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next year
Nov 13, 2017 11:02:16 GMT -6
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Post by wildcatcoachesshow on Nov 13, 2017 11:02:16 GMT -6
Imo to win a championship, you can’t have that spread/air raid offense with no defense. To win a ship you need to be a defense first/power run team which is what Dorrel wants us to be. Just looks at the past champs, it’s teams like NDSU and JMU that had solid defenses and power offenses. With a spread/air raid offense you can be good, like SHSU, but they always end up disappointing in the playoffs.
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Post by texas48 on Nov 13, 2017 14:05:50 GMT -6
I agree with Mavsman on the grades. You can't physically get a player out of bed each morning, put his clothes on him, drag him to class, sit there and take notes, study, turn in homework, study for a test, take a test, etc. If you see academics as a fault of the coaching staff, then you are either naive or you don't have a real perception of the truth. Trust me, I have taught college courses in the past. Really smart students fail because they don't come to class, don't turn in homework or complete projects.
As far as comment someone made about everything is on the coaching staff on the field, i.e. false starts, penalties, bad execution... I have coached my son in baseball for years. I can teach him how to field, how to throw, how to swing, how to run the bases, but I can't do it all for him. He's on his own when he digs into the batter's box. I can't make him not swing at a high pitch. I can't make him twist his hips at the same time that he is crossing the plate with his wrists in the right position. I can't make him throw the ball perfect every time. I can coach any kid to do that, but execution is on the player. This coaching staff is not perfect. Neither was the last one. None of us are. But to say that all of these problems lies squarely on their shoulders is ridiculous. And if you truly believe that, you are either here to cause trouble or you don't have a perception of reality.
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Post by mavsman53 on Nov 13, 2017 16:38:12 GMT -6
Qualls officially off the roster.
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Post by WildCatToothDoc on Nov 13, 2017 17:28:13 GMT -6
Wow. What happened? Anyone know?
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Nov 14, 2017 5:01:18 GMT -6
My thoughts on grades.
The NCAA rightly holds schools and coaches accountable for the academic progress of their student athletes. Thus, Coaches and support staff do not get a complete pass even though I certainly agree the student athlete is ultimately responsible for going to class and doing the work.
Coaches are responsible for recruiting players with sufficient academic preparation to have a reasonable chance of succeeding in the class room.
Occasionally athletic skills are such that coaches are willing to sign recruits who are poorly prepared academically and have little chance of receiving a degree. In these instances coaches and support staff are responsible for developing an academic success plan ( aka, remediation plan ) to provide the support and structure needed to bring the student athlete up to speed in the class room. Examples include tutoring, study halls, or writing clinics.
Coaches and staff are responsible for monitoring the academic progress of their players and for deciding on consequences for those who are not making satisfactory progess, or who are not going to class, completing assignments, and so forth.
Coaches and staff are responsible for reinforcing the academic mission of a university and for working with student athletes and instructional staff to enable players to meet the demands of their major?
**EDIT**
I will leave the discussion about x’s and o’s under the former and current staff to those with more expertise than I will ever have. I will say without equivocation or hesitancy that this staff understands their role in contributing to the academic success of their players more than the previous staff. There were individual exceptions, but overall this staff is more responsive to academic concerns than their predecessors. That is a huge plus in my opinion.
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Post by CrazyPurpleCat on Nov 14, 2017 7:47:10 GMT -6
Another thing that is new this year that Coach Dorrell implemented was the use of an app where all of the athletes have to check into their class and check out of their class, and it must match what the attendance record for the class shows. This is something that Coach Collums did not do, so this staff definitely has taken a step forward towards holding the athlete accountable for their class.
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Post by acuwildcat86 on Nov 14, 2017 7:54:15 GMT -6
I haven’t read through this entire thread. I did read one comment bashing the offensive coaches for not adapting to their personnel. I don’t think that’s a fair criticism, especially in year one, for a number of reasons. We’ve all been critical of the play calling, but the Sam Houston game should put all that to rest. We out gained the #4 team in the nation. Our freshman QB threw for five TDs. Maybe we had the personnel all along, but we weren’t using the right ones? I don’t fully believe that, but there’s no question Luke Anthony has far outplayed Dallas. We can argue the reasons why, but we can’t argue the results.
