Thoughts on the 2015 season ( v long)

[Carl Spackler]

This is a moment of crack. This was against Army not a typical P5 school. Pay close attention to the two OT, use the pause button. This the type of thing he has been preaching about. This is the type of thing Spackler talks about, bringing it to the 4th quarter. Everything starts with the level of fitness.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...&mid=C9203683BAA4B401896BC9203683BAA4B401896B

Nice Duncan.

It's cliché's galore, to describe it. The moment of crack. That's a new one. I like it. Is that yours?

Fatigue makes cowards of everybody is another. Bottom line is that the mind and body work together and drive each other and your level of both mental and physical fitness and conditioning in whatever your job is, is directly related to how far you are going to be able to push yourself to perform. In my life I've seen people that look like physical monsters break down under the very first real mental or physical stress and I've seen people that on first look, you wouldn't put anywhere within 50feet of the label "tough.", seen them perfrom and never break, through any number of 'moments of crack."

That play represents two things, Whitmer's fatal mental flaw when trying to make thigns happen late in games, and our failure to be conditioned well enough for the lineman to be making blocking decisions pre-snap across the defensive front, and our tackles to keep their feet moving fast enough and their bodies grounded and balanced well enough on the last play of the game, as they are for the first.

Hopefully both issues on display on that key play during the course of the season (the slim hopes of a 6-6 season and bowl game were right there) will be fixed this season.

 

[junglehusky]

Moment of crack is a Diacoism. #momentofcrack

 

[Excalibur]

That play represents two things, Whitmer's fatal mental flaw when trying to make thigns happen late in games, and our failure to be conditioned well enough for the lineman to be making blocking decisions pre-snap across the defensive front, and our tackles to keep their feet moving fast enough and their bodies grounded and balanced well enough on the last play of the game, as they are for the first.

Certainly on the left side, Levy was completely gassed. On the right, Knappe did his job. It was five full seconds before the end was anywhere near a place where he could make a play, and that was only because Whitmer was Whitmer, and instead of sliding to open space, he dropped back all the way to the 20 and right into the defensive end who had (properly) been pushed in that direction by Knappe.

The left side, on the other hand, was a complete clusterf&#$ and a perfect example of everything that was wrong last year. We had a TE (McQuillan?) with no clue where he should be lining up a second before the ball was snapped, a LT who either thought the TE was supposed to pick up the DE on his left or missed his assignment completely, and then made no effort to get back in the play, and an apparent double team (if Levy was supposed to double the DT) get beat cleanly.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Certainly on the left side, Levy was completely gassed. On the right, Knappe did his job. It was five full seconds before the end was anywhere near a place where he could make a play, and that was only because Whitmer was Whitmer, and instead of sliding to open space, he dropped back all the way to the 20 and right into the defensive end who had (properly) been pushed in that direction by Knappe.

The left side, on the other hand, was a complete clusterf&#$ and a perfect example of everything that was wrong last year. We had a TE (McQuillan?) with no clue where he should be lining up a second before the ball was snapped, a LT who either thought the TE was supposed to pick up the DE on his left or missed his assignment completely, and then made no effort to get back in the play, and an apparent double team (if Levy was supposed to double the DT) get beat cleanly.

Tommy Meyers

 

[Duncan Idaho]

On Whitmer's earlier interception, he had trips to left with the olb or safety helping on the wideout , Levy was in good position but instead he rolled right, threw on the run to the middle of the field into traffic.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Moment of crack is a Diacoism. #momentofcrack

I love it. The possibilities of creating imagery to go with the phrase to get the point across is phenomenal. You can approach that moment of crack, from both the receiving and giving angles. So many possibilities.

THe guy really is something. I do really, really hope that he transforms into a great head coach, and it can all translate into an effective football team that can compete and win on the field, and if so, that we hang on to this young guy for a long, long time. It would be good if it all got going starting in like say 72 hours.

 

[spsct]

Good Writeup, Whaler... Pretty much covered everything.

 

[RedStickHusky]

You only need look at our OL to see why you're wrong. You won't, because your schtick is your UConn and Diaco hate, but it's clear as day. We haven't been able to block or protect for the better part of 2-3 years.

Exactly! When every play is a jail break play calling doesn't matter so much. We looked like went sent a 7 man team to play against 11 at times last year.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I love it. The possibilities of creating imagery to go with the phrase to get the point across is phenomenal. You can approach that moment of crack, from both the receiving and giving angles. So many possibilities.

THe guy really is something. I do really, really hope that he transforms into a great head coach, and it can all translate into an effective football team that can compete and win on the field, and if so, that we hang on to this young guy for a long, long time. It would be good if it all got going starting in like say 72 hours.

Approach the crack. It could be a long season....

 

[RedStickHusky]

This.

Not saying he isn't a good game day coach, but based on last year he either has 1) a steep learning curve to overcome or 2) made the conscious decision to choose development over wins/losses last year. I'm hoping (and my gut tells me) its #2. However, without enough evidence the jury is still out. We should be more competitive in more games this year, which in turn will lead to situations that will better inform our perception of him as a game day coach. I'm hoping (and my gut tells me) he will make more mistakes early, but learn from them as the season wears on. I will withhold any evaluations I make until the end of the season.

Having said all that, Hoophound is right. If he proves to have/develop the game day chops, watch out. This year will have signs of hope, and next year should be very good.

He told us it was #2 (and it smelled like #2), while it was happening. With all of his process partners and exhibition season comments... maybe he's an overly excited straight shooter and we should take him at face value....

 

[Carl Spackler]

Approach the crack. It could be a long season....

Last season reduced me to writing extensively about how wide ranging ritual animal sacrifice in my basement was just as effective in helping this team get a win, than anything they were actually doing to prepare for games.

I'm going to take this season one game at a time. No other choice. For now, we need to approach the moment of crack with confidence.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I'm down with the concept of the moment of crack, akin to what mortals might call a breaking point. For me, I'm not sure I can confine the crack to a moment, I'm hoping to avoid a season of crack. There's been some great discussion in this thread although it hurt to rewatch that army pick six, it did illustrate the point. The thing about being in for 60, and I agree on fitness, is that you can't play your way out of in the first 50. If I see ball security against Nova, I think a lot of things are possible going forward. I just don't want to see a staff afraid of its own offense again.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'm down with the concept of the moment of crack, akin to what mortals might call a breaking point. For me, I'm not sure I can confine the crack to a moment, I'm hoping to avoid a season of crack. There's been some great discussion in this thread although it hurt to rewatch that army pick six, it did illustrate the point. The thing about being in for 60, and I agree on fitness, is that you can't play your way out of in the first 50. If I see ball security against Nova, I think a lot of things are possible going forward. I just don't want to see a staff afraid of its own offense again.

Let the mind drive the body, and not the body drive the mind.

Performance always reflects the level of preparation, whatever the task may be.