In Defense of Nate Hackett

[Shenexon]

Good post, I think we do need to be more agressive early, it may not work but we need to take some shots down the field early and at least try and open things up a bit. This team is never going to win games on a consistent basis when every scoring drive has to be a 19 play 12 minute marathon.

To quote Vince Lombardi, "If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"

We need a win. That should be everyone's mantra. We need a win. I truly appreciate and admire the knowledgeable posters on this board that are skilled in defining many of the reasons we're struggling to win games. We've not been far from winning games against good teams, but as they say: "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades." We need a win.

The coaches need to prepare, the players need to execute, and fans need to show up and make enough noise to disrupt Pittsburgh. It's a fairly simple formula but one that has eluded us. We need a win.

I look to the coaches to rise up and demonstrate the leadership we all hope they have. One final quote:

"Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people." - John D. Rockefeller

We need a win...

 

[RICuse44]

Agreed, seriously What. It was one play, the toss sweep it was either going to be a bust which it was or smith walked into the end zone, it didn't work. Move on, but laying it on as if a call or two cost us the game is absurd...turnovers cost us the game. Sure, I agree we have had issues down close to the end zone, need a running qb or more beef upfront. Hackett has done a very good job, is beginning to come on as a recruiter, is very well liked by the staff and the players and right now is the oc for the 25th rated offense in the country but apparently he is incompetent and everyone here a genius. Sure he has made so e questionable calls Burbank doesnt

Agree with this completely. That was going to be an all or nothing play. Sometimes I think though they try to get too cute. I think the goal line woes come down to manning up in the red zone. Getting a hat on a hat, O line push, and would love to see I formation here with a fullback. Would prefer if Rome could play fullback though to leave open the possibility of a handoff to him. Anyone notice how wide open Vontae Leach was on the Thursday night Ravens game? The man is a mauler as a blocker which teams focus on. One thing I do not like about the spread offense is how it takes the element of having 2 backs on the field who can run or slip out for passes.

 

[Chip]

Why should we plan ahead to struggle against Rutgers? Shouldnt we look to come up with a new game plan like we did in 2009 when we ran a bunch of plays and formations RU had never seen and proceeded to bow them out? If Hackett cant game plan to beat Rutgers how the hell are we going to win anything in the ACC.

Road game. No element of surprise. A very good defense, easily the best in the conference, probably better than a lot in the ACC. My expectation is that we struggle a bit on offense. Won't be the end of the world if it happens although this board will need a couple weeks of therapy given the opponent.

 

[OrangePA]

I agree that a lot of things contributed to that loss and others. There are always many factors. But a play on the field is an error that wasn't intentional. Errors on the sideline are ones of decision and those decisions (not the outcome) are intentionally made. There have been many of those intentional decisions that have directly led to losses the last 2 seasons.

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Execution.

 

[SWC75]

"Learning on the job."

How do you know the extent to which he is learning on the job?

Since I'm sure you have never spoken to him or gauged his knowledge base in any objective way, I gather that you are basing your conclusion on his age, his youthful appearance and the old "he has never been an OC before" adage.

Given that he grew up in the game with a well-regarded father/football coach, I suspect that his knowledge base is quite developed.

I also suspect that Adkins, Marrone, Moore and Wheatly have some input on offensive play/strategy. Don't you think?

I am confident that they have decent knowledge bases.

The fact is that all coaches are constantly "learning on the job."

Our problem is not Nate Hackett's knowledge base. Our problem is unsatisfactory play on the OL, the lack of home run hitters at WR and RB and the INTs and fumbles.

It was the original point of the thread. And no, I don't think that all coaches are "learning on the job", at least not to the extent suggested.

 

[kcsu]

we suck in the redzone and that is on coaching

 

[OrangePA]

It was the original point of the thread. And no, I don't think that all coaches are "learning on the job", at least not to the extent suggested.

Do you or have you coached?

All coaches - at least the good ones - are always learning on the job - to a great degree.

Just like in all professions, if you're not moving forward and developing your knowledge based, you're falling behind.

 

[SWC75]

Do you or have you coached?

All coaches - at least the good ones - are always learning on the job - to a great degree.

Just like in all professions, if you're not moving forward and developing your knowledge based, you're falling behind.

The opening question is not a requirement to comment on this board.

The fact that every coach- and every human being- learns things and develops every day doesn't mean that they are all equal and at the same place in their development. Scott Shafer is certainly well ahead of Nate Hackett and we have benefited from his presence. If we had some who had developed to that point on the offensive end, I think we' be better off. But we're not going to get one in mid-season so we can all just hope that Hackett's development continues at a rapid pace.

 

[baggerbob]

The greatest coaches in the world look like bums when the players don't execute. The leadership has to come from the players, and whether people want to admit it or not, our seniors lack leadership.

 

[rrlbees]

The greatest coaches in the world look like bums when the players don't execute. The leadership has to come from the players, and whether people want to admit it or not, our seniors lack leadership.

Execution doesn"t equal decisions. 2 separate issues.

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[OrangePA]

The opening question is not a requirement to comment on this board.

The fact that every coach- and every human being- learns things and develops every day doesn't mean that they are all equal and at the same place in their development. Scott Shafer is certainly well ahead of Nate Hackett and we have benefited from his presence. If we had some who had developed to that point on the offensive end, I think we' be better off. But we're not going to get one in mid-season so we can all just hope that Hackett's development continues at a rapid pace.

That's true, you don't have to have experience coaching to comment on this board, it probably helps to have coached when one attempts to comment on how coaches develope and learn their craft. I gather you have never coached

You presume, however, to know the knowledge bases of our offensive and defensive coaches and yet apparently have never met or interacted with them.

I don't know how that is possible or credible.

Your presumption that Shaffer is "well ahead" of Hackett is perplexing in a sense. I gather what you mean is that Shaffer has coached for more years or has been a coordinator more years than does Hackett.

Beyond comparing the number of years the two have coached, you really have no idea who is "ahead" of whom.

Based upon what I have seen this year, there is no indication that the defensive coaching is "well ahead" of the offensive coaching, meaning that the number of years criteria upon which you apparently rely, would seem to be a misplaced factor.

 

[SWC75]

Based upon what I have seen this year, there is no indication that the defensive coaching is "well ahead" of the offensive coaching, meaning that the number of years criteria upon which you apparently rely, would seem to be a misplaced factor.

If you agree with that view, which I don't. I don't think very many people look at the achievement of the defense since Shafer took over and compare them to the achievements of the offense since Hackett took over and regard them as about the same.

And if coaches learn and develop every day, shouldn't the degree of experience matter? If it doesn't, maybe your premise is wrong.

 

[SmilinBob]

Hackett is doing a fine job and overall I'm very happy with his progression as a coach and when I say coach I am talking about his overall coaching abilities not just a play call or two. I've always found the recognition of patterns or flows interesting and how to exploit that to get the most bang for your buck so to speak. Even with 20/20 hindsight we don't know if play X would work better than play Y, the probabilities or a guess...yes but to actually know, no. I've found myself screaming or thinking why the hell did he call that or why did he change his pattern of success in doing a particular type of plays but again overall I think he's done a fine job.

 

[OrangePA]

If you agree with that view, which I don't. I don't think very many people look at the achievement of the defense since Shafer took over and compare them to the achievements of the offense since Hackett took over and regard them as about the same.

And if coaches learn and develop every day, shouldn't the degree of experience matter? If it doesn't, maybe your premise is wrong.

The "achievement" of the defense.

The defense stunk last year.

And so far this year the defense has had a lot trouble.

This year the defense doesn't tackle. The defense doesn't hit. The defense gives up big plays. The defense commits bad fouls.

That's the achievement you're talking about.

Yes, of course, experience is very important.

And that's really the point of this discussion. You have come to conclusions regarding Hackett strictly on the basis of the number of years on his resume. You really have no insight at all about the knowledge base that he brings to the table.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

The "achievement" of the defense.

The defense stunk last year.

And so far this year the defense has had a lot trouble.

This year the defense doesn't tackle. The defense doesn't hit. The defense gives up big plays. The defense commits bad fouls.

That's the achievement you're talking about.

Yes, of course, experience is very important.

And that's really the point of this discussion. You have come to conclusions regarding Hackett strictly on the basis of the number of years on his resume. You really have no insight at all about the knowledge base that he brings to the table.

If his play calling in 3 1st and goal situations in the last two games is representative of his knowledge base, then I would have to conclude that it is pretty limited.

 

[Ozcuse]

Any time you start a post with "in defense of" there is a reason you need to defend them.

Piling up a ton of yard when down by 2+ TD's does not a good offense make.

 

[upperdeck]

had we not missed the two Fgs vs SB we probably don't try the two fourth down plays and we just settle for a solid 40-17 win and our RZ offense would have stayed pretty good in getting points.

 

[Millhouse]

Hackett needs to have a successful offense in conference play for me to gain confidence.

I want to see them win some games against teams that know them and have film on them

did you know that we had higher team passer rating in 2009 and 2007 conference games than we did in 2010 and 2011 conference games?

 

[JeremyCuse]

Hackett needs to have a successful offense in conference play for me to gain confidence.

I want to see them win some games against teams that know them and have film on them

did you know that we had higher team passer rating in 2009 and 2007 conference games than we did in 2010 and 2011 conference games?

WOW didnt know that, pretty sad.

 

[SWC75]

The "achievement" of the defense.

The defense stunk last year.

And so far this year the defense has had a lot trouble.

This year the defense doesn't tackle. The defense doesn't hit. The defense gives up big plays. The defense commits bad fouls.

That's the achievement you're talking about.

Yes, of course, experience is very important.

And that's really the point of this discussion. You have come to conclusions regarding Hackett strictly on the basis of the number of years on his resume. You really have no insight at all about the knowledge base that he brings to the table.

Our total defense rankings in the years Shafer has been the DC: #37, #7, #64, and #46 so far this year. Not too bad.

Again, you change the narrative by first saying that coaches are constantly learning and developing and then saying that Shafer's extra decade of experience as a DC doesn't matter. Instead you proclaim the defense has "stunk", which it hasn't. You are also throwing Shafer under the bus to defend Hackett.

Hackett, in his first year as OC was #90 but has improved to #27 so far this year. He finally realized that our proven players are in the passing attack and put us in the no huddle so we can get more passes off. We've gone from 65th in the country in passing to #10. I applaud him for that. It's an example of learning on the job. I wish we had played this way last year. We could have wound up in a bowl game and Marrone might have gotten his contract extension.

 

[Scooch]

did you know that we had higher team passer rating in 2009 and 2007 conference games than we did in 2010 and 2011 conference games?

 

[Chip]

had we not missed the two Fgs vs SB we probably don't try the two fourth down plays and we just settle for a solid 40-17 win and our RZ offense would have stayed pretty good in getting points.

Maybe the first one when we were at the 3, but even that's a stretch, for a 20 yard FG. I do feel pretty confident in saying that we went for the 2nd one because we wanted to get the TD from the 1 yard line instead of worrying that a previously missed 45 yard and 38 yard FG meant we didn't think we could hit an 18 yarder.

If that were the case, we would have gone for 2 on our 2nd half TDs.

 

[JoeCollege]

That's true, you don't have to have experience coaching to comment on this board, it probably helps to have coached when one attempts to comment on how coaches develope and learn their craft.

I am looking forward to reading your coaching resume. I will try not to assume it has multiple ties to Connecticut.

 

[KaiserUEO]

At a critical time in the program's history, when we are in a bad slump, we really need more than a guy who is learning on the job. But we aren't going to get one so I hope he grows up fast.

i dont know what else needs to be said.

we got a guy on a 8 game d1 losing streak and hes teaching his OC how to be an OC.

Syracuse is not in a position to be resume building,we need to be grabbing guys with great resumes.

 

[Chip]

Hackett needs to have a successful offense in conference play for me to gain confidence.

I want to see them win some games against teams that know them and have film on them

did you know that we had higher team passer rating in 2009 and 2007 conference games than we did in 2010 and 2011 conference games?

I actually don't find that surprising. In 2007 we couldn't run the ball at all, as bad as I think we've seen. But ARob could loft ducks that Mike Williams and Taj Smith could come down with. The Louisville and Cincy games alone probably made up for any passer rating deficiency from other games. 2009, the passing game clicked in those last 2 games against RU and especially UConn.

I would hope that 2012 also greatly exceeds 2010 and 2011 in passer rating. If not the rating, then it at least has a noticeable impact in yards per game. (And if we cut down on our backbreaking mistakes, a positive impact on points as well). I don't know the entire passer rating formula, but I recall it places a premium on yards per attempt. If you have an offense with a high completion % on short passes (and you don't have guys who can turn those short passes into anything), I don't think you'll be high up on passer rating. 3 yard passes to Provo never helped. Probably means you won't score as much either, if you have to go 15 plays each drive. Something is bound to go wrong, especially for us.