David Blough and the Offensive Staffing Thread

[Deebs31]

Judging these guys off a press conference is the biggest waste of time. Who cares?

 

[Dlts20]

 

[heisenberg]

Judging these guys off a press conference is the biggest waste of time. Who cares?

Nobody is saying its the end all be all just that you can glean certain things that have the potential to be important.

Its like when you see an impressive resumé, you may want to hire the person on the spot but you still conduct at least one in person interview so that you can get information as to their confidence, their character, their ability to articulate to those they intend to teach etc.

It is important and first impressions are Daronte excels in these areas and blough was less impressive but hes also 17 years younger and far less experienced so thats to be expected.

 

[Conn]

So cool how our team was so bad that we had to clear the table of both coordinators, but we still had so many studly assistant-to-the-assistant position coaches that we were able to just easily promote 3-4 of them in order to assemble the best possible staff. Wow. Always a blessing when the best people happen to already be in-house in so many cases. Rare you see a staff so good that only the coordinators themselves were really the issue, guess we should expect an easy bounce back with all these great ideas already percolating in the building

 

[Conn]

 

[Primus Porcus]

So cool how our team was so bad that we had to clear the table of both coordinators, but we still had so many studly assistant-to-the-assistant position coaches that we were able to just easily promote 3-4 of them in order to assemble the best possible staff. Wow. Always a blessing when the best people happen to already be in-house in so many cases. Rare you see a staff so good that only the coordinators themselves were really the issue, guess we should expect an easy bounce back with all these great ideas already percolating in the building

The coaching staff that spawned one of the bigger coaching trees in the current NFL had 5 future head coaches… and went 3-13.

No I’m not saying that Blough will be the next McVay, but there’s a lot of factors involved.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

So cool how our team was so bad that we had to clear the table of both coordinators, but we still had so many studly assistant-to-the-assistant position coaches that we were able to just easily promote 3-4 of them in order to assemble the best possible staff. Wow. Always a blessing when the best people happen to already be in-house in so many cases. Rare you see a staff so good that only the coordinators themselves were really the issue, guess we should expect an easy bounce back with all these great ideas already percolating in the building

Dang, you sour!

Haha.

I get it, you're not wrong - and I think ultimately this is the DQ problem. I just don't think his analytical process as an organizational leader makes much sense.
I am also starting to question AP in the same vein, it feels like there are some obvious issues being missed. It's possible that AP just needs to have it play out though. I'm not certain AP will get another shot from Harris if this blows up. We will see.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

The coaching staff that spawned one of the bigger coaching trees in the current NFL had 5 future head coaches… and went 3-13.

No I’m not saying that Blough will be the next McVay, but there’s a lot of factors involved.

Overall, I wouldn't be so concerned, but right now I have some big doubts on Stapleton. Not that he's "bad" but that we could have done better; I think that particular choice plus keeping Donatell. It feels like we could (and needed) to do better with OL coach right off the bat, and then for Donatell, frankly? I don't remember a lot of secondaries that looked so totally discombobulated as ours did for multiple games. It wasn't getting fixed. We also had other issues beyond just communication. To me, there were some clear Donatell issues.

As always, I guess we'll see how it shakes out. Hope springs eternal. Sort of (in year-3). Haha

 

[Conn]

The coaching staff that spawned one of the bigger coaching trees in the current NFL had 5 future head coaches… and went 3-13.

No I’m not saying that Blough will be the next McVay, but there’s a lot of factors involved.

Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it is.

 

[Dlts20]

Johnson is 2bd and O'Connell is 10th so I'm pretty sure that Blough will do a lot more than Kliff

 

[Conn]

Dang, you sour!

Haha.

I get it, you're not wrong - and I think ultimately this is the DQ problem. I just don't think his analytical process as an organizational leader makes much sense.
I am also starting to question AP in the same vein, it feels like there are some obvious issues being missed. It's possible that AP just needs to have it play out though. I'm not certain AP will get another shot from Harris if this blows up. We will see.

I went a little overboard to make my point but I really, really do not like the hiring process we embarked on. I think it’s bad. And there’s nothing worse for an org, long term, than bad process.

And I’m talking about the whole thing. I actually like the Jones hire, and I get why people are talking themselves into Blough. The upside is real.

But I don’t like the process. Especially with the assistants (though I think that’s mostly just evidence that it’s hard to hire outside assistants when a HC is starting over at both coordinator spots going into year 3. Which is another problem in itself).

Makes me think that Quinn could luck into a great staff, but it would never be sustainable. Steals my long term confidence in this operation.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it is

Not sure what is?

Your post was passive aggressive, I was simply saying bad teams can have quality assistants

 

[Conn]

Not sure what is?

Your post was passive aggressive, I was simply saying bad teams can have quality assistants

It wasn’t passive aggressive, it was sarcastic and acidic.

Bad teams can have quality assistants, sure. I’m sure that’s what it was, our staff just happened to have a bunch of really great assistant-to-the-position coaches ready to be promoted. It’s not a sign that we couldn’t attract qualified, excellent outside assistants to what is perceived as a sinking ship. It’s that we had the best candidates in-house already.

Come on. I went overboard with my tone on purpose to really drive the point home, but it’s obviously because Quinn wasn’t able to attract outside assistants as a perceived “hot seat” candidate. So we promoted from within a questionable staff, out of necessity.

That’s pretty scary.

