January 1 | Oklahoma State | Fiesta Bowl

[T-Boone]

Isn't Saban's job made easy by the fact he knows he has the best RBs, WRs, OLmen and now QB in the country. He isn't a great offensive brain.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

 

[chicago51]

That 5 star gap is depressing.

 

[chicago51]

Isn't Saban's job made easy by the fact he knows he has the best RBs, WRs, OLmen and now QB in the country. He isn't a great offensive brain.

Yes Saban has the best players.

No he isn't an offensive genius but make no mistake he knows offense, and knows what he wants his offense to look like.

My point was he's gone through a lot of OCs. They aren't throwing out the O and starting over every time a new OC comes. Yes the new OC will add things, and enhance. Yes the Bama O has evolved, the 2021 Bama O isn't the 09 Bama O, but it's been gradual.

A defensive minded head coach needs to have an idea what he wants in an offense and that includes some general/ semi specific stuff when it comes to scheme.

A good head coach (we sure hope MF is a good head coach) is going to lose coordinators. The best head coaches hire new coordinators to build on the scheme and players they have. They don't hire coordinators that are going to build a completely different scheme.

For instance if Tommy somehow vanishes into thin air tomorrow it probably wouldn't be a wise move for MF to bring in a triple option OC, or an OC that is 4 and 5 WRs all the time and doesn't utilize TEs much. As head coach you want to have some semblance of what you want in terms of personel and scheme on both sides of the ball. You don't have to be a genius on both sides of the ball but you got to know what you want to some degree.

 

[stpeteirish]

If having the fourth best talent in the country makes you depressed you need medical attention

 

[NDRock]

If having the fourth best talent in the country makes you depressed you need medical attention

Not to pick nits but that’s 4th best of the NY6 bowls. It’s only depressing if you’re hoping to win a NC.

 

[Irish#1]

I’m not so sure. How was Cincy’s tempo?

MF’s two biggest coaching influences are Luke Fickell and Jim Tressel. Tressel was Mr. Conservative. Fickell doesn’t seem all that different from BK in terms of tempo but I haven’t watched UC that closely.

He might surprise but everything in Freeman’s coaching ancestry and Freeman’s own football history suggest he’ll want to take care of the defense. Going fast and allowing defense less time to rest doesn’t seem like it would be his style.

If anything Freeman being smart and cutting edge may opt for selective tempo, where at times you go fast, at times you are methodical; Alabama style. Nick Sabin was Mr. Conservative but these days he’s opted for being selectively up tempo on offense, despite he himself being a defensive guy.

I don’t see us playing Lincoln Riley, or 2014 Art Briles tempo though. Nor do I necessarily want us to play that way.

I was referring to the opening drive. I don't see MF[SUP]2[/SUP] and TR keeping that type of pace for the entire game.

 

[Irish#1]

Yes Saban has the best players.

No he isn't an offensive genius but make no mistake he knows offense, and knows what he wants his offense to look like.

My point was he's gone through a lot of OCs. They aren't throwing out the O and starting over every time a new OC comes. Yes the new OC will add things, and enhance. Yes the Bama O has evolved, the 2021 Bama O isn't the 09 Bama O, but it's been gradual.

A defensive minded head coach needs to have an idea what he wants in an offense and that includes some general/ semi specific stuff when it comes to scheme.

A good head coach (we sure hope MF is a good head coach) is going to lose coordinators. The best head coaches hire new coordinators to build on the scheme and players they have. They don't hire coordinators that are going to build a completely different scheme.

For instance if Tommy somehow vanishes into thin air tomorrow it probably wouldn't be a wise move for MF to bring in a triple option OC, or an OC that is 4 and 5 WRs all the time and doesn't utilize TEs much. As head coach you want to have some semblance of what you want in terms of personel and scheme on both sides of the ball. You don't have to be a genius on both sides of the ball but you got to know what you want to some degree.

