First, let me say that listening to the Skene podcast was probably not the best way to start off my week. Man was it sobering. That quote in the title is just, wow. Who'd have thought we'd be saying that about a Harbaugh offense, yet here we are. Let me state for the record that I am still 100% on board the Harbaugh train. There is no better coach for this program and I know we will still get a lot of great things done.
With that said, lets talk about this season. We are clearly at the biggest crossroad during any of Jim's 3 years here. Listening to Skene talk about the O-line basics begs some hard questions. Most of us, I think rightly so, put this on coaching. Skene points to that as well but he also says he knows they are getting taught the correct things but its not happening. If you can't get your message through as a coach and get it to sink in, that's on you. Now, maybe we recruited kids that just can't get it, which would also be on the coaches, but I'm not buying that. The kids from last years O-line all had the same damn issues and I believe every one of them is on an NFL practice squad. No NFL team is going to waste any roster space on people without talent and ability. We can throw that argument out. Also as Skene states, no chips, no help, just continually letting guys get beat. WTH?! This staff is better than that.
For those that really think that Jim doesn't care, smh, that's just assinine. He cares more than each and every one of us times a million. So what happens now? As Jim S said in a post, those that expect a mob to go to the press conference and have Jim hand over Drevno to be dragged to the gallows will be disappointed. Jim is a real coach and real man and will never throw his staff or players under the bus in public, ala that assclown in South Bend. This is one reason why his staff and players love him.
We know something has to give. We cannot continue down this path. We have two O-line coaches, its time to give the keys to just one of them. If it's Drevno, fine, Frey can focus 100% on TE's. If it's Frey, great, let Drevno focus on game plan and play calls. Section 6 mentioned that players are confused, etc. with mixed messages. Well I think we can all see this too damn clearly with the play on the field. We need one voice to get these kids all pulling in one direction. Also, if a kid is flat not getting it done, try someone else for the love of God. We saw it with the move to JBB but he sucked just as bad. Why no Runyan? Why not try and move Bredeson to RT and put in Ruiz at guard? I understand wanting cohesiveness but again, every single person that has watched us play knows that what we are doing now just is not in any way, shape or form getting it done.
On to our RBs. Is Jay Harbaugh the right guy? Don't know, I'm not going to sell him out after 5 games but the results have obviously been not great. We cannot put the ball on the ground. Each back has had a crucial fumble we have lost. The blocking is beyond shit. No other way to put it. If they give the O-line to one coach, have the other guy help with the backs on blocking. They understand leverage, etc. Just a thought.
I know people are all over O'Korn and he definitely was pretty damn bad on Saturday. If we get better play from the O-line and RBs as well as smarter playcalling, he's good enough for us to win with.
Now to playcalling, there definitely seems to be too many cooks in the kitchen. There needs to be one voice that makes the call. All coaches have input. I'm sure our D coaches make suggestions to Don but he makes the final call. We need that singular voice on offense. You can just see the confusion that our current process breeds with the schizo playcalling. Also, simplify it down. Dantonio pretty much was mocking us when he said we ran like 40 different formations in the first half since it didn't add to a pile of crap. Get 20-25 plays that these kids can nail and let them get after it. Get the ball to our WR's on crossing routes. It's much easier to get separation running thorough the middle of the field. It also gives us a chance to get our athletes the ball on the move. Make the QBs check down to the damn running backs. We have missed way to many easy first downs by not doing this. Use the TEs, A LOT! We have a major advantage here. We can out athlete most LBs and out muscle most DBs. This group should have no less than 7-10 catches per game.
The way it's getting done is simply not the right way for this group. Truthfully, I don't care who owns the playcalling out of Drevno, Pep or Jim. Having one singular voice can only serve to be a benefit.
Even with this horrible, horrible loss the season is still there to be had. Our D is absolutely elite. They will put us in position to win every game. Even PSU and OSU. We just need to be average on offense. We don't need to be the greatest show on turf, just serviceable enough to score in the 20s and not turn the ball over. Can we count on this offense to score 24 points? After getting a major punch in the face I guess we'll find out.
