|
Post by SportsWizard15 on Dec 5, 2020 3:48:40 GMT -6
Gibbens made the correct decision going there, and I wouldn’t mind “rowing the boat” for PJ Fleck as well if he offered me
|
|
|
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Dec 5, 2020 6:04:33 GMT -6
Mavsman, that is the kind of big program I don’t mind losing a player to. Solid academics + a good P5 football team. Nice!
|
|
|
Post by acutrackfan on Dec 5, 2020 6:30:08 GMT -6
Talked with 2 fb players today, both freshman (one is Jermiah). Some encouraging news. Jermiah told me that he is committed to ACU and is not planning on going anywhere. Hallelujah! I asked the other player about the recent grad transfers and point-blank asked if team culture played into those decisions at all. He said, "No way!" and went on to talk about how much he thought the team was unified and that the culture here was positive. No doubt things the improve on, fix, etc. but those two conversations made me think a lot more positively about the team overall going forward. This is one of the most encouraging things I have read on CatChat in a while. Good news indeed! I really think that Jermiah can be a stud in the program going forward - a 20-25 carries a game kind of guy. I am also thrilled to see that these freshmen are still gung-ho about the program. And, just think these freshmen will still be freshmen in the fall of 2021 and many of them (like Jermiah) will already have college playing time under their belt.
|
|
|
Post by Outsider on Dec 5, 2020 9:19:29 GMT -6
If keeping players is one of our negatives that needs improvement, then Jeremiah's comment is exactly what we need. I still think a big difference maker on this team is consistency in players from year to year and having them grow each other in the program. That internal continuity and level of leadership and competition is hard to beat when it comes to winning programs. If that happens, then I'll begin to back off of my negative coaching comments. Unfortunately I will always ask questions as part of my analytical makeup.
|
|
|
Post by mavsman53 on Dec 22, 2020 7:56:59 GMT -6
it appears that WR Coach Ellington will be going to Western Kentucky. Nothing official yet, but he is following several players and their coaching staff
|
|
|
Post by acutrackfan on Dec 22, 2020 8:59:05 GMT -6
Too bad -- I thought he did a good job with the WR's this year
|
|
|
Post by rc on Dec 27, 2020 13:39:02 GMT -6
Sitting around a table with a past college championship coach, another coach who played in the old SWC and later coached, and an ex-Cleveland Brown lineman, I heard an alarming statement. It was in reference to the ACU offense this past year. The comment was the opposing defense should blitz from somewhere every play. We run an offense that takes too long to make decisions and does not play to strengths. I only saw one game and it was a bad loss, but plays did seem to be in slow motion and when something broke down, our response was not very effective. I remember the first time I watched a Chris Peterson team from Boise State. The defense was always off balance due to uncertainty. Those were fun games to watch and Peterson usually won. I wonder if the Cats could create a new version of Peterson's ingenuity.
|
|
|
Post by wildcatter on Dec 27, 2020 18:41:59 GMT -6
I actually disagree to a certain extent. We don’t throw the ball downfield much. We do a lot of jet sweeps and quick throws. I do think our runs take too long to develop and would rather us just try and run straight up the gut more.
|
|
|
Post by rc on Dec 27, 2020 19:42:57 GMT -6
The blitz was not really for just passing, the coach was thinking of shooting gaps every play. The jet sweeps were just too predictable and could be disrupted with penetration. I do wish we had some of that old Boise State magic just because it was so much fun to watch. They beat some much stronger teams just by confusing them.
