Offense: 1.) I know the other team expects you to throw to Cade Otton. That doesn't mean you can't still do it. 2.) There has been one play in the running game that put Stanford on its back foot, and that was the misdirection pitch to McGruber. Clearly, the OL is not good enough to open holes without schematic help. 3.) The elephant in the room: Morris. This is not quarterback play that wins even this shitty conference. I don't care about nerves of steel final drives to complete a comeback, I care about competent play that doesn't put you in a hole in the first place. Yes, his "moxie" is great. His attitude is great. He tries really hard and he's tough. Outside of avoiding pressure and throwing while moving to his left, what exactly is it that he does well? He's thrown about five passes all season that I'd give an A grade. Even the running-left game-winner to Otton was a wobbler. His placement rarely helps his receiver, his complete inability to accurately throw downfield stacks the defense up against everything else. I'm betting he's still better than what else is on the roster, but this just doesn't cut it against a decent team (or apparently even a couple of mediocre teams). Edit: I just watched him leave at least 15 yards on the field by horribly underthrowing a wide open Odunze. It'll go down as a 15 yard completion, but I'd give him a D on that play.
Defense: 1.) I want to say that bringing in extra big bodies is the answer against teams like Stanford and Utah, but I'm not even really sure about that. I don't know if it's so much the scheme as just the fact that this is a defense with, at any given time, three to five players who range from below average to awful and six to eight players who range from elite (McDuffie, Molden, ZTF) to well above average (Tuitele, Ulofoshio, Letuligasenoa). The problem is those bad players can be SO bad that a smart and shameless coach can just pick on them all game with amazing success. Stupid coaches overthink it and stop. 2.) To that end, Sirmon, Turner, Taylor in run support, Bronson, Taimani. Step into my office...
Special teams: 1.) On average, putting kickoffs in play is a loser. How hard is a touchback? Stanford has started one drive behind the 30, and it was after a punt. If there isn't a kicker that can reach the end zone, that's pathetic. If there is, this strategy is pathetic.
Comments
Offense:
1.) I know the other team expects you to throw to Cade Otton. That doesn't mean you can't still do it.
2.) There has been one play in the running game that put Stanford on its back foot, and that was the misdirection pitch to McGruber. Clearly, the OL is not good enough to open holes without schematic help.
3.) The elephant in the room: Morris. This is not quarterback play that wins even this shitty conference. I don't care about nerves of steel final drives to complete a comeback, I care about competent play that doesn't put you in a hole in the first place. Yes, his "moxie" is great. His attitude is great. He tries really hard and he's tough. Outside of avoiding pressure and throwing while moving to his left, what exactly is it that he does well? He's thrown about five passes all season that I'd give an A grade. Even the running-left game-winner to Otton was a wobbler. His placement rarely helps his receiver, his complete inability to accurately throw downfield stacks the defense up against everything else. I'm betting he's still better than what else is on the roster, but this just doesn't cut it against a decent team (or apparently even a couple of mediocre teams). Edit: I just watched him leave at least 15 yards on the field by horribly underthrowing a wide open Odunze. It'll go down as a 15 yard completion, but I'd give him a D on that play.
Defense:
1.) I want to say that bringing in extra big bodies is the answer against teams like Stanford and Utah, but I'm not even really sure about that. I don't know if it's so much the scheme as just the fact that this is a defense with, at any given time, three to five players who range from below average to awful and six to eight players who range from elite (McDuffie, Molden, ZTF) to well above average (Tuitele, Ulofoshio, Letuligasenoa). The problem is those bad players can be SO bad that a smart and shameless coach can just pick on them all game with amazing success. Stupid coaches overthink it and stop.
2.) To that end, Sirmon, Turner, Taylor in run support, Bronson, Taimani. Step into my office...
Special teams:
1.) On average, putting kickoffs in play is a loser. How hard is a touchback? Stanford has started one drive behind the 30, and it was after a punt. If there isn't a kicker that can reach the end zone, that's pathetic. If there is, this strategy is pathetic.