Lessons Learned

[T_man_J]

We have one of the most talented teams in the nation. Unfortunately, it is the coaching staff’s responsibility to ensure that these young men are prepared to compete at the Division I-A level. Many want to argue that dropped passes, fumbles, and motivation are not the responsibility of the coaching staff. I submit to you that everything that happens in practice and on game day is the staff’s responsibility. Here are some maxims that I hope our coaching staff have learned from this season.

1) Never go into Fall camp without a named starting QB: Extending the QB contest into the Fall camp meant that both QBs had to share practice snaps; therefore, neither QB was ready for the start of the season.

2) If the offensive line cannot drive block, teach them to trap block (it will not hurt their feelings).

3) If a player drops a pass or fumbles in practice, make him run laps (it will not hurt his feelings).

4) It is okay to run short passing routes over the middle.

5) If you gain 12 yards on an offensive play, it is okay (and legal) to run the play again.

6) If you gain 15 yards the second time you run an offensive play, it is okay (and legal) to run the play again.

7) No special rules or privileges for “special” players. This includes travel dress and off-field activities.

8) Never try to “reteach” QB mechanics. If the QB does not have the fundamentals, you should not have recruited him.

9) If pass protection breaks down and the QB has to scramble, teach the receivers to break off their route and come back to help the QB.

We are lucky to have such talented young players; I do look forward to next year. I hope our coaches understand that young impressionable men will perform up to expectations and it will be up to the coaches (whomever they may be) to establish and maintain these expectations.

 

[BHAMVOLFAN]

Very good points. One exception however. As to "never go into the fall without naming a starting QB," I believe the staff desperately wanted to name a starting QB, in fact they stated as much in August. As things unfolded, neither kid got the job done. Even though both were given many opportunities to win the job, neither did. Both have limitations which left us high and dry. If Ainge had been named the starter and had been allowed to stay in that position, even when he would have been projected to have a 40% or less completion percentage, a 0-16 TD to INT ratio, 90% of the fan base would have been calling for his head. OTOH, with Rick, we had a qb with very limited physical tools, but a team that at least responded to him from time too time. You can't ask for a worse situation.

If BS had kept his nose clean + if we had treated him as "fairly" as we did Brooks, we'd be on the way at least to the Citrus Bowl. You must have a competent QB to win at this level. We didn't.

 

[ThebigO]

I doubt Ainge's stats would've been that bad. He's not the brightest bulb in the pack, but more practice reps couldn't have hurt.

 

[secfanclub]

And:

10) Coaches, it's okay to chew-out players when they make bone-head mistakes. (you won't hurt their feelings)

 

[GAVol]

How many chances does Ainge get? Some want to blame the coaching staff for mismanaging him, but the fact is that the QB carousel is a direct result of Ainge not being able to hold the job.

 

[T_man_J]

Originally posted by BHAMVOLFAN@Nov 20, 2005 11:08 AM
Very good points.  One exception however.  As to "never go into the fall without naming a starting QB," I believe the staff desperately wanted to name a starting QB, in fact they stated as much in August.  As things unfolded, neither kid got the job done.  Even though both were given many opportunities to win the job, neither did.  Both have limitations which left us high and dry.  If Ainge had been named the starter and had been allowed to stay in that position, even when he would have been projected to have a 40% or less completion percentage, a 0-16 TD to INT ratio, 90% of the fan base would have been calling for his head.  OTOH, with Rick, we had a qb with very limited physical tools, but a team that at least responded to him from time too time.  You can't ask for a worse situation. 

If BS had kept his nose clean + if we had treated him as "fairly" as we did Brooks, we'd be on the way at least to the Citrus Bowl.  You must have a competent QB to win at this level. We didn't.

[snapback]197822[/snapback]​

Good observations. I still contend that if one QB was picked as the starter at the beginning of Fall camp, that QB would have received the majority of snaps; therefore, would have been better prepared for the season. Whatever differentiator required to make the decision, e.g, completion percentage, leadership, etc. should have been used to name the starter. The QB controversy caused player dissension that destroyed the cohesion of the team (remember forming, storming, and norming?). Our team never reached the norming stage this year.

 

[CSpindizzy]

I'd agree on the WR's helping out a little more. One thing I took in from the ND game is their receivers played KEY roles in positions even when they did not get a pass. They blocked, trapped, and did everything they could as well as linemen did. Ours seem to run their routes and show half-reared efforts at making the catch.

 

[Lexvol]

Originally posted by GAVol@Nov 20, 2005 11:17 AM
How many chances does Ainge get?  Some want to blame the coaching staff for mismanaging him, but the fact is that the QB carousel is a direct result of Ainge not being able to hold the job.

[snapback]197833[/snapback]​

Ainge had his chances, but the situation was mismanaged none the less. The off season and the entire season the team has stunk of mismangement.

What does Fulmer say after the game?
Riggs was injured.....
Jason Allen was injured....
we didn't have confidence in our passing game..
Tough schedule....
Calls that didn't go our way....

