Breaking: Iowa States Matt Caponi New Mean Green DC

[GMG24]

16 minutes ago, wardly said:

He has his work cut out for him. UNT's defense was ranked towards the bottom of the well the past few years.

I am not sure where we finished ranking wise, but here are comparison numbers (I know Big 12 vs CUSA)

Iowa State 178 Passing ypg, 20 Passing TD, 107 Rushing ypg, 8 Rush TD

UNT 262.5 Passing ypg, 24 Passing TD, 197 Rushing ypg, 26 TD

[NT80]

40 minutes ago, UNT Texas Hooligan said:

I'm convinced we are going for the record of youngest coaching group in the country lol. Definitely a lot of youth/energy with this group

Yes, anyone over 40 need not apply, lol!  

This looks like a good hire on paper.  He does not have Coordinator experience but has been in several programs.  A coordinator is not a head coach type overseer but does have to get all the coaches on that side of the ball working together. 

Some coaches are good at managing position players but struggle when given the job of managing other coaches/adults if they have never done it before.  Morris mentioned this in his intro speech that his HC time at UIW was valuable and helped mold his leadership abilities being over 170 people, including staff, coaches and players.  He said it helped him become a problem solver.

[p_phelps]

6 minutes ago, GMG24 said:

I am not sure where we finished ranking wise, but here are comparison numbers (I know Big 12 vs CUSA)

Iowa State 178 Passing ypg, 20 Passing TD, 107 Rushing ypg, 8 Rush TD

UNT 262.5 Passing ypg, 24 Passing TD, 197 Rushing ypg, 26 TD

I'll take that trade. 

 

[Jdawg48]

I like this. Known for producing some lights out CB's. All defenses he's been apart of have been stout, aggressive, and overall pretty successful. This hire has me excited.

 

.

[GMG24]

3 minutes ago, NT80 said:

Yes, anyone over 40 need not apply, lol!  

This looks like a good hire on paper.  He does not have Coordinator experience but has been in several programs.  A coordinator is not a head coach type overseer but does have to get all the coaches on that side of the ball working together. 

Some coaches are good at managing position players but struggle when given the job of managing other coaches/adults if they have never done it before.  Morris mentioned this in his intro speech that his HC time at UIW was valuable and helped mold his leadership abilities being over 170 people, including staff, coaches and players.  He said it helped him become a problem solver.

He was a Defensive Coordinator at Washington & Jefferson.  No clue how his defenses did, but he's been on some pretty solid staff's so I'll take it.  

[p_phelps]

Can he teach Gaddie to catch the interceptions 

[Marty]

Appears to be a good hire. Welcome to UNT Coach Caponi.

[jtm0097]

Before the TCU loss where the Iowa St defense gave up 62 points, their defense was averaging 16.5 points a game. If our defense could do that, man we would win so many games. 

Iowa St struggles this past year were on offense, not defense. I think this will be a really good hire. 

[NT80]

15 minutes ago, GMG24 said:

He was a Defensive Coordinator at Washington & Jefferson.  No clue how his defenses did, but he's been on some pretty solid staff's so I'll take it.  

Right, I missed that.  Even better then as he knows what being a coordinator involves.

[NT80]

Another benefit is that he knows what skills P5 level defenders should have and look like.   It will be interesting for him to evaluate what is currently on the roster vs what we need to add.

[Cooley]

Any Iowa State DB’s in the portal?

Would like to have had a Texas connection and/or DC experience at a known university. 
 

Anyone know if we’re looking at 3 or 4 man front?

[helix]

13 minutes ago, jtm0097 said:

Before the TCU loss where the Iowa St defense gave up 62 points, their defense was averaging 16.5 points a game. If our defense could do that, man we would win so many games. 

Iowa St struggles this past year were on offense, not defense. I think this will be a really good hire. 

Also 14 of those points were a result of two pick sixes by the Frog defense.

Ill be happy if we can avoid letting SMU drop almost 50 on us 

[Big Z]

Caponi = Mafia = take no sh$$t on defense 

[p_phelps]

4 minutes ago, Cooley said:

Any Iowa State DB’s in the portal?

Would like to have had a Texas connection and/or DC experience at a known university. 
 

Anyone know if we’re looking at 3 or 4 man front?

https://247sports.com/Player/Tayvonn-Kyle-46038606/

This kid hit the portal 2 days ago

[EastTexasMG]

I like this hire, we’re gonna surprise some people next year!!!

[helix]

4 minutes ago, Big Z said:

Caponi = Mafia = take no sh$$t on defense 

The Mean Green Mafia... I like it.

[Big Z]

2 minutes ago, helix said:

The Mean Green Mafia... I like it.

A Bronx Tale Motorcycle Bar Fight Scene - YouTube

Edited December 22, 2022 by Big Z

[Okiefan]

From a SI article- Not sure if he will follow this exactly as it was Big 12 and he was a position coach-

Iowa State runs a multiple 3-3-5 defense. It will have three to four linebackers on the field at all times, and the Cyclones mix up their pre-snap looks and post-snap movements throughout the game.

Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is not an overly aggressive coordinator. He’ll attack, but his defense is sound, well-schooled and physical. He lacks talent, but the scheme puts the players in position to be quite successful. When Iowa State gets in trouble it is primarily due to a lack of talent, either by an Iowa State defender losing a one-on-one matchup or Heacock having to bring extra pressure to compensate for matchup deficiencies.

