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Cal's Defensive Staff and overall Defensive Performance under Justin Wilcox

December 29, 2023
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Here’s a recap of the Defensive Coaching staff at Cal under Justin Wilcox and how the defense stacked up to its Pac-12 brethren in conference games only.

*Inherited Talent per 247 average Defensive recruit rankings 2013-2016:

81.4

2017:

Defensive Coordinator (DC)/Inside Linebackers (ILB):  Tim DeRuyter

Defensive Backs (DB):  Gerald Alexander

Defensive Line (DL):  Jerry Azzinaro

Outside Linebackers (OLB):  Tony Tuoti

Statistical Performance:

  • 8th in points allowed
  • 6th in yards per play overall
  • 4th in rushing yards per attempt
  • 11th in passer rating against
  • 7th in sacks per game

Recruiting Defense:  (247 average rating on defense:)

82.3

2018:

DC/OLB:  Tim DeRuyter

ILB/Assoc Head Coach:  Peter Sirmon

DB:  Gerald Alexander

DL:  Tony Tuoti

Statistical Performance:

  • 3rd in points allowed
  • 2nd in yards per play overall
  • 2nd in rushing yards per attempt
  • 2nd in passer rating against
  • 4th in sacks per game

Recruiting Defense:

84.8

2019:

Co-DC/OLB:  Tim DeRuyter

Co-DC/ILB:  Peter Sirmon

DB:  Gerald Alexander

DL:  Andrew Browning

Statistical Performance:

  • 4th in points allowed
  • 4th in yards per play overall
  • 3rd in rushing yards per attempt
  • 5th in passer rating against
  • 2nd in sacks per game

Recruiting Defense:

86.8

2020:   Skipped with only a four game schedule and massive COVID impacts

2021:

DC/ILB:  Peter Sirmon

OLB:  Keith Hayward

DB:  Tre Watson

DL:  Andrew Browning

Statistical Performance:

  • 2nd in points allowed
  • 4th in yards per play overall
  • 6th in rushing yards per attempt
  • 5th in passer rating against
  • 2nd in sacks per game

Recruiting Defense:

2020:  87.1

2021:  87.0

2022:

DC/ILB:  Peter Sirmon

OLB:  Vic So'oto

DB:  Terrence Brown and Tre Watson

DL:  Andrew Browning

Statistical Performance:

  • 7th in points allowed
  • T5th in yards per play overall
  • T5th in rushing yards per play
  • 8th in passer rating against
  • 10th in sacks per game

Recruiting Defense: (Includes Transfer Portal)

87.2

2023:

DC/ILB:  Peter Sirmon

OLB:  Vic So'oto

DB:  Terrence Brown and Tre Watson

DL:  Andrew Browning

Statistical Performance:

  • 11th in points against
  • 8th in yards per play overall
  • 6th in yards rushing per play
  • 8th in passer rating against
  • 11th in sacks per game

Recruiting Defense: (Includes Transfer Portal)

86.5

Notes:

This is not an attempt to prove causality or correlations between who was coaching Cal’s defense and its performance. Instead, it’s simply data. And with all statistics, you have to view them as more directional than empirical. For football this is especially the case -  for example, a good pass coverage will create sacks and a poor pass rush will result in a disappointing pass efficiency defense. 

Many factors beyond coaching impact performance and statistical outcomes including but not limited to offensive performance, departing talent, depth and experience as well as injuries. As with any coaching staff, there are often multiple chefs in how a position is taught, coached up, and utilized schematically so viewing the positional coach as the sole responsible leader is not a holistic truth.  

That doesn’t mean that trend lines and drop-offs aren’t impacted to a meaningful degree by assistant coaching. In the arms race of college football, the one that in our view has the greatest impact on a team's performance is the quality of its coaching staff. It impacts recruiting, player development, and in-game decision-making.  At the end of the day, the entire staff is responsible for all factors of the success of the program.  

