I'm not with

[storange]

Shafer must go people here yet. Its been a bad year, and things haven't went well, some say blaming it on injuries is making excuses, but when you get the number that we have had I think you factor it in. Certainly some decisions can be questioned and I'm not singing any one's praises for sure, but I have to see how next year goes before I can even think about coming to conclusions. I like whats been going on with the D and we have been solid there the last few games. I think we have to completely regroup on the offensive side but again with almost every starter on the Oline out or playing hurt I'll give a little wiggle room here.

 

[MSOrange]

Shafer must go people here yet. Its been a bad year, and things haven't went well, some say blaming it on injuries is making excuses, but when you get the number that we have had I think you factor it in. Certainly some decisions can be questioned and I'm not singing any one's praises for sure, but I have to see how next year goes before I can even think about coming to conclusions. I like whats been going on with the D and we have been solid there the last few games. I think we have to completely regroup on the offensive side but again with almost every starter on the Oline out or playing hurt I'll give a little wiggle room here.

This is exactly where I'm at. I have some definite concerns about the direction of the offense as well as some of Shafer's game day decisions (when to punt and when to go for it, in particular) but I can give him another year. I think people are just really frustrated because it looked like we were coming out of the horrible period by going to bowls in 3 out of the past 4 years. But the program was still fragile and could go either direction and we're heading in the wrong direction this year.

 

[Macky44]

I think we are witnessing probably the best defense we have had since Freeney was in The Loud House, so we have to be happy with progress on that side of the ball. Shafer was a defensive minded coach and we should give him a couple years to figure out the other side. He made a decision to have Mcd step down and im sure it was NOT an easy decision to make. Lets see what happens after another offseason and watch a couple games next year before we start ripping him apart.

 

[phil77]

I have mentioned in other threads my stance is clean house. From Gross down. Our football staff and operations need a complete over-haul. The hiring of Shafer and they way we went about it was a little fast and didn't feel like we gave it the due process. All the decision since have been the same. We started with the IPF and need to continue with the AD and football coaching staff. Bring in a fresh set of people and an offensive minded head coach and bring some excitement and energy back to the program.

 

[Frozen]

I have mentioned in other threads my stance is clean house. From Gross down. Our football staff and operations need a complete over-haul. The hiring of Shafer and they way we went about it was a little fast and didn't feel like we gave it the due process. All the decision since have been the same. We started with the IPF and need to continue with the AD and football coaching staff. Bring in a fresh set of people and an offensive minded head coach and bring some excitement and energy back to the program.

"The hiring of Shafer and they way we went about it was a little fast"
Shafer was hired on January 9. Did you want Gross to wait a little longer and hire a new coach after national signing day?

"IPF"
Thanks to Dr. Gross.

"Bring in a fresh set of people and an offensive minded head coach."
Gross already did this when he hired Doug Marrone.

 

[Jack_Ball]

Weren't shafer and hackett the only 2 candidates for the job? We were in a bad spot due to time and signing day after Marrone left which didn't leave many options

 

[sherrillcuse]

Coach Shafer has only brought in 1 of his own recruiting classes. The first is what was left after FHCDM left. I'll give him enough time to get his kids here before I make a judgment on his HCing time here...

 

[phil77]

"The hiring of Shafer and they way we went about it was a little fast"
Shafer was hired on January 9. Did you want Gross to wait a little longer and hire a new coach after national signing day?

By all means got to save that amazing recruiting class instead of getting the right person in here.

 

[NKR1978]

By all means got to save that amazing recruiting class instead of getting the right person in here.

The problem when you're hiring that late is that the right person (Addazio) is already spoken for.

 

[Cusetime]

We need to give Coach Shafer two more years. D looks good and the offense while offensive has lost to many starters to really be effective. We have decent 1st string D1 talent on our offense but there is a big drop off when you look at the players who are starting now because of injuries. We are playing Freshman who have great potential but they have and will continue to makes game costing mistakes this year. If Coach Safer can add a couple of solid recruiting classes so the guy coming off the bench represents little drop off in talent then we will be a competitive team. We do not have any depth on the O-line and and no replacements for the two speed guys who are injured, West can't do it all and Ismal is a freshman just like A.J.

 

[Upstate]

No immediate concerns, plus there have been too many changes this season (loss of best QB, new OC, patch-work OL) to really genuinely get a feel for Shafe. An easier schedule, a healthy team and some stability in the coaching staff, and I think SU has a very good team next year.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

This is exactly where I'm at. I have some definite concerns about the direction of the offense as well as some of Shafer's game day decisions (when to punt and when to go for it, in particular) but I can give him another year. I think people are just really frustrated because it looked like we were coming out of the horrible period by going to bowls in 3 out of the past 4 years. But the program was still fragile and could go either direction and we're heading in the wrong direction this year.

Good post. Very fair observations.

 

[MSOrange]

Good post. Very fair observations.

Thanks! One thing about the fourth down decisions because I know that's been a big frustration with you and I totally agree. I have mentioned on here that I follow Iowa because my dad went to school there. Before this year, Kirk Ferentz also frustrated me (as well as other Iowa fans) with his conservative nature on fourth downs - I think because he spent time in the pros as an assistant and developed that "pro" mentality. But this year, he has really changed. They are 10 of 15 on 4th down conversions. Now some of that is a product of the kicking and punting game struggling but at least it shows a willingness to adapt from someone who has been around awhile. I'm hoping Shafer can similarly adapt - knock on wood.

 

[Chip]

People keep bringing up the OC change as if McDonald had a heart attack and Lester had to be thrust into the role. So we can't really hold anyone accountable.

Shouldn't the fact that Shafer voluntarily decided to change his OC midseason be a negative reflection on Shafer?

I think it is.

 

[Stern]

We need to give Coach Shafer two more years. .

2 more years, no way. He gets 1 more year and he is lucky he gets that. 2 more years like this year and SU will be back in the Grob era

 

[Stern]

People keep bringing up the OC change as if McDonald had a heart attack and Lester had to be thrust into the role. So we can't really hold anyone accountable.

Shouldn't the fact that Shafer voluntarily decided to change his OC midseason be a negative reflection on Shafer?

I think it is.

Yep. What I said when it happened. Try hiring a quality assistant coach now when Shafer showed the world he threw one of his assistants under the bus the first time the going to tough. Bad reflection on Shafer. Really bad

 

[Chip]

Yep. What I said when it happened. Try hiring a quality assistant coach now when Shafer showed the world he threw one of his assistants under the bus the first time the going to tough. Bad reflection on Shafer. Really bad

I wasn't thinking that angle as much. I'm sure he could explain to an experienced OC that he hired someone who was in way over his head. If you found an experienced OC who you were giving full control of the offense (and a hefty salary), I doubt he's going to care.

I was more thinking that he doesn't know what he wants the offense to be. This isn't the same as Marrone canning Spence. In that case, Marrone, as an offensive mind, had some idea of where he wanted the offense to go. But as a first time HC, wanted to hire an experienced OC, not knowing how involved he could be. Turned out the OC had a bubble screen safety button he couldn't stop pushing. So Marrone just took over and groomed Hackett.

This is different because Shafer is a defensive guy. Who went from one first time OC (essentially) to another one.

I hope it's not a reflection of what the Athletic Department told him they were willing to pay.

 

[tipphill]

I think we are witnessing probably the best defense we have had since Freeney was in The Loud House, so we have to be happy with progress on that side of the ball. Shafer was a defensive minded coach and we should give him a couple years to figure out the other side. He made a decision to have Mcd step down and im sure it was NOT an easy decision to make. Lets see what happens after another offseason and watch a couple games next year before we start ripping him apart.

what i witness is another dismal --at best mediocre season--with empty promises and orange colored glasses.--what i also witness is another year of wasted season tickets and long drives from out of state --which i will no longer make---for such b.s.---it appears we will remain an also run program, of what have you done for me lately, and yea, at one time we used to be good. some of you wonder why the locals ,( who by the way are the main attendees at the games) are casual fans??? look at the last 10 plus years---guess were you spend your buck---not su games-- it is now worst than sickening.

 

[anomander]

I would be fine at chalking this year up to injuries, but it seems like an annual thing. Didn't we already chalk up our tank job in 2011 to injuries? Last year wasn't exactly pretty since our entire secondary was decimated. Injuries are something programs have to deal with. Nobody is healthy this time of year. Plus it's not like we looked that great in week 1 vs Nova, week 2 vs CMU we still couldn't do anything inside the red zone, and week 3 vs. Maryland was a breakdown in every aspect of the game.

With that said it's still too early to call for Shafer's job. This year has been extremely concerning, but he deserves at least another year.

 

[Dcuse]

Shafer must go people here yet. Its been a bad year, and things haven't went well, some say blaming it on injuries is making excuses, but when you get the number that we have had I think you factor it in. Certainly some decisions can be questioned and I'm not singing any one's praises for sure, but I have to see how next year goes before I can even think about coming to conclusions. I like whats been going on with the D and we have been solid there the last few games. I think we have to completely regroup on the offensive side but again with almost every starter on the Oline out or playing hurt I'll give a little wiggle room here.

A LITTLE wiggle room? The LAST thing me and you wanna see is another stinking regime come in here and start from scratch. Shafer is our boy- recruiting strategy is set-defense will always be good. Don't go all syracusefan.com on me.

 

[HtownOrange]

It's amazing that people cannot see that the O line has been plagued with injuries making it rough for any QB. Yes, even Winston would have a tough time behind our injured line. Credit to the kids for stepping up and doing what they can but nobody would look like a serviceable QB, let alone an Heisman candidate, with our injury situation. Add to that other key offensive players are out and what do we expect? Oh, yeah, we should be playing for the ACC championship and a slot in the playoffs.

Shafer takes responsibility for his record and can still pull off a bowl game. He made changes that were necessary and he has the D looking very good. A healthy offense will win more games next season.

(Stepping down from soap box...)

 

[upperdeck]

we are about 2 plays away from a very positive year. if you said in august we would be playing this group of starters in game 10 people would have never said we had a chance and we still had solid chances in almost every game. we have gone from getting blown out with our starters to competing with our backups backups.

 

[omniorange]

we are about 2 plays away from a very positive year. if you said in august we would be playing this group of starters in game 10 people would have never said we had a chance and we still had solid chances in almost every game. we have gone from getting blown out with our starters to competing with our backups backups.

Perhaps, but which 2 plays? I know for a fact we are 1 easy missed FG by Nova that has us 3-6 instead of 2-7.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Crusty]

we are about 2 plays away from a very positive year. if you said in august we would be playing this group of starters in game 10 people would have never said we had a chance and we still had solid chances in almost every game. we have gone from getting blown out with our starters to competing with our backups backups.

I understand what you are saying but I think it is a bit more than a couple of plays.

 

[upperdeck]

you dont throw the pick 6's . ncst never comes close to winning that game without that 14pt swing. and yeah Vill could have kicked the fg but its not like they did anything most of the game to win, they didnt lead by playing well, didnt dominate any stretch of the game, hunt not playing made it a contest it never needed to be.

not winning winnable games is vastly different from playing poorly and getting dominated. we are losing, that sucks, but say NCst throws the int going for the last TD, we win the game and people are thinking we can run the table. this team is better than last years team and the record has people jumping ship. this is not a dominate team that can tolerate most of the offensive line playing hurt and not practicing and expect to have any kid of offense. but there are top 20 teams with much more talent having much the same issues

FSU lost their QB and looked awful against Clemson with way more talent than us, why do we think our coaches should be able to overcome that? people make it sound like if only we had better coaches this would not be happening.