HCSS and this Coaching Staff

[Stern]

These guys are above average recruiters and are doing a great job on that front with what they have to work with...but they can't coach a game to save their lives. In-game decisions where you have to think on your feet they are beyond horrible. HCSS is lost at times on that aspect. Game-planning and mid-week prep I don't know what they see or do. And the playcalling on offense is just brutal, no nice way to spin it. No more excuses for McDonald, he stinks at calling a game. The first year you can give them a little pass...now 3 games into this year and as a coaching staff they have been horrible vs Nova and Maryland. I see no improvement with this staff at all. In fact I see regression in some areas.

1) No Head Coach should EVER get a penalty called on themselves. That's bush league in my book. You have to control yourself on the sideline. If you can't control yourself and are getting penalties then how do you expect the kids to have any discipline. Starts from the top,...be an example! The sideline antics of Shafer are worse than Schiano ever was at Rutgers.

2) The rotation of running backs is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. This isn't Little League where everyone should get a chance to play. Play your best back the majority of the time, give the top back-up snaps... and if others don't see the field much or at all, too damn bad. They are just rotating guys in and out and not factoring the "down and distance" into the equation.

3) Special Teams...do they even coach it? Who's bright idea was it to squib kick after the opening drive? The blocked punt you could see coming a mile away as SU had the wrong formation to what Maryland lined up and SU didn't adjust. Not one player or coach could see they were in the wrong punt set when Maryland changed their punt unit and shifted a player or two. The Kickoff Returns, SU has on a return right or left... and our returners are ignoring blockers and just running up the middle. Do they spend any time on special teams at all?

I'm NOT saying fire the guy, not having that discussion in September...its silly. But these poor SU players have the coaches working against them and not helping them at all. These coaches do not put these players or this team in the best position to win each week. They got lucky Central Michigan laid an egg last week and just laid down for us...they won't get any more gifts like that this year. This coaching staff better burn the midnight oil and get their act together or else its gonna be a real long season.

 

[anomander]

Are they even above average recruiters though?


And I have no problem with Shafer's penalty. He knew they were on the 4 and would only cost us 2 yards. Reddish was blatantly held. Try to get one back later in the game. The rest I agree with.

 

[Full_Rebar]

Maybe the AD should give the football program a bigger salary pot to work from, so we don't have to hire D2 and D3 coaches...

 

[Stern]

Are they even above average recruiters though?

Better than what we have had in years past. I won't kill them on recruiting they are doing fine there. This is Syracuse and there can't be insane high level of expectations for recruiting...this staff can recruit. That isn't the issue. They just can't coach a game

 

[Stern]

Maybe the AD should give the football program a bigger salary pot to work from, so we don't have to hire D2 and D3 coaches...

Fair point. But it doesn't excuse the coaches we have from doing a bad job. They are doing a bad job..no nice way to spin it. No Excuses

 

[anomander]

Better than what we have had in years past. I won't kill them on recruiting they are doing fine there. This is Syracuse and there can't be insane high level of expectations for recruiting...this staff can recruit. That isn't the issue. They just can't coach a game

We have a bunch of guys with no other offers?

 

[Franz69]

I wonder how long it will take for HCSS to drop the hammer and give McDonald & Bullough the "Robbie Spence" treatment?

 

[Cuse'91]

For me personally; watching what's going on a few miles to the West in the NFL, it really strikes home just how good the previous staff was at actually coaching... Didn't appreciate the caliber of coaching talent that left for Buffalo...

 

[McNabb2Brominski]

Better than what we have had in years past. I won't kill them on recruiting they are doing fine there. This is Syracuse and there can't be insane high level of expectations for recruiting...this staff can recruit. That isn't the issue. They just can't coach a game

Yea but in past years, we we're still in the Big East. We all know that the ACC name on the jerseys has definitely boosted things on the recruiting front.

 

[Stern]

We have a bunch of guys with no other offers?

Ok, whatever, that's an entirely different debate. Bottom line is SU has enough talent to NOT get blown out by Maryland or play a tight game vs Nova. The BIGGER issue is they can't put together a game plan and during games they can't think on their feet

 

[phil77]

We have a WR coach and an offensive coordinator. We have a linebacker coach as a Defensive coordinator. We have a defensive coordinator as the head coach. And that is all they are ready for. All three are not prepared and look like have have no clue what they are doing.

I can see the talent is better than when Marrone was here but the coaching is light years behind where Marrone had this team. Our coaches have no clue and I have lost faith.

 

[GoSU96]

For me personally; watching what's going on a few miles to the West in the NFL, it really strikes home just how good the previous staff was at actually coaching... Didn't appreciate the caliber of coaching talent that left for Buffalo...

Not according to the original poster and other geniuses on this board. Sucks, in over their head, blah, blah, blah.

People need to calm the ' down. There were some good things to work on. Lots of work, but the hysteria is over the top.

Hunt's problem isn't what he is capable or incapable of, he obviously has the arm to make any throw, he's still learning. It's not like some QB's here that were just not able to get the ball to parts of the field.

 

[Crusty]

Here's the deal - coaches like everyone else can grow, but they have to have the will and the knowledge of how to do it. Shafer needs to reexamine everything from top to bottom and figure out what to keep and what to get jettison. I am talking about the way they do things, not firing coaches (that, if needed is for another day).

