In this thread we discuss truths

[615dawg]

Coleman Hutzler, who was a special teams assistant when hired as State's defensive coordinator has had a defense that has given up 500 yards six times in 24 games (25%). In 15 of the 24 games he has coached our defense, we have given up 400+ yards.

While we did improve from 2 to 5 wins, we really did not improve all that much. We won 1 SEC game over a team playing with an interim coach who will likely end up 0-8 tomorrow.

The Arizona State defensive coordinator making a really bad call gave this team the illusion of being better than last year.

Throwing out the FCS and G5 games.

Arizona State. Went from -7 to +4. Improvement but ASU is worse than last year.
Florida. Went from -17 to -2. Improvement but Florida is worse than last year
Texas. Went from -22 to -7. Improvement but Texas is worse than last year
Arkansas. Went from -23 to +3. Improvement but Arkansas is worse than last year
Tennessee. Went from -19 to -7. Improvement but Tennessee is worse than last year

Missouri. Went from -19 to -22. Mizzou is basically even with last year

Georgia. Went from -10 to -20. but UGA is better than last year
Texas A&M. Went from -10 to -22. but A&M is better than last year
Ole Miss. Went from -12 to -19. but Ole Miss is better than last year

Did we actually improve? or did five teams on our schedule get worse? With the exception of a bad Florida team, we gave up 31+ points in every SEC game we played. We did the same thing last year.

We beat USM instead of losing to Toledo and caught ASU with their pants down. We didn't improve.

 

[gtowndawg]

Man, we suck by every measurable statistic over the last two years but the keystone cops in charge have no idea what to do. We will win some baseball games, they will be happy and we will all convene here next fall for another terrible season.

 

[WutheringDawg]

Quickest route to some type of success in 26 is firing hutzler and throwing a bag at a legit dc. Muschamp, durkins, mike McIntyre type guy. Let Lebby ad my cook in the offseason and see what we can do.

 

[Perd Hapley]

We either didn’t improve, or improved by such a small amount that it’s almost imperceptible.

The other thing is we had a 5th year veteran QB stay healthy all season, whereas last year we were stuck with a freshmen for 75% of the season.

There are no reasons at all to keep Lebby that are not strictly financial in nature. Everybody knows where this is headed. The big donors just have to decide how quickly they want it to get there.

 

[615dawg]

Man, we suck by every measurable statistic over the last two years but the keystone cops in charge have no idea what to do. We will win some baseball games, they will be happy and we will all convene here next fall for another terrible season.

The answer is simple but it will bruise some egos. Mullen should be welcomed back Monday.

Kamario has work to do, but there were a couple plays he looked like he was in slow motion and made Ole Miss look silly (and Ole Miss fans would say the same). Mullen with a QB like that and a serviceable defense could make the playoff.

 

[civildawg88]

Here's another truth. Lebby went 1-15 in the SEC and the one win was against a team that already fired their coach and we needed a 4th down miracle to win and we are keeping him another year. Absolutely pathetic program and fanbase

 

[TTKADawg]

Coleman Hutzler, who was a special teams assistant when hired as State's defensive coordinator has had a defense that has given up 500 yards six times in 24 games (25%). In 15 of the 24 games he has coached our defense, we have given up 400+ yards.

While we did improve from 2 to 5 wins, we really did not improve all that much. We won 1 SEC game over a team playing with an interim coach who will likely end up 0-8 tomorrow.

The Arizona State defensive coordinator making a really bad call gave this team the illusion of being better than last year.

Throwing out the FCS and G5 games.

Arizona State. Went from -7 to +4. Improvement but ASU is worse than last year.
Florida. Went from -17 to -2. Improvement but Florida is worse than last year
Texas. Went from -22 to -7. Improvement but Texas is worse than last year
Arkansas. Went from -23 to +3. Improvement but Arkansas is worse than last year
Tennessee. Went from -19 to -7. Improvement but Tennessee is worse than last year

Missouri. Went from -19 to -22. Mizzou is basically even with last year

Georgia. Went from -10 to -20. but UGA is better than last year
Texas A&M. Went from -10 to -22. but A&M is better than last year
Ole Miss. Went from -12 to -19. but Ole Miss is better than last year

Did we actually improve? or did five teams on our schedule get worse? With the exception of a bad Florida team, we gave up 31+ points in every SEC game we played. We did the same thing last year.

We beat USM instead of losing to Toledo and caught ASU with their pants down. We didn't improve.