  • It’s interesting to note that the staff had changed every season until the past two years, by far the worst defensive performance under Justin Wilcox
  • Jerry Azzinaro left to become UCLA's Defensive Coordinator and Tony Tuioti stepped in as the DL coach and had success, Tony’s currently the very successful DL coach for the Oregon Ducks. Azzinaro struggled with the Bruins and has since departed.
  • Gerald Alexander left to join the NFL as the Miami Dolphins Defensive Backs coach and currently coaches the secondary for the Pittsburgh Steelers
  • OLB coach Keith Heyward left to become the DC for UNLV and is currently a Quality Control coach for the Las Vegas Raiders
  • DC Tim DeyRuyter left to become the Oregon Ducks DC and is now the DC for Texas Tech

We have not heard of any plans or intentions to make changes to the Defensive staff heading into the 2024 season

Discussion from...

Cal's Defensive Staff and overall Defensive Performance under Justin Wilcox

8,130 Views | 26 Replies | Last: 10 mo ago by CNHTH
Golden One
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2:38p, 12/29/23
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.
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CalBearsForLife
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3:30p, 12/29/23
We need a new DC, just that simple

At the minimum, JW needs to call the plays on defense
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calumnus
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In reply to Golden One • 4:10p, 12/29/23
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
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evanluck
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5:03p, 12/29/23
Pressure on the QB makes or break the defense. Doesn't matter how good the backers are, any competent QB will pick a defense apart given enough time.

The blue collar culture of a team seems misfit for the type of personalities that become impact contributors at wide receiver and defensive end. These positions tend to attract more demonstrative players who like to talk and get in people's faces.

Having a culture of humility is not a bad thing but if players are being disciplined or shamed for being themselves and employing a healthy amount of smack talking that will hurt us. Not saying that this is happening.
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BearGreg
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In reply to calumnus • 10:50p, 12/29/23
Staff
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.
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calumnus
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In reply to BearGreg • 11:41p, 12/29/23
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.


How do we read the above from the article then? I thought it says the inherited talent from Dykes averaged 81.4 which is slightly better than his recent defensive classes?

And loading up on LBs and DBs might "average" high, but that is not going to produce a good defense.

The key is impact defensive linemen, especially rush ends. You(?) and Shocky love Browning but I don't see the results, especially on recruiting.
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UrsineMaximus
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In reply to calumnus • 6:29a, 12/30/23
calumnus said:
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.


How do we read the above from the article then? I thought it says the inherited talent from Dykes averaged 81.4 which is slightly better than his recent defensive classes?

And loading up on LBs and DBs might "average" high, but that is not going to produce a good defense.

The key is impact defensive linemen, especially rush ends. You(?) and Shocky love Browning but I don't see the results, especially on recruiting.
Agreed. Browning has not elevated the DL since he was promoted to DL coach. I feel he's a good coach but he needs to do better on recruiting (through the portal) with experienced physically developed players. Overall the defensive scheme under Sirmon is too vanilla and puts too much stress on the back 4.

This off season, the "news" I am looking for is changes in the defensive staff. This article by BI seems to indicate that nothing will happen. If this turns out to be true then it will be a big fail by Wilcox. He seems to really lack the ability to self analyze and improve. That said I will continue to wait for the news that a shake up has occurred.
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6956bear
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In reply to BearGreg • 6:39a, 12/30/23
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.
If the recruiting was better and the results worse what conclusion should be drawn? IMO the conclsuion is the staff is poor developers of talent and they failed to adapt schematically to the changing offenses around the nation.

But yet Wilcox wants to stay the course with staff members that have not shown the ability to produce results commensurate with the recruiting. Other programs recruits are rated by these same services. Yet many find a way to better on field results.

The evidence seems clear. Wilcox is a poor HC, makes bad staffing choices, stays loyal despite evidence suggesting change is needed, and essentially has failed in program leadership.

The buyout has forced Cal to keep this HC. But it is continuing to hurt the product. The number of dollars the decision to extend him and provide the hideous buyout has cost Cal is enormous. The buyout is the single biggest impediment to Cal having a legit shot at being a better program. It keeps Wilcox here and he has proven time and time again he is not up to the job.
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DoubtfulBear
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In reply to 6956bear • 7:55a, 12/30/23
6956bear said:
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.