In most things, a good process will lead to good results. As a matter of fact, that is what successful coaches change when they take over a program the process.

How is the staff organized?
How do we organize practices?
Ho do we watch film?
How do we game plan?
How do we design plays?
How do we install plays?
Who are we playing and why?
Why do we wear those ugly costumes (sorry, I couldn't resist)?

It should b e clear by now that we need to change some things in the game planning process or both sides of the ball. Shafer needs to get involved and forget this "let coaches coach stuff" as it ain't working.

The greatest fear I have with this staff is that it is too close and when that happens accountability can go our the window.

It is Shafer's program and he needs to figure out how to improve things with the resources he has at hand. Otherwise, he will just be building a good base for the next guy.

 

[Stern]

Not according to the original poster and other geniuses on this board. Sucks, in over their head, blah, blah, blah.

He clearly is in over his head when it comes to game-day coaching. If BC didn't hand him a gift win at the end of last year then that is a 5-7 team with no bowl and then opens this year with a gift win vs Nova and this blowout loss today.

HCSS is lucky the Nova kicker choked and that the BC offensive coordinator called a play that had his RB ran out of bounds to the sidelines to stop the clock with the game won to hand SU a win essentially. Luck runs out eventually and when he (HCSS) isn't lucky...you get performances and outcomes like today.

 

[rocklloyd]

Who's bright idea was it to squib kick after the opening drive?

.

This set the tone for me. Absolutely assinine

 

[Stern]

This set the tone for me. Absolutely assinine

It absolutely took any and all excitement out of the Dome. The section I was sitting in went silent...literally went silent like What was that? Open up get a nice drive ending in points, then that? Hand them the ball at midfield? Was Deion Sanders or Devin Hester returning kicks for Maryland I mean for crying out loud just kick off like normal

 

[rocklloyd]

It absolutely took any and all excitement out of the Dome. The section I was sitting in went silent...literally went silent like What was that? Open up get a nice drive ending in points, then that? Hand them the ball at midfield? Was Deion Sanders or Devin Hester returning kicks for Maryland I mean for crying out loud just kick off like normal

10 years of watching us blow kick offs, we finally have someone which enough leg for a touchback and we squib. Honestly, I was so confused by this call.

 

[anglerman]

They do have 600 yds of offense and 370 yards rushing. They did dominate the LOS most of the day. To say the play calling was awful is ny really fair. Part of the problem is that Terrel Hunt just isn't a good passer. He has all day to throw and seemingly never find anyone open.

 

[Crusty]

We coach scared and we play scared. We are more afraid of losing than we are trying to win.

 

[MSOrange]

10 years of watching us blow kick offs, we finally have someone which enough leg for a touchback and we squib. Honestly, I was so confused by this call.

That's a good point. But my thinking is I know the guy is a good returner but you really need to improve your special teams coverage if you have that little confidence in them.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I always felt that Marrone could out scheme people and could find ways to get people the ball. I don't feel this staff has any idea how to take advantage of their talent or lack of.

 

[GoSU96]

He clearly is in over his head when it comes to game-day coaching. If BC didn't hand him a gift win at the end of last year then that is a 5-7 team with no bowl and then opens this year with a gift win vs Nova and this blowout loss today.

HCSS is lucky the Nova kicker choked and that the BC offensive coordinator called a play that had his RB ran out of bounds to the sidelines to stop the clock with the game won to hand SU a win essentially. Luck runs out eventually and when he (HCSS) isn't lucky...you get performances and outcomes like today.

BLOW OUT?! What are you talking about?

They gained 589 yds, 22o more than Maryland, in a 14 point game. That game was a lot of things, but it wasn't a blowout.

I hate to get all upperdeck but UMd hit on one big play and then there was a 14 pt play at the end of the first half on the interception.

Is there an issue with scoring points, without a doubt, but stop with your nonsense. You're another guy with a great track record of being wrong.

 

[Stern]

BLOW OUT?! What are you talking about?

.

Take away that last gift TD in garbage time that SU got at the end and its a 34-13 loss at home. That's a blowout. Game was NEVER close in the 2nd half

You're another guy with a great track record of being wrong.

You are another guy who is a blind homer who can't have a honest conversation about the state of the program

 

[Jasoncuse]

It sucks not having any playmakers on offense. Our "best" WR isn't even that good, nor is he explosive in any way (Broyld). The rest of the WR's are either undersize or too slow. There's no big play potential anywhere with those guys. We have a good stable of RB's, but I'm not sure there's a breakaway threat, or a guy that can turn nothing into a big play. PTG is a nice player and should get the majority of the work, but he's not great. The young kids behind him are meh.

College football is about playmakers and getting them the ball. When you don't have any, it's tough to consistently put up points, unless you have a fantastic QB.

Oh, and playcalling. Yeah, yuck.

 

[GoSU96]

Take away that last gift TD in garbage time that SU got at the end and its a 34-13 loss at home. That's a blowout. Game was NEVER close in the 2nd half



You are another guy who is a blind homer who can't have a honest conversation about the state of the program

Blind homer? You have no idea what you are talking about.

Yep, a blind homer makes a post like this.

http://syracusefan.com/threads/a-nugget.80076/#post-1132882 (I can't believe the same Orangepace that seems to have lost his mind liked THAT post)

Here's the thing sport, the fact they struggled scoring doesn't surprise me one bit. I think I have a pretty good handle on the state of the program.