No need to respond; I think you nailed it! Team improved, had a shot to be a 7-8 win team. But starting at the top, changes need to be made, and it needs to start in the coaches room. Great post!

 

[ronpolk]

This team is really no better than last year.

 

[BossDawg78]

Quickest route to some type of success in 26 is firing hutzler and throwing a bag at a legit dc. Muschamp, durkins, mike McIntyre type guy. Let Lebby ad my cook in the offseason and see what we can do.

We can't neglect the $#!t show on offense either. Gotta make some major changes there, too....and by major changes I mean starting with Lebby.

 

[BirdPuppy]

We either didn’t improve, or improved by such a small amount that it’s almost imperceptible.

The other thing is we had a 5th year veteran QB stay healthy all season, whereas last year we were stuck with a freshmen for 75% of the season.

There are no reasons at all to keep Lebby that are not strictly financial in nature. Everybody knows where this is headed. The big donors just have to decide how quickly they want it to get there.

An elementary understanding of finance will tell anyone how 17’d we are bringing Lebby back, regardless of buyouts.

 

[Perd Hapley]

The answer is simple but it will bruise some egos. Mullen should be welcomed back Monday.

Kamario has work to do, but there were a couple plays he looked like he was in slow motion and made Ole Miss look silly (and Ole Miss fans would say the same). Mullen with a QB like that and a serviceable defense could make the playoff.

The answer is simple, but also costs money:

1) Find proven HC. Doesn’t have to be a guy proven in P4 or SEC. Just a proven coach.

2) Support the proven HC with money for high level assistants. A real OC and a real DC.

3) Support all of the above with targeted NIL investment where they need it. Specifically, OL and DL.

The Mullen / Kamario thing is fun to think about, but the reality is that Kamario could leave for the highest bidder, or get hurt at any time. Can’t decide the future of the next 3-5 years just based on a fit for the freshmen QB who may or may not decide to be here for 1 more year or 2 more years. And also realize that we’d be spending $6-$7 million per year minimum for Mullen.

 

[615dawg]

There are three things that can happen.

1. Lebby stays but big changes in his staff.

This is probably what is going to happen. Surely he will be told to make changes. It will be a disaster and we will fire Lebby this time next year.

2. Lebby stays and staff stays.

The fanbase will just disconnect. You think there was a lot of Tennessee Orange and Powder Blue in DWS this season? Wait until Alabama visits next year in this scenario,.

3. The right decision is made and we move on.

Who cares that a lot of jobs are open. Go get Mullen back, hire the Gus Bus or hire another P4 coordinator - can't be any worse than 1-15 in two seasons.

Someone nailed it with Auburn firing Freeze for 6 SEC wins in three years. Makes you think.

 

[The Peeper]

The other thing is we had a 5th year veteran QB stay healthy all season, whereas last year we were stuck with a freshmen for 75% of the season.

This is the truth, we had a veteran QB stay healthy this season that won exactly 1 more conference games than the freshman one did last season and it was against one of the few teams worse than us and will win less games than us this season. You apologist will claim we were 3 games better than last year but if you judge our season on beating the cupcakes then we need to change conferences

 

[bulldoghair]

Coleman Hutzler, who was a special teams assistant when hired as State's defensive coordinator has had a defense that has given up 500 yards six times in 24 games (25%). In 15 of the 24 games he has coached our defense, we have given up 400+ yards.

While we did improve from 2 to 5 wins, we really did not improve all that much. We won 1 SEC game over a team playing with an interim coach who will likely end up 0-8 tomorrow.

The Arizona State defensive coordinator making a really bad call gave this team the illusion of being better than last year.

Throwing out the FCS and G5 games.

Arizona State. Went from -7 to +4. Improvement but ASU is worse than last year.
Florida. Went from -17 to -2. Improvement but Florida is worse than last year
Texas. Went from -22 to -7. Improvement but Texas is worse than last year
Arkansas. Went from -23 to +3. Improvement but Arkansas is worse than last year
Tennessee. Went from -19 to -7. Improvement but Tennessee is worse than last year

Missouri. Went from -19 to -22. Mizzou is basically even with last year

Georgia. Went from -10 to -20. but UGA is better than last year
Texas A&M. Went from -10 to -22. but A&M is better than last year
Ole Miss. Went from -12 to -19. but Ole Miss is better than last year

Did we actually improve? or did five teams on our schedule get worse? With the exception of a bad Florida team, we gave up 31+ points in every SEC game we played. We did the same thing last year.

