Chuck Martin has no idea what he is doing

[stlnd01]

The way I look at it, we're 2-1 and the one loss was on the defense. I don't see a thread "Bob Diaco has no idea what he is doing" yet....

keyword "yet"

Oh, there was one the day after the Michigan game. Mods must've cleaned it up.

 

[irishog77]

I brought this up in the Postgame Thread Saturday, but feel it is perhaps more on-topic here:

I think most fans can legitimately question/wonder about the playcalling thus far, wether it's the actual play called by Martin, Kelly, or Rees checking into/out of something. I think that the actual playbook is somewhat limited with Rees as the QB (kind of like it was limited with EG due to his inexperience/lack of understanding). Essentially all QB running plays are excluded from the usable playbook. I think bootlegs probably are. Same for roll outs. Same again for long, deep passes. And I think perhaps some of the lack of play action stems from Rees' immobility. And any type of run/pass option or allowance for the QB to improvise is out. So there's probably a lack of ___% that the staff can not, in good conscience, call with Rees at the helm.

I don't have any hard data on this and can't rightfully guess what the % of plays they'd like to run (but just can't) actually is. I think a lot of the predictability is simply from Rees being quite limited in what he can do.

 

[rocket66]

Chuck Martin has no idea what he is doing

I'd just like to see plays ran a little quicker rather than Tommy continuing to change up protections. Wear out the defense a bit and small changes aren't as necessary. For whatever reason it seems TR is constantly (every play) evaluating the D and taking the play clock all the way to "0". IMO, that's to the defense's advantage - it gives them time to catch their breath and get settled again. Run more plays at a quicker pace, please.

 

[SoJerseyIrish]

I blame Everett Golson............just saying...... but imagine if we had our mobile QB back there who could avoid sacks and extend plays and give the defense something else to think about? SIGH

 

[BleedBlueGold]

When teams stack the box, pin their ears back, get after the QB by bringing the house, and play so tight on your WRs at the LOS, you have to make them pay. It's been said on here already, but it's worth repeating...pump and go over their heads. That's not rocket science. The second you start beating teams over the top is the second they start backing off and the second your run game opens up. It's entirely up to the HC, OC, and QB to figure this out and adapt. Lately, it's been the complete opposite where ND has a game plan and regardless of what the D is doing, they run their plays. It shouldn't take until halftime to make adjustments in that kind of situation.

 

[dublinirish]

When teams stack the box, pin their ears back, get after the QB by bringing the house, and play so tight on your WRs at the LOS, you have to make them pay. It's been said on here already, but it's worth repeating...pump and go over their heads. That's not rocket science. The second you start beating teams over the top is the second they start backing off and the second your run game opens up. It's entirely up to the HC, OC, and QB to figure this out and adapt. Lately, it's been the complete opposite where ND has a game plan and regardless of what the D is doing, they run their plays. It shouldn't take until halftime to make adjustments in that kind of situation.

i would second this, especially to mix up the screen game, if the DB's cheat down then burn them over the top. I wish BK would loosen things up too and try a trick play or two, not saying he has to be Boise State but he just needs to get opposition Defenses on their heels, its all just a bit too predictable at the moment. If us fans can predict which plays are coming from certain formations after one game viewing then you can bet opposing staffs are gonna know

 

[kmoose]

When teams stack the box, pin their ears back, get after the QB by bringing the house, and play so tight on your WRs at the LOS, you have to make them pay. It's been said on here already, but it's worth repeating...pump and go over their heads. That's not rocket science. The second you start beating teams over the top is the second they start backing off and the second your run game opens up. It's entirely up to the HC, OC, and QB to figure this out and adapt. Lately, it's been the complete opposite where ND has a game plan and regardless of what the D is doing, they run their plays. It shouldn't take until halftime to make adjustments in that kind of situation.

