I have one question...

[Jake]

who has been putting together the gameplan?

I think the game plans have been as bad as the Saturday play calling. A good game plan makes Saturday easier. I hope its all been McDonald's doing.

I thought Marrone was an awful game day coach, but I'd put his game plan and preparation up against a lot of coaches. He won more games Sunday - Friday than he did on Saturday.

Our philosophy has to change. If we're trying to beat teams by getting our skill players out in space against defenders - someone had to think of a plan B once we discovered their defenders are better in space than our skill players.

I think that's where the feces hit the rotator.

 

[Millhouse]

who has been putting together the gameplan?

I think the game plans have been as bad as the Saturday play calling. A good game plan makes Saturday easier. I hope its all been McDonald's doing.

I thought Marrone was an awful game day coach, but I'd put his game plan and preparation up against a lot of coaches. He won more games Sunday - Friday than he did on Saturday.

Our philosophy has to change. If we're trying to beat teams by getting our skill players out in space against defenders - someone had to think of a plan B once we discovered their defenders are better in space than our skill players.

I think that's where the feces hit the rotator.

in order to put playmakers in space, you have to count defenders to find where the space is

we just don't do that.

 

[RF2044]

who has been putting together the gameplan?

I think the game plans have been as bad as the Saturday play calling. A good game plan makes Saturday easier. I hope its all been McDonald's doing.

I thought Marrone was an awful game day coach, but I'd put his game plan and preparation up against a lot of coaches. He won more games Sunday - Friday than he did on Saturday.

Our philosophy has to change. If we're trying to beat teams by getting our skill players out in space against defenders - someone had to think of a plan B once we discovered their defenders are better in space than our skill players.

I think that's where the feces hit the rotator.

Agreed. It would be revisionist history to suggest that Marrone was any great shakes on game day in terms of X's and O's. He was adequate, nothing more. But in terms of game planning, that staff was really strong.

My big fear all along was that he departed on a high note, but that he left two years too soon, with the program teetering on the brink. With the wrong staff, it could backslide back into subpar mediocrity. Last year's start to the season had me worried big time about the current staff. But the team rallied, won all but 1 of the 50/50 games, and closed on a strong note. So I was willing to cut the staff some slack, as many of them were in stretch roles, there was bound to be some growing pains with a new, somewhat green staff, etc.

But what's happened this year really shakes my belief in this group. They look overmatched. And I think the issues run a lot deeper than GMcD--maybe a lot deeper than many would like to acknowledge. It will be interesting to see whether this move pays dividends, or whether it is lipstick on the pig.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Our gameplan is to run sweeps with your bruiser RB from 6 yards deep in the end zone against a top running D.



I dont see the issue.

 

[cuseman404]

who has been putting together the gameplan?

I think the game plans have been as bad as the Saturday play calling. A good game plan makes Saturday easier. I hope its all been McDonald's doing.

I thought Marrone was an awful game day coach, but I'd put his game plan and preparation up against a lot of coaches. He won more games Sunday - Friday than he did on Saturday.

Our philosophy has to change. If we're trying to beat teams by getting our skill players out in space against defenders - someone had to think of a plan B once we discovered their defenders are better in space than our skill players.

I think that's where the feces hit the rotator.

Jake i enjoy your basketball insight much better football is just too depressing and you are 1000 percent correct. Who is our next commit for basketball.

 

[rrlbees]

who has been putting together the gameplan? I think the game plans have been as bad as the Saturday play calling. A good game plan makes Saturday easier. I hope its all been McDonald's doing. I thought Marrone was an awful game day coach, but I'd put his game plan and preparation up against a lot of coaches. He won more games Sunday - Friday than he did on Saturday. Our philosophy has to change. If we're trying to beat teams by getting our skill players out in space against defenders - someone had to think of a plan B once we discovered their defenders are better in space than our skill players. I think that's where the feces hit the rotator.

More a staff thing than an individual.

 

[Orangejet]

Our gameplan is to run sweeps with your bruiser RB from 6 yards deep in the end zone against a top running D.



I dont see the issue.

