You know, when this AP story on how the Pitt win over WVU has produced such huge dividends, it was even before Paul Rhoads was able to ride finally getting a handle on the WVU spread to jump for the Auburn Defensive Coordinator gig. Words can’t adequately express how happy that Rhoads has finally moved on.
I didn’t think it would happen. I now have such optimism for 2008, that I am a little stunned. I do get a kick out of how he got characterized as an “excellent recruiter.” There’s little evidence of that. The talent on the defense started sliding after he got there, it has only rebounded since Wannstedt and Gattuso came to Pitt and started recruiting. As much blame as Walt Harris gets for letting the recruiting slip, after a good few years, there has been little evidence to suggest that Rhoads did much to help.
Consider, the areas Coach Wannstedt most wanted recruited were Western Pennsylvania and the rest of the state. Ohio was where Rhoads was assigned geographically. He had him recruit the area, of least concern and lowest expectations. That seems telling.
The good news for Auburn is that they have a good recruiter and coach in Tuberville. And Tuberville is a defensive guy.
Hail to PITT!
Hallelujah, God exists
Whoever Pitt hires will most likely be better than Rhoads was. Most Pitt fans are hoping for Sal Sunseri or Tim Lewis. Idk if they are realistic, but either would be far far better than Rhoads. Sal Sunseri is a hell of a recruiter too
OL coach might just be our own Bill Chirpak per a credible source. He’s trying to decide whether he wants the gig or not.
I forgot to write this, but i would not have a problem with Gattuso as dc. He was the genius behind our defense anyways. Rhoads was a very very mediocre coach. I think it is definitely time for change
Also, Rhoads is a guy who a lot of people thought would get tossed under the bus after the Virginia, Navy and UConn juggernauts scored 40+, and to be fair, turnovers played a big part in those scores. But Rhoads could very easily have been fired several times in the past few years (like pre-2007, when we were one of the worst tackling teams in the country for six years in a row). To go from possibly getting fired to getting a better job is a welcomed change. I have never heard a single recruit credit Paul Rhoads for selling them on Pitt, and I think that whatever he was, good or bad as a DC, he wasn’t a recruiter. Good luck to Coach Rhoads, I’m glad we’re waving goodbye to him under these circumstances rather than trying to blame him for some or another disappointment.
His only land is kevin harper the kicker who will play under partridge anyways.
Finally, Tony Wise? Don’t make me laugh. He was an awful OLine coach with the Dolphins under, you guessed it, Dumbsh!t. He was one of the main reasons why any time the Fins had a pocket passer in at QB (as opposed to Jay Fiedler), defenses went blitz-happy.
