OrangeBlood
Starter
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2011
- Messages
- 1,334
- Like
- 1,056
Firstly, NW is a very good football team. I love what Fitz has done there, guy is a winner who does it the right way. I am pulling for them to win the B10 and think they got a shot.
To the point, besides QB I truly believe that the talent on this roster is as good or better as it has been over the last 10 years. Marrone managed to win 8 games twice with equal talent or less talent and certainly less depth. With more depth, I think the 2011 team certainly goes to a bowl.
What bothers me the most is the miscommunication on offense. We look totally clueless walking around and finally snapping the ball with 5 seconds left on the playclock. The point of the no huddle is to make the defense uncomfortable by being unable to adjust due to speed. We are not even close to that. Hackett seemingly ran double the plays.
Thankfully we are only two games in and we have the potential to turn it around.
QB-- Allen needs to sit, Hunt showed more in a series than Allen has the past two games. Hunt is willing to run and is way more natural. I will sacrifice not being able to throw the ball 70 yards for a guy who keeps the defense honest on a read option.
RB-- Great talents. Find them roles. They can ball. If it means Gulley or McFarland in the slot than I'm ok with it.
WR-- West is a slot possession guy. He has his use but not a star. Kobena is a straight line sprinter, he has a role. More Clark please, he is proving me wrong, he makes plays. Broyld needs the ball as much as possible. Probably the best offensive weapon by far. Estime needs at least 5 touches a game. Screens, 0 passes, slants. Get him it. Funderbunk is potentially the best WR on the team. He has to play, he is Sales 2.o. Basically, everyone has a role. More packages to get them the ball where they can be successful. Running West deep or having Clark be a possession over the middle guy is not helping anyone.
TE-- Remember what Wales did last year? He was so successful over the middle for mid length gains. We need that type of plays for third downs. Moore and Parris are serviceable.
OL-- I firmly believe that if Marrone stayed, Knapp (barring injury) would be your starting RT and Foy the RG. Foy is just too slow to be a reliable tackle. We miss Marrone's ability to coach OL. The current line is ok, but it lacks the physicality of last year's.
As far as defense, besides MPB, Diet and Shamarko this is the same team that was decent defensively. It should be better. Shamarko was not even great in pass game. I am done with Wilkes. Same mistakes every year. Play Morgan/Desir. Done with Anderson. Play Reddish and Whigham more. I loved seeing Luke and Kirkland out there, those guys can oust Davis and Spruill. No safe spots anymore. We gave up 40+. Where has Bromley gone? The DL has been ok, they don't get great pressure but they are solid against the run.
Krautman and Fisher may be done for the rest of the year. I don't understand what happened to them.
Basically what I am trying to say is the talent is there. It is not performing. Marrone got the talent to produce and so far Shafer hans't. We aren't super crazy talented like an SEC team but we are not where we were in 2008. We should not give up 34 in a first half to NORTHWESTERN.
Today there was no huge talent difference. It was a scheme and coaching difference. We looked confused and slow, they played fast and sure of themselves.
Shafer and his boys have a long season to change things. The next two games are HUGE. We need to get some confidence, if we struggle at all it will be a major concern. I am already worrying about how many Clemson will put up on us.
Lastly, this is premature but how long is Shafer's leash? Gross game him the job to have continuity? If things fall apart and it's clear he is not a HC (say 3-4 wins), does he make a bold decision and part ways? His act in pressers is not going to win him anything. Starting to get old.
Who Knows, it's only two games. Marrone looked bad after Minnesota last year. Shafer could get it going and win 6-8 games. The difference is, we showed potential in our early loses last year. I predicted we would lose the first two games anyways, but I didn't think we'd look this bad.
To the point, besides QB I truly believe that the talent on this roster is as good or better as it has been over the last 10 years. Marrone managed to win 8 games twice with equal talent or less talent and certainly less depth. With more depth, I think the 2011 team certainly goes to a bowl.
What bothers me the most is the miscommunication on offense. We look totally clueless walking around and finally snapping the ball with 5 seconds left on the playclock. The point of the no huddle is to make the defense uncomfortable by being unable to adjust due to speed. We are not even close to that. Hackett seemingly ran double the plays.
Thankfully we are only two games in and we have the potential to turn it around.
QB-- Allen needs to sit, Hunt showed more in a series than Allen has the past two games. Hunt is willing to run and is way more natural. I will sacrifice not being able to throw the ball 70 yards for a guy who keeps the defense honest on a read option.
RB-- Great talents. Find them roles. They can ball. If it means Gulley or McFarland in the slot than I'm ok with it.
WR-- West is a slot possession guy. He has his use but not a star. Kobena is a straight line sprinter, he has a role. More Clark please, he is proving me wrong, he makes plays. Broyld needs the ball as much as possible. Probably the best offensive weapon by far. Estime needs at least 5 touches a game. Screens, 0 passes, slants. Get him it. Funderbunk is potentially the best WR on the team. He has to play, he is Sales 2.o. Basically, everyone has a role. More packages to get them the ball where they can be successful. Running West deep or having Clark be a possession over the middle guy is not helping anyone.
TE-- Remember what Wales did last year? He was so successful over the middle for mid length gains. We need that type of plays for third downs. Moore and Parris are serviceable.
OL-- I firmly believe that if Marrone stayed, Knapp (barring injury) would be your starting RT and Foy the RG. Foy is just too slow to be a reliable tackle. We miss Marrone's ability to coach OL. The current line is ok, but it lacks the physicality of last year's.
As far as defense, besides MPB, Diet and Shamarko this is the same team that was decent defensively. It should be better. Shamarko was not even great in pass game. I am done with Wilkes. Same mistakes every year. Play Morgan/Desir. Done with Anderson. Play Reddish and Whigham more. I loved seeing Luke and Kirkland out there, those guys can oust Davis and Spruill. No safe spots anymore. We gave up 40+. Where has Bromley gone? The DL has been ok, they don't get great pressure but they are solid against the run.
Krautman and Fisher may be done for the rest of the year. I don't understand what happened to them.
Basically what I am trying to say is the talent is there. It is not performing. Marrone got the talent to produce and so far Shafer hans't. We aren't super crazy talented like an SEC team but we are not where we were in 2008. We should not give up 34 in a first half to NORTHWESTERN.
Today there was no huge talent difference. It was a scheme and coaching difference. We looked confused and slow, they played fast and sure of themselves.
Shafer and his boys have a long season to change things. The next two games are HUGE. We need to get some confidence, if we struggle at all it will be a major concern. I am already worrying about how many Clemson will put up on us.
Lastly, this is premature but how long is Shafer's leash? Gross game him the job to have continuity? If things fall apart and it's clear he is not a HC (say 3-4 wins), does he make a bold decision and part ways? His act in pressers is not going to win him anything. Starting to get old.
Who Knows, it's only two games. Marrone looked bad after Minnesota last year. Shafer could get it going and win 6-8 games. The difference is, we showed potential in our early loses last year. I predicted we would lose the first two games anyways, but I didn't think we'd look this bad.
Last edited:
