One long time Penn State insider believes the school needs to avoid one NFL coaching candidate at all costs. Kyle Golik of Nittany Sports Now opines that the Nittany Lions need to avoid former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Daboll just might be what Penn State needs to attract talent.
It seems as though every time a head coach or coordinator is fired, their name is brought up as a potential replacement for James Franklin at Penn State University.
When the New York Giants fired Brian Daboll as their head coach he instantly became a name associated with the Nittany Lions job. One long time PSU insider believes it would be an unmitigated disaster for there to be a marriage between the Nittany Lions and Daboll.
Kyle Golik, who has covered the Nittany Lions throughout the Franklin regime, believes that Daboll would be wrong man to be tabbed as the next head coach. Golik has seen the good and the bad with the Nittany Lions. He is ready for the Lions to move on, without Daboll.
Golik cited a segment on the Pat McAfee show, where Daboll was seen wearing Penn State gear. McAfee thought the marriage just might work. McAfee also cited the fact that Daboll has children who attend Penn State making the union more attractive.
“He’s seen walking out of his house wearing a Penn State hoodie,” McAfee said. “Penn State needs a head coach. Brian Daboll also has kids that are currently at Penn State. He would be a massive, splashy hire. He has a lot of history doing very good things in football, outside of what he did with the New York Giants. But how many could say they did good with the New York Giants is what a lot of people would say if you’re in Brian Daboll’s camp.”
Golik vehemently disagrees.
"One of James Franklin’s biggest shortcomings at Penn State has been failing to develop quarterbacks. Daboll’s track record offers no reassurance that he’d fix that problem," Golik said.
"Daniel Jones, once derided as “Danny Donations” in New York, has since flourished with the Indianapolis Colts becoming “Indiana Jones,” where he leads the NFL in passing yards (2,659) and passing success rate (53.5%), hardly a ringing endorsement for Daboll’s developmental skills."
Daboll should not be blamed for Jones' shortcomings as the Giants quarterback. It is not like had the talent surrounding him that he has in Indianapolis. He had Saquon Barkley, but he did not have the receiving corps needed to be a good quarterback in the NFL.
This is the same man who once developed Josh Allen in Buffalo, when he was the offensive coordinator. He was viewed as a quarterback whisperer and a passing guru.
He knows how to elevate a quarterback's talent and get the most out of them. Jones was the exception and Allen was the rule.
Golik also cited that the fact that Daboll only spent one year at the collegiate level under Nick Saban at Alabama. He deems Daboll as an "NFL guy" who belongs in the league and not in college
"Brian Daboll is a decorated coach, and his résumé reflects that. But so was Joe Judge, another Patriots disciple who flopped in New York," Golik said. "Daboll thrived when surrounded by elite infrastructure: Belichick in New England, Saban at Alabama, and a star quarterback in Buffalo. Once removed from those support systems, his teams have cratered."
Daboll was correct in his assessment of former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart who was drafted by the Giants in the first round. He was having a good season under Daboll until he fell with a concussion.
Golik, however, did not hold back from his distain for Daboll.
"Hiring Brian Daboll would not just be a risk, it would be a disaster for both sides."
Golik would know what Penn State needs, based upon his knowledge of the program. However, he might be selling Daboll a little short. He certainly should not be at the top of the list, but he should merit an interview.
Pat Kraft is going to have a big candidate pool to choose from initially, but some of these coaches will use the threat of going to Penn State to get a raise at their current school.
Daboll cannot use Kraft and Penn State as leverage as he has no job to go back to. He deserves a chance and an interview, but that should be as far as it goes. His development of Allen and his tenure in the NFL merit the opportunity to at least get some consideration.