Last night, Monte announced his decision to resign and look for work in the NFL once again. Works out well for him really, because Tampa-2 does not have to go up against spread offenses in the NFL.
So who replaces Monte as defensive coordinator?
Finding some big name to hire, especially if they're from the NFL, doesn't seem quite right, because they would have to know how to plan against spread offenses. The two names currently floating around from the college ranks -- Randy Shannon and Gene Chizik -- seem like bad choices. Of all the coaches you'd want to hire, why would you chase down two guys who were at the center of programs under multiple NCAA investigations? You don't know if they're in the clear; they would bring unwanted scrutiny to USC and end up with show-cause orders from the NCAA.
The longer I think about it, the more I am convinced that Scottie Hazelton is the man. Why else would a DC move -- from an FCS squad that won a championship with the #1 defense across the board, shutting down spread offenses similar to Oregon's -- up to a linebacker position coaching job at USC? Even though he sometimes out-thinks himself, I wouldn't be surprised that Lane the Tactician deliberately chased down Hazelton in anticipation that one day Hazelton would replace Monte.
So what about Ed Orgeron? Technically he was USC's DC by title, and on the field he was coordinating personnel and coaching them, but Monte was up in the booth play-calling. Perhaps Orgeron moves up to assistant head coach, as a means to help him get back into a future head-coaching job? I don't know if he's got what it takes to be the DC who calls the plays, but everyone should get a chance to prove themselves, at some point, so he might inherit the actual DC job.
I thought I should add: If they do promote Scottie Hazelton, wouldn't it be nice if they hired Lofa Tatupu to coach linebackers? With repeated injury issues, he's not going to be playing anymore, I suspect.
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