Cosh figures to be new USF defensive coordinator

Numerous reports indicate that Chris Cosh will be the next defensive coordinator at USF replacing Mark Snyder, who took the DC at Texas A&M.

The first question most USF fans will ask is whether Cosh will be an improvement over Snyder. Based on their past work that would seem to be the case though neither has what you would call an elite body of work.

Cosh has been the defensive coordinator for the past three seasons at Kansas State and was the linebackers coach there from 2004-05.

Under Cosh, last year Kansas State finished with a 10-3 record and the Wildcats ranked 72nd in total defense, allowing 394 yards per game.

USF ranked 39th in total defense and allowed 351 yards per game. But in their Big East Conference play, the Bulls allowed 405 yards per game and were known for blowing leads in the last quarter because of their defense.

Looking at Snyder's body of work at USF and then at Marshall when he was head coach from 2005 through 2009 you see a pattern of lapses by his defense.

Snyder had one winning season at Marshall, his last yeaer when he was 7-6. He was forced out when fans were complaining about the inability of the team's defense to hold onto leads late in the game. He was 23-37 at Marshall taking over a team that was 44-19 during the five years before his arrival.