In Reply to: Re: I’m hoping for a Tony White HC/ Foster OC combo set-up. posted by SehornBlew on February 11, 2024 at 14:51:24
… but this is an almost unprecedented screw-job by Chip and a potentially catastrophic set of fumbles by Jarmond.
Our lack of NIL support is widely reported.
Our HS recruiting is abysmal.
The players will have carte blanche to jump ship.
Our DC was poached by $C.
More than ever, we’re being seen as not a real football school.
And Chip ejects after NSD to save his own lazy *ss in freaking FEBRUARY after not doing his job from December on.
We need people - talented, capable, diligent, energetic people - to get people willing to invest time and MONEY and full-throated support into the program from the ground up.
We need to hold onto the players we still have so we’re not fielding a dozen walk-ons in our first year in the Big Whatever.
If the players love Foster and Malloe, then keep 1 or both of them - even if just to keep the ship from sinking.
And if we’re going to get people believing in UCLA football again enough to buy tickets, support a team that’s on the ropes and without a mouthpiece, AND fund the NIL war chest, we need either:
(1) a well-known to the non-UCLA public, blockbuster hire - like an NFL-certified coordinator like Eric Bienemy, OR
(2) a well-known TO UCLA FANS up-and-comer who is young enough, hungry enough, and CREDIBLE enough to take the reins.
That 2nd option would be Tony White. Already a D-coordinator at 3 different schools. A protege of one of our legendary DCs in Rocky along. AND someone used to recruiting the West while at SDSU and ASU.
Having Foster at OC would help Raiders save face in losing him - ‘cause how can they say no to a coach being given a clear promotion at his alma mater after such a surprise (cheap shot) move by Kelly? Plus, with Foster having EIGHT years as a college RB coach, RB being potentially our most talent-deep skill position, AND a solid game manager as our QB, it actually makes sense to have Foster there.
That being said, if Tommy Rees came in as our OC, I wouldn’t mind that either as a balance to White. 3 years as OC at Notre Dame and Alabama is solid experience for us at this late stage if the offseason.
But if we don’t bring back Foster into the fold, then we absolutely need to keep Malloe for continuity and life-support for our roster. He is well-liked by players and has a couple years coordinator experience already. We need capable and trusted leadership in a chaotic off-season like this. I worry that he might potentially clash with White - a Rocky Long-style D doesn’t work with everyone, everywhere - but if having 2 D-minded leaders at the top helps instill an overall sense of bunker-mentality toughness, that could be just what we need to weather the storms this year.
So that’s my call at this stage of the game. Fingers crossed…