DJ Smith DC

[falcoapp]

I'm excited to see DJ back on campus and on the staff. I wonder where all the nay-sayers who said hiring Shawn Clark was a "lazy hire" and that we stuck with the "good ol' boy" network are now. Crickets....

Apples and oranges.

I repeat I like the hire but:
Clark: Mountaineer and multiple venues of experience
DJ: Mountaineer and multiple and varied venues of experienced

Uh, one was the head coach and ran the program. The other is defensive coordinator.

[Saint3333]

I'm excited to see DJ back on campus and on the staff. I wonder where all the nay-sayers who said hiring Shawn Clark was a "lazy hire" and that we stuck with the "good ol' boy" network are now. Crickets....

Apples and oranges.

I repeat I like the hire but:
Clark: Mountaineer and multiple venues of experience
DJ: Mountaineer and multiple and varied venues of experienced

That statement is accurate, other statements comparing the two are also and in some perspectives more accurate.

[JTApps1]

How did his position groups produce at Missouri?

Much better than our group did.

Smallest midget.

I never said the bar was set high! lol

[311neers]

Having our cake and eating it too. A late Christmas present.

Could we see Stepp back? Not sure what his relationship was with Loggains at USC. Might not be good since he was relegated to TE coach instead of WR/OC before moving on to Illinois.

[ASUTodd]

I'm excited to see DJ back on campus and on the staff. I wonder where all the nay-sayers who said hiring Shawn Clark was a "lazy hire" and that we stuck with the "good ol' boy" network are now. Crickets....

Clearly you see the difference between a life long G5 OL coach and a rising SEC CO-DC?

Who was a "life long" G5 OL coach? You aren't speaking about Clark, otherwise, you're misinformed or want to purposely discount his Big10 experience at Purdue.

Love that DLo is bringing DJ back!

Excuse me.

Clearly you see the difference between a guy who had spent 75% of his 17-year career as a G5 OL coach vs a guy who has spent 75% of his 7-year career as an SEC LBs coach/Co-DC/recruiting coordinator. Better?

And the one guy played in the NFL....

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

I'm excited to see DJ back on campus and on the staff. I wonder where all the nay-sayers who said hiring Shawn Clark was a "lazy hire" and that we stuck with the "good ol' boy" network are now. Crickets....

Clearly you see the difference between a life long G5 OL coach and a rising SEC CO-DC?

Who was a "life long" G5 OL coach? You aren't speaking about Clark, otherwise, you're misinformed or want to purposely discount his Big10 experience at Purdue.

Love that DLo is bringing DJ back!

Excuse me.

Clearly you see the difference between a guy who had spent 75% of his 17-year career as a G5 OL coach vs a guy who has spent 75% of his 7-year career as an SEC LBs coach/Co-DC/recruiting coordinator. Better?

And the one guy played in the NFL....

And won a national championship

[MAD Doctor]

Coach is pursuing quality people. Win some, lose some. This is a win. Keep it up!

[ASUPATCH]

So pumped to have DJ back. Great man, great family and a solid track record in the coaching ranks thus far.

[DoesntEvenGoHere]

Having our cake and eating it too. A late Christmas present.

Could we see Stepp back? Not sure what his relationship was with Loggains at USC. Might not be good since he was relegated to TE coach instead of WR/OC before moving on to Illinois.

I could see it...but no idea. DLo is definitely going to be the OC as the HC, so essentially gets a free hire as an OC. Watkins coaches with QB, after spending time as a GA/QC under Drinkwitz & Loggains already working with QB. I assume thst will be true, which leaves WR open. Stepp hired as the OC and coach WR? Lot of connections there already.

Watkins - QB
Stepp - OC/WR
Mogridge - OL
Yuracheck - TE

Smith - DC/LB
Fuller - CB

RB
DL
SAF
OLB


I'm betting we have at least 2 coaches working that Illinois / Scar game. My money is on Trey Money coming back as well.

[AppSt94]

Having our cake and eating it too. A late Christmas present.

Could we see Stepp back? Not sure what his relationship was with Loggains at USC. Might not be good since he was relegated to TE coach instead of WR/OC before moving on to Illinois.

