*Un-confirmed Rumor* NEWSFLASH!! ITS DEL RIO

The Times-Pic did cite "LSU sources'" that are enamored with Jack. Separately, the Morning Advocate wrote of someone on Del Rio's end initiating contact with LSU this past week.

He's been evasive all week with the media on this subject, and the fact that his Thursday practice in Jax was so laxadasical and lackluster that it was reported in the press (interesting that the players began to ease up right after his name surfaced as a candidate, maybe making him a lame duck in their eyes) is at least somewhat suggestive that this may be correct.

Here's something for all you Jack doubters to consider: since Jack has no college coaching experience, I think the chances of him retaining at least some members of Saban's staff is pretty damn high.

Its not a given that any NFL assistants will follow him to college (some may, since some followed Pete Carroll to USC), everyone not named Dooley on the current LSU staff looks to be in need of a gig next season, and in addition to their excellent coaching capabilities they give Jack a built-in recruiting support system to both make the most of salvaging this years class and getting the program primed for future recruiting.

Please don't tell me you'd prefer someone like Petrino or Miles over JDR. If Jack wants to make the move, it's for good. Why give up a good NFL gig if you still harbor aspirations to coach there in the future?

I hope this story is true.

 

Question.

May we ask what it is that makes your source so sure that JDR is the new hire?

 

I am a strong believer that past performance is a strong indicator of future performance. I have seen a couple of things about him that make me think he would be a great drinking and hunting buddy, but not coach of LSU at this time.

I find it hard to believe that a pro coach would head directly to a college program without a valid reason.

Having said that....if the old adage "never follow a better act" is true, I feel for anybody coming into Nick's shadow.

Some are great detail guys. Some are great visionaries. Very few are both.
Nick is.

 

Him having no college head coaching experience worries me a little bit as well...
Not enough to say I don't want him though - his success in the NFL should make recruiting easier on him. If he gets the job, it means he interviewed well and Skip believed he could win championships with this program.
AND ONE HUGE PLUS ABOUT DEL RIO = WITH SUCCESS, HE'LL STAY AT LSU FOR A VERY LONG TIME! We don't have to worry about him going to the NFL unless he's unsucessfull, which I really don't expect.

 

I wonder if Tedford is really a guy that fits your idea of a big time college coach. He is a new HC, known for his offensive prowess primarily at Oregon and now at Cal. Cal fell flat on their faces last night. To be sure, he took over a pathetic Cal team that was on the rise, but Cal historically sucks in the Pac-10. The problem I have is that I am not so sure that Cal was as good as anyone thought this year. They played in a weak Pac-10. It's almost no wonder they finished 10-1 in the regular season. Then TT schools them. TT plays in a much tougher conference, etc...I am just not yet convinced that Tedford is the guy, but I do admit that most people perceive him as a hot commodity.

 

Info on all candidates

http://www.tigerforums.com/showthread.php?t=23515&page=1

 

I have a real problem with this. If I am not mistaken, Del Rio's team still has a shot at making the playoffs. While it might be a long shot - stranger things have happened in the NFL.

Are we to then assume that Del Rio will be announced while his team is in the playoffs?

 

I certainly won't flame you. As good a coach as Del Rio is, or perceived to be, he's never coached in the college ranks. He's never recruited in the college ranks. Not that I don't think he's capable of it, but as this search has progressed, I prefer to have an established college coach come to LSU first. Someone who's already versed in recruiting, and perhaps already have insight on current high school players.

If Del Rio is our next coach, he had better think twice about replacing anyone on Saban's staff that isn't heading to Miami. He'll need all the info and help from those that are already in the "thick of things" with our current recruits.

 

Per SpringTiger:

Jack Del Rio

BACKGROUND:

College: Linebacker, 1981-84 Southern California.

Pro career: Linebacker, 1985-86 New Orleans Saints, 1987-88 Kansas City Chiefs, 1989-1991 Dallas Cowboys, 1992-95 Minnesota Vikings.

