GaviND
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Howdy folks! I am new to this board but have spent a lot of time over on Irish Eyes. Due to the way things have been going lately, there have been an inordinant amount of trolls out and I just can't handle it over there right now.
Anyway, I hope this is not the wrong foot to get off on, but, here we go...
After the Purdue game, we were 3-1. We had been in too many hotly contested games, but for the better part, we were winning. The way we were going, I was cautious knowing we needed to play better defense, but at the same time I told everyone, "at some point, people will start to say, 'this team just knows how to win.'" But that was not the case.
In far too many of these games we were losing games because it seemed our players were not prepared; they were undisciplined and did not make the proper adjustments to stop what was working for the opposition.
We have known the entire season that our defense was suspect. Our run defense played very well at times, but less than admirably in others and our pass defense has been porous all year. As an elite offense, you can try to do one of two things:
1. Play conservative and try to control the clock; keep your defense off the field and fresh and hope they make a few stops and your offens can captitalize.
2. Turn games into shootouts and force other teams to play with you; come out slingin' it and mixing it up. Let your offense be electric.
In the first game of the year, we put it on Nevada. Say what you will about Nevada, but we went out trying to score and then score some more. We went up and down the field quickly and efficiently and when we got a stop we turned them into a one dimensional team -- and our defense was able to capitalize.
After a few games though -- more accurately, after the Michigan State game -- we became as conservative as could be. We became less of a dynamic offense and more of a "let's try to eek this one out," kind of team.
In the Purdue game, I understood it. We were without Floyd and Allen and Jimmy was so dinged up with the foot injury he was limited in action. After that game, we never really got back to what we were and what we should have been. In hindsight, I see it more clearly. This team became a team trying not to lose as opposed to trying to win.
Our coach became a man who was coaching simply to try and keep his job.
It's funny. There are those who will look back on this season and be disgusted by what this season turned out to be, but the thing I think that will upset me most -- the thing I will think of about this team -- is what it should have been.
This school may never see a group of skilled position players -- no matter the coach -- like Tate, Floyd, Rudolph and Clausen again. This could have been and should have been the greatest offense in the history of our school -- but it will be remembered as just another team in a 13 year stretch that underperformed.
Sadly, this team turned out to be nothing more than a symbol of one of the saddest eras in our football program's history.
Anyway, I hope this is not the wrong foot to get off on, but, here we go...
After the Purdue game, we were 3-1. We had been in too many hotly contested games, but for the better part, we were winning. The way we were going, I was cautious knowing we needed to play better defense, but at the same time I told everyone, "at some point, people will start to say, 'this team just knows how to win.'" But that was not the case.
In far too many of these games we were losing games because it seemed our players were not prepared; they were undisciplined and did not make the proper adjustments to stop what was working for the opposition.
We have known the entire season that our defense was suspect. Our run defense played very well at times, but less than admirably in others and our pass defense has been porous all year. As an elite offense, you can try to do one of two things:
1. Play conservative and try to control the clock; keep your defense off the field and fresh and hope they make a few stops and your offens can captitalize.
2. Turn games into shootouts and force other teams to play with you; come out slingin' it and mixing it up. Let your offense be electric.
In the first game of the year, we put it on Nevada. Say what you will about Nevada, but we went out trying to score and then score some more. We went up and down the field quickly and efficiently and when we got a stop we turned them into a one dimensional team -- and our defense was able to capitalize.
After a few games though -- more accurately, after the Michigan State game -- we became as conservative as could be. We became less of a dynamic offense and more of a "let's try to eek this one out," kind of team.
In the Purdue game, I understood it. We were without Floyd and Allen and Jimmy was so dinged up with the foot injury he was limited in action. After that game, we never really got back to what we were and what we should have been. In hindsight, I see it more clearly. This team became a team trying not to lose as opposed to trying to win.
Our coach became a man who was coaching simply to try and keep his job.
It's funny. There are those who will look back on this season and be disgusted by what this season turned out to be, but the thing I think that will upset me most -- the thing I will think of about this team -- is what it should have been.
This school may never see a group of skilled position players -- no matter the coach -- like Tate, Floyd, Rudolph and Clausen again. This could have been and should have been the greatest offense in the history of our school -- but it will be remembered as just another team in a 13 year stretch that underperformed.
Sadly, this team turned out to be nothing more than a symbol of one of the saddest eras in our football program's history.
