I personally like Hux and don’t want him replaced. We need a grizzled guy on that side of the ball who has a lot of experience. I suspect that any issues with scheme aren’t on Hux as much as they are on DD. While I don’t pretend to have any insider information, it would be very hard to believe that Hux is doing anything other than what DD wants. I personally wish we’d blitz a bit more, but so be it. I also wish we had more depth at LB and played tighter in the secondary.
rye: Interesting mini-topic and I have no insider information either. My guess is that Hux and DD worked closely together the first 2 or 3 years. It wouldn’t surprise me if a 2 or 3 year plan was discussed in the pre-hire interview.
When we switched from 4-3-4 to 4-2-5 after the first year, IMO that was part of Doeren’s plan. Dave Doeren is too organized to do otherwise. Further more I believe most of what we see and a lot of what we don’t so is part of a plan that Debbie Yow has signed off on. Debbie is a big part of executing DD”s plan. She has to raise the money for the additions and renovations. I do get a bit of “semi inside” information but nothing really important such as hiring and firing. Stuff like “We are going to upgrade our sports medicine facilities at the Murphy Center.” Or “we are interviewing so-and-so for our Video Director who will be working directly for Dave.”
Sorry for getting of the track there. I don’t think DD was totally dictatorial with Hux. My guess is that the 2 of them have worked out the details. Interesting enough George Barlowe is Assistant HC for Defense as well as CB coach. I would not be surprised at all for Barlowe to become DC when Hux retires. Barlowe has been there, done that as far as coaching defense is concerned.
My guess is that Doeren has turned the defense over to Barlowe and Hux and I doubt Barlowe would still be here if all he was was a puppet. I agree that in the beginning Dave was active in designing the defense but Hux was involved. The shift to 4-2-5 was too new to them both for one to dictate how it was going to go. I’m sure Dave won out on any disagreements with Hux. LOL
Dave Doeren is a methodical, organized coach. Our defense is fully installed now. I expect to see the wrinkles this fall and that may include more blitzing. We will reap the benefit coaching experience and senior leadership.
On the season, I fully expect 7-5 has DD back another year. Any better and he likely gets an extension. Going 6-6 will make it interesting. I think we’ll be 8-4 or 7-5 this year.
IMO you’ve pretty much nailed it. Shhh I don’t want to say this too loudly but if it all comes together, if the good luck we are due shows up, we could win 9 or 10.
Doeren cane here all fired up about “putting a fence around the state” only to find there’s a school that is already picking the low-hanging fruit. I like that he hasn’t just thrown his hands up and said, “Oh, well.” Coach Edwards used Pennsylvania as his main recruiting ground. Seems like Doeren is willing to fish in a bigger pond than just NC. New Jersey is producing some nice results as is Florida. I don’t know what kind of receivers coach McDonald is but he can recruit in Florida.
