You know what's WRONG?

UMFarArcher

All-ACC
Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
18,503
It's as plain as the sun at noon.

From Morris to the DL's, we're not playing. Think for a moment.

Our coaches have them so restrained, so pre-programmed, wound up so tight with all the thinking they demand, they can't play.

I noted in pre-game, they're still packing in the coaching, 'don't forget this, don't forget that, remember your ####, and watch for the %%%%%. I hate Lou Holtz, but when he was at Arkansas, he had a habit of loosening up the players to encourage them to PLAY the game. Coaching is done. Reminders are done come game time.

Stephen Morris is doing so much thinking, he's not playing. Jameis Winston is a redshirt freshman, he's loose, and instead of THINKING, Jameis is PLAYING.

The Defensive Scheme is beyond pitiful. Too much demanded, too much thinking by everyone on defense. "See this, go here. See that, go there." Everyone's thinking, and the thinking has everyone hesitating, and NO ONE IS PLAYING FOOTBALL, NO ONE IS USING THEIR TALENTS AND SKILLS!

We had a new West Point lieutenant who had studied tactics and thought he was a Hannibal Barca. We locked up with a larger force one day, and because they had the numbers, they were trying to work around and flank us from the right. This dumbass ordered a squad to 'recon by fire,' or shoot and see if you can get anyone to shoot back' in order to determine their progress in turning our flank.

Now no one could see thirty meters in a straight line, as terrain was thick. I yelled, 'forget that siht! Use your ears, stick with 'em, and just keep them from getting around us.' It was then left up to them. And they slaughtered the flanking force.

You gotta coach, but your scheme MUST allow them the flexibility to PLAY, and not THINK.

Bear Bryant was playing a team and they were getting slaughtered the first half. He said on the way off the field at half time, he was completely out of ideas, as none of his other ones had worked yet.

He walked in and told his players, words to the effect, "Sorry boys, I let this one get out from under us. So rather than fret, I just want you to just go back out there the second half, and have fun."

They won that game.

Our players are bound up too tight. You can see it on the sidelines, you can see it on the field. Look at FSU. Loose, comfortable, using their talents and skills, and free to do so. They're having fun.

We've yet to have fun. Not one game this entire year.

Watch it again.

Too much thinking, too much hesitation, and not enough playing football.
 
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I guess nick Saban doesn't ask his players to read their keys and know their assignments either. It's just blind luck that on almost ever play 11 guys are doing exactly what he wants them to do with a singular purpose in mind.

Scheme is bad but you remember what Morris "just playing" looks like? 4ints vs UNC was Morris "just playing" and slinging the rock around.
 
Still, I think Farchie is on to something. They are being required to do too much thinking on Defense.
 
Good post. Im suspecting Golden is a bookish intellectual type educator....theories and all that.

It might be a serious culture clash; playing against the strengths of these South Florida inner city types who are more repiles than mammals.

Got let these lizards attacking and not thinking so much.
 
D'onofrio is the #1 Problem..... if we had a better DC, the entire team would be better.
 
I guess nick Saban doesn't ask his players to read their keys and know their assignments either. It's just blind luck that on almost ever play 11 guys are doing exactly what he wants them to do with a singular purpose in mind.

Scheme is bad but you remember what Morris "just playing" looks like? 4ints vs UNC was Morris "just playing" and slinging the rock around.

Of course you have assignments, and of course you have keys. Let's not oversimplify the game.

But when you teach keys, when you teach one his responsibility, but NOT load up on a bunch of BS crap that just makes things so complicated, they can PLAY.

Ever throw a single pork chop among a pack of porch dogs? It's fun to watch, because the dogs do the dogs thing. Some behaviors come natural.

Now if you beat the dogs so much that when you give a command to "stay," beaten dogs will stay. They won't be able to do their natural dog thing.

Too much thinking, not enough natural, timely reaction. No one can say Schnellenberger or JJ, or Erickson didn't let the crew just do their own thing. They knew their assignments, knew what to look for, checked their keys, and were allowed to use their natural instincts and skill within that framework.

Why are our players running with their backs to the opposing quarterback, to a SPOT? Why are they backing up ten yards, when they're already ten yards off the receivers?

Because that's what they were taught. That's what they have been forced to do. And it's counter-intuitive.

*****' Bells! We have some real players out there, but they're so cowered and following the Friggin' PROCESS, they can't PLAY!

That is exactly why the same, exact, drag play worked time and again, because they're teaching the PROCESS. Keep doing what you're told, not what common sense would allow you to do, even after you got burned time and again by the same play!

One reason we defeated the very structured Japanese and the highly structured Germans in WWII, is because our opponents HAD to follow orders, even though the tactical situation required a change.

The Russians, in the 1980's complained that they could not plan against the American military, since we really didn't even follow our own battle plans.

Our players have been choked down.

Mired in BS technique, BS placements, and BS fixed-piece spots on the field.
 
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Archer, I think you just hit the nail on the head. Kudos for brilliantly articulating what I have felt for some time now.
 
Sounds good, but then how do you explain Saban's success?

