TwistNHook: Cal just hired Todd Howard as DLine coach.

What do we make of this new coach?

HydroTech: Let me be the first to say: "who?". And I must not be the only one saying this

Avinash: Don't people always say that when a new football non-head coach gets hired at anything.

Solarise: Coach Howard has got an interesting resume. I remember Brian Price's junior season when he wrecked havoc on our Oline (Marshaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllll!) along with that Bosworth kid. Can't be too bad at recruiting if he's able to get through to Owa & Cassius Marsh. I am intrigued to say the least.

Berkelium97: I am encouraged by this hire but not blown away. To be fair, though, we probably don't have the kind of money to spend on assistants who will leave us with dazzled first impressions.

Coach Howard has had several all-conference players as well as some All-Americans and even a Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (Brian Price). I never looked forward to going up against his D-lines when he was with UCLA. Our running game struggled against UCLA in 2007 and 2009. One of the most impressive efforts from his d-line was during UCLA's spectacular defensive effort in a 13-9 win over USC in 2006.

If I just saw the 2006 and 2007 seasons at UCLA in addition to the 2011 turnaround at Washington State, I would be very happy with the hire. I am not sure what happened with the Bruins defense in 2008-2010; it was usually in the bottom half of the nation in rushing yards per game allowed, yards per carry, tackles for loss, and sacks. If I had a better understanding of what went wrong during those years, I would be more comfortable with this hire. Until then, I am cautiously optimistic about what Howard can do.

ManBearCal: I love this hire. The guy can recruit LA. He can recruit talent. He can then develop that talent. Former player with NFL, college, an specifically P12 coaching pedigree.

He should get us recruits, and he'll get our current guys to perform well. Dig it.

Solarise: Is "cautiously optimistic" our MO going into National Signing Day and the 2012 season?

ManBearCal: That's an every year thing.

Kodiak: I thought cautiously optimistic was more of a day to day thing?

The man knows and recruits well in LA though, which is always critical every year. You need to land some guys down in Southern California to remain competitive. It's rare to have a good pool like the one we currently have in NorCal.

Berkelium97: He did win the recruiting battles against Tosh for Owa and Cassius Marsh. I don't know much else about his recruiting abilities, but he must do something right if he could beat us for some high-profile d-line recruits.