- Joined
- Oct 21, 2011
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- 16,202
Have a number of messages asking for my thoughts. Straight up, they're not special in any way. I haven't re-watched the game or charted the plays yet. I'm going off bigger picture stuff. Everyone saw what was obvious. Beyond that, it has mostly ALL been discussed. That's the really unfortunate part: none of this is new. It's just confirmation of past concerns.
Let's begin with 4 simple points:
1. TECHNICAL: The biggest concern has been discussed over the course of the last 3 seasons. Are we ever going to be technical enough?
The broader point is more important to me and probably more important to things going forward: it's my opinion that to win championships (our presumed goal), you need to be one step ahead of the competition these days analytically and from a prep/anticipation standpoint. Some of these decisions require extremely quick analysis. It's not clear to me that we have this type of person on staff. What do others think? If we do, some of our in-game decisions (especially when we're on the opponent's side of the field in no-man's land) have been curious during Golden's tenure. I think this absolutely will matter if we get a bunch of talent and end up in a 2-game series to win the Championship.
This was written 11/11/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58889-A-look-at-Coach-Golden-s-8-pillars-Football-Scenario/page4
My concern continues to grow because the game is becoming so fast and so much about information that, yes, talent will always help, but we don't seem to have enough (any?) technical guys driving these key elements of an evolving game. I'm not saying or expecting to be at the cusp of innovation (though it'd be nice to see). I'm saying I'd like to see us move away from the conservative end. Maybe they did that because of an undeniable lack of talent at spots. I don't know. Maybe that's just their DNA.
This was written 05/10/14 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/75419-Jimbo-Fisher-on-NFL-Network-What-does-it-mean-for-us
2. VALUES: I've continuously harped on what we "value." Why? Because it's a real emphasis on our players' time/resources. I know this because it was mentioned to me by players directly. The vaunted binder. They're texted with quotes about process. The abstract pillars (values). That's the reality of our program. It can work, but there has to be substance (winning) behind it. We've broken up those pillars in the past and self-examined:
They have an attitude (as it was noted in context to the "attitude pillar"). It's just to "stay in the bunker; good things will happen" approach. I think that's reflected in almost everything we do. My biggest concern is that Coach Golden's coaching tree has a very rigid approach and methodology. That's always been a concern for me.
This was written 11/11/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58889-A-look-at-Coach-Golden-s-8-pillars-Football-Scenario/page4
(the above link is actually a spectacular thread I hope gets revived and continued throughout Golden's tenure)
3. COACHING METRICS: How do we try to measure our coaches? Why do I feel this is an ongoing problem?
I think there's a way to objectively measure coaches: do they or do they not get the "whole to equal more than the sum of its parts?"
This was written 11/12/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58889-A-look-at-Coach-Golden-s-8-pillars-Football-Scenario/page4
Unfortunately, that's not really the metric that will make the biggest difference for us. I think everyone can agree the defense will look better with better players in it. The key is "will they play above or beneath their collective talent level?" That's the heart of the matter. My personal opinion is certain things need to be adjusted for that to occur. Others disagree. We'll see what the coaching staff decides. As I said during the year, I don't doubt they are aware of their options.
This was written 03/03/14 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/74426-Barry-Jackson-on-D-Onofrio/page4
4. ADJUSTMENTS: Do I really think any of this will change? Do I think Golden is *likely* here for a longer haul unless something "disastrous" (as perceived by administration) happens? Will he adjust his philosophy?
The problem is that I think we're sticking with Coach Golden for the long haul. What he wants to do with this philosophy is another question. I've maintained throughout that I don't think this is some random "scheme" issue or a broken scheme in the sense that they're not aware of the decision they're making. On the contrary, the style with which we play defense and our overall approach are conscious decisions.
The philosophy right now seems to be "we'll make less mistakes and await mistakes from our opponents."
This was written on 11/03/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58314-My-rant/page4
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Let's sum this up by saying that we're going to be repeating ourselves a lot until the next "big" game. Up to this point, I've seen nothing to indicate a significant change in our approach. We may win some games here or there, but my concern has always been: "are we preparing ourselves to play above our individual talent level" when we get into those big games. Up to this point, I believe we have our players and their units look worse than what they really are.
As a friend text'd me before yesterday's game: hope is a dangerous thing.
Let's begin with 4 simple points:
1. TECHNICAL: The biggest concern has been discussed over the course of the last 3 seasons. Are we ever going to be technical enough?
The broader point is more important to me and probably more important to things going forward: it's my opinion that to win championships (our presumed goal), you need to be one step ahead of the competition these days analytically and from a prep/anticipation standpoint. Some of these decisions require extremely quick analysis. It's not clear to me that we have this type of person on staff. What do others think? If we do, some of our in-game decisions (especially when we're on the opponent's side of the field in no-man's land) have been curious during Golden's tenure. I think this absolutely will matter if we get a bunch of talent and end up in a 2-game series to win the Championship.
This was written 11/11/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58889-A-look-at-Coach-Golden-s-8-pillars-Football-Scenario/page4
My concern continues to grow because the game is becoming so fast and so much about information that, yes, talent will always help, but we don't seem to have enough (any?) technical guys driving these key elements of an evolving game. I'm not saying or expecting to be at the cusp of innovation (though it'd be nice to see). I'm saying I'd like to see us move away from the conservative end. Maybe they did that because of an undeniable lack of talent at spots. I don't know. Maybe that's just their DNA.
This was written 05/10/14 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/75419-Jimbo-Fisher-on-NFL-Network-What-does-it-mean-for-us
2. VALUES: I've continuously harped on what we "value." Why? Because it's a real emphasis on our players' time/resources. I know this because it was mentioned to me by players directly. The vaunted binder. They're texted with quotes about process. The abstract pillars (values). That's the reality of our program. It can work, but there has to be substance (winning) behind it. We've broken up those pillars in the past and self-examined:
They have an attitude (as it was noted in context to the "attitude pillar"). It's just to "stay in the bunker; good things will happen" approach. I think that's reflected in almost everything we do. My biggest concern is that Coach Golden's coaching tree has a very rigid approach and methodology. That's always been a concern for me.
This was written 11/11/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58889-A-look-at-Coach-Golden-s-8-pillars-Football-Scenario/page4
(the above link is actually a spectacular thread I hope gets revived and continued throughout Golden's tenure)
3. COACHING METRICS: How do we try to measure our coaches? Why do I feel this is an ongoing problem?
I think there's a way to objectively measure coaches: do they or do they not get the "whole to equal more than the sum of its parts?"
This was written 11/12/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58889-A-look-at-Coach-Golden-s-8-pillars-Football-Scenario/page4
Unfortunately, that's not really the metric that will make the biggest difference for us. I think everyone can agree the defense will look better with better players in it. The key is "will they play above or beneath their collective talent level?" That's the heart of the matter. My personal opinion is certain things need to be adjusted for that to occur. Others disagree. We'll see what the coaching staff decides. As I said during the year, I don't doubt they are aware of their options.
This was written 03/03/14 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/74426-Barry-Jackson-on-D-Onofrio/page4
4. ADJUSTMENTS: Do I really think any of this will change? Do I think Golden is *likely* here for a longer haul unless something "disastrous" (as perceived by administration) happens? Will he adjust his philosophy?
The problem is that I think we're sticking with Coach Golden for the long haul. What he wants to do with this philosophy is another question. I've maintained throughout that I don't think this is some random "scheme" issue or a broken scheme in the sense that they're not aware of the decision they're making. On the contrary, the style with which we play defense and our overall approach are conscious decisions.
The philosophy right now seems to be "we'll make less mistakes and await mistakes from our opponents."
This was written on 11/03/13 here: http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/58314-My-rant/page4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's sum this up by saying that we're going to be repeating ourselves a lot until the next "big" game. Up to this point, I've seen nothing to indicate a significant change in our approach. We may win some games here or there, but my concern has always been: "are we preparing ourselves to play above our individual talent level" when we get into those big games. Up to this point, I believe we have our players and their units look worse than what they really are.
As a friend text'd me before yesterday's game: hope is a dangerous thing.
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