Our down field passing was really weak in my opinion. I think the QB should break the huddle looking downfield and from side to side. Often it looked like he was just looking down at his wrist for play calls and not really studying the defense. We ran right into defensive strength and passed into well defended zones -- at least in the Angelo State Game I watched in person.
|
|
|
Post by wildcat23 on Dec 28, 2020 15:30:34 GMT -6
The blitz was not really for just passing, the coach was thinking of shooting gaps every play. The jet sweeps were just too predictable and could be disrupted with penetration. I do wish we had some of that old Boise State magic just because it was so much fun to watch. They beat some much stronger teams just by confusing them. Our down field passing was really weak in my opinion. I think the QB should break the huddle looking downfield and from side to side. Often it looked like he was just looking down at his wrist for play calls and not really studying the defense. We ran right into defensive strength and passed into well defended zones -- at least in the Angelo State Game I watched in person. I feel our offense is not really “QB friendly” as you see HBU light up schools with less talent than we have in my opinion at least. We are stacked at wide receiver and had a threat at TE with Hohenstein yet never really used it to our advantage. We need to open up the play book more with a spread look in my opinion. I like the under center option but feel it should be more used for goal line or 3rd and 4th and short. Wether we go with Mansell or Earle I’m confident they can handle more of a load with the passing game.
|
|
|
Post by rc on Dec 28, 2020 17:20:05 GMT -6
Excellent post. I agree with you. But I have to admit I am not really a qualified or astute student of the game. I just go by what I feel and it sure seems we are a bit predictable and conservative.
|
|
|
Post by bogeyman on Dec 28, 2020 17:38:49 GMT -6
ACU teams in the past were "explosive." Averaging less than 7 yds per completion and only 105 yds per game running says our offense is anemic no matter what the reason. We must be able to move the ball down the field; better running game schemes, more deeper pass plays (15 yds plus), better route running, etc. I believe we have the QB's to get this done. A competent OL is crucial to both run and pass effectiveness. Somehow our receivers have to learn to get open. The addition of Smith to the backfield (bigger back) has to help. I'm looking for a huge uptick in our OL play.
|
|
|
Post by mavsman53 on Dec 28, 2020 17:52:32 GMT -6
I am not sure I would say we are "stacked" at WR. McConnell and Clark are solid. Neece disappeared late in the season. Harmon did not play. Lewis and T. Williams showed some promise. Brooks-Wess and Dav. Johnson were used more as a punt returners than as WRs. When Blaylock got in, he looked lost. Not sure what we have in Myrick or McCasland.
If you compare our WR corp to that of others teams in the SLC, we are down near the bottom. Yes there is talent, and we have more speed than we did in 2019. However, for whatever reason, we didn't get to see all of that talent.
Personally, I would like to sign a player that is as good as Clark and McConnell. The staff is looking for additions, both HS and transfers, so we will see what happens.
|
|
|
Post by bogeyman on Dec 28, 2020 18:51:09 GMT -6
I agree with mavsman, our receivers need to prove themselves this year. I think this was a really disappointing position in overall effectiveness last year. It seemed we buttonholed our receivers into one role and underutilized most. We need another "go to guy."
|
|
|
Post by jCat on Dec 29, 2020 8:48:25 GMT -6
I am not sure I would say we are "stacked" at WR. McConnell and Clark are solid. Neece disappeared late in the season. Harmon did not play. Lewis and T. Williams showed some promise. Brooks-Wess and Dav. Johnson were used more as a punt returners than as WRs. When Blaylock got in, he looked lost. Not sure what we have in Myrick or McCasland. If you compare our WR corp to that of others teams in the SLC, we are down near the bottom. Yes there is talent, and we have more speed than we did in 2019. However, for whatever reason, we didn't get to see all of that talent. Personally, I would like to sign a player that is as good as Clark and McConnell. The staff is looking for additions, both HS and transfers, so we will see what happens. In my mind, the separation between the top-tier Southland schools (UCA, SELA, Nicholls, and SFA) and ACU is that their #1 targets seem more dangerous in open space. These teams seem to create more havoc on the outside with very little scheme. While ACU seems to run a timing/possession oriented passing game, the top schools seem to have more players that can break tackles, win jump balls, and run away from defenders. Receivers like these give a QB such confidence that they can make a play. Schools like Sam, Northwestern, HBU, and UIW have similar sized receivers to what ACU has recruited. And I would agree that the current WR group at ACU does have more speed at this position. The next two months of recruiting will be a dogfight. Every team is battling for recruits and transfers. Teams like McNeese, which has had their entire program ravaged by a hurricane, are doing remarkably well all things considered. I'm very curious to see how all the dust will settle.
|
|