The man has an eye for talent like Butch Davis and is one of the best defensive back positional coaches ever. He can teach and recruit, but has had decades to figure it out. We've got a guy who's a pup in the coaching game, by comparison. Let's not forget Saban didn't really do much at Michigan State, and his program flamed out in the NFL. The most important thing to see is that he learns from his mistakes and continues to improve. Can Golden change his stripes and show improvement? We'll find out.


edit- I should clarify at MSU, he eventually got to 10 wins, but it took him 3 years to get it going. It's not like he became a genius overnight. It takes time, even for him.
 
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There is a lot of truth to this. Way too much micro management going on. If you look at our defense, EVERY single play, our guys are standing around looking to the sidelines until almost the ball is snapped. Ive never seen a defense get set as late as ours does. In fact, there have been several plays this season where we were caught standing around while the offense snapped the ball.

Either our guys are totally confused and have no idea what to do on D, or the coaches are overthinking things too much.
 
what does spot dropping and not being able to pass your man off have anything to do with complexity?

fans love to assign blame to dumb **** like this. "the scheme is too complicated!!!!" or "theres not enough PASSION!!!!" or "the players got no MENTAL TOUGHNESS!!!!!"

please. most of the time, its the meat and the potatoes--the talent the players were born with, and the efficiency and efficacy of the teaching the coaches do.
 
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what does spot dropping and not being able to pass your man off have anything to do with complexity?

fans love to assign blame to dumb **** like this. "the scheme is too complicated!!!!" or "theres not enough PASSION!!!!" or "the players got no MENTAL TOUGHNESS!!!!!"

please. most of the time, its the meat and the potatoes--the talent the players were born with, and the efficiency and efficacy of the teaching the coaches do.

That's not true.

You're telling me that our talent on defense is in the bottom hundred?

This D'Onofrio SOB could take Alabama's defense and ruin it.
 
what does spot dropping and not being able to pass your man off have anything to do with complexity?

fans love to assign blame to dumb **** like this. "the scheme is too complicated!!!!" or "theres not enough PASSION!!!!" or "the players got no MENTAL TOUGHNESS!!!!!"

please. most of the time, its the meat and the potatoes--the talent the players were born with, and the efficiency and efficacy of the teaching the coaches do.

That's not true.

You're telling me that our talent on defense is in the bottom hundred?

This D'Onofrio SOB could take Alabama's defense and ruin it.

Yes it's pretty bad. They don't have the personnel to run what they want. Add to this the players that they have don't fit the scheme aren't even play makers. It's not like you have a Sean Spence who wouldn't fit the mold of a what the they want to run but he'd at least make some ***** plays and tackle. But instead you got guys like Highsmith diving at legs and misplaying balls. You have Jenkins bouncing off despite being a jacked 210.
Armbrister looking lost in coverage.

Golden's plan was to eventually move to a base 3-4. His 1st two years was a base 4-3 since he didn't have the personnel to make the switch.
This being his 3rd year was no the year to make the switch full time despite still not having the right personnel.
Blame him for not being able to get players to fit his scheme if you want. I'm good with that. But know that he really had a lot of roster gaps to fill. I think we can see the talent being stockpiled.
I feel a lot better with next years defensive roster than I do this year. Still have some weak areas like DT but overall we have more ballers and less dead weights.
 
what does spot dropping and not being able to pass your man off have anything to do with complexity?

fans love to assign blame to dumb **** like this. "the scheme is too complicated!!!!" or "theres not enough PASSION!!!!" or "the players got no MENTAL TOUGHNESS!!!!!"

please. most of the time, its the meat and the potatoes--the talent the players were born with, and the efficiency and efficacy of the teaching the coaches do.

That's not true.

You're telling me that our talent on defense is in the bottom hundred?

This D'Onofrio SOB could take Alabama's defense and ruin it.

Yes it's pretty bad. They don't have the personnel to run what they want. Add to this the players that they have don't fit the scheme aren't even play makers. It's not like you have a Sean Spence who wouldn't fit the mold of a what the they want to run but he'd at least make some ***** plays and tackle. But instead you got guys like Highsmith diving at legs and misplaying balls. You have Jenkins bouncing off despite being a jacked 210.
Armbrister looking lost in coverage.

Golden's plan was to eventually move to a base 3-4. His 1st two years was a base 4-3 since he didn't have the personnel to make the switch.
This being his 3rd year was no the year to make the switch full time despite still not having the right personnel.
Blame him for not being able to get players to fit his scheme if you want. I'm good with that. But know that he really had a lot of roster gaps to fill. I think we can see the talent being stockpiled.
I feel a lot better with next years defensive roster than I do this year. Still have some weak areas like DT but overall we have more ballers and less dead weights.
Keep lying to yourself about how we have such few play makers. Sure we have JAGs. But we've got some players on this team. They're just not being utilized properly. 10 Sophmores or Juniors that can make an impact or solid contribution and I'm sure I missed a player or two.. Figs isn't a true freshman thats why I included him. The list you see below is filled with talent and can do great things on the field if allowed to play loose and do what comes naturally. Are you telling me the players below cannot compete with the likes of UNC, Wake, VT?

Sophmores or Juniors
Bush Highly Rated Recruit
Gunter
Howard Highly Rated Recruit
Fig
AQM Highly Rated Recruit
Chick Highly Rated Recruit
McCord Highly Rated Recruit
Perryman
Jenkins
Kirby

Still Young
Burns Highly Rated Recruit
Carter
 
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