This will not get any better until CPF realizes how inept his management has been this year, and changes that behavior somehow. :mf_surrender:

 

[smokedog#3]

fulmer needs to go out and get another QB. if he doesn't and crompton doesn't pan out this year may look good . i personally think ainge is done. regardless he is not aleader.

 

[Bama Reb]

Originally posted by T_man_J@Nov 20, 2005 10:06 AM
9) If pass protection breaks down and the QB has to scramble, teach the receivers to break off their route and come back to help the QB.

[snapback]197780[/snapback]​

This is the only part of your quote that I have a problem with.

Receivers cross the line of scrimmage and move forward in their routes. The ball is handed backward to the QB who moves backward thru the pocket to set for the pass. All this happens in about 3 seconds. How on earth can you expect the receivers to run their routes while watching the QB at the same time? Then, if the intended receivers are able to see the protection break down, how long will it take for them to stop, reverse course and return across the line of scrimmage in order to help the QB avoid a sack? If you can find anyone that fast, recruit him!
:stop:

 

[MemphisVol]

Since Ainge's problems seem primarily mental, I agree that, however he was playing we should have announced him as the #1 in Spring or Fall and told him it was his to lose. Instead, from Spring all the way into the actual season all we concentrated on was, from their point of view, how both kids sucked a little too much to have the job. To me, that's mental mismanagement- in fact if you set out to intentionally screw with a kids confidence that's a pretty good plan. However they ended up doing because of their actually talent, our QBs would have at least played up to theirs this year...

 

[T_man_J]

Originally posted by Bama Reb@Nov 20, 2005 12:25 PM
This is the only part of your quote that I have a problem with.

Receivers cross the line of scrimmage and move forward in their routes.  The ball is handed backward to the QB who moves backward thru the pocket to set for the pass.  All this happens in about 3 seconds. How on earth can you expect the receivers to run their routes while watching the QB at the same time? Then, if the intended receivers are able to see the protection break down,  how long will it take for them to stop, reverse course and return across the line of scrimmage in order to help the QB avoid a sack? If you can find anyone that fast, recruit him!
:stop:

[snapback]197902[/snapback]​

Many passing routes we have used this year have been outside routes that are within the 10 to 20 yard range (sometimes the primary route; sometimes the secondary). Since most of our receivers run a low four-second 40 (about 10 yards per second), that means that receivers running this route should be expecting the ball (and looking at the QB) between one to three seconds after the ball is snapped. If they see the QB running for his life toward the sidelines, they should either run toward the QB or run parallel with the QB (whichever route gives them distance from the defender). This year, on pass-play breakdowns, many of our receivers have simply given up on the play.

 

[Lexvol]

Receivers are always supposed to come back to the ball once the QB leaves the pocket. Period. Of course they are supposed to watch the QB and run their route.

I don't think the receivers are very well coached. That is really the point SD was trying to make.

 

[secfanclub]

Originally posted by Lexvol@Nov 20, 2005 11:37 AM
Ainge had his chances, but the situation was mismanaged none the less.  The off season and the entire season the team has stunk of mismangement. 

What does Fulmer say after the game? 
Riggs was injured.....
Jason Allen was injured....
we didn't have confidence in our passing game..
Tough schedule....
Calls that didn't go our way....

This will not get any better until CPF realizes how inept his management has been this year, and changes that behavior somehow.  :mf_surrender:

[snapback]197853[/snapback]​

I agree. Until CPF "steps up to the plate" and gives a better accounting of the problems instead of using the same old excuses, this team will always find a lame excuse to lose.

 

[IBleedOrange]

Originally posted by Bama Reb@Nov 20, 2005 1:25 PM
This is the only part of your quote that I have a problem with.

Receivers cross the line of scrimmage and move forward in their routes.  The ball is handed backward to the QB who moves backward thru the pocket to set for the pass.  All this happens in about 3 seconds. How on earth can you expect the receivers to run their routes while watching the QB at the same time? Then, if the intended receivers are able to see the protection break down,  how long will it take for them to stop, reverse course and return across the line of scrimmage in order to help the QB avoid a sack? If you can find anyone that fast, recruit him!
:stop:

[snapback]197902[/snapback]​

this is a fundamental you learn in high school as a receiver. the receiver is anticipating the ball before it actually gets to him so therefore when he turns around to catch it if he sees the qb is in trouble that is when they help out the qb by cutting of routes and coming back to him

 

[wncvolfan]

Originally posted by Bama Reb@Nov 20, 2005 12:25 PM
This is the only part of your quote that I have a problem with.

Receivers cross the line of scrimmage and move forward in their routes.  The ball is handed backward to the QB who moves backward thru the pocket to set for the pass.  All this happens in about 3 seconds. How on earth can you expect the receivers to run their routes while watching the QB at the same time? Then, if the intended receivers are able to see the protection break down,  how long will it take for them to stop, reverse course and return across the line of scrimmage in order to help the QB avoid a sack? If you can find anyone that fast, recruit him!
:stop:

[snapback]197902[/snapback]​

The NFL is full of receivers who do that every Sunday.