Dino's Week 2 MTSU Press Conference Notes / Depth Chart

[OttoinGrotto]

And you thought Macdonald was the cure.

Ha

Georgie Mac had the right idea and was the wrong man to execute it.

It's been a long time since we've gone over this. Must be football season.

 

[Chip]

It's only human nature for Shafer to badly want to beat SU. I'm sure he feels like we pulled the plug too early on his tenure, and that there were circumstances beyond his control that negatively impacted our performance (Hunt's injury, Marrone's disinterest in recruiting, etc).

It's also possible for fans to have nuanced thoughts about him. I think the world of Shafer on a personal level, and I wish he had more success at SU. If he had won I think his personality would have lent itself to getting Mac-like love from the fanbase. But he wasn't a good head coach, it was clear he didn't have the chops to turn the program around, and I want SU to kick MTSU's ass six ways to Sunday. Nothing personal, just business.

Last thought... I find the notion that he has some advantage because he "knows our personnel" to be laughable. We don't run anything resembling his offensive and defensive styles. Just because he recruited some of our roster doesn't mean he has a better idea than any other DC on how to defend what Dino is having them do.

Yep, pretty much sums it up. Great guy, really embraced Syracuse (and let's be honest, it's not for everyone). He captivated a lot of us in his first press conference. And everyone certainly rooted for him early on.

Being bitter is human nature when fired. But in reality, as Bayside said, no one else was offering him 7 figures to coach at a major program. The guy that fired him bailed on us. So if he thinks he's going to get some super satisfaction if they win on Saturday, he'll probably find that it ends up empty. The guy he really wants to show up is living in Minnesota now.

I think it's going to end up empty anyway, because our new coach knows how important this game is, and will attack just as hard to win it. I already know that a Babers for Shafer switch was the right move. So I don't need that rubbed in. I just want to be 2-0. There are bigger fish to fry than a directional Tennessee.

 

[RF2044]

It's only human nature for Shafer to badly want to beat SU. I'm sure he feels like we pulled the plug too early on his tenure, and that there were circumstances beyond his control that negatively impacted our performance (Hunt's injury, Marrone's disinterest in recruiting, etc).

It's also possible for fans to have nuanced thoughts about him. I think the world of Shafer on a personal level, and I wish he had more success at SU. If he had won I think his personality would have lent itself to getting Mac-like love from the fanbase. But he wasn't a good head coach, it was clear he didn't have the chops to turn the program around, and I want SU to kick MTSU's ass six ways to Sunday. Nothing personal, just business.

Last thought... I find the notion that he has some advantage because he "knows our personnel" to be laughable. We don't run anything resembling his offensive and defensive styles. Just because he recruited some of our roster doesn't mean he has a better idea than any other DC on how to defend what Dino is having them do.

Spot on. Shafer was not an ideal choice as HC, but he was easy to root for and a stand up guy that the kids fought hard for. I changed my tune on him that first year, when they shook off the poor start, played well against several peer programs, and got to / won a bowl game. Seemed to suggest that maybe he could sustain some level of success.

But the ensuing two years clearly demonstrated that he was in over his head, on and off the field [recruiting]. I felt bad that he got fired, because he was a great guy, but was happy because it needed to happen, and we needed to conduct a national job search--which we did.

I'll be shocked if Babers doesn't run circles around this defense. They'll sell out to get pressure, and we'll exploit it all game long.

 

[Chip]

They'll sell out to get pressure, and we'll exploit it all game long.

Part of me wonders if, ignoring every instinct he has, Shafer plays 7-8 in coverage much of the game, trying to zone all parts of the field, and daring us to run.

 

[djorange1989]

yeah its not like UCLA came back from 5 scores down with 15 to go and 3 scores with 8 to go..

terrible comparison. UCLA has WAY more offensive talent than we had in 2015, we couldn't score 28 points in two weeks most of the time, let alone in 8 minutes.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Part of me wonders if, ignoring every instinct he has, Shafer plays 7-8 in coverage much of the game, trying to zone all parts of the field, and daring us to run.

