For tranparency sake, I wanted
1) Lanning- for his defensive prowess and recruiting
2) Prime- for the absolute media juggernaut AU would have become for better or worse at a warp-speed rate
3) Lance Leiplod-because he's perhaps the best Xs and Os coach in college football
I was not a fan of the Freeze hire, because I assumed him a righteous gemstone, a charicature of a morally driven football coach, an SEC televangilist. Less than decade ago that assessment may have been correct. However, this far he has proven me drastically wrong, and I love it.
The Hugh Freeze that, along with Caddy, showed up and casually hung out with us lowly high school coaches in the boxes at the Super 7 games was charismatic, easy to engage, and seemed truly genuine. Same thing at the clinic last week, genuine, engaging, and charismatic.
I'm also impressed by the caliber people that he has hired, and the decisions he's made to retain. Montgomery and Roberts are OG field generals, in terms of their experience. Both, however, are also innovators in their own realms. Montgomery maximizes dual threat QBs and balances offenses as well as anyone in the game. Roberts is the origianl architect of the chaos defense that abounds in the SEC and upper levels of power 5 college football. Thornton is as energetic and engaging of a recruiter at the OL position as AU has ever had, and it is paying immediate dividends. His body of work at Ole Miss, putting an effective group on the field every single year, regardless of age or roster holes has been impressive. McGriff accentuates the strenghts of Zac Ethridge on the field and as a recruiter. Josh Aldridge may be my favorite hire, though. He's coordinator ready, just lacking p5 experience. Is relentless and thorough as a recruiter, speaking from personal experience with my own players, and has the kind of "Boom-Esque" energy you want from someone in that position.
I think all of these things are evident in the way that AU has been recruiting, and finished this class off. AU had McCall 100% in as well, until the academic situation was shown to be awry. I'm not sure that dance is over. With the improvement of the OL, the depth added on the DL, the returning secondary talent, and a loaded RB room..this team is Improved QB away from being an 8 win team, add a pass rush, and improved LB play and the ceiling becomes glass.
I think Freeze could win 8-9 with Ashford at QB, getting him to a 55% passer who throws 20 TDs to 7-9INts, that's beleivable. I don't think the team can be better than that-yet-with Robbie at QB.
Long term Freeze will have to continue to show he's a genuine and redeemed man, win some important QB recruiting battles, and own a multi-tude of favorable inroads with high school coaches in AL, GA, and FL. He will have to do a good job staffing AU when coaches move on, not flubbing hires that set position groups back for several recruiting cycles (Hand/JBGrimes/Brumbaugh).
There is momentum to be enjoyed at the moment, but there's a lot that must happen for it to translate to grass, and do so with posterity.
TLDR....SIW
1) Lanning- for his defensive prowess and recruiting
2) Prime- for the absolute media juggernaut AU would have become for better or worse at a warp-speed rate
3) Lance Leiplod-because he's perhaps the best Xs and Os coach in college football
I was not a fan of the Freeze hire, because I assumed him a righteous gemstone, a charicature of a morally driven football coach, an SEC televangilist. Less than decade ago that assessment may have been correct. However, this far he has proven me drastically wrong, and I love it.
The Hugh Freeze that, along with Caddy, showed up and casually hung out with us lowly high school coaches in the boxes at the Super 7 games was charismatic, easy to engage, and seemed truly genuine. Same thing at the clinic last week, genuine, engaging, and charismatic.
I'm also impressed by the caliber people that he has hired, and the decisions he's made to retain. Montgomery and Roberts are OG field generals, in terms of their experience. Both, however, are also innovators in their own realms. Montgomery maximizes dual threat QBs and balances offenses as well as anyone in the game. Roberts is the origianl architect of the chaos defense that abounds in the SEC and upper levels of power 5 college football. Thornton is as energetic and engaging of a recruiter at the OL position as AU has ever had, and it is paying immediate dividends. His body of work at Ole Miss, putting an effective group on the field every single year, regardless of age or roster holes has been impressive. McGriff accentuates the strenghts of Zac Ethridge on the field and as a recruiter. Josh Aldridge may be my favorite hire, though. He's coordinator ready, just lacking p5 experience. Is relentless and thorough as a recruiter, speaking from personal experience with my own players, and has the kind of "Boom-Esque" energy you want from someone in that position.
I think all of these things are evident in the way that AU has been recruiting, and finished this class off. AU had McCall 100% in as well, until the academic situation was shown to be awry. I'm not sure that dance is over. With the improvement of the OL, the depth added on the DL, the returning secondary talent, and a loaded RB room..this team is Improved QB away from being an 8 win team, add a pass rush, and improved LB play and the ceiling becomes glass.
I think Freeze could win 8-9 with Ashford at QB, getting him to a 55% passer who throws 20 TDs to 7-9INts, that's beleivable. I don't think the team can be better than that-yet-with Robbie at QB.
Long term Freeze will have to continue to show he's a genuine and redeemed man, win some important QB recruiting battles, and own a multi-tude of favorable inroads with high school coaches in AL, GA, and FL. He will have to do a good job staffing AU when coaches move on, not flubbing hires that set position groups back for several recruiting cycles (Hand/JBGrimes/Brumbaugh).
There is momentum to be enjoyed at the moment, but there's a lot that must happen for it to translate to grass, and do so with posterity.
TLDR....SIW
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