MontyPython
Dorothy Mantooth is a saint!
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Not a member of the inner circle so bear with me as I don't know what % of this already in place.
But what I do know is how a team *should* prepare in certain ways for its upcoming game, and it is this:
(1) Adjust Your Players to Game Time.
For the first time this season, we played in prime time with a 7:00 PM start. Were our guys physically synched for this? This is a thing. They didn't look it.
We are all creatures of habit. If you're used to waking up, going to classes, and practicing in the morning, this is what your body is accustomed to. Did Heupel change practices so that our players were used to playing at night - under the lights? This is a *completely* different experience.
A coach who wants to win it all gets this, and changes team practices *each week*.
If we got an 11:00 AM game like Virginia, get our guys playing up and early around that time each and every day in practice during the week leading up to the game. Conversely, if we're playing at 7:00 PM, get them practicing at night - OUTDOORS e.g. Florida game - so their used to it. Yes, this affects all aspects of the players' and coaches' lives, but this is a reasonable sacrifice if you want to win. And, don't forget, it's only roughly 13 weeks of the year, guys. Make the change each week to have our players accustomed to game time.
(2) The Practice Team Should Mirror the Upcoming Opponent.
Our team has literally dozens of guys who will *never* see a single snap in a live game. Ever. And others have talent and are upcoming. Some if not all of these guys serve as the practice squad against our 2-deep starters. This practice team should be decked from head to toe in the EXACT gear that our opponents will wear in the upcoming week. $ should not be an issue here. Similarly, during practice, our 2-deep should be wearing precisely what they'll wear on the upcoming Saturday.
Again, we are creatures of habit. If we practice with our guys in stormtrooper unis against a practice squad dressed in blue jerseys and white pants, our players become accustomed to what *will* happen.
Details matter.
(3) Environmental Factors are Real.
How many times did our offense false start on Saturday? Waaaaaaay too many times. Why?
How many times did our defense commit offsides in BLATENT situations designed to draw them offsides? Why?
The environment. Sadly, the swamp ate our guys up and spit them out. I *thought* we were conditioned better to avoid this, but I was wrong.
During the week leading up to any SEC matchup *away* game, every practice simulation should have 100+ decibel noise at all times. WHAT? Exactly. I'm pretty sure we already do this to some degree, but clearly not enough. Our team - especially the offense - MUST be able to operate without ANY 'normal' verbal communication. And on defense, damn bro! Ain't complicated. Coach Gardner needs to get on our D line's butts about a football 101 concept - WATCH THE BALL, DON'T LISTEN TO THE QB. These types of errors - while understandable - don't and can't happen with championship-level teams.
Enough ranting. Hopefully some % of this post resonates.
Our team needs to fix some **** if they want to compete for an SEC title much less an NC.
GBO.
But what I do know is how a team *should* prepare in certain ways for its upcoming game, and it is this:
(1) Adjust Your Players to Game Time.
For the first time this season, we played in prime time with a 7:00 PM start. Were our guys physically synched for this? This is a thing. They didn't look it.
We are all creatures of habit. If you're used to waking up, going to classes, and practicing in the morning, this is what your body is accustomed to. Did Heupel change practices so that our players were used to playing at night - under the lights? This is a *completely* different experience.
A coach who wants to win it all gets this, and changes team practices *each week*.
If we got an 11:00 AM game like Virginia, get our guys playing up and early around that time each and every day in practice during the week leading up to the game. Conversely, if we're playing at 7:00 PM, get them practicing at night - OUTDOORS e.g. Florida game - so their used to it. Yes, this affects all aspects of the players' and coaches' lives, but this is a reasonable sacrifice if you want to win. And, don't forget, it's only roughly 13 weeks of the year, guys. Make the change each week to have our players accustomed to game time.
(2) The Practice Team Should Mirror the Upcoming Opponent.
Our team has literally dozens of guys who will *never* see a single snap in a live game. Ever. And others have talent and are upcoming. Some if not all of these guys serve as the practice squad against our 2-deep starters. This practice team should be decked from head to toe in the EXACT gear that our opponents will wear in the upcoming week. $ should not be an issue here. Similarly, during practice, our 2-deep should be wearing precisely what they'll wear on the upcoming Saturday.
Again, we are creatures of habit. If we practice with our guys in stormtrooper unis against a practice squad dressed in blue jerseys and white pants, our players become accustomed to what *will* happen.
Details matter.
(3) Environmental Factors are Real.
How many times did our offense false start on Saturday? Waaaaaaay too many times. Why?
How many times did our defense commit offsides in BLATENT situations designed to draw them offsides? Why?
The environment. Sadly, the swamp ate our guys up and spit them out. I *thought* we were conditioned better to avoid this, but I was wrong.
During the week leading up to any SEC matchup *away* game, every practice simulation should have 100+ decibel noise at all times. WHAT? Exactly. I'm pretty sure we already do this to some degree, but clearly not enough. Our team - especially the offense - MUST be able to operate without ANY 'normal' verbal communication. And on defense, damn bro! Ain't complicated. Coach Gardner needs to get on our D line's butts about a football 101 concept - WATCH THE BALL, DON'T LISTEN TO THE QB. These types of errors - while understandable - don't and can't happen with championship-level teams.
Enough ranting. Hopefully some % of this post resonates.
Our team needs to fix some **** if they want to compete for an SEC title much less an NC.
GBO.
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