Throw out the fact that college football is out of control. Throw out the fact that it has become big business. Throw out the fact that intercollegiate athletics at the highest level is as much about student athlete as politics is about public service. Throw out the fact that it is win or go home, that coaches are paid more than the President, and that graduation rates, clean recruiting practices, and minimal off the field problems mean absolutely nothing if you do not meet expectations.
Throwing all of that out, Clemson did the right thing. Not only did they do the right thing, they did the shrewd thing. Now, the shrewd thing is not always the least expensive thing, but it is still the best way to go for all business decisions. And that is what this was, a business decision.
Anyone who watched Clemson play Wake could see very easily that this team was lost. The comments of some players only speak further to the fact that the team was fractured. When that happens, it's time to move on, and move on quickly. (And by the way Cullen Harper, you meant what you said, so don’t try to backpedal. Perhaps you and your dad need to think about the fact that the guy did give you a scholarship to a reputable university and the opportunity to play Division I football. Whatever your opinions are, you should confine them to the locker room and not text them to an ESPN reporter. One of the first rules of team is to keep everything in the locker room. Just as when players are suspended “for violating team policy” and the coach doesn’t come out and say what really happened.)
What Clemson did is allow themselves to be on the market before anyone else is. Interested coaches will now have their agents talk to Clemson. The negotiation process can begin without distraction. Clemson can position themselves with prospective coaches much earlier than other schools in their boat.
By placing Swinney in charge, the recruiting will largely be unaffected. At the most, they will lose a couple kids. Swinney is the recruiting guy anyway and with Scott still around, most of the recruiting contacts will remain intact.
In the meantime, Clemson is in the garden spot. If Swinney does well, they keep him and keep most of the staff in place without losing continuity. If he does poorly, they make use of the networking they build from now until season’s end to find a replacement – who will probably keep Swinney. It’s truly a win win situation.
The only thing that can hurt Clemson is if they go into a total nosedive that affects recruiting. Also, if Tennessee and Auburn are looking for a coach at the end of the year, they may be in danger of getting third pick. But even taking all of that into account, all of those alternatives are better than where they were.
Oh, and if you get the headline reference, you’re a sick person.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Parity and college football
As college football fans, we see it every week - games that make everyone scratch their heads. “How did they beat them?” Perhaps more importantly, “how did they cover?” Very slowly, college football has turned into the NFL, where any team can truly beat any other team. Case in point: look at all the betting lines for NFL games. Rarely do you see one over 8 points. Just as parity has consumed the NFL, it has crept into the college game as well. For the NFL, the defining moments were free agency and the salary cap. So what gives with the college game? Here’s a few guesses:
1. Talent everywhere – In the NFL, there is not a huge gap between the most talented and least talented football teams. Granted, this is not quite the case in the college game. For instance, there is certainly a tremendous talent gap between Texas and say, Syracuse. However, the gaps between the top level teams and the mid level teams are not that significant. As to why, one could point to the number of good high school players. As football has exploded in popularity, more kids are playing it in school. Other than cross country and swimming, football does not have to compete with any other fall sports. With the pool of good players increasing and scholarship limitations, the midlevel schools have more quality players to choose from.
2. Coaching talent everywhere – This is simple economics. Salaries for football coaches are sky rocketing out of control. With more money to be made, more talented people are staying in the profession. Good coaches plus good players equals good football teams.
3. Cable TV – Thirty years ago, the top level schools could get a lot of talented kids by pointing to the fact that they will get more exposure because their team was on TV all the time. Enter ESPN and the rest of the networks. Football is everywhere. You would almost have to try to not get on TV. Saturday, I watched Wofford play Chattanooga. Thirty years ago, kids wanted to go to Notre Dame and Alabama because they were always on TV. Now, kids are exposed to every team via television. That, and they know the NFL will find them no matter where they are. Listen to those NFL player introductions when guys say where they are from. Division II, I-AA, the Patriot League, etc.
4. The spread offense – Three yards and a cloud of dust is no longer the norm. Having a 220 pound tailback is great, but I watched Oregon State beat USC with a guy shorter than me. Florida plays a back that is less than 170 pounds. Quarterbacks can throw just as well as they can run. A bad day by your defense can equal a lot of points in a hurry.
5. Speed up rule changes – This is simple math. Let’s say Oklahoma plays Indiana. Blowout, right? Well what if you made the game four 3 minute quarters. Now Indiana has a decent shot. If Oklahoma turns the ball over just one time, that might be all Indiana needs. Both teams would get four possessions, max. Now change the game again – eight 15 minute quarters. Indiana has no chance. Oklahoma just wears them down, and depth becomes a huge factor. Bottom line – the shorter the game, the better chance for the underdog.
The next logical question is whether this is good for college football. In my opinion, it is. The “you never know” aspect of the NFL is one reason it has become so popular. Fans of lesser teams will always think they’re one year away from a great season. And then there is the sheer entertainment aspect of the Cinderella upset. (Just look at the NCAA tournament). Everyone loves the underdog.
1. Talent everywhere – In the NFL, there is not a huge gap between the most talented and least talented football teams. Granted, this is not quite the case in the college game. For instance, there is certainly a tremendous talent gap between Texas and say, Syracuse. However, the gaps between the top level teams and the mid level teams are not that significant. As to why, one could point to the number of good high school players. As football has exploded in popularity, more kids are playing it in school. Other than cross country and swimming, football does not have to compete with any other fall sports. With the pool of good players increasing and scholarship limitations, the midlevel schools have more quality players to choose from.
