I'll be right up there Coach. So when you want to let the media blame another 3 loss season with your underachieving team on a coordinator, you know where to find me.
First in our rundown of potential defensive coordinators is none other than a home grown Coral Gables product, Willie Martinez. Currently serving the same position with Georgia under Mark “I get way too much credit for multiple 2 and 3 loss seasons” Richt, he has been in that role since 2005.
Martinez’s name is already being thrown around Miami because of his previous relationships to the school. It is his Alma Mater, he is from the Gables, and even played on the 1983 national title team. I like that he was a DB when he played; I always feel that creates better coaches, I don’t know why. Maybe I just think being further back from the ball you learn and see more of what’s going on.
I am on record as saying Georgia was vastly overrated this year, with their marquee win coming against another team, Michigan State, that didn’t have a quality win of their own in a horrendous year for the Big Ten. Georgia got smoked against the two teams it played with a pulse, Florida and Alabama. And then they were torn a new one by Paul Johnson and his triple option. Well, us Cane fans are used to that! Somebody get this guy an offer letter!
Then you look at this paper stats, and they are not looking good. Maybe the Dawg fans are correct in their assertion they would welcome Big Willie’s dismissal or resignation. Stats?
| Points Against | Yards Against | |
| 2005 | 14.6 | 297.8 |
| 2006 | 17.1 | 264.0 |
| 2007 | 21.0 | 324.7 |
| 2008 | 25.6 | 318.3 |
Ouch. Dem Stats don’t lie. Georgia’s defense got progressively worse since his arrival, culminating with their 10th place finish in the SEC this year in Points Allowed. I was talking myself into Martinez as the perfect caretaker of the soon to be talent rich Hurricane defense, the guy who knows the Gables personally, can sell the recruits on the area and specifically the program, but those stats are eating away at the logic in my brain. You don’t get worse almost every year and warrant a new gig. I still think Martinez could be a good choice, even a great one. I’d rather Randy be calling the plays, but he’s said that the duties of the HC are too much to also run the defense. So, I guess I’m on board for the Martinez hire. The SEC is much tougher than the ACC. Miami will have superior athletes. Sean Spence is a beast. (That’s right Anton, talk yourself past those stats….)
The Great D’Anton, some questions:
Firstly, Martinez has worked under Mark Richt–an offensive-minded guy. A guy who, I assume, did not assert a lot of control over Martinez’s defense.
Can we assume that Martinez would have less control under a Coach Shannon?
Could Shannon impart some of his (and maybe some of Bill Young’s) defensive philosophies onto Martinez?
As long as Randy continues to recruit Grade-A prime quality ballaz like Sean Spence, could this arrangement allow Martinez to “stay out of the way” enough to let the next Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Warren Sapp emerge?
Spoken like a true prophet Mr. Walsh.
My concern would be can Randy Shannon, a former DC himself, let Willie Martinez do his job when things get bad? This was not a problem in Athens because Coach Richt is as you said an offensive minded guy. How much longer is Shannon going to have the job anyway?
That is definitely one of my concerns. He either needs to be the DC himself, or step back and give full control of play-calling duties to someone else. Game planning during the week is a different matter. Cuz Walter, I assume you are a Dawg fan, so what are your thoughts on Martinez as a DC?
Willie Martinez runs the Tampa 2 like the Bucs and Colts. He never blitzes and he always sticks to his philosophy sometimes being unwilling to change his battle plan if things are going bad.
Most Georgia fans would not shed a tear if Willie Martinez were to leave Athens but then they would be forced to give Recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner the DC job(Garner has no experience calling defensive plays and the Dawgs need him for recruiting more than he needs the Dawgs). That being said I am surprised that anyone would be interested in WM let alone his alma mater the University of Miami.
The U can do a lot better. I think they need a big name coach maybe even from the pros to take over down there. Miami is on that short list of schools that include USC and Texas where recruiting well is a given. There is no reason why Miami should not be a powerhouse like they used to be. The talent is too good.
Words I love to hear!
Funny you mention that Willie runs the Cover 2 and rarely blitzes. That is the exact defense Shannon would run in his DC days here at Miami. He would rely on the d-line to get the pressure, and just rotate those guys two deep to keep ‘em fresh. Which all leads me to believe Shannon might be looking hard at Big Willie…if he thinks he has his carbon copy calling the plays, he might jump at this possibility.
I’m with you. I want someone else.
I think Spurrier and the U are a match made in college football hell. I am sure the ball coach is getting tired of coaching mediocre talent at South Carolina. I think a move to the U would be a no brainer. Plus there is a rummor going around that if Spurrier quits Tommy Tuberville(coached under Jimmy Johnson at Miami) will step in to replace him(they have the same agents). Bringing back Butch Davis would not be a bad idea either.
Miami needs a coach that just screams “We are big time college football”. Your the Miami Hurricanes not Bowling Green.
I wouldn’t want Spurrier now. Maybe back in 2001, after Butch left, but not now. He is in his “Business Consultant” phase of his career. Just show up to work, with all his past credentials, do just enough to still show the need to be paying him, but never really take the company to the next level.
Shannon is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Miami. This will be a terminal job if he gets this thing turned around. If he doesn’t, the cupboard will be full for the next guy, a la Zooker and Meyer. Unfortunately, that new coach will just go back to the old Miami way of winning a national title and leaving after 5 years.
Spurrier’s output at South Carolina is different because he can no longer get the talent he could get at Florida. Now he actually has to fight for recruits. At Miami he would not have to do that.
When I say that Miami could do better, I am not just talking head coaches, I am talking top flight assistants. Willie Martinez may be Coach Richt’s college roommate but he is not a top flight assistant.
I think Shannon could be the guy to get the job done but I am not sure. Its still too early to tell though I would not put it past the people who run Miami to have a quick trigger finger. They have got the talent but they need more output. They need a top flight play caller on both offense and defense. If Tennessee can go out and break the bank then why not the U.
I personally, do not want Spurrier anywhere near UM. UF didn’t have a black QB the entire time he was there. The one black QB that was @ UF when he got there, ended up transferring. Shannon isn’t going anywhere, anytime, soon, but if he did I would want a coach that doesn’t care about what color his QB is as long as they win. The black QB he briefly had a South Cack recently doesn’t count either. He was forced into that situ. His started was on suspension & the back up was injured. Soon as the suspended QB was reinstated, the black QB went back to WR. No Spurrier @ THE U!!!. We don’t run gimmicky offenses & Jimmy Johnson wouldn’t approve either.
I seriously doubt, he would kick Jacory Harris off the team let alone removing him as the starter. You might not run gimmicky offenses but Spurrier coached football teams don’t play in the Emerald Bowl either.