I think ND has made them pay: a pair of 32 yard TD passes to Davaris Daniels in the Temple game, and the 82 yarder to Daniels, this past weekend. Rees' long pass against Michigan was only 23 yards, so maybe you could say they didn't make Michigan pay. But they have gotten over the top in each of their other 2 games.

 

[ulukinatme]

When teams stack the box, pin their ears back, get after the QB by bringing the house, and play so tight on your WRs at the LOS, you have to make them pay. It's been said on here already, but it's worth repeating...pump and go over their heads. That's not rocket science. The second you start beating teams over the top is the second they start backing off and the second your run game opens up. It's entirely up to the HC, OC, and QB to figure this out and adapt. Lately, it's been the complete opposite where ND has a game plan and regardless of what the D is doing, they run their plays. It shouldn't take until halftime to make adjustments in that kind of situation.

Well said. The definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It gets so frustrating seeing us going back to plays that didn't work in the 1st quarter, or even the 1st half. If they didn't work then, I can't imagine they would work any differently later. That Purdue game changed in our favor after the big throw to DD, it opened the running game back up and allowed us to do more.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I think ND has made them pay: a pair of 32 yard TD passes to Davaris Daniels in the Temple game, and the 82 yarder to Daniels, this past weekend. Rees' long pass against Michigan was only 23 yards, so maybe you could say they didn't make Michigan pay. But they have gotten over the top in each of their other 2 games.

My point is that it took until halftime to realize that play could work. That play would've worked on the first play of the game for ND. 1) Do you think Purdue would've stayed in that pressure/stack the box style defense if ND blew the lid off it on the first series of the game? 2) Do you think our RBs would've played better once Purdue backed off to prevent that deep ball from happening again? 3) And if they didn't respect it and kept pressuring, don't you think it'd be a good idea to run that play again?

I get that some coaches want to run the ball. But sometimes you have to spread the field vertically to open up room for the run game. The last two games, the offensive staff has shied away from it for the most part...so it seems anyways.

 

[ryno 24]

I blame Everett Golson............just saying...... but imagine if we had our mobile QB back there who could avoid sacks and extend plays and give the defense something else to think about? SIGH

This is so true. Even if his completion percentage percentage is not as good, he still has a stronger arm, which by its nature backs off the secondary. Also, His scrambling ability, does not allow the defense, to put on the same pressure. Also, by having a running qb available it opens up a more east west running game as well, which is what fits Carlisle.

 

[kmoose]

My point is that it took until halftime to realize that play could work. That play would've worked on the first play of the game for ND. 1) Do you think Purdue would've stayed in that pressure/stack the box style defense if ND blew the lid off it on the first series of the game? 2) Do you think our RBs would've played better once Purdue backed off to prevent that deep ball from happening again? 3) And if they didn't respect it and kept pressuring, don't you think it'd be a good idea to run that play again?

I get that some coaches want to run the ball. But sometimes you have to spread the field vertically to open up room for the run game. The last two games, the offensive staff has shied away from it for the most part...so it seems anyways.

1) Maybe the only reason that that play worked at all, was the look(s) that ND gave Purdue in the first half? Teams script their first (x) number of plays for a reason; they want to see what will work against the defensive game plan. But they also want to force opposing defensive coaches to make adjustments, at halftime, that play into their strengths.

2) Not necessarily. I don't think that Purdue's corners were all that involved in stopping our runs, so I don't think that their position on the field would have made much of a difference.

3) Of course, on paper, what you are saying makes sense. But there is a reason that they play the game on the field, not on paper. I don't think it is just that easy.

For the record: Both of Daniels' 32 yard TDs, in the Temple game, came in the first quarter.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...

All I'm saying is I personally feel that Chuck/BK should've changed it up sooner than they did.

I get what you're saying though, kmoose, and I agree with all your points with the exception of #2. LBs can drop back to defend the pass or shoot gaps to stop the run. Leaving blitzing packages out of the equation, softening a defense (by making them back off the LOS) in turn should open up more space for the run game.

 

[IrishLax]

The way I look at it, we're 2-1 and the one loss was on the defense. I don't see a thread "Bob Diaco has no idea what he is doing" yet....

keyword "yet"

First, both units have played very mediocre and done so against questionable competition to this point. The difference is that we know that Bob Diaco can get his crap together because of 2012's great D + good D in 2011 and the end of 2010.

Second, there is a whole thread dedicated to the perceived schematic issues on D.

Third, to say the Michigan loss was on the D ignores the first half turnover that lead to points, the fact that the D scored 7 of the offenses' 30, and that 23 points of offense continually bogging down in the red zone is far from "good."

 

[Irish#1]

My point is that it took until halftime to realize that play could work. That play would've worked on the first play of the game for ND. 1) Do you think Purdue would've stayed in that pressure/stack the box style defense if ND blew the lid off it on the first series of the game? 2) Do you think our RBs would've played better once Purdue backed off to prevent that deep ball from happening again? 3) And if they didn't respect it and kept pressuring, don't you think it'd be a good idea to run that play again?

I get that some coaches want to run the ball. But sometimes you have to spread the field vertically to open up room for the run game. The last two games, the offensive staff has shied away from it for the most part...so it seems anyways.

I was at the game and I kept telling my son we needed to run a normal screen to get Purdue to back off a little. We haven't ran the jet sweep this year either. GAIII may not be ideal as a north south RB, but he did pretty well running the jet sweep last year. I also noticed at the start of the game that Kelly had his play chart and was keeping his mouth covered while he was talking. That told me he was calling plays from the start.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

First, both units have played very mediocre and done so against questionable competition to this point. The difference is that we know that Bob Diaco can get his crap together because of 2012's great D + good D in 2011 and the end of 2010.

Second, there is a whole thread dedicated to the perceived schematic issues on D.

Third, to say the Michigan loss was on the D ignores the first half turnover that lead to points, the fact that the D scored 7 of the offenses' 30, and that 23 points of offense continually bogging down in the red zone is far from "good."

Hasn't Whiskey consistently posted the offensive splits from the UM game to somewhat debunk this argument...I thought I remembered seeing them previously.

 

[Emcee77]

Hasn't Whiskey consistently posted the offensive splits from the UM game to somewhat debunk this argument...I thought I remembered seeing them previously.

Yes, and no ... he has been posting the splits, and they did suggest that the Michigan loss was primarily on the D, not the offense. Line 2 below:

Our Week 3 Game Splits are below:

<table style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.5938px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="542" height="108"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Team</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">Wk
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Opponent</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">Final</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">NG Final</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">Off</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">Def</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">ST</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">Ex</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">FP</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">TO</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Notre Dame</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">1</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Temple</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">W 28-6</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">W 28-6</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">22.4</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.8</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.7</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-1.9</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-2.5</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.0</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Notre Dame</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">2</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Michigan</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">L 30-41</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">L 30-41</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.7</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-17.0</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">3.5</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">1.9</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">8.1</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-4.8</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Notre Dame</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">3</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Purdue</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">W 31-24</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="center">W 31-24</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">9.1</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-1.8</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-0.4</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.0</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.7</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">4.2</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="left">Total</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">32.2</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-18.1</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">3.8</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">0.0</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">6.3</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" align="right">-0.6
</td></tr></tbody></table>

But I don't know if that really debunks the argument. There's no question that the offense could have executed better against Michigan. Kelly admitted it in his subsequent comments to the press. We moved the ball but we left a lot of points out on the field.

The truth of that game is somewhere in the middle, imho. The offense was good but not perfect on a night when it had to be perfect because the opposing QB just had our defense's number. Kelly keeps citing communication issues, caused by the loss of our two most important communicators, Teo and Motta, as what's holding our D back ... hopefully we will see dramatic improvement as this year's D-Boyz get more comfortable with one another and the coaches get their personnel groupings down.

I'm not super worried about the offense. I expect the D to start playing better pretty quickly, and if they play the way I think they're capable of playing, 23 points a game from the offense will be plenty.

 

[koonja]

We need to loosen up on offense, IMO. We have some great WRs for the first time since I can remember (Floyd/Tate were great but after that we had nothing).

TJ/ Brown/DD are all capable of beating teams deep and they've shown it. Not to mention, we've had a lot of success on the deep routes so far. We need to really start slinging it, IMO.

We have the athletes to do it, and it softens up a defense so much, even if you don't complete the pass (but we ARE completing the deep ball, which makes it even more effective).

If we go 3 and out early in the game because we're looking down field to DD/Brown/Jones, so be it. It will keep the defense on their heels for the next 3 quarters, and that 3 and out will be worth it in the short/medium pass game, and especially in the run game for the remainder of the game.

An incomplete 50 yard pass is not always bad.

 

[Wild Bill]

I was at the game and I kept telling my son we needed to run a normal screen to get Purdue to back off a little. We haven't ran the jet sweep this year either. GAIII may not be ideal as a north south RB, but he did pretty well running the jet sweep last year. I also noticed at the start of the game that Kelly had his play chart and was keeping his mouth covered while he was talking. That told me he was calling plays from the start.

They ran a quick shovel pass type sweep to GAIII in the first quarter that picked up a few yards. They ran a sweep in the second quarter with GAIII and picked up about 8 yards. IMO, it was the best blocked running play of the first half. Watt peeled back and threw a nice block. IMO, GAIII ran it like sh!t. Took him about a five minutes to turn the corner, square his shoulders and run down-hill. Once he picked up speed, he ran into his block and fell. Apparently he didn't see the two-way go the lineman gave him (and yes, I'm being very critical of the kid right now).

I agree with with you, I would have liked to see a draw or screen on their first or second possession. Purdue's defense was pursuing hard and it would have slowed them down a bit.

 

[Emcee77]

They ran a quick shovel pass type sweep to GAIII in the first quarter that picked up a few yards. They ran a sweep in the second quarter with GAIII and picked up about 8 yards. IMO, it was the best blocked running play of the first half. Watt peeled back and threw a nice block. IMO, GAIII ran it like sh!t. Took him about a five minutes to turn the corner, square his shoulders and run down-hill. Once he picked up speed, he ran into his block and fell. Apparently he didn't see the two-way go the lineman gave him (and yes, I'm being very critical of the kid right now).

I agree with with you, I would have liked to see a draw or screen on their first or second possession. Purdue's defense was pursuing hard and it would have slowed them down a bit.

Oh man, I remember that play, and I remember thinking the exact same thing. As I watched the play develop I thought it could go for a TD. Then GAIII runs into the blocker and falls down. I was definitely pounding the arm of the sofa on that one.

 

[ulukinatme]

An incomplete 50 yard pass is not always bad.

And if it's intercepted it'll at least be farther than some of our punts anyway, hiyo!

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Oh man, I remember that play, and I remember thinking the exact same thing. As I watched the play develop I thought it could go for a TD. Then GAIII runs into the blocker and falls down. I was definitely pounding the arm of the sofa on that one.

This is one thing I have realized about GAIII that pisses me off. He CANNOT break a tackle. I wish the kid could put the team on his back on one of those shovel passes, break at least ONE tackle and go for a big one. But a simple arm tackle brings him down.

 

[IrishLax]

Hasn't Whiskey consistently posted the offensive splits from the UM game to somewhat debunk this argument...I thought I remembered seeing them previously.

Yes and no... it shows most of the blame is on the D, with some on the O for turnovers. It shows that the O isn't the primary reason why we lost (that would be the D) but it also wasn't "good"... just not really terrible.

