UW Football - It's official. Badgers hire Luke Fickell.

[LouisEly]

On 12/1/2022 at 9:39 AM, JosephC said:

I really don't see any reason for Leonhard wanting to stick around or UW wanting him to stick around.  He was obviously hurt by not getting the head coaching job.  Prior to this I only thought he would leave for a head coaching job, now I think he'd jump at any "decent" defensive coordinator job that would pop up.

McIntosh is probably praying that Leonhard does not go to Nebraska.  With as bad as Nebraska has been, coupled with the fact that Bucky keeps getting win after win against them, if Leonhard goes there and with Ruhle improves them to the point where they are better than Wisconsin...McIntosh might get run right out of Madison.

Bump

[wallus]

Wow I am really surprised JL is staying. I am hoping he is getting a nice raise for his loyalty. 

[nate82]

2 hours ago, wallus said:

Wow I am really surprised JL is staying. I am hoping he is getting a nice raise for his loyalty. 

That is really surprising.  From all of the articles that I read it sounded like JL was gone.  Maybe he is just comfortable at UW because I am not sure loyalty really describe this. 

[yourout]

38 minutes ago, nate82 said:

That is really surprising.  From all of the articles that I read it sounded like JL was gone.  Maybe he is just comfortable at UW because I am not sure loyalty really describe this. 

It will be interesting to see how it works. Spending some time watching Fickell work might be a good thing for JL before he gets a head coaching gig

[RedStickBrew]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

That is really surprising.  From all of the articles that I read it sounded like JL was gone.  Maybe he is just comfortable at UW because I am not sure loyalty really describe this. 

Not sure it has ever been officially reported, but I have heard that JL's family was tired of moving and wants to stay put near Madison.  Several people I know were not surprised to hear that he was staying. However, I would also note that it has not been made official by UW yet as far as I know.

[wildcat83]

Interesting to see the coaching titles and salaries once it shakes out.  JL and Tressel being Co D Coordinators seems slightly odd in that they run different systems.  Happy to have Jimmy staying in WI though.

[wildcat83]

One contract item that is out now is that Fickell would have to pay Wisconsin $8 million if he leaves before 2027.

 

Now I’m sure if OSU wants him at some point their boosters will cough up the $8 million, but interesting the Badgers set up the contract to try to ensure he’s here for at least 5 years.

[LouisEly]

On 12/3/2022 at 5:03 PM, nate82 said:

That is really surprising.  From all of the articles that I read it sounded like JL was gone.  Maybe he is just comfortable at UW because I am not sure loyalty really describe this. 

Those articles were all speculation.

Back in 2020 after he passed on the Packers DC job he said, "I think a lot of people have ideas about what my career is going to be and what they want it to be. The beauty of my career is that nobody needs to know or care. I love Madison."  He's supposedly turned down opportunities to interview for other high-profile HC jobs.  He loves Madison, his family loves Madison, and he made $10M in his career as a player so he doesn't need to chase a big paycheck.

Leonhard was initially their top choice, but during his interview when he was asked what his plan was Mac wasn't sold.  Fickell was interested but hadn't committed yet, they were ok with Leonhard but wanted Fickell and they were under pressure to have a coach in place with the transfer portal opening coming up quickly.  Their lawyers started preparing the contract for Leonhard... and then Fickell called and said yes.

[UpandIn]

23 hours ago, wildcat83 said:

Interesting to see the coaching titles and salaries once it shakes out.  JL and Tressel being Co D Coordinators seems slightly odd in that they run different systems.  Happy to have Jimmy staying in WI though.

They really don't though. That 3-3-5 is...a matter of semantics. All the additional size they had, they had a 285 DE, a 255LB DE and then do you call the "Big Nickel" a safety or is it a LBer? The Badgers had Leo Chenel as a 252LB MLBer/OLBer along with Sandborn a 240LB MLBer, Benton as a 315LB DT, Matt Hennisen a ~280 DE and Mullins who was a ~300 LB DE with Noah Burks and Herbig who were ~235 and...whatever Herbig is.

So the only real difference here would be when Chenel would play OLBer and they'd bring in another safety like Ferguson or last year it was Torchio.

There's this idea that Cincy had more size up front that...is based on the recollection of a couple games in which the Badgers were just manhandled, namely by OSU, it's really just not there. 

The REAL difference...is Sauce Gardner, the 4th overall pick and Kobe Bryant(4th Rd) who could cover most teams top WRers in man coverage allowing you to come up and crowd the LOS. Then the safety group, Bryan Cooks(2nd rd) Arquan Bush(2023 draft), Ja'Von Hicks(2023 draft) It's pretty much the same personnel groupings but if you can match the top WRers with one of the top CB/S groups, you can afford to keep more guys down in the box. 5 of the Bearcats DBs in that draft will end up drafted in the NFL.

The Badgers have that type of talent? Of course not...so they take out a DL at times and add a DB to protect the backend. It's a distinction without a difference and one that's really only made if Leonhard needed to. Give him elite CBs and Safeties and I promise, he'd rather have 3 big DL who can rush the passer in there. And we have often in the past. 

If Fickell and Tressel can bring over more of their DBs or if we can just recruit better cover corners, Leonhard's scheme which has led to one of the best D's in the Country will be that much better. 

[UpandIn]

On 12/3/2022 at 5:03 PM, nate82 said:

That is really surprising.  From all of the articles that I read it sounded like JL was gone.  Maybe he is just comfortable at UW because I am not sure loyalty really describe this. 

I still wouldn't be surprised if he hangs around until the NFL starts hiring and then changes his mind. He wouldn't be leaving Cincy high and dry and at THIS point it feels like he's trying to help get UW through this, keep players and recruits there as he is one incredibly loyal solider. But if he's the Co-DC and the GB Packers offer him the DC job a 2nd time? A job that he previously said was the ONLY job he'd leave being the DC at UW for?

And since that period of time, the HC who he was working under was fired, he took over, then was not given the full time job despite, I'm sure in his mind having earned it...

It'd be a very different situation and I think it probably is awkward and also not the best use of resources to spend money on two DCs. 

Assistant salaries are a big concern. But first, the Packers need to do the obvious(Fire Barry's ass) and then go back through the process and perhaps Leonhard isn't their top choice anymore. 

Seems like he really should be given how damn good he is with versatile LBers(like Quay and Campbell), penetrating big men(like Clark and Wyatt) and how his scheme really calls for the secondary to cover just long enough for front to get home.

 

I just LOVE some of the stunts he runs where he'll have a couple of backers stunt or he'll have Benton come all the way across from the 3 tech and then come around the edge on the other side and they don't give anything away. 

Imagine instead of Quay just rushing from his off-ball position, they lineup he and Campbell in the A Gaps(like Zimmer used to do) and instead of both pealing off, you get Walker matched up on a Guard and Wyatt with his 4.7 speed loops around behind Clark?

It's simple, but it also needs to be done so you don't give it away pre-snap or it's too easy to pass off.

 

And then you just need Jaire/Stokes/Campbell/Savage/Amos(?) or whoever to hold up for a LOT shorter period of time. THAT'S the type of aggressiveness that will lead to guys like Douglas and Jaire getting a lot more turnovers.