Pro coach: 1997-98 New Orleans Saints, 1999-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002 Carolina Panthers, 2003-04 Jacksonville Jaguars (head coach).

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2003 to Present - Jacksonville Jaguars, Head Coach
2002 - Defensive Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
1999 to 2001 - Baltimore Ravens, Linebackers Coach
1998 - New Orleans Saints, Linebackers Coach
1997 - New Orleans Saints, Assistant Strength Coach

Currently in second year as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. At 41, Del Rio is the second-youngest head coach in the NFL, just four months older than Tampa Bay’s Jon Gruden. Went 5-11 in his first season, is 8-6 in second season, and in contention for a playoff spot. His 2003 defense ranked sixth overall in the NFL and second against the run. He had inherited a team that had not been in the top 10 in total defense since 1999 and ranked 20th overall in 2002. In only one season, he took a porous run defense that was ranked 25th in 2002 and elevated it to second in the NFL, and only allowed one 100-yard rusher all year.

Proving that he could also coach the offensive side of the ball, Del Rio oversaw an offensive line that in 2003 allowed the fewest sacks in team history while Fred Taylor rushed for a career-high 1,572 yards and Byron Leftwich started 13 games as a rookie QB.

In his only season as defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers in 2002, Del Rio improved the defense to second in the league from 31st in 2001. Despite coming off a 1-15 season, the Panthers’ defense allowed only 290.4 yards per game, behind only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Carolina led the NFL in fewest rushing yards per attempt (3.7) and were second in three other categories: fewest yards per play, third down efficiency and sacks (52). The Panthers allowed only 302 points, fourth fewest in the league. They did not allow a 300-yard passer and didn’t yield a 100-yard rusher until the season finale.

From 1999 to 2001, Del Rio was the linebackers coach of the Baltimore Ravens, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants. For those three years, all of which the Ravens finished second in total defense, Del Rio developed Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper and Ray Lewis, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV. During the Ravens’ Super Bowl championship season in 2000, Baltimore's defense set the NFL 16-game record by allowing only 165 points and recording four shutouts, one shy of the post-1970 record. The group also led the NFL with 49 forced turnovers. The defense continued its domination in the playoffs, allowing just one touchdown in four games. The lone score allowed in the Ravens’ 34-7 Super Bowl win over the New York Giants came on a kickoff return.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

Third-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints in 1985. He was named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team and earned the Saints’ Rookie of the Year award in 1985. Following two seasons in New Orleans, played for the Kansas City Chiefs (1987-88), Dallas Cowboys (1989-91) and Minnesota Vikings (1992-95). He led the Vikings in tackles three straight years (1992-94) and played in the Pro Bowl following the 1994 season. During his career, Del Rio recorded 1,078 tackles, registered 12 quarterback sacks, made 13 interceptions and started more than 100 consecutive games between 1989 and 1994. He went to the playoffs once with the Cowboys and three times with the Vikings.

Del Rio was a four-year starter from 1981 to ’84 at Southern California, where he earned consensus All-America honors as a senior and was runner-up for the Lombardi Award. Co-MVP of the 1985 Rose Bowl. Led the Trojans in tackles for a loss three years in a row. Del Rio finished his career with 340 tackles, 58 for a loss, five fumble recoveries and one interception.

OTHER

Del Rio has learned from some of the best coaches in all of football. He was recruited to USC and played for John Robinson, and in the NFL he played under Bum Phillips, Jim Mora, Frank Gansz, Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Green. As an assistant coach, he has worked for Hall of Famer Mike Ditka and Super Bowl winner Brian Billick, as well as John Fox.

Drafted out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981, Del Rio batted .340 while playing catcher on Southern California’s baseball team in 1983 and ’84. He was a teammate of current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson and former major league slugger Mark McGwire.

Born April 4, 1963 in Castro Valley, California, Del Rio graduated from Hayward (California) High School and holds a political science degree from the University of Kansas. He and his wife, Linda, have three daughters: Lauren, Hope and Aubrey, and a son: Luke.