I don't think this is true. I remember hearing him on the radio around 2015 or 16 discussing how he needed to modernize the offense and he dove in feet first with Hurts in 2016.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

That 5 star gap is depressing.

Gap is closing; we've got Keeley and Bowen next year alone, hopefully more to come.

 

[DCDomer]

Freeman is going to close that 5-Star gap and give us a shot.

 

[chicago51]

So what are the odds ND (or OK State for that matter) gets hozed by Covid protocols???

I feel like it's bound to happen, seeing what's happening in NFL.

 

[stpeteirish]

Just saw TA@M pulled out of the Gator bowl

 

[IrishLax]

So what are the odds ND (or OK State for that matter) gets hozed by Covid protocols???

I feel like it's bound to happen, seeing what's happening in NFL.

Almost 100%. We are going to have players traveling home for Christmas through public transit hubs, and they are almost certain to get COVID.

 

[chicago51]

My nightmare scenario is Harbaugh somehow gets by Kirby Smart. Then Bryce Young gets Covid, and scUM ends up our national champions .

I'm going to be so pissed Kelly lost to Cincinnati if that happens.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

My nightmare scenario is Harbaugh somehow gets by Kirby Smart. Then Bryce Young gets Covid, and scUM ends up our national champions .

I'm going to be so pissed Kelly lost to Cincinnati if that happens.

You shut your dirty mouth....that would just be the worst...don't put that evil on us

 

[phillyirish]

Lol 5-7 Illinois’s and Rutgers are pushing to be in the gator bowl now. I gotta think that if any 5-7 team goes, it’ll be Texas if they want it.

Funny thing is, I could see one of those teams beating Wale Forest.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Almost 100%. We are going to have players traveling home for Christmas through public transit hubs, and they are almost certain to get COVID.

That would be tough to take. I think the team is fired up.

 

[Irishize]

Almost 100%. We are going to have players traveling home for Christmas through public transit hubs, and they are almost certain to get COVID.

Will they have to give back their PS5s?

 

[Wild Bill]

Will they have to give back their PS5s?

Be reasonable.

 

[Irishize]

Be reasonable.

It was a joke…should’ve used italics or whatever font they use on this board.

 

[Dale]

ND and Ok St players spend the next week in their childhood rooms playing PlayStation, no one gets COVID and we become de facto national champions as the only bowl game played.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Damn. I hope all works out and the kids are careful. We are experiencing a major uptick in cases right now in the city. Half the guys I work with have tested positive over the past couple of days.

 

[IrishLax]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1473757796701282315?s=20[/TWEET]

Is this smart or a mistake? On the plus side, gets them back in the fold faster. On the downside, has them in a hotel surrounded by randos for an extra two days. I think it depends on what testing protocol is.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Crus and Whiskey will be glad handing the players and their families, meanwhile emanating foul COVID miasmas and the faint aroma of IPA and peat.

 

[chicago51]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1473757796701282315?s=20[/TWEET]

Is this smart or a mistake? On the plus side, gets them back in the fold faster. On the downside, has them in a hotel surrounded by randos for an extra two days. I think it depends on what testing protocol is.

I think they are going to be in a bubble once they get down there.

The key is the holiday break anyway. Covid incubation time is vast majority of cases 5 days or more. If they can just get to Arizona Covid exposure free, they’ll be good through the Fiesta Bowl most likely. May test positive after the Fiesta bowl now but they should make it through the game if they can avoid exposure till they get down to Arizona.

It may have been a mistake to send the players home for Christmas though.

 

[Irishize]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1473757796701282315?s=20[/TWEET]

Is this smart or a mistake? On the plus side, gets them back in the fold faster. On the downside, has them in a hotel surrounded by randos for an extra two days. I think it depends on what testing protocol is.

