Post by bogeyman on Oct 3, 2021 17:40:24 GMT -6
I understand that nothing any of us say makes any difference to coaching decisions or the outcome of any games. I get (and am) as frustrated as anyone but I still see light at the end of this tunnel. Just thinking back to what I've seen so far this year, there are some positives that I wish we could all see. Maybe I'm wrong but here is what I see:
#1--a freshman QB that has all the tools to be a great QB at a school that's had a lot of great ones. Here's hoping Stone progresses at a steady pace.
#2--a very young OL that seems to have all the tools to be very good for a long time.
#3--for the 1st time in years we have some depth at RB and these guys, though nicked up a bit, are performing at a surprisingly high level (give them the ball!)
#4--we have 3 TE's that are big and seem to catch the ball when targeted. Personally, if our WR's can't run a 10 yd route and get open, then I'd put all three TE's on the field at the same time, target them and let them run over DB's and safeties.
What I'm disappointed in offensively is:
#1--the lack of depth in our passing game. Our receivers seem to be too slow to get open down the field. We run too many short outs and wide receiver screens and that stupid wide receiver end around (or whatever that play is called).
#2--Too many dropped balls by wide open receivers.
Defensively I've seen a few good things too:
#1--the play of Ryan Stapp at CB.
#2--the play of Greg Green at LB has surprised me.
#3--The play of Will Morgan at DT.
#4--Lots of TFL's and a swarming defense.
What has disappointed me:
#1--continually leaving the middle open to short passes and runs that break the LOS. Why must we blitz all of our LB's at the same time and leave the middle wide open?
#2--Our DB play, especially our tackling. We must have given Winningham 175 yds of his total on missed tackles. Also, we have several DB's that couldn't cover a receiver if they were tied together.
#3--even with improved DL play we are still not getting pressure on the passer. We need some speed at DE. Can Tyrin Bradley and Damion Hart be the answers? Where was Obadeyi vs. UCA? Maybe injured, maybe doubled by UCA, I don't know.
We played a very nice game against UCA for most of the 1st half. We can't lose sight of that fact even though we laid an egg in the 2nd half. We are young, we are not experienced at winning, we are playing lots of people: we will get better.
What do we need to do to be successful the rest of the season? Discuss this with me. I don't need vitriol, I'd like to hear what those of you who have followed or played football to discuss this. My thoughts:
#1--use Earle and Mansell's abilities to run the ball. This is an added dimension that defenses have to plan for. (I'd use Mansell more and let him throw-not just run.)
#2--Beating a dead horse--I'd throw more to our TE's.
#3--I'd shelve any play that called for a wide receiver to run the ball instead of catch the ball. Use our backs more.
#4--put John Brannon (is he healthy?) in the middle and leave him there as a run stopper. Hunter Kier is playing hurt (I perceive a shoulder injury that hurts his play, i.e. he is a warrior whom I like). Nwankwo is playing OK. Hargrove has had his moments but by and large LB is a weakness because we are short and light. Can Coheley and/or Pointer or Schwinn be brought along to help here?
#5--Put Ryan Stapp on the opposition's best receiver and double team the other side receiver. That leaves a safety and LB on the #3 guy (generally the slot receiver, who beat us vs. UCA).
#6--Our offensive and defensive play calling has to get better. Can we not see the adjustments that need to be made? Is this on the players or the coaches? I'm not smart enough to know.
All you knowledgeable guys chime in. This has nothing to do with Eastern Kentucky, SFA or Sam. Just general discussion about our team. We need to play smarter to win, and I think we can.
P.S. I also think we just flat ran out of gas vs UCA. The 3 turnovers killed us in several ways.
#1--a freshman QB that has all the tools to be a great QB at a school that's had a lot of great ones. Here's hoping Stone progresses at a steady pace.
#2--a very young OL that seems to have all the tools to be very good for a long time.
#3--for the 1st time in years we have some depth at RB and these guys, though nicked up a bit, are performing at a surprisingly high level (give them the ball!)
#4--we have 3 TE's that are big and seem to catch the ball when targeted. Personally, if our WR's can't run a 10 yd route and get open, then I'd put all three TE's on the field at the same time, target them and let them run over DB's and safeties.
What I'm disappointed in offensively is:
#1--the lack of depth in our passing game. Our receivers seem to be too slow to get open down the field. We run too many short outs and wide receiver screens and that stupid wide receiver end around (or whatever that play is called).
#2--Too many dropped balls by wide open receivers.
Defensively I've seen a few good things too:
#1--the play of Ryan Stapp at CB.
#2--the play of Greg Green at LB has surprised me.
#3--The play of Will Morgan at DT.
#4--Lots of TFL's and a swarming defense.
What has disappointed me:
#1--continually leaving the middle open to short passes and runs that break the LOS. Why must we blitz all of our LB's at the same time and leave the middle wide open?
#2--Our DB play, especially our tackling. We must have given Winningham 175 yds of his total on missed tackles. Also, we have several DB's that couldn't cover a receiver if they were tied together.
#3--even with improved DL play we are still not getting pressure on the passer. We need some speed at DE. Can Tyrin Bradley and Damion Hart be the answers? Where was Obadeyi vs. UCA? Maybe injured, maybe doubled by UCA, I don't know.
We played a very nice game against UCA for most of the 1st half. We can't lose sight of that fact even though we laid an egg in the 2nd half. We are young, we are not experienced at winning, we are playing lots of people: we will get better.
What do we need to do to be successful the rest of the season? Discuss this with me. I don't need vitriol, I'd like to hear what those of you who have followed or played football to discuss this. My thoughts:
#1--use Earle and Mansell's abilities to run the ball. This is an added dimension that defenses have to plan for. (I'd use Mansell more and let him throw-not just run.)
#2--Beating a dead horse--I'd throw more to our TE's.
#3--I'd shelve any play that called for a wide receiver to run the ball instead of catch the ball. Use our backs more.
#4--put John Brannon (is he healthy?) in the middle and leave him there as a run stopper. Hunter Kier is playing hurt (I perceive a shoulder injury that hurts his play, i.e. he is a warrior whom I like). Nwankwo is playing OK. Hargrove has had his moments but by and large LB is a weakness because we are short and light. Can Coheley and/or Pointer or Schwinn be brought along to help here?
#5--Put Ryan Stapp on the opposition's best receiver and double team the other side receiver. That leaves a safety and LB on the #3 guy (generally the slot receiver, who beat us vs. UCA).
#6--Our offensive and defensive play calling has to get better. Can we not see the adjustments that need to be made? Is this on the players or the coaches? I'm not smart enough to know.
All you knowledgeable guys chime in. This has nothing to do with Eastern Kentucky, SFA or Sam. Just general discussion about our team. We need to play smarter to win, and I think we can.
P.S. I also think we just flat ran out of gas vs UCA. The 3 turnovers killed us in several ways.
