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.. and there it is, Tom Allen to Clemson, smoke everywhere...

I thought he sucked and we all hated him?

Clemson is tending down fast and PSU up. Of course, if they’re offering more money he’ll leave.
If this is true then I'm not losing any sleep over Allen leaving. Last seen our defense was seen giving up 24 points (sans game winning fg) in the last 31 minutes of the Orange Bowl to a non offensive juggernaut team.
 
I am ok either way. He produced a very good defense, bit as indicated he crapped his pants vs a poor ND offense, allowing their backup qb to get them back into the game. Also, it drove me nuts that Tom Allen cannot stop the simple slant pattern until the 2nd or 3rd qtr every game regardless of opponent.
 
I am ok either way. He produced a very good defense, bit as indicated he crapped his pants vs a poor ND offense, allowing their backup qb to get them back into the game. Also, it drove me nuts that Tom Allen cannot stop the simple slant pattern until the 2nd or 3rd qtr every game regardless of opponent.
Yeah tell me about it. Tom Allen missing tackles and falling down in coverage drives me nuts as well.
 
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If this is true then I'm not losing any sleep over Allen leaving. Last seen our defense was seen giving up 24 points (sans game winning fg) in the last 31 minutes of the Orange Bowl to a non offensive juggernaut team.
If true, is Poindexter promoted to DC and Connor LBer coach?
 
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We had a strange defense this year.

Edge - strongest unit by far. Carter took a week or 2 to get rolling, but he forced teams to scheme against him. DDS was solid, played really good late (probably declares now). Vanover did good. Vilbert was serviceable. Granville breaking the rotation as the 5th guy was huge.

DT - arguably 2nd best group. Durant was the stud of the bunch (so glad he's returning). The rest were solid. USC was probably their worst showing.

LB - mixed bag. King was good, but he isn't an AA. Rojas struggled a lot. Dom had some big moments, but he was hit or miss at times. No depth that we trusted.

Corner - another mixed bag. We didn't realize how good we had it with JPJ, Kalen, Dixon, Hardy in the room for 2-3 years. Harris and Kimber saved this room from a *really* bad year. Tracy seemed to emerge as the slot CB at times, but the whole group seemed a step off or a step behind all year.

Safety - the other 2nd best group. We hardly knew ye, our golden trio! Winston’s injury forced a shuffle that we never could overcome. Reed and Wheatley were probably the defensive mvp at various times. Another spot where we didn't trust our depth.

This was just a good defense. Manny gets a lot of praise, but I think people forgave his defensive shortcomings because we always were aggressive. Truth be told, we probably needed to hire another aggressive style coach. This defense wasn't cut out for the zone stuff, and without the aggressive calls we left our weaknesses open to exploit.

I would hate to see Allen go. I think the jump in quality would be huge next year if we could find our next great edge rusher.
 
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I think Coach Allen did a solid job, and I'd like to see him stay for continuity sake. I'd be disappointed if it's a lateral move like this. I thought if he bolted it would be for a HC job. Not sure he will do as well at Clemson (except maybe the paycheck).
 
Sounds like he did not like the scrutiny that came with this job. A good defense but not good enough compared to previous 2-3 years. I am actually not surprised at this, go somewhere else that is not so much a pressure-cooker. Personally, I never liked him as a HC and I really did not like the hire in the first place. Franklin does seem to like to hire ex-HC types because he knows that can take things off his plate. Seems to me he does too much of that.

Can he take Hagans with him? That's the first guy that has to go.
 
There could be lots of valid reasons he'd leave but he's not being forced out. He'd simply be fired.
 
If he's leaving it has to be about the money. It's always about the money no matter what they say.
Allen is receiving 2 buyout installments of 15 million each from Indiana in addition to his PSU salary so I hardly believe it’s about money. I always got the impression that JF just doesn’t care for the guy and had buyers remorse. Could be wrong, but you just never heard him talk about Tom like he did Manny
 
Allen is receiving 2 buyout installments of 15 million each from Indiana in addition to his PSU salary so I hardly believe it’s about money. I always got the impression that JF just doesn’t care for the guy and had buyers remorse. Could be wrong, but you just never heard him talk about Tom like he did Manny
Got any examples of this?
 
I haven't been impressed with Tom Allen's D, especially with the talent we had this year. We gave up a lot on the first defensive series of every game, it seems. Maybe I have just been spoiled by Diaz for the previous couple of years. But we had a monster in Carter and several very good players on D. We gave up a lot of points to USC, BG, MN and Oregon. Plus, we couldn't make a key stop against ND. It wasn't horrible. In fact, it was probably good. But I do wonder what a Manny-led defense would have done.
 
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I haven't been impressed with Tom Allen's D, especially with the talent we had this year. We gave up a lot on the first defensive series of every game, it seems. Maybe I am just spoiled with Diaz the previous couple of years. But we had a monster in Carter and several very good players on D. We have up a lot of points to USC, BG, MN and Oregon. Plus, we couldn't make a key stop against ND. It wasn't horrible. In fact, it was probably good. But I do wonder what a Manny led defense would have done.
Like I’ve read on here, I do wonder if the blitz rate that Manny sent masked any deficiencies. Then again, I guess if it’s part of the game plan, it isn’t really a deficiency.

However, I do feel that TA will have a better second year, as will AK.
 
There are lots of reasons to have a negative view on Tom Allen, but the drive that began with 30 seconds on our 42 isn't one of them.
True--they came up big on the previous drive. ND was going to run the ball though there and they could stop it. That was disappointing.
 
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This is all my own opinion and theory on this situation:

If Tom Allen leaves for Clemson, it's not because of money or TA thinking it's a better situation - it's because CJF lets him walk. At this point, and with what we have coming back, the Clemson DC is not a better position and I might say a more difficult position. Clemson is in the ACC and has been a sinking ship for 3-4 years. We have the money/coaches fund to pay TA whatever he wants and/or match Clemson. If he leaves, my hunch is that CJF wasn't 100%please with our defense this past season and he thinks he can upgrade DC.

If Allen does leave, I can't see CJF giving the DC to Poindexter. The window is still open next year and it feels like a massive risk to hire from within with a guy that called plays at Purdue 5 years ago. You can't miss here either. And based on recent memory, Franklin is going to hire someone with recent success as a coordinator or a former head coach. Just noting, I also agree with this approach, especially given what we have coming back and the need for urgency going into 2025/26.
 
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This is all my own opinion and theory on this situation:

If Tom Allen leaves for Clemson, it's not because of money or TA thinking it's a better situation - it's because CJF lets him walk. At this point, and with what we have coming back, the Clemson DC is not a better position and I might say a more difficult position. Clemson is in the ACC and has been a sinking ship for 3-4 years. We have the money/coaches fund to pay TA whatever he wants and/or match Clemson. If he leaves, my hunch is that CJF wasn't 100%please with our defense this past season and he thinks he can upgrade DC.

If Allen does leave, I can't see CJF giving the DC to Poindexter. The window is still open next year and it feels like a massive risk to hire from within with a guy that called plays at Purdue 5 years ago. You can't miss here either. And based on recent memory, Franklin is going to hire someone with recent success as a coordinator or a former head coach. Just noting, I also agree with this approach, especially given what we have coming back and the need for urgency going into 2025/26.
All could be true--I think letting Allen walk (if that is what's happening) could simply be to keep Poindexter so he doesn't leave for another opportunity. We're all guessing though. I prefer your option but he better get someone of D'Anton Lynn's level if he makes that move.
 
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