[DentonLurker]

I love mixing things up. I can't imagine a more dynamic change to go from Bennett to Caponi, and I think that's awesome! It's time to change some things up on defense here at UNT.

[Hunter Green]

59 minutes ago, UNT Family Man said:

Well- the best defenses in the last 25 years at UNT have been 4-3 alignments (Dickey and Mac). All 3 man fronts have struggled.

True,  but look who we had at the front four. 

Booger, Awasom, Pruitt, etc., and the best set of LBs ever. 

[SilverEagle]

1 hour ago, Jonnyeagle said:

Matt Caponi is in his fourth season at Iowa State assisting the Cyclone cornerbacks.  

Caponi, who has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience, reunited with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell in 2019. The two Mount Union (Ohio) graduates were on staff together at Mount Union in 2005.

Caponi has played a huge role in Iowa State’s success the past three seasons, as the Cyclones made three bowl games, finished in the top-four in the Big 12 standings and ranked in the top-three in the league in scoring defense every season of his tenure.  

The 2020 season was historic in many ways. Iowa State finished the regular season in first place in the Big 12 standings, made the Big 12 Championship game and qualified for a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time in school history.

The Cyclones capped off the season with a 34-17 win over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

ISU’s eight conferences wins and nine overall wins eclipsed or tied school records, and the Cyclones earned their highest ranking in school history during the season (#6) and postseason (#9).

Caponi has helped the Cyclone defense rank third (25.9- 2019), second (21.4- 2020) and third (20.5, 2021) in the Big 12 in scoring defense in each of the last three seasons, all totals among the top-50 nationally

ISU’s total defense numbers have been just as stout. ISU was second in the league in 2020 (340.4) and 2021 (310.5). The Cyclones’ 2021 defensive effort ranked ninth nationally and was the lowest output by a Cyclone defense since 1984.

Anthony Johnson Jr. has emerged as one of the top corners in the Big 12 thanks to Caponi. The three-time All-Big 12 performer enters his senior season in 2022 with 183 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 24 PBU and four forced fumbles in his career.

Prior to his arrival in Ames, Caponi was the defensive backs coach at West Virginia from 2016-18. The Mountaineers were one of the top defensive teams in the Big 12 during his tenure in Morgantown.

In 2018, Caponi mentored four players who earned All-Big 12 recognition, including Kenny Robinson Jr., who was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection after tying for third in the league in interceptions (4) and ranking fourth in the conference in tackles (77).  
 
The 2017 defense ranked No. 16 nationally in most defensive three-and-outs per game and No. 24 in best third-down defense. Kyzir White, who was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by San Diego, was named an honorable mention All-American and a Second-Team All-Big 12 pick. He tied for seventh in the Big 12 in tackles.
 
In his first year at WVU (2016), the Mountaineer defense ranked No. 24 nationally in fumbles recovered (11) and turnovers gained (25) and No. 35 in pass interceptions (14) and scoring defense (24.0). In Big 12 games, WVU’s defense was No. 1 in scoring defense, total defense and fewest opponent first downs, No. 2 in rushing defense land No. 3 in third-down defense.

He came to West Virginia after serving as the safeties coach at Arizona for four years, first as a graduate assistant in 2012 and then as a full-time coach from 2013-15.
 
In 2014, he coached All-Pac 12 honoree Jared Tevis, who finished second on the team in tackles and fourth in the conference with 120. He also had nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
 
In 2013, Arizona safeties accounted for almost one-third of the Wildcats’ total tackles and had five interception returns for touchdowns, tied for most among FBS schools. The UA defense had 18 interceptions, the most since totaling 16 in 2008.
 
Prior to Arizona, he spent one year as a graduate assistant at Pitt (2011) and was the defensive coordinator at Washington & Jefferson for three years (2008-11).
 
At W&J, Caponi worked with the linebackers in 2010 and oversaw the secondary for three years (2006-09). While he was on staff in 2008, the Presidents advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA National Tournament.
 
He started his coaching career in 2004 as a student assistant at Mount Union and was the JV Coordinator and linebackers coach in 2005.
 
Caponi played for national powerhouse Mount Union, helping the Raiders to a 55-1 record and three NCAA Division III national championships. He was a team captain, a starting safety and earned second team all-conference honors as a senior.
 
The Pittsburgh, Penn., native graduated from Mount Union with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2005. 
 
He and his wife, the former Kathleen Coyne, have a son, Salvatore, and a daughter, Sienna. 

Hmm, he kind of looks like a young Liam Neeson.

Hopefully Coach Capone also has a "very particular set of skills".

[cousin oliver]

6 minutes ago, SilverEagle said:

Hmm, he kind of looks like a young Liam Neeson.

Hopefully Coach Capone also has a "very particular set of skills".

I  was thinking more like Ewan McGregor, aka Obi Wan Kenobi:

[golfingomez]

Eric Morris knows what he's doing... we are finally getting on the right path to finding the next Seneca Wallace.

[KeithLee]

43 minutes ago, helix said:

The Mean Green Mafia... I like it.

Love it 

[MGNation92]

11 minutes ago, golfingomez said:

Eric Morris knows what he's doing... we are finally getting on the right path to finding the next Seneca Wallace.

Don’t say his name too loud or McCarney will return