PENN STATERS OPINION ON BILL O'BRIEN
1. It did not take much to make this team "work" - I don't count those first two losses. This team got flat out beat by Ohio State, and (despite the horrid call) blew a game in Lincoln, NE. They were a pretty solid football team this year. They would've been with ANY COACH more competent than Joe Paterno and the piss poor staff that he had in line. People make a big stink about the players that left, but that is far overblown. Silas Redd ended up being the only key loss, and even the RBs they had this year produced. Silas Redd would've made this team a 1-loss team at worst, in my opinion. Other transfers like Justin Brown were rendered meaningless when players like Allen Robinson stepped up to become some of the best in the conference. The real issue for OB (his nickname) is recruiting, which did not strongly affect this season outside of the guys he lost to Meyer (lolz).
2. Bill O'Brien "leadership" is up for question, in my opinion. The guy was vocal this year, but said the same things over and over. It appeared to be very forced, which I understand. When I say forced, I mean he, and the the Athletic Department, knew that no matter if he liked it or not, he had to be vocal and open with the fans, players, etc. I have interacted with him multiple times, and seen him off camera, and while he is a nice guy, he has a very hard edged guy with a no-nonsense/no-media Belichick attitude. He is clearly a former New England Patriot/Bill Belichick disciple.
3. The #1 positive I can grab from O'Brien was his ability to transform Matt McGloin from a piss-poor puke QB (5INTs in blown Outback Bowl loss to Florida) to one of the best in the conference. McGloin still is no world beater, but the fact he performed at the level he did speaks volumes about what types of talent O'Brien has as a coach. The issue when making the the statement about how he transformed players is the fact that virtually any living specimen could've got more out of these players than anyone on Paterno's staff. However, to his credit, he did a pretty damn good job pushing some "meh" players to all-conference levels.
4. His dream job is to be the head coach of the New England Patriots. He is a Boston guy. He has a fucking friend named Sarge. Sarge. He routinely went into off the record meetings with media and asked how the "C's" are doing (Celtics, obviously). His wife is a New England girl. This guy wants back to where he belongs. Just a matter of time. I have said for a few months that I think he continues to recruit strong, builds a solid team for his first bowl eligible year, goes to a BCS game and then bolts for New England within a year or two. I really don't see him leaving for any job but the Patriots, however I may be wrong.
BOTTOM LINE: Bill O'Brien is a good coach and, like I said, showed some signs of what kind of coach he is. When it comes to his style, he really has a balls-to-wall attitude and has done a pretty solid job transforming players over his year on the job. However, also like I said, he did inherit an underrated group of players, so seeing another year or two would be wise. He has a pretty solid recruiting class coming in with one of the best QB's in the class, so he will have a chance to prove himself. For me, I need to see him prove himself more in order for me to think he is a home run hire.
