Overall (not just Game Management) thoughts on the coach

[Duncan Idaho]

I already typed my thoughts about last night's game. I think everyone with a clue, and even most of those without recognized the latest in a series of recurring issues with Diaco's clock management. As a defensive coach you know the drill there, you don't let someone get up, should have been pass (or boot pass with a pass-run option for Sherriffs) and then if you must run, you run on the last play when the clock is going to expire anyways.

Beyond that.. (and yes I recognize the morning after it's a bit like asking "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?") what are the thoughts on Diaco as an overall head-coach. Game day is obviously a big part of it, but Benedict and/or Diaco can come up with a solution there, you can appoint someone to act in a clock management capacity if your head-coach or offensive coordinator (or both) just doesn't get it. I think one of the things that perhaps head-coaches from the defensive-side of the ball don't realize as well is clock management. As a D-coordinator, the clock is your ally, you don't want to push tempo, if the clock runs out, they can't score. As a part of that comes the challenge of not really having learned how to manage the clock or play-calling to maximize opportunities to score, if/when you ascend to lead your own program.

In the end, though, there is more to the head-coaches responsibility than just the game day. There is the program management and recruiting. While the game-day is the most visible, the day-to-day operations are of course, as important, if not moreso to the future of your program. This is where I think Diaco has done a pretty good job. Unquestionably the program was left in a poor shape by the former regime. Recruiting is as good, if not better, than it's ever been. The players believe in the program, and you can see development and improvement in the player's skill levels and physical ability year after year. There is some positive here and the clock-management can be developed (and must be helped in the short-term). Improvement must be shown, and I'm sure (or hopeful) the AD and Head Coach will have some blunt conversations on the mistakes made and a real plan to address them for next week and beyond.

Not that the boneyard is ever shy, looking at things in total (not just the game-day disasters) how does coach stack up? Are there enough positives to outweigh the game-management "opportunities"?

The recruiting is not as good or better than its ever been.

 

[Jimdish255]

The last step in the process should be to re-evaluate your assumptions and reflect on your own game performance. I'm coming around to the opinion that he never had to spend much time on game management and was so obsessed with turnovers he hasn't done his own homework on the subject during the off-season. Hoping you'll get better over time isn't the same as preparing.

 

[Huskygamble19]

Well..He has always been saying that he has to start from the ground up with bringing this program to be competitive at all levels so I guess philosophy could have played itself out in the end of the Navy game. this is year 3 of his head coaching tenure and maybe (in his mind) he felt that if we beat Navy, it was too fast and made it look like we had reached the pinnacle ahead of time. He needs time to build up to actually beat Navy when we are favored to do so. Beating Navy now doesn't fit into his scenario. As far fetched as that might seem, it is better logic then what we saw in the end of that game. to sum up my feelings toward him overall....crickets.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The job of Head Coach can be whittled to the following in no particular order.

1. Winning
2. Recruiting
3. Teaching
4. Motivating
5. Brand Ambassador
6. Managing the Program


The timeout fiasco falls under winning, which we aren't doing enough of along with a bunch of other reasons.

He has been average to above average in the other 5 tasks. He can still get better, his recruiting classes making an impact will probably define his tenure should the win number gradually increase. I don't think we have the next Nick Saban, but we also don't have the last five coaches collectively rolled out by BC and Syracuse either.

This goes back to my point of things that need to be done vice things that need to be done by the HC.

2,3 and 4 can largely be delegated to assistants. HC's spend little time with players during practice. It's mostly position coaches and a little bit of coordinators.
Recruiting only needs HC for the final sell. Assistants should be 90%+ of the effort.
Same with motivating.

 

[blue93]

This goes back to my point of things that need to be done vice things that need to be done by the HC.

2,3 and 4 can largely be delegated to assistants. HC's spend little time with players during practice. It's mostly position coaches and a little bit of coordinators.
Recruiting only needs HC for the final sell. Assistants should be 90%+ of the effort.
Same with motivating.

Is there any evidence that he doesn't delegate those things to his assistants though? I'm not sure where this narrative is coming from.

 

[ZooCougar]

Is there any evidence that he doesn't delegate those things to his assistants though? I'm not sure where this narrative is coming from.

Well... At least for in game stuff. Other than the fact that he is never composed and seems often lack situational awareness and understanding at critical moments. The evidence is in the results.

Look at this way: If he does delegate this, then his subordinates are either doing a terrible job, or he's simply not listening to them. In which case, it would be the same thing as not delegating.

 

[freescooter]

Our sideline never looks organized and in control.. This isn't basketball where the coach is running back and forth. Most head football coaches barely acknowledge the world never mind the rest of it. Barely show any emotion. Diaco is like a middle school coach. Focus on the game, strategy, let whoever sends in the plays just get it done. If we don't call another time out because we didn't get the play in we will still have called too many! I think the craziness going on on the sidelines contributes to all this stuff. It's pretty hard to keep things organized when the coach is jumping around like a madman.