 

[Cackalacky]

Yes and no... it shows most of the blame is on the D, with some on the O for turnovers. It shows that the O isn't the primary reason why we lost (that would be the D) but it also wasn't "good"... just not really terrible.

And to further differentiate that bad defense split, I don't think it can tell whether our D was poor or Gardner was spectacular. A little bit a truth to both IMO. Regardless it shows our d struggled with Michigan's offense.

 

[IrishLax]

My whole point in making this thread was to discuss the ridiculously poor game plan/play calling at the start of the Purdue game. That Boilermaker team is a defense that any respectable offense can light up for 50+ without breaking a sweat on a given Saturday. We struggled to THREE POINTS against them in the first half.

Why did we struggle?

1. Predictability. The Purdue players have made it common knowledge that our play calling was repetitive and obvious. In certain formations with certain personnel on the field we run a singular play or two. That's total bush league crap that most HS coaches are smart enough to avoid... much less highly compensated professionals.

2. Bad checks. The defense routinely baited Tommy by showing a certain look into checking to the play they wanted. This is because our offense tends to use pre-determined checks... i.e. if A, then always B... taking the control out of the players' hands. Alabama did the same thing last year when they realized we checked to an Eifert ISO every time we saw a certain defensive alignment. They then baited us into this check knowing that Dee Milliner is pretty darn good at what he does and should be able to cover a tight end.

3. A lack of identity. Good offenses know what they are and what they want to do, and then dare defenses to figure out how to stop it. We run a giant hodgepodge of different packaged plays with seemingly no direction or purpose. It would be nice if we committed to something for even a drive, much less a large portion of a singular game. When you watch a good offense like Alabama or Oregon, you'll note they have that identity. Can anyone on this board tell me what our offense even WANTS to be?

4. A lack of imagination/game plan. Tying into the above, we don't seem to approach these games with any sort of strategy to attack an opponent's weaknesses. Instead, we're making it up as the game goes on and letting their defense dictate what we're going to run (see: checks). This is why sans Temple we've had slow starts. Offensive identity and strategy is the primary responsibility of the offensive coordinator... and the early returns aren't good.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Can anyone on this board tell me what our offense even WANTS to be?

We want to be Clemson. Seems pretty clear that Kelly favors a Power Spread. But our Tahj Boyd got suspended over the summer, and now we've got a poor man's AJ McCarron trying to run the same system. Awkwardness is inevitable.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote, btw.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Lax, completely agree. Now lets just hope the coaches figure this out and aren't so arrogant that they at least try to become better at their jobs.

 

[anarin]

First, both units have played very mediocre and done so against questionable competition to this point. The difference is that we know that Bob Diaco can get his crap together because of 2012's great D + good D in 2011 and the end of 2010.

Do we know that Diaco can get it together? This is his first season without the rock in the middle. And Michigan thrashed the defense, which is something they didn't do against Akron.

Second, there is a whole thread dedicated to the perceived schematic issues on D.

I was unaware or I just don't remember. And I'm not suprised.

Third, to say the Michigan loss was on the D

They Scored 41 points!!!! And amassed 460 total yards. I mean really?!?

ignores the first half turnover that lead to points

So you blame Martin for Rees poor throw?

, the fact that the D scored 7 of the offenses' 30, and that 23 points of offense continually bogging down in the red zone is far from "good.

"

33rd in total offense tells me that the offense isn't bad. I get it though, you want an offense that puts up 50 points and a defense that shuts people down.

And they sputter in the red zone due to the fact the offense is limited to Rees and the runningbacks in there just arent as good as everyone thought they were. To this point in the season I don't blame Martin one bit.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Lax, completely agree. Now lets just hope the coaches figure this out and aren't so arrogant that they at least try to become better at their jobs.

Are you ****ing kidding me?!

 

[IrishLax]

Another game, another piece of evidence that Chuck Martin has no idea how to call a game.

 

[Kanye West]

It was like a 9 year old calling a NCAA game.