We beat USM instead of losing to Toledo and caught ASU with their pants down. We didn't improve.

For the 2nd straight year, we lead the SEC in defensive snaps per game, which is driven by Lebby’s up-tempo offense. Why are you not considering and discussing this truth?

 

[AT4 Dawg]

For the 2nd straight year, we lead the SEC in defensive snaps per game, which is driven by Lebby’s up-tempo offense. Why are you not considering and discussing this truth?

We don’t play as fast as UT or Ole Miss.

What if, maybe, the number of snaps the defense plays is due to them not being able to get stops ?

 

[patdog]

For the 2nd straight year, we lead the SEC in defensive snaps per game, which is driven by Lebby’s up-tempo offense. Why are you not considering and discussing this truth?

True. But Hutzler still sucks.

 

[Bullldawg78]

For the 2nd straight year, we lead the SEC in defensive snaps per game, which is driven by Lebby’s up-tempo offense. Why are you not considering and discussing this truth?

The truth that the guy doesn't know how to manage a game with a lead? He has proven that he has the coaching IQ for game time decisions of a middle school head coach.

 

[The Peeper]

For the 2nd straight year, we lead the SEC in defensive snaps per game, which is driven by Lebby’s up-tempo offense. Why are you not considering and discussing this truth?

Could it not be driven by the reason they that we give up many long multiple play drives to our opponents because we are bad and has nothing to do with our offense?

 

[OopsICroomedmypants]

Who the hell is coming to replace Lebby? This may be the toughest job in the SEC. It's not too tough to go find a good DC though. I'm fine with Lebby. He has potential. Let's just get some better assistants and let them work.

 

[22yardpunt]

Coleman Hutzler, who was a special teams assistant when hired as State's defensive coordinator has had a defense that has given up 500 yards six times in 24 games (25%). In 15 of the 24 games he has coached our defense, we have given up 400+ yards.

While we did improve from 2 to 5 wins, we really did not improve all that much. We won 1 SEC game over a team playing with an interim coach who will likely end up 0-8 tomorrow.

The Arizona State defensive coordinator making a really bad call gave this team the illusion of being better than last year.

Throwing out the FCS and G5 games.

Arizona State. Went from -7 to +4. Improvement but ASU is worse than last year.
Florida. Went from -17 to -2. Improvement but Florida is worse than last year
Texas. Went from -22 to -7. Improvement but Texas is worse than last year
Arkansas. Went from -23 to +3. Improvement but Arkansas is worse than last year
Tennessee. Went from -19 to -7. Improvement but Tennessee is worse than last year

Missouri. Went from -19 to -22. Mizzou is basically even with last year

Georgia. Went from -10 to -20. but UGA is better than last year
Texas A&M. Went from -10 to -22. but A&M is better than last year
Ole Miss. Went from -12 to -19. but Ole Miss is better than last year

Did we actually improve? or did five teams on our schedule get worse? With the exception of a bad Florida team, we gave up 31+ points in every SEC game we played. We did the same thing last year.

We beat USM instead of losing to Toledo and caught ASU with their pants down. We didn't improve.

We all know Leb will get a Year 3, but Hurzler should be terminated tonight. Tonight - old miss could have hit 600+ yards if they wanted to.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

The answer is simple but it will bruise some egos. Mullen should be welcomed back Monday.

Kamario has work to do, but there were a couple plays he looked like he was in slow motion and made Ole Miss look silly (and Ole Miss fans would say the same). Mullen with a QB like that and a serviceable defense could make the playoff.

With a good QB coach, Kamario could be seriously elite. He won't get that with this staff.

 

[Walkthedawg]

Here's another truth. Lebby went 1-15 in the SEC and the one win was against a team that already fired their coach and we needed a 4th down miracle to win and we are keeping him another year. Absolutely pathetic program and fanbase

And that team also had 200 yards of penalties and we needed that miracle still.

 

[olblue]

Coleman Hutzler, who was a special teams assistant when hired as State's defensive coordinator has had a defense that has given up 500 yards six times in 24 games (25%). In 15 of the 24 games he has coached our defense, we have given up 400+ yards.

While we did improve from 2 to 5 wins, we really did not improve all that much. We won 1 SEC game over a team playing with an interim coach who will likely end up 0-8 tomorrow.

The Arizona State defensive coordinator making a really bad call gave this team the illusion of being better than last year.