With that said, lets talk about this season. We are clearly at the biggest crossroad during any of Jim's 3 years here. Listening to Skene talk about the O-line basics begs some hard questions. Most of us, I think rightly so, put this on coaching. Skene points to that as well but he also says he knows they are getting taught the correct things but its not happening. If you can't get your message through as a coach and get it to sink in, that's on you. Now, maybe we recruited kids that just can't get it, which would also be on the coaches, but I'm not buying that. The kids from last years O-line all had the same damn issues and I believe every one of them is on an NFL practice squad. No NFL team is going to waste any roster space on people without talent and ability. We can throw that argument out. Also as Skene states, no chips, no help, just continually letting guys get beat. WTH?! This staff is better than that.
For those that really think that Jim doesn't care, smh, that's just assinine. He cares more than each and every one of us times a million. So what happens now? As Jim S said in a post, those that expect a mob to go to the press conference and have Jim hand over Drevno to be dragged to the gallows will be disappointed. Jim is a real coach and real man and will never throw his staff or players under the bus in public, ala that assclown in South Bend. This is one reason why his staff and players love him.
We know something has to give. We cannot continue down this path. We have two O-line coaches, its time to give the keys to just one of them. If it's Drevno, fine, Frey can focus 100% on TE's. If it's Frey, great, let Drevno focus on game plan and play calls. Section 6 mentioned that players are confused, etc. with mixed messages. Well I think we can all see this too damn clearly with the play on the field. We need one voice to get these kids all pulling in one direction. Also, if a kid is flat not getting it done, try someone else for the love of God. We saw it with the move to JBB but he sucked just as bad. Why no Runyan? Why not try and move Bredeson to RT and put in Ruiz at guard? I understand wanting cohesiveness but again, every single person that has watched us play knows that what we are doing now just is not in any way, shape or form getting it done.
On to our RBs. Is Jay Harbaugh the right guy? Don't know, I'm not going to sell him out after 5 games but the results have obviously been not great. We cannot put the ball on the ground. Each back has had a crucial fumble we have lost. The blocking is beyond shit. No other way to put it. If they give the O-line to one coach, have the other guy help with the backs on blocking. They understand leverage, etc. Just a thought.
I know people are all over O'Korn and he definitely was pretty damn bad on Saturday. If we get better play from the O-line and RBs as well as smarter playcalling, he's good enough for us to win with.
Now to playcalling, there definitely seems to be too many cooks in the kitchen. There needs to be one voice that makes the call. All coaches have input. I'm sure our D coaches make suggestions to Don but he makes the final call. We need that singular voice on offense. You can just see the confusion that our current process breeds with the schizo playcalling. Also, simplify it down. Dantonio pretty much was mocking us when he said we ran like 40 different formations in the first half since it didn't add to a pile of crap. Get 20-25 plays that these kids can nail and let them get after it. Get the ball to our WR's on crossing routes. It's much easier to get separation running thorough the middle of the field. It also gives us a chance to get our athletes the ball on the move. Make the QBs check down to the damn running backs. We have missed way to many easy first downs by not doing this. Use the TEs, A LOT! We have a major advantage here. We can out athlete most LBs and out muscle most DBs. This group should have no less than 7-10 catches per game.
The way it's getting done is simply not the right way for this group. Truthfully, I don't care who owns the playcalling out of Drevno, Pep or Jim. Having one singular voice can only serve to be a benefit.
Even with this horrible, horrible loss the season is still there to be had. Our D is absolutely elite. They will put us in position to win every game. Even PSU and OSU. We just need to be average on offense. We don't need to be the greatest show on turf, just serviceable enough to score in the 20s and not turn the ball over. Can we count on this offense to score 24 points? After getting a major punch in the face I guess we'll find out.
