Mike Roach
Staff
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2013
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With reports that Texas will hire Clay Jennings out there, it looks like the Longhorn staff is coming together. After an eventful end to the recruiting season, Texas was rocked with more turnover that once again revealed some potential instability. Charlie Strong moved quick to secure replacements for his openings, while fighting off A&M for one of his other assistants. The bottom line is that constant turnover cannot be spun. It's not a good thing, and it can cause a lot of issues both on the field and the recruiting trail. That said, I think this Texas staff is as good as it's ever been. With a staff in need of coaching for their boss's life, this might be the best possible group to do it. So let's assume the ink is dry on the Jennings contract, and the formal announcement is coming soon. I give you the 2016 Texas football coaching staff.
Charlie Strong - Head Coach
The head man enters a do or die season on the 40 acres, and he'll likely be doing it without a ton of familiar faces around. Fans and donors alike are antsy for a clear sign of progress, and Strong will be bolstered by the strength of two very good recruiting classes. Texas can't afford another bad year full of blowouts, and the schedule is certainly doing them no favors in the early part. Every time Strong has had his back against the wall, he's pulled something out of his sleeve to buy more time. Is he finally going to come into his own this year, or is he all out of tricks?
Sterlin Gilbert - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
The perceived savior of Charlie's job arrives with his new toys and high powered offense. An Art Briles disciple with breakout potential, Gilbert could make his star turn if he solves the Longhorns' offensive woes and provides some quarterback development. Gilbert has a tough job in front of him as well. His current crop of quarterbacks all have major question marks surrounding them, and he doesn't have the luxury of time afforded to most big time guys. If he can turn water into wine, Gilbert has the chance to ring up big time numbers considering the athletes Texas has on the offensive side of the ball. It all comes down to the trigger man, and Gilbert will have a heck of a time sorting that situation out. The good news is he's experienced at the QB development part, and his offense is more simplified than Strong's previous versions.
Matt Mattox - Offensive Line/Run game coordinator
Mattox has the benefit of following Joe Wickline, and while Wick wasn't much for recruiting he certainly got some development out of a downright bad position group. Texas saw an influx of talent at the position over the last two seasons, but this team did power run fairly well. Mattox will have to plug some holes early on, while relying on guys with little to no experience. He does have two young anchors in Patrick Vahe and Connor Williams, and last year's group should be ready to start pushing for playing time. Mattox has already showed great returns as a recruiter, and if he can continue that and positive development with the guys on campus, it will go a long way.
Anthony Johnson - Running Backs
Anthony Johnson appears to be just what the doctor ordered at running back coach. The former Texas player is young and energetic, and just about everyone we've talked to is really excited about what he can do in recruiting. Coaching runners might be one of the easiest jobs in sports, and a stable of D'Onta Foreman, Chris Warren, Kirk Johnson, and Kyle Porter take more weight off of the young coach's shoulders. While Tommie Robinson was a very good coach, he was a low effort recruiter. You can have that at some positions, but the original Texas staff just had too many of those guys. Expect to see Johnson grinding out on the recruiting trail.
Jeff Traylor - Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
Everyone's favorite former high school coach has adjusted quickly to the collegiate level. Traylor earned big wins on the recruiting trail this year, and he's quickly become a trusted adviser to Charlie Strong. Traylor even fielded offers for promotions from other programs, and you can bet that was only the beginning. If the Texas staff can succeed, I expect Traylor to be a big part of it. He will surely stick close with Sterlin Gilbert and soak up as much as he can, because if everything goes to plan he will be in line to take over when Gilbert is offered a head coaching position. Traylor's recruiting work in east Texas is extremely valuable to the staff, and he's also one of the few links left between the old staff and the new.
Charles Williams - Wide Receivers
We touched on this in Burnt Ends, but Williams is the perfect elder statesman for the coaching staff. His experience runs deep at both the college and professional level, and he will be called upon to teach a young but talented group of pass catchers. Jay Norvell was also a very good teacher of the game, so this change might not move the needle much, but Texas didn't lose anything at the position as far as coaching. It remains to be seen what impact he can make in recruiting, but anything he gives you there is bonus. Texas has assembled the type of staff that makes this hire fit, and I like this choice in the context of that staff.
Vance Bedford - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
The truth of the matter is, Bedford might be the coach on staff with the most to prove this year. His defensive performance was lacking quite a bit last season, and he's not a plus recruiter. That said, we think Bedford will always be with Charlie unless he has no choice but to dismiss him. The good news for Bedford is that all of those young guys he played last year are older. He's also getting an influx of talent to deploy and finally add depth to a defense that was thinning. Bedford will once again have to game plan against some explosive offenses, but we expect the youthful mistakes to decrease just a bit.
Brick Haley - Defensive Line
The opinions on Haley are wide ranging, but the fact that he chose to stay in Austin was a big win for Texas. The Longhorns couldn't afford any more bad press or questions about stability, and losing Haley to A&M would have been disastrous from a perception standpoint. I personally think Haley did a pretty good job last season with his unit, and he was a big key to the haul that Texas was able to pull from Louisiana. Haley will have a new stable of defensive line help to work with, and he will have to get them up to speed quickly in order to provide needed depth. Was an upgrade out there if Haley left? Possibly, but outside of Clint Hurtt I'm not sure where it was, and Hurtt just wasn't going to happen.
Brian Jean-Mary - Linebackers
The heir apparent to the DC throne should Bedford ever leave, BJM proved to be the best recruiter on the Texas staff over the last two seasons. Jean-Mary is another one of Charlie's closest allies, and he's got a young but talented group to work with. His toughest task will be finding playing time for the stable of horses he's accumulated. Along with Traylor, BJ might be one of the untouchable assistants on this team given what he brings to the program. He didn't entertain any thoughts of leaving that we are aware of, but it won't be long before other programs try to pry him away.
Clay Jennings - Defensive Backs
It's unfortunate that Chris Vaughn lost his job amid the findings of the Ole Miss investigation, but I think Texas knocked one out of the park when they hired Clay Jennings away from Arkansas. While Vaughn was a capable recruiter, Texas didn't get worse at the position. An argument could be made that they actually got better. Jennings was big time for TCU in identifying some top notch defensive backs, and he's responsible for the resurgence of Arkansas in Texas recruiting. Our source close to the Razorbacks told us Jennings is "a down to earth guy that relates well to recruits, parents, and high school coaches. He recruited parts of Dallas, central Texas, and Houston. His players love him and play hard for him". We talked to a Texas high school coach familiar with Jennings who told us "He's a very technical coach with a great reputation among Texas high school coaches. He is a great recruiter and just a genuinely nice person". Jennings has some talent in his group, but like many other positions they are young and will be called upon to play early.
In summation, I think this is probably the best staff Charlie Strong has ever had coaching under him. While the turnover can be alarming, it has to provide some comfort that he's going into a make or break season with this type of crew around him. Texas upgraded the recruiting staff at just about every position on the offensive side of the ball, while maintaining the strong recruiters they had on the defensive side. Will it all work? That's anyone's guess, but on paper this looks like a staff that can come together and find something special. Only time will tell.
Charlie Strong - Head Coach
The head man enters a do or die season on the 40 acres, and he'll likely be doing it without a ton of familiar faces around. Fans and donors alike are antsy for a clear sign of progress, and Strong will be bolstered by the strength of two very good recruiting classes. Texas can't afford another bad year full of blowouts, and the schedule is certainly doing them no favors in the early part. Every time Strong has had his back against the wall, he's pulled something out of his sleeve to buy more time. Is he finally going to come into his own this year, or is he all out of tricks?
Sterlin Gilbert - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
The perceived savior of Charlie's job arrives with his new toys and high powered offense. An Art Briles disciple with breakout potential, Gilbert could make his star turn if he solves the Longhorns' offensive woes and provides some quarterback development. Gilbert has a tough job in front of him as well. His current crop of quarterbacks all have major question marks surrounding them, and he doesn't have the luxury of time afforded to most big time guys. If he can turn water into wine, Gilbert has the chance to ring up big time numbers considering the athletes Texas has on the offensive side of the ball. It all comes down to the trigger man, and Gilbert will have a heck of a time sorting that situation out. The good news is he's experienced at the QB development part, and his offense is more simplified than Strong's previous versions.
Matt Mattox - Offensive Line/Run game coordinator
Mattox has the benefit of following Joe Wickline, and while Wick wasn't much for recruiting he certainly got some development out of a downright bad position group. Texas saw an influx of talent at the position over the last two seasons, but this team did power run fairly well. Mattox will have to plug some holes early on, while relying on guys with little to no experience. He does have two young anchors in Patrick Vahe and Connor Williams, and last year's group should be ready to start pushing for playing time. Mattox has already showed great returns as a recruiter, and if he can continue that and positive development with the guys on campus, it will go a long way.
Anthony Johnson - Running Backs
Anthony Johnson appears to be just what the doctor ordered at running back coach. The former Texas player is young and energetic, and just about everyone we've talked to is really excited about what he can do in recruiting. Coaching runners might be one of the easiest jobs in sports, and a stable of D'Onta Foreman, Chris Warren, Kirk Johnson, and Kyle Porter take more weight off of the young coach's shoulders. While Tommie Robinson was a very good coach, he was a low effort recruiter. You can have that at some positions, but the original Texas staff just had too many of those guys. Expect to see Johnson grinding out on the recruiting trail.
Jeff Traylor - Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
Everyone's favorite former high school coach has adjusted quickly to the collegiate level. Traylor earned big wins on the recruiting trail this year, and he's quickly become a trusted adviser to Charlie Strong. Traylor even fielded offers for promotions from other programs, and you can bet that was only the beginning. If the Texas staff can succeed, I expect Traylor to be a big part of it. He will surely stick close with Sterlin Gilbert and soak up as much as he can, because if everything goes to plan he will be in line to take over when Gilbert is offered a head coaching position. Traylor's recruiting work in east Texas is extremely valuable to the staff, and he's also one of the few links left between the old staff and the new.
Charles Williams - Wide Receivers
We touched on this in Burnt Ends, but Williams is the perfect elder statesman for the coaching staff. His experience runs deep at both the college and professional level, and he will be called upon to teach a young but talented group of pass catchers. Jay Norvell was also a very good teacher of the game, so this change might not move the needle much, but Texas didn't lose anything at the position as far as coaching. It remains to be seen what impact he can make in recruiting, but anything he gives you there is bonus. Texas has assembled the type of staff that makes this hire fit, and I like this choice in the context of that staff.
Vance Bedford - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
The truth of the matter is, Bedford might be the coach on staff with the most to prove this year. His defensive performance was lacking quite a bit last season, and he's not a plus recruiter. That said, we think Bedford will always be with Charlie unless he has no choice but to dismiss him. The good news for Bedford is that all of those young guys he played last year are older. He's also getting an influx of talent to deploy and finally add depth to a defense that was thinning. Bedford will once again have to game plan against some explosive offenses, but we expect the youthful mistakes to decrease just a bit.
Brick Haley - Defensive Line
The opinions on Haley are wide ranging, but the fact that he chose to stay in Austin was a big win for Texas. The Longhorns couldn't afford any more bad press or questions about stability, and losing Haley to A&M would have been disastrous from a perception standpoint. I personally think Haley did a pretty good job last season with his unit, and he was a big key to the haul that Texas was able to pull from Louisiana. Haley will have a new stable of defensive line help to work with, and he will have to get them up to speed quickly in order to provide needed depth. Was an upgrade out there if Haley left? Possibly, but outside of Clint Hurtt I'm not sure where it was, and Hurtt just wasn't going to happen.
Brian Jean-Mary - Linebackers
The heir apparent to the DC throne should Bedford ever leave, BJM proved to be the best recruiter on the Texas staff over the last two seasons. Jean-Mary is another one of Charlie's closest allies, and he's got a young but talented group to work with. His toughest task will be finding playing time for the stable of horses he's accumulated. Along with Traylor, BJ might be one of the untouchable assistants on this team given what he brings to the program. He didn't entertain any thoughts of leaving that we are aware of, but it won't be long before other programs try to pry him away.
Clay Jennings - Defensive Backs
It's unfortunate that Chris Vaughn lost his job amid the findings of the Ole Miss investigation, but I think Texas knocked one out of the park when they hired Clay Jennings away from Arkansas. While Vaughn was a capable recruiter, Texas didn't get worse at the position. An argument could be made that they actually got better. Jennings was big time for TCU in identifying some top notch defensive backs, and he's responsible for the resurgence of Arkansas in Texas recruiting. Our source close to the Razorbacks told us Jennings is "a down to earth guy that relates well to recruits, parents, and high school coaches. He recruited parts of Dallas, central Texas, and Houston. His players love him and play hard for him". We talked to a Texas high school coach familiar with Jennings who told us "He's a very technical coach with a great reputation among Texas high school coaches. He is a great recruiter and just a genuinely nice person". Jennings has some talent in his group, but like many other positions they are young and will be called upon to play early.
In summation, I think this is probably the best staff Charlie Strong has ever had coaching under him. While the turnover can be alarming, it has to provide some comfort that he's going into a make or break season with this type of crew around him. Texas upgraded the recruiting staff at just about every position on the offensive side of the ball, while maintaining the strong recruiters they had on the defensive side. Will it all work? That's anyone's guess, but on paper this looks like a staff that can come together and find something special. Only time will tell.
