Pelini to LSU

[Cie]

It appears that Les Miles has put together a top notch staff. I am still a bit uneasy about Coach Miles after hearing from many Big 12 fans that Miles was outcoached repeatedly in his tenure @ Ok St.


The Bo Pelini File

Birthdate: December 13, 1967
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
High School: Cardinal Mooney, 1986
College: Ohio State, 1990
Family: wife, Mary Pat
son, Patrick; daughters, Kathryn and Caralyn

Coaching History

2004 Oklahoma - Co-Defensive Coor./ Defensive Backs Coach
Nov. 30, 2003-Jan. 12, 2004 - Nebraska Interim Head Coach
2003 Nebraska - Defensive Coordinator
2000-2002 Green Bay Packers - Assistant Coach and Linebackers Coach
1997-1999 New England Patriots - Assistant Coach and Linebackers Coach
1994-1996 San Francisco 49ers - Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs Coach
1993 Cardinal Mooney HS (Youngstown, Ohio) - Assistant Coach and Quarterbacks Coach
1991 Iowa - Graduate Assistant and Receivers Coach

Bowl Games as a Coach (2)






2004 Alamo (Nebraska), 1991 Holiday (Iowa)

Bowl Games as a Player (2)







Jan. 1990 Hall of Fame (Ohio State), Dec. 1990 Liberty (Ohio State)

Coaching Accomplishments







* In January 2004, Pelini led Nebraska to a 17-3 victory over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.

* In 2003, Pelini's Blackshirts forced 47 turnovers, which tied the Nebraska season record set during the 1971 national championship run. Their takeaway total ranked No. 2 in the nation and allowed Nebraska to lead the nation in turnover margin at +1.77 per game.

* Pelini guided a defense that pitched a pair of shutouts, the first time Nebraska had two shutouts in the same season since 1999. Nebraska ranked in the top 15 nationally in four of five major defensive statistical categories, including No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (88.66 rating), No. 2 in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), No. 11 in passing yards allowed (177.8 ypg) and No. 11 in total defense (297.2 ypg).

* In 2003, Pelini's unit held eight opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and seven to less than 250 yards of total offense.

* In 2002, as linebackers coach of the Packers, Green Bay ranked fourth in pass defense among all NFL teams, allowing 188.4 yards per game. In three years with the team, the Packers posted a 33-15 regular season record. In 2001, Green Bay advanced to the second round of the playoffs, and in 2002 the Packers qualified for the playoffs a third consecutive year.

* Pelini coached the linebackers for the New England Patriots under Pete Carroll. Pelini held that position from 1997 to 1999. His efforts in 1997 were highlighted by the first Pro Bowl appearance for Chris Slade, the first Patriots linebacker to be voted to the Pro Bowl since Johnny Rembert in 1989. The Patriots were a combined 27-21 with Pelini on staff and advanced to the playoffs in both 1997 and 1998.

* Served on George Seifert's San Francisco 49ers staff for three seasons (1994-96). Originally hired as a scouting assistant in the spring of 1994, Pelini soon joined the coaching staff as a defensive backs coach through the 1996 season. The 49ers won Super Bowl XXIX in 1994 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs the next two seasons.

 

[Scott4USC]

Anybody else besides me think this Pelini guy is over-rated as a defensive coordinator?

I am not saying he is bad, he is a good DC. But for some reason people think he is a great DC and this guy moves from high profile job to the next.

Take the OB as an example. The OU defense NEVER made any adjustments. Chow just toyed with them. Reggie Bush goes in motion, so the whole OU defense focused on Bush and LB's moved over, then USC would throw other side to Jarret or Smith. Where was the coaching or adjustments? USC did this all night long. No secret USC used Bush as decoy and it was no secret OU gameplan was to try and take Bush out of the offense. Ok thats good except when OU saw USC was using Bush as decoy, Pelini and OU defense never adjusted. Why let a team pick you apart? Make freaking ajustments. Its not like OU lacked talent or experience.

