Usually I am not known here for being the negative Nancy, I actually defended Manny, Lashlee and King for quite some time, but I´ve had it. I will split this up in certain areas and go from there.
1. We got very lucky.
There are several reasons as to why I make that statement:
- Chase Brice was their QB.
- Their head coach refused to let Peoples run the ball for some very odd reason that I have not figured out.
- They didnt stick to what they do well and executed horribly in key situations (again, because of Brice)
If App State turns up with a somewhat decent QB who does not misfire everything high, they win this game easily. Brice made some throws that made me question why no one else can play QB for them.
2. We still got outcoached.
Even with App State making mistakes, especially regarding their offensive personnel, they were much more prepared and played far better fundamentally sound football for four quarters. Based on the personnel they have and the talent they have, especially athletically, this should not have been a matchup highly favored for them. We have more speed, we are bigger and we had more talent at many positions. However, this coaching staff remains confident in a defensive scheme that is just utterly **** and there is an obvious disconnect between Lashlee and King at this point. But I will get into that one later.
App State went out in their 3-3-5, usually had three down lineman with one attacking the center, and let the linebackers fly around and make plays. They looked prepared and knew what the **** was up on every play. We didnt. We still do not know how to consistenly run the ball against Tite, we still run the same old Inside Zone play and it mind blows my mind how we still cannot run even a **** counter. A ******* counter is all I am asking for, try to get your speed on the perimeter... nope. No chance. You let an undersized D-Line dominate you with fundamentals on the inside and you run slow developing option plays with a QB who simply cannot execute it.
3. Kings spot might be in danger sooner than we think.
Which automatically leads me to this point. There is an obvious disconnect between King and Lashlee and the probable reason is that King cannot execute anything that Lashlee asks of him once an option play comes into it. The most dominant offensive strategy in college football is the RPO due to offensive lineman being allowed to whatever they want to do. Miami cant run it, because the QB either cant read the keys or reads it incorrectly. The amount of times where King hands off instead of tucking it and running freely and vice versa is so high, I have to question whether TVD cant execute it either. Its not his type of offense; the most success King had as a QB was when he played in Houston and had the keys to a Run and Shoot offense led by Kendall Briles. When Deriq King transferred away from Houston, it was due to poor offensive performances under Dana Holgorson, who is an Air Raid disciple. Lashlee ran a lot of Air Raid at SMU and we all saw how the offense throwing wise can be executed against Oklahoma State last season. Looking back at it, I was baffled to see how well Perry played while having 6 and 8 as his outside receivers against a good defensive unit.
There was one play at the end of the game, Deriq King took the snap and faced a three man rush. Not even a heavy one, App State just played coverage basically. King went through his reads while having no pressure and after three seconds suddenly decided to scramble right and hit Rambo on a two yard completion. I can guarantee to all of you, neither TVD or Garcia do that. They sit back and wait for someone to run free.
I get that there is a lot of criticism regarding Lashlee and I am the first one to agree with it. He currently playcalls a scared game because he is not trusting his QB. However, he is also not tailoring his offense to the personnel available and is not helping them out, whether thats run or pass. The analyst from the broadcast actually put it very well, they need to get KIng into a rhythm with simple throws. That didnt happen all game.
4. The fundamentals from this football team are the worst that I have seen from a football team.
With all due respect, everything this team teaches about fundamentals should be torn apart and lit on fire. Or, as Kevin Garnett once said to Craig Sager: "I dont care where you got this suit from. You take this and you burn it. So when you get done with this you should be buttass-naked." This team needs to be coached up from the ground up. Leverage, hand placement, leg drive, everything. Nobody makes an effort to ensure that the guy in better position can make a play. Everyone is fighting for themselves. I have never seen that. There is no set up, no disguise, nothing. Tackling is insanely bad, App State tackled miles better compared to what we do. The missed tackles App State had could be counted on one hand. Their defense is set up for the D-Line to do the dirty work and hold gaps, while linebackers and box safeties fly around and make plays.
And if we are at it with fundamentals: Penalties. Holy ****, this team does not learn. You got a TD on a big 4th down and it gets called back for an illegal formation. Thats ******* junior league. At least nobody got hit with a targeting, although Bolden almost took Tyrique out.
5. Manny Diaz is over his head. He wont make it.
When Manny made the defense his job in the offseason, I actually had somewhat high hopes. They have been squashed within two games. The scheme is the exact same as we always run, we substitute way too much, we are overreliant on sending the house because we do not have a coverage scheme that is, you know, good and even if we send the house, the QB throws in the flat or on a quick slant and its butt naked. Running a 4-2-5 these days is already not that smart, considering more and more top teams make the switch to stack defenses, three man fronts, whilst putting more and more speed on the field. We have been figured out years ago and still have not made any changes whatsoever. Players are frustrated and it really showed yesterday. Manny needs to throw his whole thing away and he needs to come up with something special against Michigan State, or his season will start 1-2 already. Football changes every season, yet we cannot come up with new things or adjust at all.
That wont change the future outlook to me already. The board apparently, as discussed here a few days ago, wants a coach who ensures that the football program makes profit, gets ranked and wins nine games on average. We are far, far, FAR away from that happening. It would be a revelation at this point if we started to play football like the assignment that its supposed to be. We play Gurvan Hall on Slot WRs and let him get burned because he cant do it, the D-Line is just doing whatever the **** they want, leaving the linebackers out for dry and they cant do anything in this defense, because they are literally left alone, only for the safeties to come downhill and try to clean the mess up. Every play-action pass includes a busted coverage, they had three TD worthy plays within like 10 minutes of game time, where PA happened, and receivers were buttnaked. CB dont play press at the line of scrimmage, receivers have free releases and no delays in their route. And I dont even want to talk about the zone defense this team plays... its awful. Guys are just standing in spots, not knowing where to go.
I dont have any hopes in Manny anymore. The danger of this season becoming a massive failure is as big as it has been. And if that happens, you can basically can it, because I have no faith in the board making two new hires (HC and AD). They rather sit it out to protect their precious money.
I will finish this thread with an observation: Camera pointed to Miamis sidelines more than once and I saw the same issue that I saw against Alabama: Nobody is getting coached up during the game. Thats a first in football for me and we should immediately stop with that. Its pathetic.