 

[Conn]

Anthony Lynn is no longer the Run Game Coordinator, he’s just RB’s coach. That’s interesting

 

[Dlts20]

So cool how our team was so bad that we had to clear the table of both coordinators, but we still had so many studly assistant-to-the-assistant position coaches that we were able to just easily promote 3-4 of them in order to assemble the best possible staff. Wow. Always a blessing when the best people happen to already be in-house in so many cases. Rare you see a staff so good that only the coordinators themselves were really the issue, guess we should expect an easy bounce back with all these great ideas already percolating in the building

We did go to the NFC Championship the prior season and had the most injuries by far this season. While being complete trash, we still had a fair amount of close games to where we could've been a. 500 team, even with a tough schedule.

We may not have been as good as an nfc championship game organization but with our cap space, a top 7 pick, more health, it wouldn't be shocking to see us be far more competitive next season

 

[Primus Porcus]

It wasn’t passive aggressive, it was sarcastic and acidic.

Bad teams can have quality assistants, sure. I’m sure that’s what it was, our staff just happened to have a bunch of really great assistant-to-the-position coaches ready to be promoted. It’s not a sign that we couldn’t attract qualified, excellent outside assistants to what is perceived as a sinking ship. It’s that we had the best candidates in-house already.

Come on. I went overboard with my tone on purpose to really drive the point home, but it’s obviously because Quinn wasn’t able to attract outside assistants as a perceived “hot seat” candidate. So we promoted from within a questionable staff, out of necessity.

That’s pretty scary.

Maybe his ‘hot seat’ played a role, but at some point what’s the alternative? Keep Joe Whitt because you’re afraid you can’t get better options, and hope for the best?


At some point, what can this coaching staff and front office do, outside of getting fired? Why is it a failure before it’s even happened?

 

[Conn]

We did go to the NFC Championship the prior season and had the most injuries by far this season. While being complete trash, we still had a fair amount of close games to where we could've been a. 500 team, even with a tough schedule.

We may not have been as good as an nfc championship game organization but with our cap space, a top 7 pick, more health, it wouldn't be shocking to see us be far more competitive next season

I don’t disagree with any of that, that’s definitely where the hope lies. Lots of money to spend, a high first and third round pick, Daniels coming back healthy, a fresh start on both sides of the ball, the team never gave up on Quinn.

I’m not a doom & gloomer.

I just don’t think this iteration of this organization has a healthy hiring process for things like this. Or that there’s league wide skepticism of the Quinn regime that makes us undertake a half-baked process, because we don’t have better options. Bad in a different way.

It makes me question the long term viability of this operation. It’s frustrating because it feels like I can’t settle in and trust the current brain trust.

But there are still plenty of positives for this coming season

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

It wasn’t passive aggressive, it was sarcastic and acidic.

Bad teams can have quality assistants, sure. I’m sure that’s what it was, our staff just happened to have a bunch of really great assistant-to-the-position coaches ready to be promoted. It’s not a sign that we couldn’t attract qualified, excellent outside assistants to what is perceived as a sinking ship. It’s that we had the best candidates in-house already.

Come on. I went overboard with my tone on purpose to really drive the point home, but it’s obviously because Quinn wasn’t able to attract outside assistants as a perceived “hot seat” candidate. So we promoted from within a questionable staff, out of necessity.

That’s pretty scary.

Oh, I'm not sure you're right. I'm not sure DQ did a lot of outside interviewing. What was reported there? As I recall, not a whole lot (for OC in particular).

You know, Blough referenced in his presser that he felt strongly he was being prepped for this moment. He said they gave him exposure to all of the different facets, little by little (basically he said this, I am paraphrasing slightly).

I do think this confirms what many of us have felt; this was the plan. I think DQ is probably patting himself on the back for that. Once you put a first timer OC in place who is that young, though - I don't know how realistic it is for you to get (or in some cases, to want) a bunch of outside guys to step in. They may not even be willing to fall in line to the young guy. This group knows him, and may have been at least somewhat aware that this was the plan (they probably witnessed what Blough was doing).

As for DC, they did an outside hire. For his assistants - I am surprised. I thought Daronte himself would possibly get some new blood in. They did do some changes there. Overall, I think both units will be interesting at the very least due to the changes put in place.

However - as to the idea that DQ's process is broken which dampens long-term enthusiasm? Yes, I agree. I don't know a lot of HCs who I think have this kind of mentality who are perennial playoff guys. So, that's kind of what I expect at this point; under DQ, we won't be. Just my thinking based on what I can see from the way he has navigated the last 2.1 years.

 

[heisenberg]

Anthony Lynn is no longer the Run Game Coordinator, he’s just RB’s coach. That’s interesting

Really weird vibe going on.
I cant recall ever seeing so much coaching shuffling going on.
Multiple guys promoted after firings and then Multiple guys demoted.

Just feels weird and im really surprised a former head coach was willing to take a demotion to something now essentially 3 steps below that.

Maybe its going to blow up in our face or maybe its a testament to how much people really like this environment and are willing to do whatever it takes to stick around and help see it succeed.

 

[bowhunter]

So cool how our team was so bad that we had to clear the table of both coordinators, but we still had so many studly assistant-to-the-assistant position coaches that we were able to just easily promote 3-4 of them in order to assemble the best possible staff. Wow. Always a blessing when the best people happen to already be in-house in so many cases. Rare you see a staff so good that only the coordinators themselves were really the issue, guess we should expect an easy bounce back with all these great ideas already percolating in the building

"a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown"