Would Hank be available to return as a consultant?

[Alaskawildkat]

As we watched together on the Zoom chat I made the comment as the second quarter came to an end, "This is when the coaches earn their money."

At least on the defensive side of the ball one can legitimately question whether that proved to be the case last night. Others here have commented on how one of the glaring deficiencies in the game was a failure to adjust by the defense.


Obviously a new Defensive Coordinator does not share the past experience and developed skill set of our retired Hank who was a master at game time adjustments. That brings to mind the question of whether some help can be provided, even if on an interim basis, by bringing back Hank as a consultant even if only to help with game time adjustments and assist by tutoring the new guy.

 

[Sheffielder]

Yeah can't imagine any scenario where this would go sideways... 😬

Look...we got walloped. I would say Fitz is famously terrible for wasting time on the clock...and he's developing a rep for sending his teams into September underprepared. O'Neil might be a disaster, and/or may never be able to fill the shoes Hank leaves behind...but I'm not ready to settle on much after one game where Sparty definitely came in with guns blazing. Let's see how things unfold in the coming weeks.

Just a little PS, though...knowing Hank was at the game, would have happily given a penny for his thoughts.

 

[Catnap22]

Hank is retired. Fitz made his bed with Jim ONeill and now must lie in it.

 

[AstroCat]

Personally, I like the idea, but it will never happen. Bringing in Hank as a consultant would be an admission that the new hire was a mistake. It would utterly undermine the new DC's position on the team.

On the one hand, I feel it is unfair to judge a DC based on only one game, and replacing one of the all time best DCs in college football simply has to result in a drop off in performance. On the other hand, I feel so shocked by what I saw on defense last night that the new DC's performance should be put under a lot of scrutiny. His resume as a DC was short, inexplicably so, and the defenses he has coached have not been very good.

Then again, I am just a fan, so what do I know? Fitz and the other coaches on his staff and the returning players all know exactly what to expect from a good DC. If the new guy is not meeting those expectations, it would be glaringly obvious to all of them.

 

[FeralFelidae]

and he's developing a rep for sending his teams into September underprepared.

There's underprepared, and then there's giving up an easy 75-yard touchdown run on the very first play from scrimmage.

There was clearly an experience differential, and I'm not sure any amount of preparation would have made up for that in the first game of the season. I hold out hope that the 'Cats D will improve as they get more games under their belt. Indiana St. and (seeing them lose to Charlotte) Duke should both be winnable games, and then let's see how we stand.

 

[stpaulcat]

If you have to bring in Hank as a consultant, that means you need to bring in a new DC.

 

[StreamCat]

Hank is retired. Fitz made his bed with Jim ONeill and now must lie in it.

Perhaps Fitz needs an adjustable mattress.

 

[EvanstonCat]

If you have to bring in Hank as a consultant, that means you need to bring in a new DC.

Well, duh.

This is the next best thing since we know Fitz won't fire his buddy.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Personally, I like the idea, but it will never happen. Bringing in Hank as a consultant would be an admission that the new hire was a mistake. It would utterly undermine the new DC's position on the team.

On the one hand, I feel it is unfair to judge a DC based on only one game, and replacing one of the all time best DCs in college football simply has to result in a drop off in performance. On the other hand, I feel so shocked by what I saw on defense last night that the new DC's performance should be put under a lot of scrutiny. His resume as a DC was short, inexplicably so, and the defenses he has coached have not been very good.

Then again, I am just a fan, so what do I know? Fitz and the other coaches on his staff and the returning players all know exactly what to expect from a good DC. If the new guy is not meeting those expectations, it would be glaringly obvious to all of them.

Well, you know plenty. You know the run D sucked. You know that our defense is a wreck compared to what we have been used to under Mike Hankwitz. You know that Jim O'Neill still has not fielded a respectable defense as a coordinator at any level of the game.

It doesn't take Corbi's genius to figure any of these things out, because they are irrefutable incontravertible truths.

 

[RiseNorthwestern]

I don’t think this is too far fetched. O’Neill was a grad assistant under Hank and might have some relationship with him. Also, it’s not like we fired Hank; he retired. I can definitely see Jim and Hank connecting offline for some advice. If it is done discreetly, it does nothing to undermine the new dc.

 

[epicbret]

I'm going to chalk this post up to latitude sickness

 

[1060Ivy]

Hank was a great DC. The concept that he is willing, and wants, to return as a consultant to support this roster is laughable. He’s retired let him and NU fans move on

 

[stpaulcat]

Well, duh.

This is the next best thing since we know Fitz won't fire his buddy.

This is going to be interesting to watch, if loyalty trumps success on the field. We've seen it before. I hope though we will soon return to a Hank level of defense.

 

[jimmyNU]

You don't need a consultant to tell you that defenders should be in position and should tackle the ball carrier. Jim O'Neill didn't have a stellar NFL career but he certainly understands the fundamentals of defense. I'm sure he will get it together, though I'm not expecting much improvement this year.

 

[Deeringfish]

The only way that might have worked would be if they had hired one of the young guys from within with some arrangement where Hank would spend some time giving his former assistant a report.
Hank wanted to retire. He didn't want to spend even 15 hours a week looking at film and a couple of hours reporting what he saw. He is 70 years old. At age 66 (next month) I regularly have friends who suddenly get serious, even fatal health issues.