Nick Howell: Bronco yes man w/ no football resume now BYU's defensive coordinator

[Goatnapper'96]

Which he's ultimately responsible for.

I live my life to be around you standard-holder-uppers!

[Blueintheface]

Wait. Bronco isn't make defensive calls, he wants to focus more on the offense than he has in the past. So he gives Howell the job of DC. But doesn't have him making defensive calls either? The LB coach is the one doing that?

I'm so confused...

So is Howell. It's Bronco's world, and we are the unwashed, uneducated masses.

[Art Vandelay]

He's also not the guy punting, kicking off, or providing coverage, so what is your point? He was the guy in charge of making sure someone could hit a FG from beyond 20 yards. He failed at that, which cost us two games (off the top of my head).

Which he's ultimately responsible for.

What other options did he have. There is no less (easily) replaceable position on a college FB team than kicker. If there wasn't an adequate backup (and there wasn't), what was Howell suppose to do? Yell more? Yell less? Unless he did something to specifically turn the unicycle rider into more of a headcase, I place zero blame on him.

[Goatnapper'96]

What other options did he have. There is no less (easily) replaceable position on a college FB team than kicker. If there wasn't an adequate backup (and there wasn't), what was Howell suppose to do? Yell more? Yell less? Unless he did something to specifically turn the unicycle rider into more of a headcase, I place zero blame on him.

You clearly allow your personal standards to be lowered. Some have balls of platinum and just don't stand for that type of shit! You, sir, are no standar-holder-upper!

[dabrockster]

Howell explains the new title.



http://www.coachingsearch.com/home/2...esnt-mean.html

I am not sure what I think about his quote. Either he is trying to be humble and understands his place, or Bronco does reward a guy in title for being like him?? If Paul Tidwell is calling the plays then why does he not have the title..


I just don't get it..

[Jacob]

For a quick insight into how much shared experience matters to players, here's a nice quote from Alisa:

“Coach Atuaia is a motivator...” said Alisa. “You know, he gets it. He’s been in our shoes at this very institution, and so he knows what we need to do to get to where we need to be.”

Among other things I'm imagining the parent of a non-LDS (or marginally LDS) non-white defensive star being recruited by Howell. "OK - so as someone who has never experienced the pressures of being a D1 athlete, you're the guy who's going to mentor my son through this difficult environment. As someone who didn't play pro ball, didn't play college ball, and wasn't even a standout high school football player, you're the guy in charge of getting my son to the next level. As someone who has never left the state of Utah for anything other than an LDS mission, I'm relying on you to understand where my kid is coming from."

Again - I hope I'm wildly, embarrassingly wrong - that Howell is a defensive football genius just about to explode from his cocoon. But even if he is - why not give him more time to develop?

This just feels like more Riley-style personality-based decision-making from Bronco.

The great thing is - because Bronco will be really overseeing the defense, it will be nearly impossible to evaluate Howell's actual performance in the foreseeable future.

I'm not saying you will be embarrassingly wrong. I've no opinion one way or the other (except that this seems like nothing to get worked up about). But it should be a little embarrassing that you think that only former college football players are capable of quality coaching. What is it, do you suppose, that makes a gut who played college football a superior coach to a guy who is merely a student of the game with coaching experience? Was it the conditioning drills? Private access to the playbooks? Is it the superior athletic ability of a former college athlete that automatically makes him a better coach?

Since college athletes are more likely to be less intelligent than your average college graduate, I don't see why they should be given special consideration when the job entails management and teaching duties, and requires absolutely no athletic ability.

[Indy Coug]

I'm not real worked about the "only a former football player should be a coach" argument, but successful players typically have also been students of the game for a long time and as a result have built up a significant amount of knowledge about the game. That usually gives them a leg up on other people.

[Flystripper]

The only thing I worry about is how this headscratcher of a title/promotion impacts the working relationships of the members of the defensive staff. How does Tidwell like calling plays for a defensive backs coach with a defensive coordinator title? How does Kafusi like being passed over for a nice bump in title? I think it is a bad decision that admittedly might not have much initial impact in on-field results this season, but will likely sew seeds of dissent that will not be good for the program in the long run.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

He's also not the guy punting, kicking off, or providing coverage, so what is your point? He was the guy in charge of making sure someone could hit a FG from beyond 20 yards. He failed at that, which cost us two games (off the top of my head).

I'm so damn happy the Ducks ran that idiot Chip out of town, all those missed FGs! Buck stops at the HC.

[BigPiney]

I like that Tidwell has been calling the plays. Guy has been a coach forever and was the HC at Snow. He knows what he is doing.

[Flystripper]

I like that Tidwell has been calling the plays. Guy has been a coach forever and was the HC at Snow. He knows what he is doing.

sooo why not make him the DC?

[BigPiney]

sooo why not make him the DC?

no idea, other than he is probably 5 years from retiring (just speculation). Still not a good reason though.

[Green Monstah]

I'm so damn happy the Ducks ran that idiot Chip out of town, all those missed FGs! Buck stops at the HC.

How many games did it cost you?

Key error: taking Stephenson off FGs. Second key error: not replacing Sorenson for 2013.

[Art Vandelay]

How many national championships did it cost you?

fify

[Green Monstah]

What other options did he have. There is no less (easily) replaceable position on a college FB team than kicker. If there wasn't an adequate backup (and there wasn't), what was Howell suppose to do? Yell more? Yell less? Unless he did something to specifically turn the unicycle rider into more of a headcase, I place zero blame on him.

I disagree. Stephenson should have never been let relieved of FG kicking duties, IMO. In addition, if what you say holds true, then we can't give coach credit for all of Stephenson's amazing punts either.

maybe because coverages and blocking are about assignments and can be coached whereas our kicker was injured and by mid season his head was so messed up that he needed a psychologist not a coach.

I think it's pretty clear that he needs both, but I concede your other points.