I don't usually post following games because I feel like the emotion of a win or loss adversely effects my opinions on things. That said, I think after 5 games, there are several obvious conclusions that we can draw.
First, the WR/CB positions are always hurt the most from a lack of talent. At other positions, players can be coached up to help disguise this lack of talent. Even at QB, you can teach the QB to play to his strengths, and disguise his lack of talent behind an effective gameplan. This can't be done as easily at the WR/CB position. In my opinion, you can't coach up the WR/CB positions with 2 star talent and expect them to compete effectively with 5 star athletes. Exceptions aside, these are the two positions where talent is needed and a lack of it can't be disguised.
*On a side note, Marrone always use to say that the guys who lined up farthest from where the ball is snapped have the best chance to see the field the quickest when they arrive as freshman. Obviously, that is because playing a position like WR/CB allows you to succeed early based on the talent that you can bring to the table.
Without question this WR group, might be the weakest since the early GROB/late PP days. Hopefully help quickly arrives with KJ, Cooper, Custis and Ishmael.
Secondly, I agree that you cannot judge a HC or his staff after five games. I will say this though. After 1, 2, 4, or 12 games of Marrone's tenure, I wasn't at all nervous like I am with Shafer. I don't know if it's because I disagree with the whole "players coach" approach or it's something else but I just don't know at this point. His game planing needs to improve. I wish he had a more stern approach with his players. I wish he and his coordinators would think outside the box a little more. The biggest mistake a coach can make when he takes over a team is developing the talent on his team around his strategy. It HAS to be the other way around. You have to develop your strategy around the talent you have on the team. Ie. shaping your gameplan more around your runningbacks and tightends. I hope Shafer can get this corrected beginning next week. That's my two cents.
First, the WR/CB positions are always hurt the most from a lack of talent. At other positions, players can be coached up to help disguise this lack of talent. Even at QB, you can teach the QB to play to his strengths, and disguise his lack of talent behind an effective gameplan. This can't be done as easily at the WR/CB position. In my opinion, you can't coach up the WR/CB positions with 2 star talent and expect them to compete effectively with 5 star athletes. Exceptions aside, these are the two positions where talent is needed and a lack of it can't be disguised.
*On a side note, Marrone always use to say that the guys who lined up farthest from where the ball is snapped have the best chance to see the field the quickest when they arrive as freshman. Obviously, that is because playing a position like WR/CB allows you to succeed early based on the talent that you can bring to the table.
Without question this WR group, might be the weakest since the early GROB/late PP days. Hopefully help quickly arrives with KJ, Cooper, Custis and Ishmael.
Secondly, I agree that you cannot judge a HC or his staff after five games. I will say this though. After 1, 2, 4, or 12 games of Marrone's tenure, I wasn't at all nervous like I am with Shafer. I don't know if it's because I disagree with the whole "players coach" approach or it's something else but I just don't know at this point. His game planing needs to improve. I wish he had a more stern approach with his players. I wish he and his coordinators would think outside the box a little more. The biggest mistake a coach can make when he takes over a team is developing the talent on his team around his strategy. It HAS to be the other way around. You have to develop your strategy around the talent you have on the team. Ie. shaping your gameplan more around your runningbacks and tightends. I hope Shafer can get this corrected beginning next week. That's my two cents.
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