Harsin’s background is solid enough…if Cal can get competent OL coaching and even average play from the unit, there’s no reason this team should not win 8 next year. None.
The main problem remains the basic, systemic issues that have plagued Justin Wilcox’s program for 8 full seasons now…seasons that have each been consistently marred by a troubling lack of preparation, poor fundamentals and head-scratching losses. Maybe the combination of Harsin and Mendoza is solid enough to overcome these clear obstacles that Wilcox has been unable to do on his own.
Fingers crossed…and hire a quality O-line coach, damnit.
He couldn't recruit, as kids literally said, "Harsin was bad at recruiting, didn’t like to do it, didn’t like to see his staff doing it too much, and passed on a lot of kids." So, with portal and NIL, recruiting is critical. I'm depressed with this selection.
I found the Reddit quote you just sourced. Commenters didn't agree with that assessment.
No coaches 'like' recruiting. He brought 4 & 5 *'s into Auburn. Are you saying he wants to coach inferior players?
Here's some actual quotes from a Montgomery paper:
"It was late January, and Harsin and receivers coach Eric Kiesau were visiting Mars Hill Bible School in Florence. Higgins was impressed. It was as long as any college coach had stayed to chat.
“I think he’d still be sitting there talking if I didn’t have to get up and go work my kids out,” Higgins said.
High school coaches who have been visited by Harsin in the last year have appreciated his honesty and his straightforward approach. Harsin's message on the recruiting trail has been firm: Auburn wants a specific type of player who is ready to love football and meet his demanding standards."
...
"One of the state’s current football hot spots is G.W. Carver High School in Montgomery. The No. 1 and No. 6 recruits in the state’s 2023 class attend Carver: defensive lineman James Smith and edge Jaquavious Russaw. Both are top-40 nationally. When the recruiting contact period started last fall, Harsin was the first college coach to bring his full recruiting staff to the school.
“They’ve probably done the best job as far as being seen; He’s been here multiple times,” coach Marcus Gardner said. “And the whole country has been here, pretty much.”
Sounds to me like he's aware of what's required recruiting-wise.
This guy had a ton of success before Auburn. I think people are being negative because any offensive coaching choice by Wilcox is now suspect. I’m optimistic. He’ll be refreshed after time off and motivated to rebuild his career.
I sense a lukewarm reception at best to what would be considered a home run hire at most places. Considering how dominant Cal's offense has not been of late, that's a reaction that surprises me (sort of).
I'm curious who would be a well received OC hire when the candidate list is held to only those who would actually come anywhere close to Berkley?
Personally, I don't think Cal has the money/cachet to hire somebody who is obviously a great hire, meaning that the choice is between a known commodity with downsides or a relative unknown getting a big promotion. And considering Cal's current status, I think you need to take a risk and hire a relative unknown on the chance they might be on their way up.
This is a valid point, in terms of who else would be interested. You are also right that I'm saying this inspires no particular hope. I'd love to be wrong, of course, Go Bears, but he seems like damaged goods. At least Bloesch was an up and comer that made sense with Texas ties. What does Harsin bring in terms of recruiting? The fighting Mormons maybe? College ball is not that complicated, compared to NFL. Tony Franklin comes to mind. Dykes. Holmoe to Tedford change was profound offensively. Nothing happens without improved OL play, can he make sure we get that with Bloesch or with someone else? Can we get Tedford as a consultant only? He sits at home nursing his health but provides input on each opponent and overall offensive strategy?
Another year of waiting for a half the year to go by before we know much. Another year of reading too much into practice videos. Another year of raised and dashed hope? Like Musgrave-NFL-proven-Wilcox guy-flying around-dreadful results.
"Another year of reading too much into practice videos." - This is a valid point that far too many inexperienced reporters or people desperately trying to fabricate interest engage in with audiences desperately searching for promise that doesn't exist.
Always beware of spectacular looking plays by people who will never play a meaningful down, or against someone who better never play a meaningful down, because if they do, something has already gone very wrong.
Only Utah never had the most talent, despite the Rose Bowls, etc…they always had good, but not great, players…guys that were well coached and they dominated in the trenches.
Unlikely that the talent level suddenly changed, and more likely a disconnect between the players they had and the coaching staff.
I think there are younger smarter, more cutting edge OC's out there. But Wilcox's job depends on it, so if he makes another bad pick we'll have a new HC. I just look at what Dillingham has done in two years at ASU. We need this type of shake up.