Throwing out the FCS and G5 games.

Arizona State. Went from -7 to +4. Improvement but ASU is worse than last year.
Florida. Went from -17 to -2. Improvement but Florida is worse than last year
Texas. Went from -22 to -7. Improvement but Texas is worse than last year
Arkansas. Went from -23 to +3. Improvement but Arkansas is worse than last year
Tennessee. Went from -19 to -7. Improvement but Tennessee is worse than last year

Missouri. Went from -19 to -22. Mizzou is basically even with last year

Georgia. Went from -10 to -20. but UGA is better than last year
Texas A&M. Went from -10 to -22. but A&M is better than last year
Ole Miss. Went from -12 to -19. but Ole Miss is better than last year

Did we actually improve? or did five teams on our schedule get worse? With the exception of a bad Florida team, we gave up 31+ points in every SEC game we played. We did the same thing last year.

We beat USM instead of losing to Toledo and caught ASU with their pants down. We didn't improve.

It is so bad that Matt Wyatt’s only outlet on the the radio is to rail on whoever is coaching MSU’s opponent in a particular week.

 

[bulldoghair]

We don’t play as fast as UT or Ole Miss.

What if, maybe, the number of snaps the defense plays is due to them not being able to get stops ?

We are the fastest in the SEC and fastest in the nation at 22.2 seconds per play. We also average the most offensive plays in the nation. Thus, our defense is 3rd on most snaps in the nation.

 

[onewoof]

The Florida game was the turning point.

I know it's all about wins. But. We did look better at every position the first half of the season. We had no chance against aTm and Georgia. We can still make a case that with an experienced head coach we could have won against Tenn, Texas and Florida. Played well in all three of those games. This team was mismatched against Missouri and Ole Miss.

We were more competitive but lost. I still cannot get past the dense incompetent coaching at Florida and against Texas. That's embarrassingly bad coaching to close out games that even a less than average D2 head coach could have won.

 

[AT4 Dawg]

We are the fastest in the SEC and fastest in the nation at 22.2 seconds per play. We also average the most offensive plays in the nation. Thus, our defense is 3rd on most snaps in the nation

What about it all the TDs and scores we’ve allowed ? I don’t care what anyone says-our defense is not good.

 

[bulldoghair]

What about it all the TDs and scores we’ve allowed ? I don’t care what anyone says-our defense is not good.

When your offense puts you back out there seconds after punting, before you can even get water in your mouth, the legs don’t recover, the lungs don’t recover, and the technique goes. That’s physics, not heart, or coaching.

 

[AT4 Dawg]

When your offense puts you back out there seconds after punting, before you can even get water in your mouth, the legs don’t recover, the lungs don’t recover, and the technique goes. That’s physics, not heart, or coaching.

Sounds like the person in charge doesn’t know what he’s doing. I could care less who to pin the blame on-there’s plenty of that and we are short on positives.

I just am tired of losing.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

A good DC will cost $2.5M

 

[gtowndawg]

The Florida game was the turning point.

I know it's all about wins. But. We did look better at every position the first half of the season. We had no chance against aTm and Georgia. We can still make a case that with an experienced head coach we could have won against Tenn, Texas and Florida. Played well in all three of those games. This team was mismatched against Missouri and Ole Miss.

We were more competitive but lost. I still cannot get past the dense incompetent coaching at Florida and against Texas. That's embarrassingly bad coaching to close out games that even a less than average D2 head coach could have won.

The Florida game was my crash out game. That's when I knew we are being led by fools.

 

[civildawg88]

The Florida game was my crash out game. That's when I knew we are being led by fools.

Same here. I literally couldn't believe my eyes at all the dumb decisions

 

[onewoof]

Same here. I literally couldn't believe my eyes at all the dumb decisions

One cannot be paid millions to do that. But one is paid millions to do that.

 

[MoronDawg]

TRUTHS?!! WE CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTHS.

 

[bulldoghair]

Could it not be driven by the reason they that we give up many long multiple play drives to our opponents because we are bad and has nothing to do with our offense?

Because it has mostly to do with our offense. I’m not saying we are the 85 Bears by no means. But I am saying our defense is the best example of tempo-induced cardiac drift in modern college football. The laws of human biology win. Lebby’s offense creates a physiological drift in the defense’s performance, leading to late-game breakdowns.
We’re top-50 1H points allowed at 15.2 PPG, but drift in 2H with Q4 the worst: 11.7 PPG allowed (#133 nat’l, worst Power 4), with 7.1 YPP conceded (vs. 4.5 1H).