I would have tried to complete a 99 Td pass with West or Ismael than that mind-boggling run...
Happy to see the change at OC.

 

[RF2044]

More a staff thing than an individual.

Agreed.

 

[PhatOrange]

But what's happened this year really shakes my belief in this group. They look overmatched. And I think the issues run a lot deeper than GMcD--maybe a lot deeper than many would like to acknowledge. It will be interesting to see whether this move pays dividends, or whether it is lipstick on the pig.

It definitely runs deeper when everything is so sloppy. the penalties, inability to get the play in, general disorganization etc. My hope for Shafer is the general offensive disorganization is the result of letting his coaches coach. And that could also be an indictment of Lester but I dont have any idea how much control people have.

Offensive Coaches
McDonald - Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Lester - Quarterbacks/Recruiting Coordinator
Acosta - Tight Ends
Adam - Offensive Line
Smith - Running Backs

 

[SUFan44]

More a staff thing than an individual.

Gotta start somewhere.

 

[Crusty]

I would have tried to complete a 99 Td pass with West or Ismael than that mind-boggling run...
Happy to see the change at OC.

They did on the previous play.

 

[llandz]

I remember reading a quote somewhere yesterday where McDonald talked about the new type of offense he wanted to institute. I think it may have been in another thread on here, and then the poster may have indicated that if that type of offense does not fit the current roster, than maybe you need to do something else in the meantime while you wait to bring in the players that fit what you want to do.
If that is the case, then I say McDonald because he did not adjust his offense to fit the current players on the roster. He stuck to a plan for the future that did not work in the present.

 

[Orangepace]

I would have tried to complete a 99 Td pass with West or Ismael than that mind-boggling run...
Happy to see the change at OC.

Sadly, that wasn't the worst play of the game...

Having a QB who doesn't know that with 2 seconds left, it's virtually impossible to spike a ball and stop the clock with time left. You lose 1 second on the ref signaling live ball. Impossible to snap and spike in 1 second. That's the worst play of the game in my opinion, but the toss to AAM is a close second..

All comes back to preparation. This team hasn't shown it can prepare itself for a game yet. 1st and goal from the 1, and yet again, the team fails to score. Btw... if I see another Ben Lewis thread I'm going to lose my mind. I'll give him a break on the first td drop, but the second reminded me of Lane. Any D3 athlete catches that ball.

 

[SUFan44]

I remember reading a quote somewhere yesterday where McDonald talked about the new type of offense he wanted to institute. I think it may have been in another thread on here, and then the poster may have indicated that if that type of offense does not fit the current roster, than maybe you need to do something else in the meantime while you wait to bring in the players that fit what you want to do.
If that is the case, then I say McDonald because he did not adjust his offense to fit the current players on the roster. He stuck to a plan for the future that did not work in the present.

You hit the nail on the head. Some on this board think that in order to recruit kids to an offensive system, you HAVE to play that system regardless of if the players on your roster are equipped for it or not.

That's not true at all. You incorporate parts of your offense, while also gearing it toward areas that are conducive for success. You tell the kids that you need them in order to play the way you want to play. But winning is the ultimate goal. Good coaches figure out a way to put their players in the best position possible to win. Marrone understands that - as infuriating as he is sometimes, he gets at the very least that part.

McDonald showed no understanding of that - and in fact, after nearly 1 1/2 years of overseeing a very mediocre offense, said as much in newspaper interviews. "*** it. I'm doing it my own way."

 

[Ozcuse]

Sadly, that wasn't the worst play of the game...

Having a QB who doesn't know that with 2 seconds left, it's virtually impossible to spike a ball and stop the clock with time left. You lose 1 second on the ref signaling live ball. Impossible to snap and spike in 1 second. That's the worst play of the game in my opinion, but the toss to AAM is a close second..

All comes back to preparation. This team hasn't shown it can prepare itself for a game yet. 1st and goal from the 1, and yet again, the team fails to score. Btw... if I see another Ben Lewis thread I'm going to lose my mind. I'll give him a break on the first td drop, but the second reminded me of Lane. Any D3 athlete catches that ball.

So... you don't want to buy my tickets in Section 320 anymore?

 

[sufandu]

Offensive Coaches
McDonald - Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Lester - Quarterbacks/Recruiting Coordinator
Acosta - Tight Ends
Adam - Offensive Line
Smith - Running Backs

Ok, so McDonald being named OC may have been a stretch for him given his experience or lack thereof. That being the case, how was he ever given the title Associate Head Coach?

 

[Millhouse]

So... you don't want to buy my tickets in Section 320 anymore?

i think mcdonald was calling plays from section 420 duuuude

 

[SUFan44]

Ok, so McDonald being named OC may have been a stretch for him given his experience or lack thereof. That being the case, how was he ever given the title Associate Head Coach?

$$$$$$

 

[sufandu]

All comes back to preparation. This team hasn't shown it can prepare itself for a game yet. 1st and goal from the 1, and yet again, the team fails to score. Btw... if I see another Ben Lewis thread I'm going to lose my mind. I'll give him a break on the first td drop, but the second reminded me of Lane. Any D3 athlete catches that ball.

The obvious lack of preparation is what's killing me. That doesn't just speak to incompetence in calling plays but incompetence in organizing and running quality practices. I don't know who's more responsible for that on offense, McD or HCSS.

 

[CusefanATL]

Ok, so McDonald being named OC may have been a stretch for him given his experience or lack thereof. That being the case, how was he ever given the title Associate Head Coach?

at the time he was considered a recruiting guru. not sure how he hasnt landed a single notable player, but whatever.

We had to steal him for the big guys and in order to do that we had to give him title and money.

 

[jr4750]

You hit the nail on the head. Some on this board think that in order to recruit kids to an offensive system, you HAVE to play that system regardless of if the players on your roster are equipped for it or not.

That's not true at all. You incorporate parts of your offense, while also gearing it toward areas that are conducive for success. You tell the kids that you need them in order to play the way you want to play. But winning is the ultimate goal. Good coaches figure out a way to put their players in the best position possible to win. Marrone understands that - as infuriating as he is sometimes, he gets at the very least that part.

McDonald showed no understanding of that - and in fact, after nearly 1 1/2 years of overseeing a very mediocre offense, said as much in newspaper interviews. "*** it. I'm doing it my own way."

Yes times a million. Why a team wouldn't just play a system that works best for what they have now is mind boggling. You want to change it, recruit a different breed of player and work in the spring to alter the system. You don't have a passing QB, don't throw the ball 30 times a game. This is not hard.

 

[sufandu]

at the time he was considered a recruiting guru. not sure how he hasnt landed a single notable player, but whatever.

We had to steal him for the big guys and in order to do that we had to give him title and money.

I would've thought OC was enough of a step up in title. We didn't have to give Associate Head Coach to him to throw a bunch of money his way. I suppose it really didn't mean much, it just seems like it was silly.

 

[Millhouse]

Yes times a million. Why a team wouldn't just play a system that works best for what they have now is mind boggling. You want to change it, recruit a different breed of player and work in the spring to alter the system. You don't have a passing QB, don't throw the ball 30 times a game. This is not hard.

i don't think they'd be much better off trying to be stanford. spread to run works fine. getting people out of the box is fine. our problem is that we don't do the easiest part. you just need to count. putting 4 wide, leaving 6 guys in the box, blocking them with 5 and reading the remaining guy WORKS. but he can't stop shooting himself in the foot because he read something once about screens being an extension of the running game (nonsense) and making idiotic situational playcalls that spoil everything

i hope this mcdonald experiment doesn't scare everyone off of basic stuff that a million teams succeed with

 

[CusefanATL]

I would've thought OC was enough of a step up in title. We didn't have to give Associate Head Coach to him to throw a bunch of money his way. I suppose it really didn't mean much, it just seems like it was silly.

wr coaches at arkansas can make syracuse OC money.

 

[sufandu]

wr coaches at arkansas can make syracuse OC money.

Not necessarily. We didn't have to throw in some meaningless title to pay him what he's getting paid now.