The Coaches are Learning and Getting Better

[Orangeman]

As disappointed as anyone with the losing streak, but I do like the direction things are heading with the coaching and play on the field. I wouldn't have said that pretty recently, but I've seen evidence that the staff is learning...

Game mgmt definitely needs work, but it's come a long way in 18 months...like from 4/10 to 7/10. Probably about what you'd expect for a coach at the bottom of the D1 pay scale at $1.3m (I believe). Things like using challenges and TOs in the 1H and then the 2H are getting better.

On offense they needed to get the ball to Ishmael, and they clearly are...I argued they needed to set up the run with the pass, and I think we can clearly see that. This is not a team, unfortunately, than can smash the opponent off the line. OK, that's what you got, how do plan? They're using the edges, and I think doing it pretty well. I DON'T like the slow-developing rushes that we have sometimes, nor do I love some of the option plays that take a while to play out, but again, they're adopting the offense to what works, and that's a sign of improvement I think in the coaching.

On defense I think they did a nice job of adapting to the short passes...this game really turned on two plays: 1) the 2nd and 18 rush where a true freshman DT blew a TFL that led to a 21 yard gain, and 2) a fake punt that I believe was horribly illegal (5 OL downfield). Considering the youth on D they miss a lot of plays, not sure we can blame the coaches all that much.

But in terms of the program, the younger players are better than the older players. Marrone clearly took the older players and made them better, but couldn't bring in the younger players...I say we give the current coaching lineup, with some tweaks maybe, time to continue bringing in quality younger players and learning/refining how they coach them up.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think you're right that the coaches have improved.

That said, the circumstances are what they are, and they need some wins. The only way that happens I think is that they have to go against type. We've seen over and over that our defense will give up scores late. Our slow O strategy let's us play close, but it's not winning games. I think our expectation should be that we need to be up two TDs at all times. If that means we start every game thinking we're down two scores and coach accordingly, or what, the approach needs to change. The way these games are ending is too predictable. We've seen it too often.

 

[tbonezone]

the freshman can always learn and get better. not looking for that benchmark from my million dollar coaching staff.
you pull down triple digit coin i expect you to be at the top of your class. is this mickydees?

 

[orangefan13]

my perception.
Not enough intuition.
Things like Pitts fake punt today, and not kicking the field goal on 4th and one opening drive against Virginia, the bubble screen against USF being undercovered 3 on 2 the entire game.

Alot of youth, there will be mistakes and growing pains like missed tackles in the backfield and the two interceptions penalties may have cost us the game the last 2 weeks.
but overall we have been in every game this year. Announcer said it best when he said we could be tied with Pitt with one loss and won this game today and been ranked.

I chalk up the loss at USF but the virginia and Pitt games were ours to win or lose.

 

[Orangeman]

my perception. Not enough intuition. Things like Pitts fake punt today, and not kicking the field goal on 4th and one opening drive against Virginia, the bubble screen against USF being undercovered 3 on 2 the entire game. Alot of youth, there will be mistakes and growing pains like missed tackles in the backfield and the two interceptions penalties may have cost us the game the last 2 weeks. but overall we have been in every game this year. Announcer said it best when he said we could be tied with Pitt with one loss and won this game today and been ranked. I chalk up the loss at USF but the virginia and Pitt games were ours to win or lose.

Agree

 

[RF2044]

I think you're right that the coaches have improved.

That said, the circumstances are what they are, and they need some wins. The only way that happens I think is that they have to go against type. We've seen over and over that our defense will give up scores late. Our slow O strategy let's us play close, but it's not winning games. I think our expectation should be that we need to be up two TDs at all times. If that means we start every game thinking we're down two scores and coach accordingly, or what, the approach needs to change. The way these games are ending is too predictable. We've seen it too often.

Otto, what's your take on Lester's performance? I know it is semi-indirect, beacuse we judge it as a function of player execution.

 

[dollarbill44]

my perception.
Not enough intuition.
Things like Pitts fake punt today, and not kicking the field goal on 4th and one opening drive against Virginia, the bubble screen against USF being undercovered 3 on 2 the entire game.

Alot of youth, there will be mistakes and growing pains like missed tackles in the backfield and the two interceptions penalties may have cost us the game the last 2 weeks.
but overall we have been in every game this year. Announcer said it best when he said we could be tied with Pitt with one loss and won this game today and been ranked.

I chalk up the loss at USF but the virginia and Pitt games were ours to win or lose.

I really don't understand how open that punt fake was. Why do you have a return on in that situation and not"safe" or even straight up defense? You almost never get a return in those punts anyway. Stop that play and the game was ours.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Otto, what's your take on Lester's performance? I know it is semi-indirect, beacuse we judge it as a function of player execution.

I wrote this in one of the other threads - huge positives today that he called more passes, seemed to have made a bigger effort getting the ball to his best playmakers, took advantage of the matchup Ishmael had, and went for it on 4th when it made sense. That's all very encouraging.

We just play soooo slow. And we only really had four scoring chances today. It's not enough. If our talent really is legit, there has to be a way to manufacture more. I think we can accomplish that by pushing the tempo. Even if we can't, we're already losing games the way we're going. What's the difference if we lose games trying to run some track meets?

Margin for error has to get bigger.