Ranking Coaches? Does This Analysis Even Make Sense?

[Duck Fan 76]

Everybody loves USC

 

Or at least that seems to be the theme from most sportswriters.  It's the logical narrative bias assuming that a storied program has a destiny.

 

Reality is "no fate but what we make".

 

Lincoln Riley is a good coach and he definitely deserves his due.  On the other hand Oklahoma is a football machine with access to some of the best recruits in college football.

 

DL is of course unproven as a head coach but as an assistant he is considered one of the best in college sports (which is why he got the Oregon job).

 

USC last season was an unmitigated disaster.  They have poorly recruited in recent history (though LR is turning that around).

 

USC in the field isn't just a talent gap in the playoff discussion.  Their program culture has been dysfunctional and it would take a miracle for LR to turn that around in 1 season.  It takes time to reform an athletes mindset.

 

Oregon on the other hand has the talent already in hand.  The culture however came off the tracks at the end of last year, possibly because coaches were looking to leave?  Or perhaps the culture had flaws that got exposed.

 

The Oregon XO schemes were mostly a disaster last season(s).  MC can recruit but he generally struggles with the XO's especially live game adjustments.

 

DL has a lot of work ahead of him for sure and he can't build his team entirely in 1 season but he is soooooo much further ahead of LR that USC isn't going to really have a chance in the PAC ever (maybe in 3 years in the BIG).

 

Utah is Oregon's only competition and I generally expect DL's staff and Oregon's players to adjust from last year and not embarrass themselves as MC's team did.

 

The article linked above seems to be vastly underestimating DL who has shown nothing but executive excellence and an adaptive mindset in his short time at Oregon.

 

I don't expect DL to be perfect this season by any measure but his team is so much ahead of the rest of the PAC that if he is able to keep players healthy, motivated and developing Oregon is easily in the running for a one loss season.

 

USC will be likely to get to a bowl, but no further.  LR has heavy lifting ahead of him to fix a decade of mismanagement at USC.

 

I really can't say who the better coach will be honestly and judging by the season outcome isn't fair to LR.

 

This is a question that will need to be asked again in a few years.   

 

If however we grade organizations (a better metric IMHO) Oregon is clearly on top, no question. 

 

USC has so much work ahead of them, if LR is up for the job they could be back in the conversation in maybe 3 years.  Assuming the USC alumni can keep their noses out of LRs business that long.

 

[HappyToBeADuck]

As in most lists it is all subjective. Without knowing all the writers criteria for his/her final decisions yhen my opinion is thus, subjective.

 

I like LR. He did a great job at OU. He took over the helm of an established powerhouse and did not disappoint. IMHO, OU was and is not the dumpster fire that is uscsuc. His leadership and organizational skills will be challenged.

 

He, like Coach Lanning, has recruited at a high level and utilized the transfer portal very well.

 

The PAC is a wussy conference on the football field of battle. So we shall see which coach steps up.

 

Only one team stands in the way of a NY6 bowl game. That team would be Utah. Thus my vote for top Coach in the PAC would be KW. He gets more out of less and earned his props.

 

Top recognition is earned by results on the field. Not by a coronation aka Colin Cowherd style.

 

Neither Utah or Oregon have an excuse for not making the CFP. Losses to Georgia or Florida will not derail either team. Take care of all the PAC teams and settle it on the field. The winner of both matchups will be off to the CFP. The other a NY6 bowl.

 

And yes you can trust that uscsuc and uclasuc will cash their checks from those games.

[Duck Fan 76]

On 7/9/2022 at 1:06 PM, HappyToBeADuck said:

Only one team stands in the way of a NY6 bowl game. That team would be Utah.

I agree, I think Oregon in Atlanta is an expected loss but if they play very well they are in the conversation (assuming Georgia doesn't self destruct).  Oregon has the talent advantage in every other game scheduled including Utah. 

 

Last years losses to Utah were about coaching and player prep.  From what we can see Oregon is putting the work in to open up the throttle on all sides of the ball. 

 

If Oregon can get talent in space they should outmatch Utah on offense.  If Oregon's defense is healthy they already outmatch Utah.  If Oregon can coach its special teams then the roster depth should outmatch on special teams.

 

That isn't meant to be a dig on Utah but recruiting matters and Oregon has been dominant there.  

 

DL is now a head coach and that has a different skill set than DC.  A college head coach in this era is a very very tough job and it's tough for all 12 months of the year.  DL is putting in the work and he's killing it in the off season.  Let's hope he and his team can kill it during the season.

 

If so then like I said Oregon is really only outmatched in 1 scheduled game and we will see what bowl season brings.  DL has a history of excellence that can't be ignored and in my experience, excellence like that has a way generating even more excellence.  The guy is driven to not just win but to be the very best.  

 

That desire isn't uncommon but it's very hard for folks to maintain that motor for as long as he has and keep rising to the top like he has.  He's won my support and I'm very excited to sit in Autzen and watch some real magic happen.

Edited July 9, 2022 by Duck Fan 76