Danny Collins to DC per RB

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maybe this is a semantics thing - but if he's being promoted to Defensive Coordinator, why not just say that instead of "defensive play caller?" Unless this is going to be one of those co-coordinator things like on offense, where Harbaugh is Co-coordinator with Simon but Harbaugh is the one calling the plays.
 


mkAz said:
Has he ever called defensive plays before? At any level?
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doesn't look like it. his bio from the U -

Coaching Experience
2023-present: Minnesota - Safeties / Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
2022: Minnesota - Safeties
2020-21: Minnesota - Senior Defensive Analyst
2019: Minnesota - Quality Control
2018: Minnesota - Graduate Assistant
2017: Minnesota - Quality Control
2015-16: Western Michigan - Defensive Graduate Assistant
 


short ornery norwegian said:
doesn't look like it. his bio from the U -

Coaching Experience
2023-present: Minnesota - Safeties / Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
2022: Minnesota - Safeties
2020-21: Minnesota - Senior Defensive Analyst
2019: Minnesota - Quality Control
2018: Minnesota - Graduate Assistant
2017: Minnesota - Quality Control
2015-16: Western Michigan - Defensive Graduate Assistant
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I think he was technically the DC in last year's bowl game.
 



I fear Danny may be the sacrificial lamb until we can target a more established candidate in next year's hiring cycle...

I certainly hope I'm wrong and that he kills it though!
 



I said in the assistant salary pool thread that I expected Collin’s to get a raise at some point soon, but this was a lot quicker than I expected. Sounds like he is very well liked in the building though, and everybody that talks about him seems to have only glowing reviews. Promotion to DC seemed to be more of a when, not if, type of thing. Keeping the hire in house should also help with player retention, especially in the secondary.
 


mkAz said:
Has he ever called defensive plays before? At any level?
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If he hasn't it should help that the Gopher Opener is against Buffalo (decent MAC team this season) and then play Northwestern State (winless in 2024).
 

ComoCraig said:
I fear Danny may be the sacrificial lamb until we can target a more established candidate in next year's hiring cycle...

I certainly hope I'm wrong and that he kills it though!
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Don't think so. From what I've seen he's been on this trajectory and is a rock star.

He's coached our most productive position for 3 years and called the defense in the bowl against Bowling Green.
 




A young guy that has had the chance to work under Hetherman and many other smart DCs over time. Let's see how he decides to implement the best of their ideas and strategies. It's not like when people leave all their knowledge leaves with them. Their best ideas will likely be used by the smart, wise people they left behind.
 



We've done well with DC since the firing of the dude that led to Rossi, I'm okay with this. He's an internal guy for a defense that's been spectacular on average since Fleck's been here.
 



short ornery norwegian said:
doesn't look like it. his bio from the U -

Coaching Experience
2023-present: Minnesota - Safeties / Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
2022: Minnesota - Safeties
2020-21: Minnesota - Senior Defensive Analyst
2019: Minnesota - Quality Control
2018: Minnesota - Graduate Assistant
2017: Minnesota - Quality Control
2015-16: Western Michigan - Defensive Graduate Assistant
Click to expand...

If anything, he's familiar with Fleck. Let's hope he's a great fit in this role and can stay awhile.
 


MaxyJR1 said:
Don't think so. From what I've seen he's been on this trajectory and is a rock star.

He's coached our most productive position for 3 years and called the defense in the bowl against Bowling Green.
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Maybe, but I’m a bit nervous about a DC who only has 3 years experience at the position coach level and was a QC guy 5 years ago.

This is a B1G DC job - I would prefer someone with prior DC experience or more experience at the position coach level. It doesn’t mean Danny won’t be great, but I don’t think we need to be hiring someone who takes a year or two in the job to get up to speed like Harbaugh.
 



short ornery norwegian said:
maybe this is a semantics thing - but if he's being promoted to Defensive Coordinator, why not just say that instead of "defensive play caller?" Unless this is going to be one of those co-coordinator things like on offense, where Harbaugh is Co-coordinator with Simon but Harbaugh is the one calling the plays.
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I think that's exactly what it is. Collins will call plays but Monroe was a co coordinator last year in the sense Matt Simon has been on the offensive side for the last few years. Not shocked by this move I think Collins has always been the Harbaugh of the defensive side of the ball. Both have been with Fleck since the start of their careers at Western. Both filled in at times as position coaches when they were in QC and both became full time staff members the same year. MSM also got promoted to linebacker coach so another former player on the staff.
 


32 years old? How old was that Leatherman...um...Heileman...whatever that guy's name is?
 

With the Gophers not having a big-bucks OC to pay, plus the Heatherman buyout, plus the additional assistant coach money pool for 2025, PJ could go after a reasonably established coach. On the flip side, if Collins hits it out of the park, one would hope we have a decent chance of keeping him here long term if he's been with PJ since 2017. Consider me slightly skeptical, yet hopeful.

Between yet more coordinator turnover and a R-Fr starting at QB, I sure am glad they don't have a UNC-type opponent to start the season.
 


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