Alex Grinch, USC
Lincoln Riley’s teams have been noted for top-notch offenses and lackluster defenses. The Trojans look primed to take the next step forward and contend for a playoff spot in 2023. However, if that doesn’t happen, it likely will be because of defensive frailties and Grinch will be sent packing.
In 2022, USC led the FBS with a +21 turnover margin and was among the top ten in sacks. However, they allowed more plays of 30+ yards than any other team in the Pac-12 and still don’t seem to know their best combo in the defensive backfield at this time.
Grinch has a talented group and Riley’s trust, but he and the Trojan faithful won’t settle for anything less than a playoff berth this year, especially when the best player in the country is on the other side of the ball.
https://twitter.com/acosta32_jp/status/1612896242341761030
Blake Baker, Missouri
Baker isn’t on here because the Tiger D was bad in 2022, he’s on here because he may be the fall guy for Eli Drinkwitz if he underperforms. The Mizzou D was actually slightly above average last season. In total defense they were fourth in the SEC, though they fell to eight in scoring defense, having allowed just over twenty-five ppg.
The seat is heating up for Drinkwitz and Baker’s defense looks to regress after losing multiple starters. He may get the axe if changes need to be made in Columbia.
https://twitter.com/chanelportertv/status/1685774087266639872
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Scottie Hazelton, Michigan State
Mel Tucker is a defensive-minded head coach and another guy on here who, with a disappointing 2023, may have to cull the herd to keep his own job. Hazelton is likely to be that man if it comes to it.
Tucker’s Spartans won eleven games in 2021 but fell to 5-7 last year. A big part of the regression is their paltry 75th rank in scoring defense and 100th in overall defense nationally. Those numbers won’t cut it in the ultra-competitive Big 10 East. Hazelton, the former Kansas State, Wyoming, and Jacksonville Jaguar assistant needs to put up a salty unit running the 4-2-5 this year or face termination.
https://twitter.com/SpartansRivals/status/1691899614083850412
John Rudzinski, Virginia
2022 was a trying year in Tony Elliott’s first year as head coach. A terrible first ten games before a tragic incident prematurely ended the season. Rudzinksi makes the list as much for how things look now as how they performed last year. Six starters missed most or all of Spring practice, with some having yet to participate in Fall camp.
The longtime Air Force DC, Rudzinski, has his work cut out for him with a unit that looks short on talent. Losing Fentrell Cypress to ACC rival Florida St. was an especially big loss as he’s one of the nation’s best at cornerback. Significant improvements rarely happen with that many injuries and I’d be surprised if they do on a team I expect to be one of the P5’s worst in 2023.
https://twitter.com/JacquieFran_/status/1693974634427818267
Brian Borland, Kansas
The Jayhawks were a revelation in 2022, winning their first five games and reaching the Liberty Bowl. This outpaced any expectations for them. Lance Leipold received a nice extension in the offseason, and major improvements to the facilities were made or planned. The Anderson Family Football Complex was redone, and renderings for an updated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium were released.
Peeling back the onion though, we realize that the defensive unit Borland led wasn’t so great. They ranked bottom five in total defense while allowing the third most touchdowns in FBS. If the Jayhawks want to take that next step up, this unit needs to improve.
