21 Comments
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FiatSlug's avatar

I'm not worried about the playcalling experience factor. That's more a question of preparation, clarity in scheming, and understanding how your personnel matches up with their personnel. If the coordinators have that, then their chances of success are high.

Identifying younger coiaches is a good thing in this scenario. I'm hoping they bring a willingness to be innovative and question assumptions. You can't get people to stretch if you adhere to convention.

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OldSoCalBear's avatar

Tosh is a head coach who’s never been a head coach, hiring coordinators who’ve never been coordinators. Remember Wilcox’s first coordinators had both been not just coordinators, but head coaches themselves.

Tosh seems to be valuing youth, energy, recruiting and passion over experience, technique and experience. Absolutely the opposite of Wilcox.

Next year should be fascinating - probably a lot of amazing moments, also maybe some head-scratching screwups.

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AKBear's avatar

Looking forward to the next step in the process: filling out the coaching staff and bringing in players!!

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Take off that Red Shirt's avatar

Young and hungry. 6AM Film Sessions and 3 am recruiting calls. Tosh is building a relentless program.

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TKE Prytanis 79's avatar

Tosh and Ron are going all in with this profile of coach… Cannot wait to see how it plays out… literally! Go Bears Forever!

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doncal's avatar

Tosh is aggressive in his hires. Young, with pro experience. Wilcox was not a risk taker, that we know. Like it.

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Strut’88's avatar

Well, what he was: a good picker of outstanding Defensive Coordinators; Tim DeRuyter and Peter Sirmon were, more often than not, pretty darn good. Let’s hope the new DC can measure up to the standard, and then some, with a few stellar pass rushers added into the mix.

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Go Eat A Taco's avatar

fascinating

2 coordinators that have never coordinated.

alas, I prefer this over any re-tread. that said, I tot at least one of these C's would have some experience like from a lower conference (up and comer)

there will be energy in the building and these kids will run through walls for their coaches, I'm intrigued and ready to throw caution to the wind.

Go Bears (let's get some OL/DL studs)

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WilderThanGene's avatar

Let's get nuts!

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justbearly's avatar

Atta Boy. me too!

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Justbear's avatar

Oh wow I didn't recognize him at first but when I saw his high school I remember he was a recruit once. He was Michael Barton's teammate. I like this hire.

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BerkeleyBear's avatar

Not business as usual. I like it.

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KetamineCal's avatar

Looks like everyone has a "mentor." Hutchings has Tosh. Somerville has Rolo. Tosh has Rolo (and Ron). And so on down the tree.

Hard to predict how this all will go, but it does seem like there's a plan. NCAA and NFL are becoming more similar so it's as good a time as any to have a true reboot from different professional backgrounds. Seems like we're trying to be a good landing spot for senior transfers. Hoping we can still properly develop young players, though, and not go late Tedford and drown people with the playbook.

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napabear's avatar

That makes me optimistic that there won’t be novices potentially flailing with no guidance. Presumably Lupoi saw this model in action at his coaching stops in some very successful programs

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AndDriveDriveDrive's avatar

That’s what I was noticing too. Seems like a very interesting way of doing things. Interesting in a good way though.

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heyalumnigo's avatar

I wonder if Tosh had that at his various stops along the way.

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KetamineCal's avatar

Closest example I can find is at Oregon under Lanning. There have been co-OCs and co-DCs during his entire tenure. I believe Tosh was the "senior" DC and called the plays (instead of Powledge) upon arrival in 2022.

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WilderThanGene's avatar

Ok, officially nervous now with two first time coordinators game planning and calling plays under a first time HC. But in Tosh and Ron we trust. Hell, it could be crazy enough to work! Crazy is good.

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CalGal2004's avatar

There’s a first time for everything! 😉

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CalBear91's avatar

Go Bears! Welcome to the Cal family coach. And a return home. Prove yourself here and get these young men to be menacing and impactful. Turn us back into a defense to be feared. Between Rivera, Tosh and Hutchings, we have a trifecta of great defensive coaches. Now we just need the players!

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napabear's avatar

I like the fact that he’s also a Bay Area guy. He won’t be pining for some other state/region. Lessens the chances that he will leave. Promising that he has been in the NFL under a highly regarded DC. Recruits respond to coaches who have recent NFL experience. Looks promising! Welcome back to the Bay and to Bear Territory!!!

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