If they are vaxxed & asymptomatic then they shouldn’t be tested period. If not, what’s the point. As to your question, I think it’s a coin toss and over analyzing it just leads to undue stress. Roll the dice and hope for the best.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1473757796701282315?s=20[/TWEET]

Is this smart or a mistake? On the plus side, gets them back in the fold faster. On the downside, has them in a hotel surrounded by randos for an extra two days. I think it depends on what testing protocol is.

Smart, I think. As you said, back in the fold sooner, which means back under the aegis of the team's COVID bubble and protocols. The longer they're off the reservation, the higher the risk.

Crus and Whiskey will be glad handing the players and their families, meanwhile emanating foul COVID miasmas and the faint aroma of IPA and peat.

I spent way too much on Fiesta Bowl tickets, so I'm more likely to be imitating Terry Tate by tackling randos in the hotel hallway to maintain the integrity of the team's COVID bubble.

 

[Irishize]

Smart, I think. As you said, back in the fold sooner, which means back under the aegis of the team's COVID bubble and protocols. The longer they're off the reservation, the higher the risk.



I spent way too much on Fiesta Bowl tickets, so I'm more likely to be imitating Terry Tate by tackling randos in the hotel hallway to maintain the integrity of the team's COVID bubble.

Nice. Enjoy the festivities & the game! We looked at going last minute. There looks to be some decent tickets at decent prices last I looked. Plenty of hotels in the area, too. Stay safe!

 

[chicago51]

If they are vaxxed & asymptomatic then they shouldn’t be tested period. If not, what’s the point. As to your question, I think it’s a coin toss and over analyzing it just leads to undue stress. Roll the dice and hope for the best.

Yeah this probably belongs in Covid thread but as health care professional I’ve worked with active Covid patients, right now I’m working with a lot of post Covid patient’s recovering. In terms of hospitalizations / deaths it’s really 1) unvaccinated, mostly old but a few youngins mixed in, 2) the elderly / immunocompromised despite their vaccination status.

Vaccinated elite college athletes are going to be fine. We should honestly treat it like a cold for them.

I take an alt middle perspective on Covid in that I think we should be doubling down on protecting the elderly / immuno compromised (if that means continued masking / restrictions for me at work that’s okay by me) and kind of loosening the reigns on young people, particularly vaccinated young people.

If they are asymptomatic they should let the kids play. These PCR test are really sensitive. If you want a compromise do only antigen testing on vaccinated athletes which detects fully intact viral proteins not just trace amount of virus. Yes antigen testing is a bit less accurate than PCR but it’s still fairly accurate. And a positive antigen test is a better indicator you are actually contagious. You can get a positive PCR test and potentially not even be contagious if you are asymptomatic and have either vaccine / natural immunity .

 

[Irishize]

Yeah this probably belongs in Covid thread but as health care professional I’ve worked with active Covid patients, right now I’m working with a lot of post Covid patient’s recovering. In terms of hospitalizations / deaths it’s really 1) unvaccinated, mostly old but a few youngins mixed in, 2) the elderly / immunocompromised despite their vaccination status.

Vaccinated elite college athletes are going to be fine. We should honestly treat it like a cold for them.

I take an alt middle perspective on Covid in that I think we should be doubling down on protecting the elderly / immuno compromised (if that means continued masking / restrictions for me at work that’s okay by me) and kind of loosening the reigns on young people, particularly vaccinated young people.

If they are asymptomatic they should let the kids play. These PCR test are really sensitive. If you want a compromise do only antigen testing on vaccinated athletes which detects fully intact viral proteins not just trace amount of virus. Yes antigen testing is a bit less accurate than PCR but it’s still fairly accurate. And a positive antigen test is a better indicator you are actually contagious. You can get a positive PCR test and potentially not even be contagious if you are asymptomatic and have either vaccine / natural immunity .

My wife has worked in ICU w/ COVID patients and concurs with your anecdote. Again, it’s just anecdotal but all the ones she’s treated were unvaxxed w/ co-morbidities.