2. Coaching talent everywhere – This is simple economics. Salaries for football coaches are sky rocketing out of control. With more money to be made, more talented people are staying in the profession. Good coaches plus good players equals good football teams.
3. Cable TV – Thirty years ago, the top level schools could get a lot of talented kids by pointing to the fact that they will get more exposure because their team was on TV all the time. Enter ESPN and the rest of the networks. Football is everywhere. You would almost have to try to not get on TV. Saturday, I watched Wofford play Chattanooga. Thirty years ago, kids wanted to go to Notre Dame and Alabama because they were always on TV. Now, kids are exposed to every team via television. That, and they know the NFL will find them no matter where they are. Listen to those NFL player introductions when guys say where they are from. Division II, I-AA, the Patriot League, etc.
4. The spread offense – Three yards and a cloud of dust is no longer the norm. Having a 220 pound tailback is great, but I watched Oregon State beat USC with a guy shorter than me. Florida plays a back that is less than 170 pounds. Quarterbacks can throw just as well as they can run. A bad day by your defense can equal a lot of points in a hurry.
5. Speed up rule changes – This is simple math. Let’s say Oklahoma plays Indiana. Blowout, right? Well what if you made the game four 3 minute quarters. Now Indiana has a decent shot. If Oklahoma turns the ball over just one time, that might be all Indiana needs. Both teams would get four possessions, max. Now change the game again – eight 15 minute quarters. Indiana has no chance. Oklahoma just wears them down, and depth becomes a huge factor. Bottom line – the shorter the game, the better chance for the underdog.
The next logical question is whether this is good for college football. In my opinion, it is. The “you never know” aspect of the NFL is one reason it has become so popular. Fans of lesser teams will always think they’re one year away from a great season. And then there is the sheer entertainment aspect of the Cinderella upset. (Just look at the NCAA tournament). Everyone loves the underdog.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
An APB for a coach from the past
If you read the message boards (and if you don’t, good for you), Tiger nation is ticked off. Most of Orangeville could have lived with the bad loss to Alabama after they watched the Tide dismantle everyone else on their way to the top ten. But losing to Maryland, at home, being an 11 point favorite, blowing an eleven point lead, and looking like they could score a hundred in the first quarter of the game – that has proven to be too much.
Tommy again finds himself on the hot seat – a familiar spot. Every year Clemson has talent everywhere, and every year no conference title. True, the ACC is still in their grasp, but trips to Wake, FSU, and BC loom in the future. Not to mention a very interesting game against Georgia Tech. So the question remains: is it time for Tommy to go? I say that it is, and Clemson should look in their not too distant past for his replacement.
Let’s be honest - Clemson football needs to go back to its roots. It’s time for Tiger Town to bring back the coach that knew about having a power running game. It’s time to bring in the coach that knew about hard nosed defense and orange jerseys that were too short to tuck in your pants. It’s time to bring in the coach that believed in option football and having a quarterback that could take a hit. It’s time to bring in the coach that wears a hat on the sidelines and looks like he just finished the night shift at the mill. It’s time to bring in a coach that knows how to take Clemson to New Year’s Day bowls, win the ACC, and spit while he calls plays.
So dig him out of retirement, give him an orange hat, and let him call dive option until he’s hoarse. That’s right, it’s time to bring back Ken Hatfield.
Grumble all you want Tiger folk, Clemson hasn’t won the ACC since he left. And I can assure you Davis and Spiller would get the ball every play. Good thing Clemson ran him out of town.
I wonder what Charlie Pell is up to these days?
Tommy again finds himself on the hot seat – a familiar spot. Every year Clemson has talent everywhere, and every year no conference title. True, the ACC is still in their grasp, but trips to Wake, FSU, and BC loom in the future. Not to mention a very interesting game against Georgia Tech. So the question remains: is it time for Tommy to go? I say that it is, and Clemson should look in their not too distant past for his replacement.
Let’s be honest - Clemson football needs to go back to its roots. It’s time for Tiger Town to bring back the coach that knew about having a power running game. It’s time to bring in the coach that knew about hard nosed defense and orange jerseys that were too short to tuck in your pants. It’s time to bring in the coach that believed in option football and having a quarterback that could take a hit. It’s time to bring in the coach that wears a hat on the sidelines and looks like he just finished the night shift at the mill. It’s time to bring in a coach that knows how to take Clemson to New Year’s Day bowls, win the ACC, and spit while he calls plays.
So dig him out of retirement, give him an orange hat, and let him call dive option until he’s hoarse. That’s right, it’s time to bring back Ken Hatfield.
Grumble all you want Tiger folk, Clemson hasn’t won the ACC since he left. And I can assure you Davis and Spiller would get the ball every play. Good thing Clemson ran him out of town.
I wonder what Charlie Pell is up to these days?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
You know what's a tough play to stop?
9:00 am – Wake up for second round Ryder Cup action. Cink and Campbell look a bit shaky.
9:30 – Breakfast is contemplated.
10:00 – I think Jimenez misses playing with Sergio.
11:00 – