Some frustrated snap reactions after taking an hour to cool down

[RF2044]

• Can't get down 17 - 0 against a good opponent.

• Very difficult to match pace when you repeatedly shoot yourself in the foot with turnovers, penalties, etc.

• The most positive things I saw were on offense. Willis is a beast, Cook will be a problem for opponents, JRS played well against NFL prospects, and Russell flashed. Villari showed he could catch, and Nixon looked fully recovered. Lots of weapons.

• OL struggled [again, against a defense laden with blue chip players], but showed that they could run block. Need to do better pass blocking, to give Angeli more time.

• I think Steve had a pretty good outing, despite constant pressure. If the OL can iron things out, I think we can score a lot of points this year. Tough to excel when the OL is a sieve, and you are facing such a strong defense in your first start [at SU]. He showed some poise, but also made some mistakes.

Samuel got toasted. Hope that this is a learning experience, and if he's a better player by ~game 4, then taking his lumps early will be worth it.

• Carry over from last year, but I am just not convinced that ERob is the right guy for a coordinator role. I know he's Fran's friend from HS and a highly regarded recruiter, but I think we need better.

• Transfer LB looked terrific, IMO.

• Lack of pass rush is a big, big problem. For the second consecutive year. We have quality depth / talent at many positional units, and the talent overall across the roster has been upgraded by Fran and the staff, but not at DE. It is a problem.

• Sure would have been nice to have a tune-up game. Take note, athletic department.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't believe in the defense, at all, and hated seeing them as our first unit out on the field. This system just is not going to set the right tone. I can buy that we have some talent limitations, but the choices matter too.

If we do have to overcome talent, we need some creativity from Robinson to compensate. I don't think he's that guy.

 

[RF2044]

I don't believe in the defense, at all, and hated seeing them as our first unit out on the field. This system just is not going to set the right tone. I can buy that we have some talent limitations, but the choices matter too.

If we do have to overcome talent, we need some creativity from Robinson to compensate. I don't think he's that guy.

Neither do I. I think he's a guy some teams can "bury" on a staff, because he's a good recruiter. As a DL coach [for example], maybe he'd be fine.

But I think we are strategically overmatched with him as a DC.

I also feel like we have many of the ingredients to be a successful defense [I'm not saying the best in CFB, but decent enough] EXCEPT for defensive end.

Huge issue.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

I don't believe in the defense, at all, and hated seeing them as our first unit out on the field.

 

[qdawgg]

On D…… is it a talent issue or a scheme and play calling issue…… I know we don’t have the talent we’d like but is that the main culprit? You saw what Tenn D does with stunts, blitzes, delayed blitzes. You don’t need huge talent to make things happen (Tenn does have talent). You do need play calling that has a plan and knows when to call certain plays at certain times. Good play callers make things look easy. The players typically get the credit. But look at every pressure and sack. A lot of creativity in how Tenn D attacked our line. Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t see that in our playcalling.

 

[orange_in_VA]

On D…… is it a talent issue or a scheme and play calling issue…… I know we don’t have the talent we’d like but is that the main culprit? You saw what Tenn D does with stunts, blitzes, delayed blitzes. You don’t need huge talent to make things happen. You do need play calling that has a plan and knows when to call certain plays at certain times. Good play callers make things look easy. The players typically get the credit. But look at every pressure and sack. A lot of creativity in how Tenn D attacked our line. Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t see that in our playcalling.

You nailed it. The scheme is non existent.

 

[RF2044]

On D…… is it a talent issue or a scheme and play calling issue…… I know we don’t have the talent we’d like but is that the main culprit? You saw what Tenn D does with stunts, blitzes, delayed blitzes. You don’t need huge talent to make things happen. You do need play calling that has a plan and knows when to call certain plays at certain times. Good play callers make things look easy. The players typically get the credit. But look at every pressure and sack. A lot of creativity in how Tenn D attacked our line. Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t see that in our playcalling.

Of course it is the coaching. We have the talent, except at DE. Which is a big, glaring gap -- admittedly. But everywhere else, we have the horses.

I think that ERob might have had things easier at aTm, where they recruit nothing but blue chip guys. So you're bound to have quality d-linemen at a factory like that. Here, where coaching matters, and we have to build up quality depth, you get exposed if you can't coach.

Well... he struggled as a DC last year, and didn't inspire today. He seems like the weak link on an otherwise good staff. Just IMO.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Of course it is the coaching. We have the talent, except at DE. Which is a big, glaring gap -- admittedly. But everywhere else, we have the horses.

I think that ERob might have had things easier at aTm, where they recruit nothing but blue chip guys. So you're bound to have quality d-linemen at a factory like that. Here, where coaching matters, and we have to build up quality depth, you get exposed if you can't coach.

Well... he struggled as a DC last year, and didn't inspire today. He seems like the weak link on an otherwise good staff. Just IMO.

Agreed, The problem is the defense stunk at A&M, who were EROB’s mentors where he learned a decent scheme? Not sure you will find one.

He Had plenty of talent last year to have a better defense. He’s just over his head

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Of course it is the coaching. We have the talent, except at DE. Which is a big, glaring gap -- admittedly. But everywhere else, we have the horses.

I think that ERob might have had things easier at aTm, where they recruit nothing but blue chip guys. So you're bound to have quality d-linemen at a factory like that. Here, where coaching matters, and we have to build up quality depth, you get exposed if you can't coach.

Well... he struggled as a DC last year, and didn't inspire today. He seems like the weak link on an otherwise good staff. Just IMO.

It all just looks so passive. We don't seem to try and take anything away. And we're fairly predictable.

The dichotomy in third down confidence between the coordinators is incredible. I feel at ease with whatever Nixon calls on 3rd down on offense, regardless of distance. But with ERob, 3rd and long is terrifying and the terror is too often rewarded because he's content to let the opponent run the play they want.

Maddening.

 

[djorange1989]

Agree about EROB, he isn’t a quality DC. We are not good up front, but we shouldn’t be this bad, not just today but going back to last year. It’s a problem. I like our offense, Angeli is solid, but he needs time from the OL to breathe let alone throw. I do not want to see what we saw against U Conn last year come next weekend, hammer them, they lost their entire defense.

 

[PAcuse]

Defense had some chances to stop them earlier
3rd and 10, qb has all day for a steak and pie...21 yard pass
3rd and 10, gb has tea and a good sit...18 yard pass
Jumping offsides on 2nd and 9
5 plays over 20 yards for TN and about 8ish over 15 yards

Nice job with the turnover but the O didn't help on that one

I really think the TN offensive scheme gave us fits BUT our lack of a real defense scheme is very odd and I'm confused as it almost seems like EROB mailed in a lot of calls, needs to be much much much better

 

[Bulldog04]

It’s almost like E Rob is hoping “playmakers make plays” and that’s the system. Well it aint working

 

[Sdot]

It’s almost like E Rob is hoping “playmakers make plays” and that’s the system. Well it aint working

I couldn’t even really tell you a consistent playmaker either where you know 8-9/10 times you know there gonna make the play. Last year we had wax,Barron and diggs and still had a bad defense.

 

[atlanticuse]

Maybe we can swap out EROB for Autry to see if they know how to do defense in another sport

 

[Archimedes]

It’s almost like E Rob is hoping “playmakers make plays” and that’s the system. Well it aint working

I went back to see how E-Rob described his defensive philosophy when he joined Cuse and it's basically what you just said.

“We’re gonna make sure that it’s simple where they can play fast, be in a four-down front and get out there and do multiple things. We want to be an aggressive unit. We don’t want to sit back and fish. We want to hunt.”

I love the guy but I suppose there's a big difference between being a position coach and calling defensive schemes.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I went back to see how E-Rob described his defensive philosophy when he joined Cuse and it's basically what you just said.

“We’re gonna make sure that it’s simple where they can play fast, be in a four-down front and get out there and do multiple things. We want to be an aggressive unit. We don’t want to sit back and fish. We want to hunt.”

I love the guy but I suppose there's a big difference between being a position coach and calling defensive schemes.

Good pull.

We absolutely look like we sit back and fish.

 

[anomander]

I couldn’t even really tell you a consistent playmaker either where you know 8-9/10 times you know there gonna make the play. Last year we had wax,Barron and diggs and still had a bad defense.

That's where i'm at. Nobody flashes. I think Samuels will be good. He has the elite speed to eventually play at a high level. It was a nice surprise to see Antoine start at LB, but it looked a little too big for him right now. He's another who should eventually be good. Then again we don't have anyone at LB. McDonald has regressed significantly. No surprise he isn't starting as an upperclassman. David O flashed at times last year, but seems stuck behind the Cal transfer who basically got a solid cardio session in today. I think we did a good job filling the interior DL with guys with big size, but I don't think they're really that good. No need to harp on the one we lost, but he would have been a major help this year. The most surprising issue was the atrocious tackling. Fran likes to bang in practice, but what are they doing? Even the times when they're in position to make plays there is a poor attempt at a tackle.

 

[dasher]

I am not going to get in the Erod thing but I think our players just aren't good enough. Last year, we had one guy placed on the All Acc teams and he was 3rd team. And I think we lost our best players off that defense. Guys don't tackle. It is one of the reasons that I said floor of 4 and ceiling of 7. It might actually be worse than that.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

We have a decent team - defensively, as a unit, we are weak - the team didn’t give up - I remember when we had good teams and could lose 38-7 to Miami - that didn’t happen - if we get better which we probably we should we can still have a good season - just can’t take any conference losses other than Miami or SMU

 

[HRE Otto IV]

That's where i'm at. Nobody flashes. I think Samuels will be good. He has the elite speed to eventually play at a high level. It was a nice surprise to see Antoine start at LB, but it looked a little too big for him right now. He's another who should eventually be good. Then again we don't have anyone at LB. McDonald has regressed significantly. No surprise he isn't starting as an upperclassman. David O flashed at times last year, but seems stuck behind the Cal transfer who basically got a solid cardio session in today. I think we did a good job filling the interior DL with guys with big size, but I don't think they're really that good. No need to harp on the one we lost, but he would have been a major help this year. The most surprising issue was the atrocious tackling. Fran likes to bang in practice, but what are they doing? Even the times when they're in position to make plays there is a poor attempt at a tackle.

Tackling needs to be cleaned up. Should have been taken care off thsi offseason after last year.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

Tackling needs to be cleaned up. Should have been taken care off thsi offseason after last year.

There is no way to clean up tackling - that’s a myth - bigger, stronger and faster is what tackles better - we are weak defensively

 

[The Ack]

I am not going to get in the Erod thing but I think our players just aren't good enough. Last year, we had one guy placed on the All Acc teams and he was 3rd team. And I think we lost our best players off that defense. Guys don't tackle. It is one of the reasons that I said floor of 4 and ceiling of 7. It might actually be worse than that.

Fair take. I think your last two sentences are spot on and ultimately will define this staff. Fran has said the standard rises daily and if he means that he may have some tough decisions to make because 4 wins vs 7 wins is a damn big difference. Heavy lies the crown as Frank Costello would say..

 

[TheHaze315]

There is no way to clean up tackling - that’s a myth - bigger, stronger and faster is what tackles better - we are weak defensively

Not really true. Arm tackling and trying to swipe at the ball (both things we’ve seen this defense do consistently under Erob) has nothing to do with being bigger, faster, or stronger. These kids need to be taught how to wrap up. Which you learn in peewee but clearly Erob isn’t familiar.

 

[qdawgg]

There is no way to clean up tackling - that’s a myth - bigger, stronger and faster is what tackles better - we are weak defensively

Knowing your position and being in the right spot a split second sooner, not having to think about what to do or where you should be. Those are all things that improve tackling that people don’t consider. Those things can be improved if there’s time spent improving them.

 

[JeffCuse]

Lets schedule Alabama, Ohio State, and Florida next year.

Absolute stupidity.

Im angry that after last year, this was what these kids had to open with. The program wasnt ready for this. And with transfer dynamics being what they are i dont know that we will ever be in a position to win a defacto road SEC game in week 1.