montypython said:
I think a lot of people associate Kaz with the successful portion of the Briles era and just intermingle the two as part of the success, but I never looked at it that way.
Our defense was routinely trucked by just about every offense with a pulse. Couldn't get off the field, rarely got a 3rd down stop. No pressure on opposing QBs..ever..It was like that before, during and after Kaz was here.
The only time that changed in recent memory is when Rhule and Snow were on the sidelines and our defense mauled teams in the B12 on the regular.
Also - Whatever people think of Kaz just remember - TCU got obliterated vs Georgia a few years ago in the CFP and Kaz was the S&C coach at the time...
Monty is 100% correct. I realize all of the Madden experts on here don't want to hear it but there really is major truth that football players can "look like Tarzan & play like Jane". In my 4 years of Baylor and 4 years of earning a paycheck in two different professional leagues I saw it over and over again.
This Kaz guy understood how to play the strength & conditioning game. He dressed the part, talked the part and looked the part. He was probably a good S&C coach. Still is. By the time a kid has been in a program for a year or two you know if the kid can play football and make a difference. In today's high school and college programs a kid has very little upside left in S&C due to excellent habits formed by high school coaching, off season parental hires to train their little kids to be an NFL superstar and just plain desire.
I've seen hundreds of kids who had all of the physical tools but very few of the mental tools or heart.
I'm sure Kaz is a great guy and has a super program. He and any other S&C coach have to have 100% buy-in by the players before you see true differences.
All too often self-marketing or a moment caught on video can fluff up an average run of the mill coach. Kind of like what happened after the TCU post game taunting Baylor received back when RG3 was walking up the concourse. TCU spanked us 45-10 and Kaz "spoke up" for RG3 and other players who were being verbally berated by Toad fans. The return volley Kaz delivered helped elevate his persona a few notches.
if you've never been around or been involved at high levels of competition I fully understand how you can be misled or make a decision that might be rash.