If MTSU plays zone similar the way Syracuse did in 2015, the passing game would be even more effective.

 

[PhatOrange]

Part of me wonders if, ignoring every instinct he has, Shafer plays 7-8 in coverage much of the game, trying to zone all parts of the field, and daring us to run.

this is the part of the chess match that I'm anxious to see. How does he defend us. He has to know being blitz happy is dangerous against a short/wide passing scheme. The counter and adjustments are going to be great to see play out.

hopefully he comes up with some crazy plan like he did against Georgia Tech's option.

 

[kmart128]

How on earth is Bradshaw still a starting CB after last week

 

[sufandu]

I have no problem with Shafer saying he wants to beat us. Anytime I played basketball, or any other sport for that matter, against my best friend or any other friend, I wanted to beat them. Then we went and got pizza afterword. Wanting to beat someone in competition doesn't necessarily equal animosity. He's competitive, he should want to beat us. We should want to beat him.

I hope we hang 50 on them and get the backups in early again, not because I have anything against Shafer, but because it would make our team look good. Then I hope MTSU shuts out every other team they play this year.

 

[TheCusian]

Stop dude, you used to reply to any post I made that would question anything Shafer did, even a little bit (I guess you still do...). Maybe it's hindsight for you but it wasn't for me. Very early on there were signs that Shafer wasn't going to keep the trajectory pointing up. So I'm not re-writing anything. You took me to task for any criticism of Shafer and you were wrong. It's not a big deal, move on.

Fine - yeah it was hindsight for me. I liked the fire and I liked the hire at the time.

Good for you on being right on an opinion from 4 years ago. Glad you brought it up. Sheesh.

 

[qdawgg]

Fine - yeah it was hindsight for me. I liked the fire and I liked the hire at the time.

Good for you on being right on an opinion from 4 years ago. Glad you brought it up. Sheesh.

Umm, I think you brought it up technically by replying to my post. Of all the people talking about Shafer, I'm the one you decided to call out about it.

I didn't have a huge problem with the hire at the time either but there were also some big head scratching things from the start that you gave me crap for for criticizing. I liked the guy and wished it had worked, now I'm glad it didn't because I feel like we are headed in a better overall direction.

 

[Pyle]

Part of me wonders if, ignoring every instinct he has, Shafer plays 7-8 in coverage much of the game, trying to zone all parts of the field, and daring us to run.

I.M.O. - N.O.P.E.
Shafer gonna do what Shafer do and pressure us and try to get in Dungey's head. Just like Geno, Savage, etc.

To me here are the key reasons why it will fail:

He won't be dictating tempo, we will.
Year 2 vs Year 1 scheme - Advantage SU
Dino's offense is designed to exploit the holes created by the other team. Shafer will leave a lot of holes.
Their coach doesn't understand what 'tempo' means to us. I expect some fake cramping by the 2nd but some real cramping by the 3rd as their guys can't keep up.
Mindset. I have no doubts that the offense will score fast as we did last year against USF and others before their defense settles in. After that Vandy fiasco, they will be easy to deflate after a couple of quick strikes from ED.

 

[GoSU96]

I.M.O. - N.O.P.E.
Shafer gonna do what Shafer do and pressure us and try to get in Dungey's head. Just like Geno, Savage, etc.

To me here are the key reasons why it will fail:

He won't be dictating tempo, we will.
Year 2 vs Year 1 scheme - Advantage SU
Dino's offense is designed to exploit the holes created by the other team. Shafer will leave a lot of holes.
Their coach doesn't understand what 'tempo' means to us. I expect some fake cramping by the 2nd but some real cramping by the 3rd as their guys can't keep up.
Mindset. I have no doubts that the offense will score fast as we did last year against USF and others before their defense settles in. After that Vandy fiasco, they will be easy to deflate after a couple of quick strikes from ED.

