Honest question: I am curious which AC's are upgrades over prior staffs? I would agree there are some, but there is some serious soul searching that has to go on for some, IMO.
That is a good question. I'm not sure a prior staff comparison works as whomever the AC is, they work for the HC. Normally, CU has trouble holding onto any good Coordinator or AC, as they move up/on. Gary Barnett probably had the best luck with ACs, but CU could not keep many of them for very long.
For better or for worse, Prime sort of plays CEO for the program. He does not appear as involved in game-day coaching as other P-4 HCs, but he takes the heat when they lose and is the face of the program. The coordinators and ACs do a bit more. I still say Prime himself is relatively inexperienced on Gameday compared to other P-4HCs, but the other positives outweigh those negatives--recruiting, portaling, exposure, positive influence, and face of program. With Prime there will be delegation. Mac1 did this, as the ACs were in competition with each other.
For the 2023 squad, I do not think any of the coaches played particularly well in the sandbox with one another, specifically Lewis (OC), BOB and Kelly (DC). There was a disconnect and it seemed like they rarely used the coach in the box from above. IMO, the coaches lost the Stanford game just by not being on the same page. Lewis and BOB over-rated the Oline and that was the season downfall. Kelly just did not play well with other coaches and maybe the players too. Both Kelly and Lewis are head-coaches now, so they were stop-gaps anyways. That staff did not get the team integrated or motivated to the degree Prime desired. To Prime's credit he swallowed his pride and made changes.
For 2024-25, Prime decided to go a more NFL heavy route. Livingston hit as DC and I think he meshes well with Helow, but not as many great adjustments as last year. In watching BYU and TCU, there was definitely incremental improvement, but not turnovers or key plays. We need those. I do think as more film becomes available on CU's defense, other staffs are able to find and exploit the weaknesses. It is up to them to adjust accordingly but you can't find talent at certain positions if it is not there. Peko/Sapp are guys players want to play for, so I think we get good Dline talent going forward and since young guys are playing, they are taking to the coaching. This year we have not adjusted or found the right player formula. Moving Byard up is a positive.
I think for the ACs they are always coaching for their job. Other guys will be on the block if CU continues to regress. I'm not sure why Hart can't find decent fills at LB. Expect for Hill-Green, LB has been a major continuing issue and face it, we have stuck out in the portal more at this position than any other except TE. We are playing Brown (he has played good based on his projection), Byard (a converted S), and then whomever at LB. For Bartalone, we have struck out on so many TEs. At season's end, I think these ACs and the secondary will get a closer look. This time around, I think Prime will be looking at guys he brought with him from Jackson St. On the one hand I think they were necessary for continuity, stability, and initial team building but on the other they are probably not as seasoned as P-4 guys or even some NFLers.
On D, they will have some time to mesh, however like it or not losing Colton Hood was huge. TH was already huge shoes to fill, but McKinney and Hood on the outside, would have given more lee-way for S's, Hodge and LB's on the inside. Last year, we could play man coverage, this year more zone. Stout may not look like a bad player, if they were better at CB. Past the Dline, we are exposed in the middle of the field playing either zone or man. Cunningham has to figure this out.
Shurmer coached the O to 9 wins in 2024, albeit pass heavy with many NFLers and Oline? This year Pat has been more balanced. I like the new O but it is really a new install and at present we just do not have a ready QB to run it. The Oline is better, not sure if that is talent, but the Gunner, Hegeman or Gurode combo seems better than Loadholt (CU does have trouble holding onto ACs). Faulk was an upgrade from Flea and has that room running hard, albeit with injuries. I like the RB room, however they need a game-breaker to emerge. Give Faulk a year or two.
Except for the TCU gaff, special teams have been better.
For the Shurmer haters, he may or may not go, but we need a great OC candidate in waiting if we make the change. Be careful for what you wish--Leftwich could maybe do it; but if we strike out, it will be yet another O install and possibly stuck again in transition. This season Shurmer has made major adjustments, it is an install however they are not putting 30 points on the board either. I'm not sure we have the talent to win offensive shootouts, and this O is more geared to be coupled with an excellent defense. I think the staff probably should have considered moving Drelon much earlier. Since Pat is doing the install and play calling, they will have to consider a decent QB coach for more focus there. I am still unclear if Leftwich is here on a "volunteer" basis. In closing, we have to remember that there are budgetary constraints for football operations overall including ACs, and we have grown the overall operation substantially.
