Big picture, Auburn was in need of a cultural change, not because there was a losing culture but rather a stagnant culture. In doing so, you have to eliminate as many of the stangation inducing factors and progress limiting factors as you can, all the while crafting a singular unit that shares a singular objective vision. Harsin has done that in spades with his staff hirings thus far.
First off, I am a big fan of Ryan Russell as an S&C coach, and believe he will do well beyind AU. He did what he was asked to do by his head coach, train a team for HUNH tempo (frequent sub maximal force production at extremely high frequencies), even though AU was not functioning as a HUNH team anymore. This created a physiological disconnect on the field of play, which lead to lesser physical strenght at the point of attack, and probaby a slight lack of protective muscle tissue built through hypertrophy ( resulting in increased soft tissue injuries around joints). Not keeping Russell was not an indictment on his abilities, but rather a necessary change to input an S&C coach who is a necessary direct extension of the head coach. Pittman's resume is built by his ability to develop and accentuate strength and power in the trenches, build "hurtin' pounds" on guys who play at the primary point of attack. I think that definitely addresses an existing weakness. Whether or not the speed and agility development of skill position players remains at high level, or becomes championship level, will be the utlimate deciding factor on the overall impact of this hire, though. You can't strengthen a weakness while simulataniosuly weakening a strength and get better. I beleive this hire will be a win.
Harsin is a big time "winning culture" leader, who beleives that culture > everything else when building a program. The only possible argumet there on my end would be recruiting has to be top shelf in order for good culture to be great/winning culture. So Harsin brought along his two primary "must have" culture guys in Schmedding and Bedell. Schmedding offers not only a direct cultural connection to Harsin, but a position coach with successful coordinator experience, which is invaluable. He becomes much more impactful as a coach who can help gameplan week to week and make in game adjustments. He doesn't have an impressive existing southeastern recruiting acumen, but offers a deep and comprehensive resume as an on field football coach. Bedell brings recent NFL playing experience, and the track record of a position coach that produced frequent all conference players and developed some NFL players from low rated recruits. His transiton to coaching TEs again exemplifies Harsin's devotion to winning at the point of attack, here in the run game. Bedell is a good choice to inherit lead and improve a deep tight end room for an offense that will use multiple tight ends at a high rate. He's also an energetic spark plug of a human being that is well-versed in Harsin philosophy. A necessary hire.
Mason is a homerun DC hire. I really don't think AU could have done any better. He will scheme well, recruit well, and charismatically represent the program in a positive light. Mason's presence as a man is a huge bump for any staff, his defensive acumen is icing on that cake. I expect him to base from nickel personnel with the ability to get to Okie/3-4 vs 20 and 21 personnel.
Mike Bobo, IMO, was hired to make sure Bo Nix reaches his potential as AU's franchise quarterback, as well as recruit and develop his successor. I think his UGA tenure, where he had upper tier SEC talent is more representative of who he is as an OC than his time at SC. He, like Harsin, wants to win with a run first mindset utlilizing multiple sets and groupings to create blocking angles.
Cadillac was a necessary keep in order to ensure AU kept their most talented player on campus. BUT, he's also young enough in his coaching career to offer Harsin much of a blank slate to create a young coach that is built in the mold he wants, rather than entrenched in the previous regime's mindset and concepts. Harsin will be good for Carnell the coach, and Carnell the coach will be great as a recruiter for Harsin's program.
OL Coach Will Friend fills the niche that was perhaps the downfall of the Malzahn regime, a recruiter and developer of top tier offensive line talent. Auburn can't progress being gAUrd U, they need OT talent and to put some OL in the NFL. Friend has done both consistently. His recruiting prowess is already paying dividends, and he should be able to maximize the ability of the JUCO OTs Auburn brought in last season if no further additions are made via transfers.
If you want a stock to watch rise, watch Cornelious Williams. He's going to be a BIG TIME name in the profession. He offers tremendous fundamental coaching ability and desire, along with a swag and charisma that will rival that of DCraig or Trooper, with a more refined presence. I think his vertical progression in the coaching ranks will be one to watch, and two years from now he may be considered AU's most valuable assistant.