I could see it...but no idea. DLo is definitely going to be the OC as the HC, so essentially gets a free hire as an OC. Watkins coaches with QB, after spending time as a GA/QC under Drinkwitz & Loggains already working with QB. I assume thst will be true, which leaves WR open. Stepp hired as the OC and coach WR? Lot of connections there already.

Watkins - QB
Stepp - OC/WR
Mogridge - OL
Yuracheck - TE

Smith - DC/LB
Fuller - CB

RB
DL
SAF
OLB


I'm betting we have at least 2 coaches working that Illinois / Scar game. My money is on Trey Money coming back as well.

Watkins might be the WR coach.

[Bootsy]

I love the optimism, but would it be OK if we put the “coach in waiting” idea down for a nap?

Yes, DJ is and always will be a Mountaineer. But if he excels in his new role, will App be able to afford the price he’d command as a HC candidate?

[Pikapp79]

I love the optimism, but would it be OK if we put the “coach in waiting” idea down for a nap?

Yes, DJ is and always will be a Mountaineer. But if he excels in his new role, will App be able to afford the price he’d command as a HC candidate?

Worry about the here and now. Need a staff that can bring the program back from the disaster that just departed.

[AppStFan1]

I love the optimism, but would it be OK if we put the “coach in waiting” idea down for a nap?

Yes, DJ is and always will be a Mountaineer. But if he excels in his new role, will App be able to afford the price he’d command as a HC candidate?

Worry about the here and now. Need a staff that can bring the program back from the disaster that just departed.

I was about to say the same thing. I am old enough to remember people talking about a team going to the playoff that would eventually go 5-6. Some of the people speculating on his HC chances will be among those calling for a change if the defense is giving up 35+ a game. I think we could get to a bowl game this year but am not going to put a 9+ win expectation on the team. This could very well take 2 years to get us back to the title game.

[AtlAppMan]

I still want a shutdown defense, one of best in country. Let’s see what DJ can do. Get the other team’s offense off the field as quickly as possible and give up few yards and touchdowns.

[DoesntEvenGoHere]

I'm just sitting here wondering who he's going to go after for position coaches.

[appstatealum]

I'm excited to see DJ back on campus and on the staff. I wonder where all the nay-sayers who said hiring Shawn Clark was a "lazy hire" and that we stuck with the "good ol' boy" network are now. Crickets....

Clearly you see the difference between a life long G5 OL coach and a rising SEC CO-DC?

Debatable. Most people polarized on one side or another of an argument can only see what supports their view.

[AppSt94]

I'm excited to see DJ back on campus and on the staff. I wonder where all the nay-sayers who said hiring Shawn Clark was a "lazy hire" and that we stuck with the "good ol' boy" network are now. Crickets....

Clearly you see the difference between a life long G5 OL coach and a rising SEC CO-DC?

Debatable. Most people polarized on one side or another of an argument can only see what supports their view.

Agreed. DJ is a smart guy and can coach football. He hasn’t to this point in his career put together a staff or been the voice to the entire defensive room. As many on here have stated that Clark is a fine OL coach, he lacked as a HC. While we can all get behind DJ and support him, he hasn’t done anything that Clark has done.

[Saint3333]

I missed the part where DJ was hired as HC?

Did something happen to DLo or are people not understanding the difference in hiring DJ at DC versus hiring Clark as HC.

DJ’s resume of position coach at G5 to position coach at P4 to co-DC at P4 to DC at G5 is perhaps the most typical route to his new role.

[falcoapp]

I missed the part where DJ was hired as HC?

Did something happen to DLo or are people not understanding the difference in hiring DJ at DC versus hiring Clark as HC.

DJ’s resume of position coach at G5 to position coach at P4 to co-DC at P4 to DC at G5 is perhaps the most typical route to his new role.

I think it's the Clark apologists doing mental gymnastics again.

[AppSt94]

I missed the part where DJ was hired as HC?

Did something happen to DLo or are people not understanding the difference in hiring DJ at DC versus hiring Clark as HC.

DJ’s resume of position coach at G5 to position coach at P4 to co-DC at P4 to DC at G5 is perhaps the most typical route to his new role.

I think it's the Clark apologists doing mental gymnastics again.

All I am saying is that DJ has never put together a defensive staff and been fully in charge of the staff, players and game plan. He was the Co- DC in title but Batton ran the show. I am rooting for him and he has my support but to pretend that he is an home run as a DC is still to be determined.