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As you know, Purdue fired three coaches once the seasons ended. That means it needs to make three new hires. You can only have so many assistant coaches on staff, but you don't have to have them all for specific positions (for example: Purdue did not have a quarterbacks coach, and now it does). The Boilers got rid of both coordinators and a position coach in Rubin Carter on the defensive line. In the various hires already made there has been some shuffling:
John Shoop was fired as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
Terry Malone went from Tight Ends to Offensive Coordinator and Tight Ends
Tim Lester was hired as Quarterbacks coach (essentially trading a TE coach for a QB coach)
Rubin Carter was fired as Defensive Line Coach
Randy Melvin was hired as Defensive Line Coach
Greg Hudson was fired as Defensive Coordinator
That leaves Purdue still looking for a defensive coordinator, and there are rumors that he, too, may be coming from Miami:
There has been considerable chatter that Mark D'Onofrio might wind up as the defensive coordinator at Purdue as well; but no confirmation on that just yet.
While I am excited for the return of Melvin because he had success at Purdue in the past, I am not encouraged at all by this. Since I am also a Miami fan by marriage I have seen quite a bit of the Hurricanes, and I want no part of D'Onofrio. In fact, many Canes fans will tell you that it was Al Golden's loyalty to D'Onofrio that led to his firing. Many said he should have been gone from The U last year, much like John Shoop from Purdue, but Golden held on to him.
This past season alone D'Onofrio's defenses blew a huge late lead against Nebraska, sending that game to overtime, and were barely speedbumps for Clemson and North Carolina in giving up a total of 117 points to those two schools. Yes, Clemson is No. 1 in the country, but still. They also could not get late stops to close out games at Cincinnati and Florida State.
Another troubling factor is that Miami led the country in penalty yards. Purdue is not going to get better with undisciplined play, and penalties on both sides of the ball absolutely killed the Hurricanes.
In terms of total defense the Canes gave up 28.8 points per game, 83rd nationally compared to Purdue's 36.5, which was 112th. The run defense was awful at 210.5 yards per game, 107th nationally. By comparison, Purdue was 108th at 215.6 yards per game. Against the pass Miami was pretty good at 29th nationally, 196.3 yards per game. Purdue was 91st at 243.4.
The largest concern is that he put Purdue numbers up with Miami talent. Miami hasn't exactly walled off South Florida for the top recruits in recent years, but their recruiting is still consistently in the top 25 nationally every year. The lowest rated class he had to work with was 26th and his highest was 9th in 2012.
So... yeah.
UPDATE:
I don't think this is a good sign:
@TheStateOfTheU @HammerAndRails It doesn't matter which label you use, you're just screwed. Forget any chance of building your program up..
— Evan McNeil (@emac_TheU_canes) December 30, 2015
@HammerAndRails @TheStateOfTheU you will quickly refer to his name with out using the D
— Kenneth Peck (@kenpeck) December 30, 2015
@TheStateOfTheU @HammerAndRails defensive ends covering wideouts
— Justin Hester (@J_Hest23) December 30, 2015
@HammerAndRails @TheStateOfTheU he set just about every record in program history for defensive futility. Have fun!
— Greg Ehrlich (@gregehrlich) December 30, 2015
@TheStateOfTheU @HammerAndRails He is a terrible coach!
— Beast_Mode (@Steve_DaG) December 30, 2015
Yes. Indeed. Correct. https://t.co/dM7peJAYDa
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) December 30, 2015
@HammerAndRails @TheStateOfTheU trust us, you wanna avoid him at all cost
— Lamont Davis (@7citiesbrittle) December 30, 2015
@HammerAndRails @TheStateOfTheU DOnoffrio is utter trash.he took a historically dominant defense and made it soft garbage. I feel for u guys
— berkeley223 (@berkeley223) December 30, 2015
@HammerAndRails @TheStateOfTheU @JustTMill I don't even have anything snarky to say. Just legitimately feel bad for you guys.
— Greg Ehrlich (@gregehrlich) December 30, 2015
MIKE D'ONOFRIO!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA https://t.co/T7paNoF5qf
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) December 30, 2015
@HammerAndRails @SBNationCFB @TheStateOfTheU lmao
— Quentin (@Jagsrock210) December 30, 2015
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