Besides that, when a new staff comes in, they aren’t the ones who need to “adapt to the personnel”. They have a long-term plan. They need to try to install it, regardless of the personnel. Sure, minor adjustments are needed (and after watching the last two games I can argue that the Dallas games were adjustments to the desired scheme). However the most important aspect of a new staff is to implement what they want to run. For all we know, it does fit the personnel, but the personnel just didn’t grasp it early on.
I will still contend that our OL was just not very good this year. I don’t care what kind of scheme you plan to run, when your OL is not good, nothing works. We lost our best OT in May, unexpectedly. Dorrel called him the best OLmen he’d ever coached, just before graduation. That’s a huge loss to a unit that wasn’t poised to be great anyway. However, that last game gave me hope for the future. #92 is a stud and gave us fits early in the game, but either we adjusted or he petered out, because we started handling him as the game wore on. With Laws at LG, Weber at C, and the two freshmen on the right side, we just need a good LT (said every coach in America) and we have a very good unit. Is that Crisp? It’s possible. He seems I have the potential. We will have several RS freshman and a few Anderson’s to fill out the depth. One or two drop downs could really push the competition and depth or this group into a great unit next year. Once that happens, we can turn the corner real fast. I think we have the QB now in place for the new few years.
I was really concerned that we were going to be 2-10 or 3-9 again next year. After watching what we did to SHSU, with so many freshmen playing, I don’t believe that anymore. I had lots of concerns, but among them was the lack of a deep attack offensively. I’m not concerned about that anymore. I’m not worried about the OL. We need someone to step up and maybe one or two additions. I’m not worried at all about the back 7 on D. I am worried about the DL. That, to me is the biggest area of need for this team. Fix that and we’re getting somewhere. All said, I’m encouraged for the future. Good things coming.
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Post by wildcatter on Nov 14, 2017 8:35:44 GMT -6
I agree, to a certain extent. I don't like that we threw the ball 60+ times but I suppose when you go down 24-0 after the first quarter, are facing Biblical strength winds, and are facing the 4th ranked team in the country, you look for points through the air.
I have been clamoring for balls down field all year. Take some shots, let our bigger senior WR's have a chance 1v1. We've done that the past two games. Opens up the running game some when you push the ball (see Tracy James 70 yard run late in the game). We've also nixed the jet sweep from the 'every possession' play call rotation and I'm all for that.
This time last year Sealey was praised as the best young QB in the conference and here we are now. I'll hold back any proclamations for future success until I see us have consistent success in the present.
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Post by mavsman53 on Nov 15, 2017 12:03:56 GMT -6
Update with 1 game left-
QB: Graduate- Munden Return- Sealey (possibly), Anthony, Hammack and S. Davis Need- Look for ACU to sign 1-2 QB's here.
RB: Graduated- D. Brown Return- T. James, Washington and Bunting Need- ACU has been looking to add at the RB spot. I expect 1-2 transfers to come in, as well as a high school commit
WR: Graduated/Gone- Whitley, T. Grant, D. Qualls Return- J. Miller, Fink, Sadler, Cokley, Bacarrini and hopefully Fuller Need- They have 2 commitments from high school WRs'. I still anticipate adding 2-3 more commits here
TE/FB: Graduated/Gone- Crain, Solsberry, Pace and Hits Return- Ennis, Flowers and Lutz Need- Staff has been focused on adding a TE. Look for it to be a JUCO player
OL: Graduated/Gone-Hisler, Rieken Return- Laws, Weber, Giddens, Etuk, Melde, Parmelly, Sl. Anderson, Crisp, An. Anderson, Gunnoe, Hendrix, Bird, Padgett Need- I anticipate 2-3 signings here, especially JUCO guys or FBS transfers
DE: Graduated/Gone- Gates and Douglass Return- C. Smith, Kuyatsemi, Dean, K. Hill, Previllon and Ijoma Need- 1-2 players added
DT: Graduated/Gone- Edmondson Return- Hibbert, Burgess, Pole, Carter, Meadows Need- Look for the staff to add 1 more to the mix here
LB: Graduate/Gone- Denmark, R. Moore Return- Chambers, Gibbens, Burford, Dunn, Hutchins, Prince, M. Long, Cobb, D. Chandler and Mel. Brown Need- I think the staff feels really good about Chambers and Gibbens. After that, we are pretty raw. Need depth. Possibly 1-2 additions here
CB: Graduate/Gone- Calvin and Henricks Return- Ad. Davis, J. Mack, K. Richardson, Udoye, Dan. Williams Need- 2-3 guys likely added here. I expect at least 1 JUCO or FBS transfer
S: Graduate/Gone- Ch. White Return- Richmond, Onifade, Huhn and Greathouse Need- I anticipate the staff will add 1 young guy to the mix
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next year
Nov 18, 2017 18:11:50 GMT -6
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Post by wildcatter on Nov 18, 2017 18:11:50 GMT -6
Dorrell said he needed a new challenge when accepting this job...I think he found it. Depth and strength, a philosophy and identity. What I want to see by next year.