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

The Florida game was my crash out game. That's when I knew we are being led by fools.

Same. I was in shock for about an hour after that game.

 

[bulldoghair]

Jeff Lebby is running the exact same tempo as Chip Kelly’s 2010–2014 Oregon teams. Kelly’s Oregon teams proved you can run 80+ plays at 20–22 seconds per snap without destroying your defense — if you have the bodies to rotate. Kelly’s teams didn’t suffer the same defensive collapse we do because they had way more bodies. They treated the sideline like a conveyor belt: one series on, next series off, repeat. Heart rates dropped, lactic acid cleared, technique held up. Lebby is trying to run the exact same offense philosophy in 2025 but the 85-man scholarship limit is strictly enforced now- transfer portal creates constant churn (fewer multi-year bodies)- and NIL money is spread thin, so depth is expensive. Result: State has half the rotation Oregon had, so the same tempo that once made Oregon’s defense stay fresh now makes our defense cook itself alive by the 4th quarter. And Hutzler is the scapegoat for people who can’t see the real metrics.

 

[Mr. Cook]

Coleman Hutzler, who was a special teams assistant when hired as State's defensive coordinator has had a defense that has given up 500 yards six times in 24 games (25%). In 15 of the 24 games he has coached our defense, we have given up 400+ yards.

While we did improve from 2 to 5 wins, we really did not improve all that much. We won 1 SEC game over a team playing with an interim coach who will likely end up 0-8 tomorrow.

The Arizona State defensive coordinator making a really bad call gave this team the illusion of being better than last year.

Throwing out the FCS and G5 games.

Arizona State. Went from -7 to +4. Improvement but ASU is worse than last year.
Florida. Went from -17 to -2. Improvement but Florida is worse than last year
Texas. Went from -22 to -7. Improvement but Texas is worse than last year
Arkansas. Went from -23 to +3. Improvement but Arkansas is worse than last year
Tennessee. Went from -19 to -7. Improvement but Tennessee is worse than last year

Missouri. Went from -19 to -22. Mizzou is basically even with last year

Georgia. Went from -10 to -20. but UGA is better than last year
Texas A&M. Went from -10 to -22. but A&M is better than last year
Ole Miss. Went from -12 to -19. but Ole Miss is better than last year

Did we actually improve? or did five teams on our schedule get worse? With the exception of a bad Florida team, we gave up 31+ points in every SEC game we played. We did the same thing last year.

We beat USM instead of losing to Toledo and caught ASU with their pants down. We didn't improve.

I like where you’re going with this thread and what you’ve laid out here - no argument from me.

The real truth is &tate is not a serious football program.

@Maroon Eagle can speak more for this fanbase with regard to “the truth”

 

[AT4 Dawg]

That’s all well and good and maybe that’s why the defense is so bad.

But the fans don’t care. They see the defense getting gashed-they see DBs getting mossed at home against a relatively average WR(he’s no AJ or DK) and they see for the last 3 games of the year absolutely nothing work.

Either way-what we’re doing isn’t working. And I’m happy to blame Lebby and Hutz. It’s Lebbys fault for not adjusting and it’s Hutzlers fault for not having the balls to sack up and tell him Lebby. But they can both kick rocks for all I’m concerned.

 

[Mr. Cook]

Who the hell is coming to replace Lebby?

A lot of choices out there to consider. It’s a bumper crop of a available decent coached

 

[gtowndawg]

Jeff Lebby is running the exact same tempo as Chip Kelly’s 2010–2014 Oregon teams. Kelly’s Oregon teams proved you can run 80+ plays at 20–22 seconds per snap without destroying your defense — if you have the bodies to rotate. Kelly’s teams didn’t suffer the same defensive collapse we do because they had way more bodies. They treated the sideline like a conveyor belt: one series on, next series off, repeat. Heart rates dropped, lactic acid cleared, technique held up. Lebby is trying to run the exact same offense philosophy in 2025 but the 85-man scholarship limit is strictly enforced now- transfer portal creates constant churn (fewer multi-year bodies)- and NIL money is spread thin, so depth is expensive. Result: State has half the rotation Oregon had, so the same tempo that once made Oregon’s defense stay fresh now makes our defense cook itself alive by the 4th quarter. And Hutzler is the scapegoat for people who can’t see the real metrics.

So you're saying Lenny is an idiot.