David Blackwell Joins USF Football Staff

[MikeG]

good hire-- don't care how we got him, just glad he is on board. Anyone who wants to whine about this stealing issue is being ultra ridiculous

[SRQ]

Good point, this may all work out very well.  And Canales is very opening to learning from Tresey, so the O should be much improved as well.  Lots of people with lots to prove.

[smazza]

clemson's defense sucked

why is it a "great" hire?????

[smazza]

Great hire... was this guy unemployed at the time or did we "steal" him from Clemson?

He was Linebackers coach at Clemson for 6 years.   Prior to the bowl game,  Dabo Swinney fired the DC Vic Koenning and named Blackwell the interim co-defensive coordinator.   After signing day,  Clemson hired Kevin Steele to be defensive coordinator/Linebackers coach and they moved Blackwell from Linebackers/recruiting coordinator to defensive tackles/recruiting coordinator.  Coach Blackwell was not happy about the move so he was looking at opportunities while still at Clemson.  So to answer your question,  CJL did "steal" him from Clemson.

What does that show?  That Leavitt can get disgruntled people who are unhappy at their current employer to come here?  That does not count as stealing a BCS coach.  Let's see him hire someone who is happy at their job and not looking to move.  That would really be stealing someone away.

:

this guy will be at usf for one year

this  is not stealing a coach

[E.T.]

...He was a part of the Tigers' defensive resurgence in recent years. Clemson was bowl eligible in all six of Blackwell’s seasons on staff and most recently, he helped lead the Tigers to the Gator Bowl.  Clemson finished in the top 25 of both polls in three of those seasons.

During that time, the program has earned 10 wins over top-25 teams, and the Clemson defense has had a lot to do with that success.

In 2008, the Clemson Tigers finished No. 10 in pass efficiency defense, No. 12 in pass defense, No. 13 in scoring defense and No. 18 in total defense.

Clemson finished in the top 25 in the four major defensive categories each of the last four years, the first time in history Clemson has been in all four stat categories four straight years. Clemson also had a top-20 finish in scoring defense in 2003, meaning the Tigers have been in the top 25 in the most important defensive category four of the five years Blackwell has been on the staff.

In 2007, Blackwell's linebackers contributed to a top-10 national finish in total defense and scoring defense. Nick Watkins, one of Blackwell's inside linebackers, led the team in tackles in 2007 and was in the top 10 in the ACC. He completed his career in the top 10 in school history in tackles (386).

In 2006, Clemson was 13th in the nation in total defense, 16th in scoring defense, 17th in pass efficiency defense, 18th in rushing defense and 24th in pass defense. It was quite an accomplishment for the defense considering it lost preseason All-American linebacker Anthony Waters in the first game of the year due to a torn ACL.

The play of his linebackers had a lot to do with Clemson's strong finish in 2005. Clemson was in the top 25 in seven categories, including scoring defense (#11), tackles for loss (#13), turnover margin (#16), pass efficiency defense (#18), total defense (#20), rushing defense (#25) and sacks (#25).

Leroy Hill's development under Blackwell was consistent over his last two years (2003,04), leading to his selection in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Seahawks. Hill started in the Super Bowl for Seattle as a rookie when he had 7.5 sacks, third-most in franchise history for a rookie and third among NFL rookies in 2005. Hill was named ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year, AP Third-Team All-American and was a two-time First-Team All-ACC selection under Blackwell's tutelage in 2004.

Blackwell's group was a big reason Clemson finished with a top-25 final ranking and nine wins in 2003. The defense allowed No. 3 Florida State and No. 6 Tennessee just 49 combined rushing yards in Tiger victories at the end of the season and held both teams to 14 points or less.

...

[Apis Bull]

clemson's defense sucked

why is it a "great" hire?????

Clemson was 18th in total defense last year.

[Jake_Ryan]

I look at it this way:

Last Year

OC - Gregory

DC/LB - Burnham

Sec - Douglas

This Year

OC - Canales

DC/DB - Tresey

LB - Blackwell

Even though I respected Burnham greatly, I can't help but think these hires have been a big upgrade overall in the Staff.  Excited about this year.

[CyberBull]

For all the doomsday scenarios and bellyaching, CJL did a GREAT job in getting quality coaches, from BCS schools and at the price that fits our budget.

[SouthFLBully]

3 things:

1) Smazza shut up!

In 2008, the Clemson Tigers finished No. 10 in pass efficiency defense, No. 12 in pass defense, No. 13 in scoring defense and No. 18 in total defense.

Clemson finished in the top 25 in the four major defensive categories each of the last four years, the first time in history Clemson has been in all four stat categories four straight years. Clemson also had a top-20 finish in scoring defense in 2003, meaning the Tigers have been in the top 25 in the most important defensive category four of the five years Blackwell has been on the staff.

In 2007, Blackwell's linebackers contributed to a top-10 national finish in total defense and scoring defense. Nick Watkins, one of Blackwell's inside linebackers, led the team in tackles in 2007 and was in the top 10 in the ACC. He completed his career in the top 10 in school history in tackles (386).

In 2006, Clemson was 13th in the nation in total defense, 16th in scoring defense, 17th in pass efficiency defense, 18th in rushing defense and 24th in pass defense. It was quite an accomplishment for the defense considering it lost preseason All-American linebacker Anthony Waters in the first game of the year due to a torn ACL.

The play of his linebackers had a lot to do with Clemson's strong finish in 2005. Clemson was in the top 25 in seven categories, including scoring defense (#11), tackles for loss (#13), turnover margin (#16), pass efficiency defense (#18), total defense (#20), rushing defense (#25) and sacks (#25).

http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=3691348

2) I am pumped about the staff we have set up now. Not only are they proven on the field, but we are going to have a GREAT staff when it comes to recruiting as well. This guy has been a top recruiter at Clemson for several years. He has stolen quite a few great prospects out of Florida. He has connections down here and in Dade/Broward counties primarily. Will be a huge help in that hot bed of talent.

3) The Co-Defensive coordinator title is interesting to me as well. I hope Tresey was informed of this prior to his hire otherwise that would be a pretty **** move. I would assume that CJL would have though.

[Jamie]

I think Leavitt knows that if Tresey does a good job, someone with more cash will come along and money-whip the guy, a la McCarney. My guess is Blackwell is more of an apprentice than a true co-defensive coordinator, so that Leavitt can turn to him if and when Tresey moves up in the world.

Also then he can make a quick and easy promotion and not have jerkwads like McMurphy guessing what kind of person he is to work for.