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Nov 19, 2017 5:33:30 GMT -6
First year blues.
A brand new coaching staff made up of young guys with little or no D1 experience came on board late in the recruiting cycle. New coaches scrambled around and came up with an ok signing class of high schoolers but were wise enough to hold back a number of scholarships for D1 step downs. Many of those transfers picked up late made substantial contributions this year, and several are eligible next year.
The transition has not gone as smoothly as hoped as the new staff set out to change the culture on and off the field. Along the way a lot of returning players left or were dismissed for a number of reasons, including the headliners from our Top 10 recruiting class of 2016 and our best offensive and defensive linemen. In the spring we also lost our S&C coach who was replaced by a guy with a thin resume and whose workouts have been termed too easy by players who aren’t known to fuss about much of anything.
On offense, coaches implemented a run first offense with an injury plagued senior a promising sophomore running back and virtually no back up. Our returning QB struggled with the new system behind a shaky O Line.
The defense has made a lot of progress but still has a long way to go.
Special teams play has hurt us on multiple occasions this year.
The end result, another 2-9 record.
Next Year
As Mavsman has wisely reminded us Turning our program around is a process. It may take 3-4 years to get us where we want to go. I know this is right, although I can’t help but glance at a couple of other FCS programs that were as far down as us last year who are playoff bound this year under a new coach.
What I hope to see between now and the next season.
1. An improved recruiting class. Coaches have been on board for the full recruiting cycle and money has been there for recruiting. Time to show some results. It appears to me a speedy WR, a couple of running backs and O linemen, two DE’s and a shut down CB should be our highest priorities. And maybe a QB?
2. Stronger and in some cases heftier players from our S&C program.
3. Attention to fixing our problems on special teams, as well as replacing our kicker.
4. Player and team development now that everyone has had a year to complete the transition. I loved 86’s take on our prospects going forward. A lot of the ingredients for success are there. With an infusion of transfer talent to fill the gaps and high schoolers to build our future around, the future could be as bright as this year was bleak.
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next year
Nov 19, 2017 7:17:16 GMT -6
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Post by acutrackfan on Nov 19, 2017 7:17:16 GMT -6
Great summary, Oscar. One note — I think our kicker is already at ACU. I think that Cole Yeatts is the real deal and he will have 4 years to ply his craft at ACU after redshirting this year.
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Post by oldman on Nov 19, 2017 13:17:44 GMT -6
No matter how we hope and wish it. No matter what our analysis of the year improved or not , its still 2-9 two years in a row.
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Post by acutrackfan on Nov 29, 2017 16:15:45 GMT -6
I ran into Dakota Laws today on campus and chatted with him a bit. I was asking him how the attitude of the team is this year. He told me that the camaraderie on the team has improved dramatically this year. They are frustrated that the season did not turn out how they wanted, but THEY believe that they are a winning football team. It was good to hear this from one of the team leaders like Dakota.
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Post by Outsider on Nov 29, 2017 20:58:34 GMT -6
I ran into Dakota Laws today on campus and chatted with him a bit. I was asking him how the attitude of the team is this year. He told me that the camaraderie on the team has improved dramatically this year. They are frustrated that the season did not turn out how they wanted, but THEY believe that they are a winning football team. It was good to hear this from one of the team leaders like Dakota. Thanks Trackfan, I am glad to know the team is still positive. May they know we are with them every step and we know that with their hard work they will soon show just how much of a winning program they are. I miss Dakota's grandfather tremendously. Dakota comes from an amazing family and he is showing it.
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