Zac Ethridge is an intersting hire, he's had experience coaching the secondaries for head coaches that employ more complex passing schemes and has a good understanding of what modern offense is and how defending it should be taught. He has the mentality and willingness to be a star pupil under a coordinator the likes of Mason. He's also a very relatable and energetic recruiter who can sell AU from a real and personal perspective. He's already making his presence felt in south AL and north Fla.
Bert Watts is the same kind of hire as Schmedding. He has legitimate and successful coordinator experience that will prove valuable in game planning and adjustments in game. It also means his organizational skills as a coordinator are well-developed, and will be impactful at the special teams level. Recruiting will be a question mark here, but with an already strong staff in that regard, you don't take an automatic L here.
Tracey Rocker, as a man, as an AU legend, and as an on-the-field developer of his positional players is beyond reproach. Rocker has never been, even 15 years ago when he was the DL coach for a team I played on, an elite recruiter or someone who desired to be. He just doesn't have that salesman's level of bullshit in him. What I did see him do was turn a stiff-hipped safety/receiver into a first round draft pick and NFL hall of famer, and turn a fluffy 300lb soccer player from Nigeria who was signed as the ultimate "project" into an 8 time NFL ALL-Pro. (Ware and Umenyora) If you're a football guy and around Rock, you can't help but love him! He will be the best thing that could have happened to Wooden, Hardy, and Walker. The staff around him will have to wing-man him to keep the DL cupboard full.
Like I was with Ryan Russell, I was a HUGE TWill fan, but I understand the move on from him as the LB coach. Harsin is the new guy, and has to have guys that are 100% loyal to him and his persona. TWIll is a big personality, and could be an overwhelming presence in the locker room, intentionally or not. Auburn is Harsin's brand now, and can't be held up by anyone else's be it positive or not. Never doubt Travis's loyalty or love for Auburn, he bleeds it. This will also allow him to move on and make the necessary growth he needs as a coach, to eventually become a DC and possibly an eventual HC. He needs that.
I hope Covid protocols allow us as HS coaches to make some on campus visits to AU for spring ball. I am extremely intrigued and encouraged by this group that has been put together, and I want to see it in action. I do worry that this recruting class may not be completely salvagable and unless the 1 time transfer rule is put into place sooner than Emmert wants it to be, immediate help from the portal might not be an option. Regardless, win or lose from here on out, AU has hired a legitimate commander and allowed him to staff himself with some key generals and top tier assets.
First off, I am a big fan of Ryan Russell as an S&C coach, and believe he will do well beyind AU. He did what he was asked to do by his head coach, train a team for HUNH tempo (frequent sub maximal force production at extremely high frequencies), even though AU was not functioning as a HUNH team anymore. This created a physiological disconnect on the field of play, which lead to lesser physical strenght at the point of attack, and probaby a slight lack of protective muscle tissue built through hypertrophy ( resulting in increased soft tissue injuries around joints). Not keeping Russell was not an indictment on his abilities, but rather a necessary change to input an S&C coach who is a necessary direct extension of the head coach. Pittman's resume is built by his ability to develop and accentuate strength and power in the trenches, build "hurtin' pounds" on guys who play at the primary point of attack. I think that definitely addresses an existing weakness. Whether or not the speed and agility development of skill position players remains at high level, or becomes championship level, will be the utlimate deciding factor on the overall impact of this hire, though. You can't strengthen a weakness while simulataniosuly weakening a strength and get better. I beleive this hire will be a win.
Harsin is a big time "winning culture" leader, who beleives that culture > everything else when building a program. The only possible argumet there on my end would be recruiting has to be top shelf in order for good culture to be great/winning culture. So Harsin brought along his two primary "must have" culture guys in Schmedding and Bedell. Schmedding offers not only a direct cultural connection to Harsin, but a position coach with successful coordinator experience, which is invaluable. He becomes much more impactful as a coach who can help gameplan week to week and make in game adjustments. He doesn't have an impressive existing southeastern recruiting acumen, but offers a deep and comprehensive resume as an on field football coach. Bedell brings recent NFL playing experience, and the track record of a position coach that produced frequent all conference players and developed some NFL players from low rated recruits. His transiton to coaching TEs again exemplifies Harsin's devotion to winning at the point of attack, here in the run game. Bedell is a good choice to inherit lead and improve a deep tight end room for an offense that will use multiple tight ends at a high rate. He's also an energetic spark plug of a human being that is well-versed in Harsin philosophy. A necessary hire.