ND game at Met Life. All you need to know.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I had no problem with him cursing, it was his message..."Dabo, you're being mean by trying to tack on a TD before halftime up 35-7 & I stopped you, you big meany". Sorry, I don't really consider that "passion". & what did he care what the score was anyway? It's just a football game...ISIS is beheading people. Doesn't sound too passionate to me.

I never said anything about his ISIS comment. If you'd like me to comment on it though, I think it was assinine.

 

[TheCusian]

Umm, I think you brought it up technically by replying to my post. Of all the people talking about Shafer, I'm the one you decided to call out about it.

I didn't have a huge problem with the hire at the time either but there were also some big head scratching things from the start that you gave me crap for for criticizing. I liked the guy and wished it had worked, now I'm glad it didn't because I feel like we are headed in a better overall direction.

It's all good man. I didn't even look at who said it when I replied. I just thought criticizing something that was meant to get people amped along with his time as DC wasn't that big of deal. But your entitled to your opinion and I respect it. Sorry for making you feel singled out.

 

[Chip]

ND game at Met Life. All you need to know.

Yeah, the Holgerson WVU teams (at least those years) really didn't have much of a screen game.

Our offense today is the type that would give Shafer the most trouble. Plus I don't think his personnel is very good. We should have a big day.

(I think Everett Golson completed 7 more consecutive passes while I typed this).

 

[GoSU96]

Yeah, the Holgerson WVU teams (at least those years) really didn't have much of a screen game.

Our offense today is the type that would give Shafer the most trouble. Plus I don't think his personnel is very good. We should have a big day.

(I think Everett Golson completed 7 more consecutive passes while I typed this).

At least 7

 

[tep624]

I love Shafer the person and the DC but Shafer the HC was way over his head. He lost me for good when he left Dungey in against Louisville down 4 TDs plus with 7 minutes left because he thought we could still pull the game out(his quote). We know what he is going to do this week and we should throw the ball all over the field and take him down. If he wants revenge play Minnesota

That's exactly when he lost me too. I'm still not sure if anyone on the board ever came up with a reasonable justification for leaving Dungey in like that.

 

[tep624]

terrible comparison. UCLA has WAY more offensive talent than we had in 2015, we couldn't score 28 points in two weeks most of the time, let alone in 8 minutes.

Terrible is being kind I think.

 

[qdawgg]

It's all good man. I didn't even look at who said it when I replied. I just thought criticizing something that was meant to get people amped along with his time as DC wasn't that big of deal. But your entitled to your opinion and I respect it. Sorry for making you feel singled out.

Maybe it sounded like a criticism but it really wasn't how I meant it. That quote started rubbing me the wrong way with certain losses and the way the end of some games went. So it was more just a personal thing that made me laugh. Otherwise I didn't have a problem with it and didn't have a problem with him yelling across the field to Dabo either.

 

[orangenauburn]

Part of me wonders if, ignoring every instinct he has, Shafer plays 7-8 in coverage much of the game, trying to zone all parts of the field, and daring us to run.

Sort of like GaTech game where he gives up on his philosophy and outsmarted himself? I can see that

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

ND game at Met Life. All you need to know.

Or the USC game at Met Life. That was all Lee and Woods in the flats.

 

[CuseLegacy]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[anomander]

Sort of like GaTech game where he gives up on his philosophy and outsmarted himself? I can see that

It was still very early on, but this is where my first question arose where I questioned if he was in over his head. Scott, got a HC job by being an excellent DC, so what does he do he brings in an "option guru" to implement a whole new defensive game plan that week. That really rose the antenna's. The comical and embarrassing antics he pulled yelling at Dabo like that really solidified my questions about him being the right man for the job. Nobody gets upset for a team going for a TD in the FIRST half. Good lord that was embarrassing.

I will echo what everyone else says. He is a great man and will be looked back on in a positive light by the fan base.