Maybe Bob Stoops had something to do with Pelini leaving. Doesn't Stoops prefer to play defense with safety up on the line. Maybe Pelini had little say at OU and prefers to go to LSU.

All in all, I just don't think this guy is a great DC. He does have one thing going for him. LSU has superb athletes on defense for him to coach! I am picking LSU to win the SEC if their QB would step up. Why does LSU recruit these "athlete" type QB's? I strongly dislike these athletes playing QB. IMO LSU would be so much better off with a QB, one that knows how to play the position and throw the ball effectivle. IMO the QB position is what is holding them back but then they go and recruit another "athlete" type QB. Makes no sense. Didn't LSU get to the BCS Sugar Bowl with a drop back passer?

Miami, OSU, USC, LSU, OU all have won recent NC's and all had the classic drop back passers. QB's playing QB's. QB's who could manage a game. Not these super talented athletes playing QB. Think about it.

Recent Super Bowl Champions all classic drop back QB's. Tampa Bay, Rams, and Patriots.

 

[Cie]

Scott, FYI, Jamarcus Russel is a drop back passer. Sure, he is a great physical specimen, but he is a pocket passer. As a matter of fact, Russel is more of a drop back passer than was Matt Mauck, who used his legs to sprint out, etc on a regular basis. In fact, when Mauck led LSU to their 1st SEC Championship, he did it by running several QB draws. I am not denying your knowledge of college FB, but in this instance you are clearly wrong.

 

[Bob Stoops]

If anyone saw our DB's and two returning safeties get torched in a few games this season, you would know we are not exactly disappointed to see him go.

Whether or not this was a case of lossing Mike Stoops or bringing in Pelini remains to be seen. We will have 3 new starters in our secondary next year so I guess we will wait and see.

 

[Scott4USC]

Cie Grant

Thanks for clarifying that up. You obviously know more about LSU than me. However, I did watch LSU play quite often last year and I was not impressed at all with the LSU QB's. To me, they looked like athletes playing QB. The freshman has an excuse because he is inexperienced. Maybe they just are not great QB's.

Wouldn't LSU been much better with Mauck at QB last year? Maybe I am wrong, but I think he was more of a QB playing QB than an athlete playing QB. Don't get me wrong, these athletes playing QB (who I seem to be bashing) are gifted and can throw the ball, but they are not consistent and often don't know how to manage a game.

I think LSU could do some great things if they find a good solid QB. They got the #2 and some say #1 QB in the country in this years recruiting class. But he is clearly an athlete (super talented) playing QB. I don't think it works.

Not sure if you follow recruiting closely. But if you had your choice between Sanchez or Perriolux who would you take? Both are #1 & #2 QB's out of high school but both are complete different players playing QB.


Are you excited with Pelini?

 

[Cie]

Although I have some knowledge of national recruiting, I am not familiar with Mark Sanchez, except for his stature 6'2'' 215 lbs and high rating from the major services. I know for certain that Perilloux's attitude does not impress me, as he has already said ridiculous things about the existing QBs. Hopefully, Russel steps up and plays this season as he did off the bench in the 4Q of the Cap One bowl.

2 seasons ago I promoted LSU all season long on this site because I felt they had what is needed to be a special team. This past season, I did not promote LSU vigorously on this or any other site because I knew that the Off was suspect due to the youth at QB. This season, I predict an SEC Championship, partially because we have several big games @ home---- Fla, UGA and Auburn. Except for loss of 2 talented Corners, Les Miles is sitting on something special in terms of talent and experience, I just hope he can do something with it.

Matt Mauck lost only 1 game in his tenure as LSU's starter( off the top of my head 19-1). With him at the helm last season, I feel we would have beaten Auburn and Iowa and finished with only 1 loss. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I figure going down to the wire @ Auburn (2nd best team in NCAA) last season with poor QB play, Mauck would have pushed us over the edge.