’t been given truly enough time to be judged fairy (CV year last year was NOT normal) so one game so far this season. But he hasn’t already wowed us yet either thus far.
A FAIR assessment gives him this season to play out and see where we turn out. (Because let’s face it, if we beat Cinci, PSU on road & OSU at home and Penix & offense were lights out, people would not be calling for his head!)
But if I had been looking for an OC at time of this hire, I’d have liked to have seen something like QB coach from Clemson or Georgia or a very proven OC from a good program. Hence TBD here but I would LOVE to see Sheridan work out for record! (TBD)
OL Hiller - unlike Sheridan, Hiller has a 4-year body work going into this year 5, and I personally have not been sold on him. Yes I admit he didn’t pass the “eye test” initially but that’s superficial so I moved to just “how is the product on field?” I don’t think he has had unreal recruiting wins, and also had mediocre OL results. IU has had fairly good pass block success. Not perfect and has been lot of pressure but think fair assessment has been “good” pass pro. Running game? NOT been great and he is “run game coordinator” too. Season has started so will see how this year goes, but to me his seat is very warm. (TBD)
TE - forget his name but great HS HC experience and he seems solid. Like the talent getting in this room, think Hendershot gets chance to play in NFL. Keeper!
WR - Heard. Like the talent that’s been coming into this room too. He seems like a good recruiter and good developing players well too. Keeper!
RB - McCollough. I am borderline man crush here. He has a proven track record at highest levels, inspires great confidence and think he is a gold standard example of coaches we could have on staff. Double Keeper
ST - Coach T: I don’t love that he is ST & LB/Husky or whatever title that is too. I think IU could use a 100% ST coach only based on results. We have recruited best in class long snapper, FG kicker and think the Aussie punters all work out. That’s a credit to Tom Allen philosophy there in my view. (You don’t realize how nice it is to have those true experts at those spots until you don’t have them!)
But I haven’t been blown away with our kick return, coverage or same on punt return/coverage. It’s not been god awful, but also hardly best in class either. It’s been more like “meh!” Nothing too memorable. Will see how Season plays out but if it’s not memorable again, maybe he too would have a warm seat? (TBD)
Bottom line, to me only 3 members of staff are on “watch list” (TBD) right now. Tom Allen has made (or had to make) changes after every season and I like almost all of those hires. Hence, I trust at end of season, depending on results, he would tweak as necessary to get the right staff in place.
With that, I am pulling for a great year with great results, and not rooting against anyone!
go Hoosiers!