Mason is a homerun DC hire. I really don't think AU could have done any better. He will scheme well, recruit well, and charismatically represent the program in a positive light. Mason's presence as a man is a huge bump for any staff, his defensive acumen is icing on that cake. I expect him to base from nickel personnel with the ability to get to Okie/3-4 vs 20 and 21 personnel.
Mike Bobo, IMO, was hired to make sure Bo Nix reaches his potential as AU's franchise quarterback, as well as recruit and develop his successor. I think his UGA tenure, where he had upper tier SEC talent is more representative of who he is as an OC than his time at SC. He, like Harsin, wants to win with a run first mindset utlilizing multiple sets and groupings to create blocking angles.
Cadillac was a necessary keep in order to ensure AU kept their most talented player on campus. BUT, he's also young enough in his coaching career to offer Harsin much of a blank slate to create a young coach that is built in the mold he wants, rather than entrenched in the previous regime's mindset and concepts. Harsin will be good for Carnell the coach, and Carnell the coach will be great as a recruiter for Harsin's program.
OL Coach Will Friend fills the niche that was perhaps the downfall of the Malzahn regime, a recruiter and developer of top tier offensive line talent. Auburn can't progress being gAUrd U, they need OT talent and to put some OL in the NFL. Friend has done both consistently. His recruiting prowess is already paying dividends, and he should be able to maximize the ability of the JUCO OTs Auburn brought in last season if no further additions are made via transfers.
If you want a stock to watch rise, watch Cornelious Williams. He's going to be a BIG TIME name in the profession. He offers tremendous fundamental coaching ability and desire, along with a swag and charisma that will rival that of DCraig or Trooper, with a more refined presence. I think his vertical progression in the coaching ranks will be one to watch, and two years from now he may be considered AU's most valuable assistant.
Zac Ethridge is an intersting hire, he's had experience coaching the secondaries for head coaches that employ more complex passing schemes and has a good understanding of what modern offense is and how defending it should be taught. He has the mentality and willingness to be a star pupil under a coordinator the likes of Mason. He's also a very relatable and energetic recruiter who can sell AU from a real and personal perspective. He's already making his presence felt in south AL and north Fla.
Bert Watts is the same kind of hire as Schmedding. He has legitimate and successful coordinator experience that will prove valuable in game planning and adjustments in game. It also means his organizational skills as a coordinator are well-developed, and will be impactful at the special teams level. Recruiting will be a question mark here, but with an already strong staff in that regard, you don't take an automatic L here.
Tracey Rocker, as a man, as an AU legend, and as an on-the-field developer of his positional players is beyond reproach. Rocker has never been, even 15 years ago when he was the DL coach for a team I played on, an elite recruiter or someone who desired to be. He just doesn't have that salesman's level of bullshit in him. What I did see him do was turn a stiff-hipped safety/receiver into a first round draft pick and NFL hall of famer, and turn a fluffy 300lb soccer player from Nigeria who was signed as the ultimate "project" into an 8 time NFL ALL-Pro. (Ware and Umenyora) If you're a football guy and around Rock, you can't help but love him! He will be the best thing that could have happened to Wooden, Hardy, and Walker. The staff around him will have to wing-man him to keep the DL cupboard full.
Like I was with Ryan Russell, I was a HUGE TWill fan, but I understand the move on from him as the LB coach. Harsin is the new guy, and has to have guys that are 100% loyal to him and his persona. TWIll is a big personality, and could be an overwhelming presence in the locker room, intentionally or not. Auburn is Harsin's brand now, and can't be held up by anyone else's be it positive or not. Never doubt Travis's loyalty or love for Auburn, he bleeds it. This will also allow him to move on and make the necessary growth he needs as a coach, to eventually become a DC and possibly an eventual HC. He needs that.
I hope Covid protocols allow us as HS coaches to make some on campus visits to AU for spring ball. I am extremely intrigued and encouraged by this group that has been put together, and I want to see it in action. I do worry that this recruting class may not be completely salvagable and unless the 1 time transfer rule is put into place sooner than Emmert wants it to be, immediate help from the portal might not be an option. Regardless, win or lose from here on out, AU has hired a legitimate commander and allowed him to staff himself with some key generals and top tier assets.
Last edited:
