I think the only way two ways avoid the eventual death spiral for our failing HC....

filmcane

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As I see it there are two ways for Mario to save himself and Cane Nation without the eventual death spiral that we have seen far too often and it has nothing to do with the CFP (which we are probably out of, now).

1. The most likely indicator that he can still bring us to the promised land is to win out all the rest of our games including whatever mid-tier bowl game we get into is to end 11-2. This would still show real progress and like it is often said - winning covers a multitude of sins.

2. We win at least 10 total games and next year either through the portal or Coleman, Mario strikes oil and he has a difference maker at QB who has wheels and can pick up first downs with his legs when needed.

Outside of those two scenarios, I just don't think it's realistic that the school and donors are willing to spend this level of resources and just accept mediocrity and underperformance year after year. When you start spending real money like we are doing now, you're not going to be overly patient. I do think that is the difference from past years and next year is year 5, not 2 or 3.

I think Mario would have to go 7-5 or 8-4 and then lose the bowl game for him to be in any real danger for next year, but I don't think you'll see any extensions until he wins, or at least plays in, an ACC title game.

As I had said from the beginning, Lane was my #1 choice to replace Manny, but I was cautiously optimistic that Mario could eventually get it done. My hope is that Mario keeps learning, changing and evolving... my expectation is that he probably won't and we'll be looking for a new coach, a year from now, but I want to be wrong.
 
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arnold schwarzenegger no chance GIF
 
He has to transition his philosophy on coaching. Which means he has to change his dna and therefore his nucleus.
This is spot on. This is like dealing with an addict. He has to want to change, because nothing anyone says is gonna make him do it. The greatest of men gave admitted failure at some point, learned from it, and gotten better because of it.
 
As I had said from the beginning, Lane was my #1 choice to replace Manny, but I was cautiously optimistic that Mario could eventually get it done. My hope is that Mario keeps learning, changing and evolving... my expectation is that he probably won't and we'll be looking for a new coach, a year from now, but I want to be wrong.
Lol at Mario " learning, changing, and evolving."
 
Mario has always identified the weakness of the team and made changes. The question will be if Dawson leaves where does he go? Either way I expect another expensive Portal Qb as well as an expensive portal class.
 
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This is spot on. This is like dealing with an addict. He has to want to change, because nothing anyone says is gonna make him do it. The greatest of men gave admitted failure at some point, learned from it, and gotten better because of it.
The reformed addict is still technically an addict, but doesn't do crazy self destructive **** like steal from their family, get arrested, get high as a kite, etc. While their reformation is always laudable, they also aren't the HC of a P4 progrum looking to win another NC.

I think this is where the hope that Mario "becomes a handsoff CEO" with "little to no input on the gameplan or during the game" falls flat. It's just a cute thing we have come up with as the only fathomable solution to the fact that he's not going anywhere soon and we want to hold out hope. He's the head coach; he's going to make decisions and do head coach things that other head coaches make and do. Don't think it's realistic to expect otherwise.

Even when Saban had his come to Jesus moment WRT offense, he still was the straw that stirred Bama's drink defensively. Think Mario will always have an offensive philosophy here. Question is whether he can become flexible enough to adjust it when personnel and performance dictate he do so (like this year, preferably before we lost 2 games we shouldn't have)? I don't know what the future holds, but the evidence we have doesn't suggest it's likely. But we are letting it rip now, so who knows what can happen?

Can his offensive philosophy succeed when he has a generational QB (and at a minimum average defense)? Yes, I think so. Is it likely he often has a generational QB? Probably not, though it's kind of funny he has somehow coached 3 current starting NFL QBs (Herbert, Ward, and Shough) in less than 10 years.
 
2. We win at least 10 total games and next year either through the portal or Coleman, Mario strikes oil and he has a difference maker at QB who has wheels and can pick up first downs with his legs when needed.

The more I think about the QB position seeing Ward and Beck, the greatest strength of this o-line has been pass protection. It's been incredibly consistent. Ward used his time in the pocket to his advantage. The more time Beck has the worse he is. That's the disconnect in offenses year over year. They need to go out and get a QB that is more comfortable with time in the pocket AND can run well. Not a 500 yard rusher but someone that can be used as a weapon and can find yards when the play has gone on for 5 or 6 seconds and everyone is scrambled all over the field.

That's the type of QB that plays to the strength of Mario's offensive line.
 
I think Mario would have to go 7-5 or 8-4 and then lose the bowl game for him to be in any real danger for next year, but I don't think you'll see any extensions until he wins, or at least plays in, an ACC title game.
We aren't even halfway thru the 10y deal. I don't anyone, including Mario, is thinking about an extension
 
He has built it like a Ferrari with the athletes, but it drives like a Yugo with him behind the wheel. Simple as that.
 
As I see it there are two ways for Mario to save himself and Cane Nation without the eventual death spiral that we have see far too often and it has nothing to do with the CFP (which we are probably out of, now).

1. The most likely indicator that he can still bring us to the promised land is to win out all the rest of our games including whatever mid-tier bowl game we get into is to end 11-2. This would still show real progress and like it is often said - winning covers a multitude of sins.

2. We win at least 10 total games and next year either through the portal or Coleman, Mario strikes oil and he has a difference maker at QB who has wheels and can pick up first downs with his legs when needed.

Outside of those two scenarios, I just don't think it's realistic that the school and donors are willing to spend this level of resources and just accept mediocrity and underperformance year after year. When you start spending real money like we are doing now, you're not going to be overly patient. I do think that is the difference from past years and next year is year 5, not 2 or 3.

I think Mario would have to go 7-5 or 8-4 and then lose the bowl game for him to be in any real danger for next year, but I don't think you'll see any extensions until he wins, or at least plays in, an ACC title game.

As I had said from the beginning, Lane was my #1 choice to replace Manny, but I was cautiously optimistic that Mario could eventually get it done. My hope is that Mario keeps learning, changing and evolving... my expectation is that he probably won't and we'll be looking for a new coach, a year from now, but I want to be wrong.
this pretty much mirrors me. I wanted Lane, but was fine with Mario. I do think Mario has brought the program to a higher level, but not nearly where it should be considering the resources being put in.
 
As I see it there are two ways for Mario to save himself and Cane Nation without the eventual death spiral that we have see far too often and it has nothing to do with the CFP (which we are probably out of, now).

1. The most likely indicator that he can still bring us to the promised land is to win out all the rest of our games including whatever mid-tier bowl game we get into is to end 11-2. This would still show real progress and like it is often said - winning covers a multitude of sins.

2. We win at least 10 total games and next year either through the portal or Coleman, Mario strikes oil and he has a difference maker at QB who has wheels and can pick up first downs with his legs when needed.

Outside of those two scenarios, I just don't think it's realistic that the school and donors are willing to spend this level of resources and just accept mediocrity and underperformance year after year. When you start spending real money like we are doing now, you're not going to be overly patient. I do think that is the difference from past years and next year is year 5, not 2 or 3.

I think Mario would have to go 7-5 or 8-4 and then lose the bowl game for him to be in any real danger for next year, but I don't think you'll see any extensions until he wins, or at least plays in, an ACC title game.

As I had said from the beginning, Lane was my #1 choice to replace Manny, but I was cautiously optimistic that Mario could eventually get it done. My hope is that Mario keeps learning, changing and evolving... my expectation is that he probably won't and we'll be looking for a new coach, a year from now, but I want to be wrong.
"My hope is that Mario keeps learning, changing and evolving... "

Unfortunately not much evidence to suggest that's happening.
Even when you think there is a sign his ego always brings him back to the staring point
 
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Honestly think it’s more likely that he reverts back to a Gattis Michigan type “multiple offense”. He’ll convince himself a true spread offense can’t run the ball when it’s needed (not true of course). He’ll convince himself that TVD threw for over 800 yards in two games in 2022 and they ran the ball with less talent.

If he hasn’t figured out that with the current rules of CFB a mobile QB who can throw the ball is worth 2x as much as the best drop back passer playing in a spread offense. Why do we think he’s gonna change his philosophy? Why do we think there’s gonna be some epiphany and all of a sudden the offense is gonna be going 4 wide and playing with tempo?
 
I’m with you and was on the Lane train as well but accepted this dumb meathead and gave him a chance
Having said that
I can’t see 4-0 coming
I think we sleepwalk to a win over the Frans
But NCSU and then two roadies!
Who can say with a straight face that they think Miami can go to Pitt Nov 29
And walk out w a win??????

We’ve seen it before and it has all the makings of a 27-10 beat down by Pitt just kicking our ***

Am I wrong?
 
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