New Hires

[Lusk2003]

New coaching hires - Chandler Burks from Kennesaw State (tight ends) and Nate Fuqua (defensive line)

Did we lose our tight ends coach too?

[WrekDivr]

Sounds like the TE coach moved to Offensive Line to work with Viti.

[Dong Fong '09]

Black shear is a former offensive lineman for Florida and came from coaching offensive line at Florida last year. I’m assuming even though he was the tight end coach last year that he was brought in to eventually coach offensive line.

I’m not sure what this says or doesn’t say about Viti. When he was the sole o line coach in 2022 and 2023 our line was terrible. He gets a lot of credit for the line this year, but I wonder if that was largely due to drinkal moving to co-offensive lineman coach along with Worley designing the offense.

Now he will be sharing the job with Blackshear.

[wpgrad]

I don't think Viti knows his ass from his elbow with regard to being a D1 O-line coach. I think Drinkall took over and now I think Blackshear will.

However, Buddie said something this winter like "if monken leaves we have a plan in place" which I interpreted to be Viti taking over as head guy....so......that appears to be the long term plan but until then we can be the only school in the country with 2 O-line coaches

[Lusk2003]

I don't think Viti knows his ass from his elbow with regard to being a D1 O-line coach. I think Drinkall took over and now I think Blackshear will.

However, Buddie said something this winter like "if monken leaves we have a plan in place" which I interpreted to be Viti taking over as head guy....so......that appears to be the long term plan but until then we can be the only school in the country with 2 O-line coaches

Hope the new AD has the same plan in place or at least a plan since JM interviews for every open job every year.

I think the mass improvement in the OLine is directly correlated with Viti being in charge. He’s now had time to recruit and develop players and we are seeing the results. Coupled with a better offensive system this year, the o line was the best we’ve had

[wpgrad]

I don't think Viti knows his ass from his elbow with regard to being a D1 O-line coach. I think Drinkall took over and now I think Blackshear will.

However, Buddie said something this winter like "if monken leaves we have a plan in place" which I interpreted to be Viti taking over as head guy....so......that appears to be the long term plan but until then we can be the only school in the country with 2 O-line coaches

Hope the new AD has the same plan in place or at least a plan since JM interviews for every open job every year.

I think the mass improvement in the OLine is directly correlated with Viti being in charge. He’s now had time to recruit and develop players and we are seeing the results. Coupled with a better offensive system this year, the o line was the best we’ve had

You do realize Drinkall was running O Line, right?

[Lusk2003]

I don't think Viti knows his ass from his elbow with regard to being a D1 O-line coach. I think Drinkall took over and now I think Blackshear will.

However, Buddie said something this winter like "if monken leaves we have a plan in place" which I interpreted to be Viti taking over as head guy....so......that appears to be the long term plan but until then we can be the only school in the country with 2 O-line coaches

Hope the new AD has the same plan in place or at least a plan since JM interviews for every open job every year.

I think the mass improvement in the OLine is directly correlated with Viti being in charge. He’s now had time to recruit and develop players and we are seeing the results. Coupled with a better offensive system this year, the o line was the best we’ve had

You do realize Drinkall was running O Line, right?

Just like he ran the offense in 2023…..

[keco616]

I don't think Viti knows his ass from his elbow with regard to being a D1 O-line coach.

based on what? He clearly has JM's endorsement

[kfan12]

I don't think Viti knows his ass from his elbow with regard to being a D1 O-line coach.

based on what? He clearly has JM's endorsement

I think he is a bit of an unknown at this point. Hard to know what he can now do by himself, but when he was by himself in 23-24 the O line play was abysmal, as it was in 22-23. His title has changed every year, but clearly after last season, he was paired with Matt Drinkall to get the job done. As discussion went for the two years prior, it was hard to tell whether there was something in his performance keeping him on staff or whether he was being kept on because the military leadership wanted to keep him for non-football-related reasons. I'm not sure, but this past year was the first since he has been associated with the O line that they performed well against most teams, and that didn't come because of something he did alone. Hard to tell where his individual capabilities stand WRT coaching, but my suspicion is he was a better fit on the other side of the ball. That isn't to say he might not be a great motivator, but his background and individual performance as a coach doesn't make me believe he holds the O line coaching skills that others have.