1st Rounder [645]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 740
Joined: 12/20/02
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I know it's difficult to do
2
Oct 29, 2023, 12:52 PM
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but let's try to take the emotion out of it.
Brian Billick says there are two things that impact winning and losing the most. Winning the turnover margin and having more 20+ yard plays that the opponent. This has been proven empirically. It really cannot be denied that this is certainly the biggest difference in our season so far. I don't think anyone can make the rational argument that even with all the desired changes in coaching and getting many players from the portal, etc. that so many focus on, we would still have about the same record due to being on the losing end of TO margin, and 20+ plays.
The TO margin has little to do with coaching. Every coach in the country preaches and teaches to protect the ball and to get the ball. Let's admit that is the responsibility of the players to not fumble going into the end zone, or throw risky passes unless the game is on the line.
The 20+ yard plays is more a product of recruiting and coaching, but also due to a decline from the generational talents of Lawrence, Watson, Higgins, Ross, Williams, Renfro, Rogers, etc. and a rash of injuries the last couple of years to our WR corps. When you consider that Stellato, Randall, Antonio Williams, Collins, and Brown have not been 100% much of their careers, it certainly is a factor in not getting more game breaking plays. Not having a good running game is key as well, as play action passes are usually the best way to break a big passing game when defenses.
This is not to say there are not valid criticisms that can be made about the coaching staff. But the "fire everyone every time we lose" approach or the "I know more about football than the guy who built this program, has 2 Natty's and has had an unbelievable record for the last 10 years" comments, are not solutions, but just emotional venting. Remember last year it was "all DJ's fault and if we put in Klubnik everything will be roses". Well, based on this year's results, I think most on here were wrong about Klubnik being ready. His decision making just hasn't caught up with his other talents yet.
It's pretty simple. Stop fumbling and throwing interceptions is the first priority, and that's on the players. Continue to develop our younger WR's and TE like Briney, Randall, Brown, and Williams when they're healthy to improve 20+ plays. Coach up the OL to take ownership of a better running game. Every thing else is noise and whining.
I trust they guy who got us here to know what to do and to fix it. He's overcome losing 5 times to Carolina to dominating them again with last year being an anomaly, and he took this team from giving up 70 points in the Orange Bowl to reaching unprecedented heights. No reason he can't turn this around. Yes, the environment around college football has changed, but football really hasn't. It's still about taking care of the football, making plays, and blocking and tackling.
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