But yet Wilcox wants to stay the course with staff members that have not shown the ability to produce results commensurate with the recruiting.
Not just Wilcox, Knowlton wants to stay the course with Wilcox and Christ wants to stay the course with Knowlton. A culture of extending mediocre staff starts from the very top.
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MinotStateBeav
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8:07a, 12/30/23
Pretty crazy to have this long of a contract with no affordable buyout clause after year 2 imho. Hopefully Cal learns its lesson in regards to the AD position as well, will they? I have my doubts. The administration seems like it wants more to just get it over and done with so it doesn't have to deal with it again for awhile.
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BearGreg
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In reply to calumnus • 8:37a, 12/30/23
Staff
calumnus said:
BearGreg said:


Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.


How do we read the above from the article then? I thought it says the inherited talent from Dykes averaged 81.4 which is slightly better than his recent defensive classes?
Not sure what you're seeing/comparing from the article?

Average recruiting rankings for defensive players

2013-2016 Defensive recruits averaged 81.4
2017: 82.3
2018: 84.8
2019: 86.8
2020: 87.1
2021: 87.0
2022: 87.2
2023: 86.5

To be clear, higher is better.
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UrsineMaximus
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9:15a, 12/30/23
Seems obvious then. If the recruiting has gotten better and defense has gotten worse the staff needs a shake up. Why isn't Wilcox asked this at the pressers? Seems that at least one beat writer would have the cajones to ask this?
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LunchTime
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In reply to calumnus • 11:03a, 12/30/23
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?


Not being able to teach defense is probably how Wilcox instantly turned around a terrible defense into a great defense.

Definitely it was because Wilcox made them faster somehow.
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LunchTime
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In reply to evanluck • 11:04a, 12/30/23
evanluck said:
Pressure on the QB makes or break the defense. Doesn't matter how good the backers are, any competent QB will pick a defense apart given enough time.

The blue collar culture of a team seems misfit for the type of personalities that become impact contributors at wide receiver and defensive end. These positions tend to attract more demonstrative players who like to talk and get in people's faces.

Having a culture of humility is not a bad thing but if players are being disciplined or shamed for being themselves and employing a healthy amount of smack talking that will hurt us. Not saying that this is happening.


Someone else said this was happening. Practice soft so you don't hurt feelings.
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Shoreline
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In reply to Shoreline • 12:51p, 12/30/23
CalBearsForLife said:
We need a new DC, just that simple

At the minimum, JW needs to call the plays on defense


Don't even need to see these numbers to show DeRuyter >Sirmon. Just look at the Bowl Game. Wilcox has shown he is about favoritism which is why he is a bad head coach. Expect another subpar year if he keeps his former teammate as Defensive Coordinator.

Glad to see this post coming from Admin. I know you are in on the weekly Zoom press conferences.... how about asking him some questions about the underperforming defense and Sirmon.
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Bobodeluxe
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12:59p, 12/30/23
The record's stuck, …
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southseasbear
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In reply to Shoreline • 1:44p, 12/30/23
Shoreline said:
CalBearsForLife said:
We need a new DC, just that simple

At the minimum, JW needs to call the plays on defense


Don't even need to see these numbers to show DeRuyter >Sirmon. Just look at the Bowl Game. Wilcox has shown he is about favoritism which is why he is a bad head coach. Expect another subpar year if he keeps his former teammate as Defensive Coordinator.

Glad to see this post coming from Admin.
You could say that again...
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calumnus
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In reply to LunchTime • 1:53p, 12/30/23
LunchTime said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?


Not being able to teach defense is probably how Wilcox instantly turned around a terrible defense into a great defense.

Definitely it was because Wilcox made them faster somehow.


Or it was DeRuyter

Because under your hypothesis Wilcox would have had to have forgotten how to coach defense for the last 5 years.
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calumnus
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In reply to BearGreg • 2:02p, 12/30/23
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
BearGreg said:


Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.


How do we read the above from the article then? I thought it says the inherited talent from Dykes averaged 81.4 which is slightly better than his recent defensive classes?
Not sure what you're seeing/comparing from the article?

Average recruiting rankings for defensive players

2013-2016 Defensive recruits averaged 81.4
2017: 82.3
2018: 84.8
2019: 86.8
2020: 87.1
2021: 87.0
2022: 87.2
2023: 86.5

To be clear, higher is better.


Got it. I was thinking national rank. The problem with using "raw" ranking and comparing year to year is the evaluators may change, there may be grade inflation, or the talent pool may change. Still, assuming a consistent rrfermce, how significant is the difference? 81 to 86 seems like a "slight improvement." And the guys who came in the 2017 class were largely recruited by Dykes/Kauffman right?

It does seem like DL is the biggest issue.
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Strykur
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In reply to calumnus • 2:12p, 12/30/23
calumnus said:
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
BearGreg said:
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.
How do we read the above from the article then? I thought it says the inherited talent from Dykes averaged 81.4 which is slightly better than his recent defensive classes?
Not sure what you're seeing/comparing from the article?

Average recruiting rankings for defensive players

2013-2016 Defensive recruits averaged 81.4
2017: 82.3
2018: 84.8
2019: 86.8
2020: 87.1
2021: 87.0
2022: 87.2
2023: 86.5

To be clear, higher is better.
It does seem like DL is the biggest issue.
Our secondary must have been the worst in the country, never saw so many wide-open receivers as I did this year.
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GoOskie
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In reply to calumnus • 2:13p, 12/30/23
calumnus said:
LunchTime said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?


Not being able to teach defense is probably how Wilcox instantly turned around a terrible defense into a great defense.

Definitely it was because Wilcox made them faster somehow.


Or it was
Morgan Freeman: Yes, it did indeed turn out to be DeRuyter.
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GoOskie
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In reply to calumnus • 2:15p, 12/30/23
calumnus said:

Or it was DeRuyter
Morgan Freeman: Yes, it did indeed turn out to be DeRuyter.

Edit: glitch in the BI matrix
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oskiswifeshusband
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5:00p, 12/30/23
I AM PRAYING THEY CHANGE SCHENW OR FIX THE D
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CNHTH
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In reply to BearGreg • 5:04p, 12/30/23
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.

This!!!
If memory serves correct Wilcox basically carbon copied Aranda's 3-4 scheme at Wisconsin.
Same was true at Tennessee inheriting monte kiffin's defense and also during both stints with Sark the Judas whisperer…
When I evaluate candidates for a job a multitude of 1-2 year stints at well known companies isn't necessarily a red flag but it at least warrants explanation by the candidate.
Something I seriously doubt was done by our admin.
And while I think there is commonalities between his 3 dc stops in that he inherited talent plus a scheme and faked it til he was outed I think we are a different situation…
He obviously did not inherit the same level of talent as I saw in my first live game watching cal oregon from the autzen sidelines. I've never seen a defensive line run so many stunts at the line (a true sign they are outclassed)…
What went right was he had DeRuyter. Who by the way should have been our head coach.
End rant!
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calumnus
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In reply to CNHTH • 5:15p, 12/30/23
CNHTH said:
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.

This!!!
If memory serves correct Wilcox basically carbon copied Aranda's 3-4 scheme at Wisconsin.
Same was true at Tennessee inheriting monte kiffin's defense and also during both stints with Sark the Judas whisperer…
When I evaluate candidates for a job a multitude of 1-2 year stints at well known companies isn't necessarily a red flag but it at least warrants explanation by the candidate.
Something I seriously doubt was done by our admin.
And while I think there is commonalities between his 3 dc stops in that he inherited talent plus a scheme and faked it til he was outed I think we are a different situation…
He obviously did not inherit the same level of talent as I saw in my first live game watching cal oregon from the autzen sidelines. I've never seen a defensive line run so many stunts at the line (a true sign they are outclassed)…
What went right was he had DeRuyter. Who by the way should have been our head coach.
End rant!


