As Doc Holliday thumbs through the list of possible candidates to fill the vacant defensive coordinator job his next decision will be one of the most critical he has made in his career. Who Holliday picks to lead the Thundering Herd’s defense could be the difference in restoring the program to the success it once enjoyed or tearing it apart and starting over from scratch, again.
During the first three seasons of the Doc Holliday era in Huntington, the Marshall defense has actually gotten progressively worse. In his first season, the defense allowed an average of 386 yards per game. That number jumped to 405 yards per game in 2011 and this past season it skyrocketed to 457 yards a game, which ranked 101st in the country. The Charleston Gazette’s Doug Smock has already compiled a nice list of some of the dubious milestones reached by The Herd’s defense this season here.
Even more concerning than the yards allowed was the rate at which teams were able to convert on third and fourth down this season. Teams picked up the first down 45 percent of the time season and worse yet opponents were 19-of-25 on fourth down. How big of a role did those conversions play in the outcome of the season?
They were huge.
Go back to the Ohio game, which Marshall lost 27-24. Tyler Tettleton connected with Ryan Clark for a 27-yard touchdown on 4 and 5. The Bobcats also converted a 3rd and 18 on the game winning scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
Tulsa picked up a first down on a 4th and 2 attempt to keep a scoring drive alive against The Herd. Marshall also came up just a touchdown shy in that game as well.
In the season finale, East Carolina kept a drive a live on 4th and 10 and ultimately went on to end Marshall’s season in double-overtime. Just one more 4th down stop and Marshall would be preparing for a bowl game.
Even as bad as the defense played you can still point to a handful of plays that had they gone Marshall’s way we may be talking about a seven or eight win season.
Why?
Because the offense was so potent this season. You have to go back to 2004 and the Bryon Leftwich days to find offensive numbers like The Herd put up this season. Marshall was first in the country in passing offense, sixth in total offense and ninth in scoring. Rakeem Cato and his corps of receivers shredded defenses the majority of the time and the offense operated like a well oiled machine when it went into “turbo” mode.
That’s why Doc Holliday’s defensive coordinator hire is so important.
Marshall will lose just three starters on offense and these young underclassmen will be veteran upperclassmen with another year in the system under its belt. The offense has already proved it can be one of the best in the country. Marshall could win nine games in 2013 so long as the defense can hold opponents under 40 points, something it couldn’t do seven times this past year. Even an average performing defense would have been enough to get Marshall bowl eligible and keep it in the hunt for a league title.
However fans want more than just being in contention. They want to return to a conference championship. The athletic program also needs the football team to succeed. With grand plans of new athletic facilities, The Herd most produce on the field to find the funds needed to see those plans to fruition.
The offense is there. The athletes are in place on defense. They just need the proper direction and to be put in the proper position to be successful.
If Doc Holliday makes the right choice he could be remembered as the coach who brought Marshall football back to prominence. Make the wrong choice and Doc Holliday may be next to be shown the door.
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