Let me start by saying that, from a long-time subscriber, this is the most entertaining and informative segment of each week during the season. This week’s submission was not different, and in fact (given the game’s outcome), was perhaps the most poignant. So as not to bury the lead of my post…THANK YOU Doug and Chris for this part of my subscription!
A few thoughts…
Lastly its this…coaching is an art. I really believe, especially when you are coaching a team where there is still a great deal of learning going on, that it does not matter what you know, what you say or how you say it. What is important, the ONLY thing that is important, is what the kids hear and what they understand. This ability is a gift, and unfortunately, it is not a gift that every coach is blessed with. I have 0% visibility as to what is going on behind the walls of the Fort. When I look at the product on Saturdays, and then have the x’s and o’s explained to me in such a detailed manner as Skene offers, it appears to me that this “gift” may be somewhat lacking with this particular staff.
A few thoughts…
- When you break down a football team to its bare elements (blocking, tackling, speed and toughness), it seems easy to me that this year’s team is hindered most by its inability to block.
- The “twist” play has been a thorn in this team’s side since opening day and unfortunately this group does not appear to have what it takes from an acumen perspective to understand the assignments.
- I have decided that, other than the obvious (recruiting), the single thing that has plagued this team happened last year when Grant Newsome went down. The play where Mason Cole lined up on the right side and made that great play in space made my mind quickly wonder how different this year would have been with Cole (who very well could have stayed on the interior), out at RT. If nothing else, Onwenu’s development probably would have taken a different trajectory.
- I keep hearing about how poorly our RB’s are a pass protection. The highlight on the sack that Karan gives up was disheartening. The days of “no WR or RB will ever step on the field until they learn how to block first” appear to be long gone.
- I listened to a great interview this week with Troy Aikman, talking about the lost art of OL play in the NFL. He sited 2 reasons. 1) Practice rules have changed such that the only real opportunity practice to run blocking is in games (I understand its not the same in college – but I’m guessing its much different than in the 70’s & 80’s). The other issue sited was that every large body player who is a great athlete is automatically shuffled to the DL. This has created a greater mismatch at the line of scrimmage than in the past. I thought this was interesting.
- I was really disappointed with the move of James Hudson at the beginning of the season, mostly because our recruiting guru got me excited about his potential on that side of the ball. I’m all in on the move now, if this has a hope of helping.
Lastly its this…coaching is an art. I really believe, especially when you are coaching a team where there is still a great deal of learning going on, that it does not matter what you know, what you say or how you say it. What is important, the ONLY thing that is important, is what the kids hear and what they understand. This ability is a gift, and unfortunately, it is not a gift that every coach is blessed with. I have 0% visibility as to what is going on behind the walls of the Fort. When I look at the product on Saturdays, and then have the x’s and o’s explained to me in such a detailed manner as Skene offers, it appears to me that this “gift” may be somewhat lacking with this particular staff.