Dillingham as a brilliant offensive mind in his own right. When he was at Oregon as the offensive coordinator, I watched the game he called, which was the most perfect called offensive game. I have ever watched. It was pure brilliance. Every play was the right play to call. So maybe he has some guys that are more experienced, but I’ll tell you what he’s the brain for the offense at ASU.
Having exhausted his Oregon pipeline he is now tapping into his Boise State pipeline is that what you are telling me? On that basis alone, I'm concerned. That said, this would appear to be a step up in OC from most of Wilcox's past hires at this position.
None of it will matter unless we get a serviceable OL anyways. Let's fix that first.
Another bad hire. Won't matter anyway with Wilcox as HC.
So your comparing Whittingham judgment on OC's vs Wilcox?
Harsin’s background is solid enough…if Cal can get competent OL coaching and even average play from the unit, there’s no reason this team should not win 8 next year. None.
The main problem remains the basic, systemic issues that have plagued Justin Wilcox’s program for 8 full seasons now…seasons that have each been consistently marred by a troubling lack of preparation, poor fundamentals and head-scratching losses. Maybe the combination of Harsin and Mendoza is solid enough to overcome these clear obstacles that Wilcox has been unable to do on his own.
Fingers crossed…and hire a quality O-line coach, damnit.
Harsin had a better F+ in every year as OC than Jake SpavItal had in his year al Cal. Only two years as HC was his F+ lower than Spavs.
FWIW, really nice, digestible pieces here. Thank you.
This hire might be good enough to get Wilcox fired.
He couldn't recruit, as kids literally said, "Harsin was bad at recruiting, didn’t like to do it, didn’t like to see his staff doing it too much, and passed on a lot of kids." So, with portal and NIL, recruiting is critical. I'm depressed with this selection.
I found the Reddit quote you just sourced. Commenters didn't agree with that assessment.
No coaches 'like' recruiting. He brought 4 & 5 *'s into Auburn. Are you saying he wants to coach inferior players?
Here's some actual quotes from a Montgomery paper:
"It was late January, and Harsin and receivers coach Eric Kiesau were visiting Mars Hill Bible School in Florence. Higgins was impressed. It was as long as any college coach had stayed to chat.
“I think he’d still be sitting there talking if I didn’t have to get up and go work my kids out,” Higgins said.
High school coaches who have been visited by Harsin in the last year have appreciated his honesty and his straightforward approach. Harsin's message on the recruiting trail has been firm: Auburn wants a specific type of player who is ready to love football and meet his demanding standards."
...
"One of the state’s current football hot spots is G.W. Carver High School in Montgomery. The No. 1 and No. 6 recruits in the state’s 2023 class attend Carver: defensive lineman James Smith and edge Jaquavious Russaw. Both are top-40 nationally. When the recruiting contact period started last fall, Harsin was the first college coach to bring his full recruiting staff to the school.
“They’ve probably done the best job as far as being seen; He’s been here multiple times,” coach Marcus Gardner said. “And the whole country has been here, pretty much.”
Sounds to me like he's aware of what's required recruiting-wise.
😭
Another mediocre assistant hired by a mediocre head coach. When will the agony end?
You will know we are close when Colorado Springs’ favorite son Jim Knowlton is eventually terminated….
This guy had a ton of success before Auburn. I think people are being negative because any offensive coaching choice by Wilcox is now suspect. I’m optimistic. He’ll be refreshed after time off and motivated to rebuild his career.
“You see a place…” dee. ;-)
He had success a decade ago.
Tip of the cap to ya if you’re willing to give Justin Wilcox the benefit of the doubt that he got things right in year 9.
That's my hope. He better be.
whatever happened to we are slow walking this oc hire? this guy hasn't coached since 22. really ridiculous. transfer portal here we go ugh
I sense a lukewarm reception at best to what would be considered a home run hire at most places. Considering how dominant Cal's offense has not been of late, that's a reaction that surprises me (sort of).
I'm curious who would be a well received OC hire when the candidate list is held to only those who would actually come anywhere close to Berkley?
Personally, I don't think Cal has the money/cachet to hire somebody who is obviously a great hire, meaning that the choice is between a known commodity with downsides or a relative unknown getting a big promotion. And considering Cal's current status, I think you need to take a risk and hire a relative unknown on the chance they might be on their way up.
Harsin’s as good as could be expected.