Sark wasn't the Judas Whisper. It was Sark's new DC, who was a coach at Cal when Judas was a player. When hired as DC at UW, Wilcox assembled all his friends as his position coaches: Sirmon at LB, Heyward at DB and Tosh at DL. Moreover, it was Wilcox along with Tosh who flipped Shaq Thompson from Cal to UW to play in Wilcox' defense as Wilcox had coached his brother at Cal. Wilcox was as much the Judas as Tosh. Tedford gave them both their first coaching jobs. The only difference is Wilcox is a Duck and Tosh was a Bear. So Tosh betrayed his alma mater in addition to betraying Tedford.
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In reply to calumnus • 7:53p, 12/30/23
calumnus said:
CNHTH said:
BearGreg said:
calumnus said:
Golden One said:
Any way you slice it this is very poor performance. And Wilcox is allegedly a defensive specialist? What a joke.


Well, our numbers on offense are worse, so there is that.

I've always thought defense, more than offense, is highly dependent on recruiting great athletes, most of whom are going to be highly rated. Scheme and technique are important, but speed, height and agility at CB cannot be taught and size speed and agility at DL cannot be taught. It has to be recruited and this staff has not been very successful recruiting difference makers on the DL especially (and the "we don't need our DL to make plays just engage the OL so the LBs can make plays" seems like a recipe for a mediocre defense that can easily be schemed against. Maybe transfer portal and NIL can make a difference?
Interestingly, Wilcox's early defenses were built on his least talented players, at least according to recruiting rankings. The depth of talent (again as evaluated by recruiting rankings) the last two years was his strongest and those two teams turned out to be the weakest defensively of his tenure.

This!!!
If memory serves correct Wilcox basically carbon copied Aranda's 3-4 scheme at Wisconsin.
Same was true at Tennessee inheriting monte kiffin's defense and also during both stints with Sark the Judas whisperer…
When I evaluate candidates for a job a multitude of 1-2 year stints at well known companies isn't necessarily a red flag but it at least warrants explanation by the candidate.
Something I seriously doubt was done by our admin.
And while I think there is commonalities between his 3 dc stops in that he inherited talent plus a scheme and faked it til he was outed I think we are a different situation…
He obviously did not inherit the same level of talent as I saw in my first live game watching cal oregon from the autzen sidelines. I've never seen a defensive line run so many stunts at the line (a true sign they are outclassed)…
What went right was he had DeRuyter. Who by the way should have been our head coach.
End rant!


Sark wasn't the Judas Whisper. It was Sark's new DC, who was a coach at Cal when Judas was a player. When hired as DC at UW, Wilcox assembled all his friends as his position coaches: Sirmon at LB, Heyward at DB and Tosh at DL. Moreover, it was Wilcox along with Tosh who flipped Shaq Thompson from Cal to UW to play in Wilcox' defense as Wilcox had coached his brother at Cal. Wilcox was as much the Judas as Tosh. Tedford gave them both their first coaching jobs. The only difference is Wilcox is a Duck and Tosh was a Bear. So Tosh betrayed his alma mater in addition to betraying Tedford.

Not disagreeing at all with the way it went down. It only furthers my argument thag wilcox is a beneficiary of nepotism and actually has no idea what the hell he's doing. When he needs to know?
"I know a guy"
Or
"I know a guy who knows a guy"
In the case of Washington?
Sarkisian probably tells Wilcox
"Alright buddy I need you to recruit me some 4 and 5 stars like you were pulling in Berkeley"
Wilcox: "umm well you see I'm actually rather socially awkward and I've never actually recruited more than.a 2 star…but I do know a 30 year olds Mormon guy who likes video games and hanging with high school girls and who would probably betray all that is holy in addition to his alma mater and hometown for a boat and some prostitutes"
Sark: "deal now I need you to draw up pressure schemes for me out of our nickel package"
Wilcox: "I don't actually know what a nickel package is can I hire someone for that"

This is sarcasm but I'd bet it's closer to reality than a lot of us care to believe.
Wilcox strikes me as someone who doesn't actually know or do anything but rather hires people to do things for him.
Which is a major problem at cal where we are already running on souvenir tokens
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