The larger issue is that when you’re on your 4th OC in 4 years, the answer is no one because the program’s ills are systemic and stem from the top.
This is a valid point, in terms of who else would be interested. You are also right that I'm saying this inspires no particular hope. I'd love to be wrong, of course, Go Bears, but he seems like damaged goods. At least Bloesch was an up and comer that made sense with Texas ties. What does Harsin bring in terms of recruiting? The fighting Mormons maybe? College ball is not that complicated, compared to NFL. Tony Franklin comes to mind. Dykes. Holmoe to Tedford change was profound offensively. Nothing happens without improved OL play, can he make sure we get that with Bloesch or with someone else? Can we get Tedford as a consultant only? He sits at home nursing his health but provides input on each opponent and overall offensive strategy?
Another year of waiting for a half the year to go by before we know much. Another year of reading too much into practice videos. Another year of raised and dashed hope? Like Musgrave-NFL-proven-Wilcox guy-flying around-dreadful results.
Won't be a year, watch who transfers out and when.
There is always a tell....
If Wilcox and Harsin aren’t looking for work this time next year, it likely means some things went better than expected…
There's always a possiblity that Knowlton is still our AD a year from now and that is the reason why they are still here.
Sure, tho it seems unlikely.
We’re most likely ticketed for a return to P2 sooner rather than later if Knowlton and Wilcox are still here for the 2026 season.
"Another year of reading too much into practice videos." - This is a valid point that far too many inexperienced reporters or people desperately trying to fabricate interest engage in with audiences desperately searching for promise that doesn't exist.
Always beware of spectacular looking plays by people who will never play a meaningful down, or against someone who better never play a meaningful down, because if they do, something has already gone very wrong.
I am losing count, but this is OC four or ten. Geez, this guy get amazing out of slack for subpar .500 record.
Look around and you'll see OCs moves are frequent. For instance, Utah's Whittingham has 10+ OCs in 20 years (https://utah.rivals.com/news/utah-s-ludwig-resigns-after-offensive-struggles).
uh, and he wins...
Y??? cuz he has had consistent and good line play (on both sides of the ball). This isn't rocket science, mate.
Except for this year.
Speaking of, GEAT, Utah’s step back was puzzling….was surprised to see them miss out on bowl eligibility.
Because their talent level dropped a lot. That's usually the reason for losing. Good players beat average players in every sport.
Utah lost their one, and only, elite QB. And the season immediately turned. As it almost does when that happens.
Only Utah never had the most talent, despite the Rose Bowls, etc…they always had good, but not great, players…guys that were well coached and they dominated in the trenches.
Unlikely that the talent level suddenly changed, and more likely a disconnect between the players they had and the coaching staff.
Ya, can’t give Wilcox a pass because coaches move around.
Most of his have been largely because of incompetence.
Yeah, successful teams lose coaches all the time. I've never counted but I bet Alabama had lost both coordinators year after year.
Exactly. Losing coordinators because they got promotions is not what’s going on here!
F+ ? I thought you were grading his offensive ranking, and harshly at that. What is F+, please?
The article includes a description of the rating system as well as a link to the stat website that has further information
Ah! Did not see the asterisk first time through. Thank you and well done, especially being ahead of the news!
I think there are younger smarter, more cutting edge OC's out there. But Wilcox's job depends on it, so if he makes another bad pick we'll have a new HC. I just look at what Dillingham has done in two years at ASU. We need this type of shake up.
Dillingham brought coordinators who have more experience than he has.
Dillingham as a brilliant offensive mind in his own right. When he was at Oregon as the offensive coordinator, I watched the game he called, which was the most perfect called offensive game. I have ever watched. It was pure brilliance. Every play was the right play to call. So maybe he has some guys that are more experienced, but I’ll tell you what he’s the brain for the offense at ASU.
Having exhausted his Oregon pipeline he is now tapping into his Boise State pipeline is that what you are telling me? On that basis alone, I'm concerned. That said, this would appear to be a step up in OC from most of Wilcox's past hires at this position.
None of it will matter unless we get a serviceable OL anyways. Let's fix that first.
Well, the last time Cal got a coach from Boise State worked, so let's hope for it again.
Gerald Alexander is Boise State alum
All excellent points GEAT.
I would definitely check into how he related with the actual players during games, not just his offensive play knowledge.
To that end, will he be on the sideline or up in the booth…
I hope he's up stairs. Sirmon too.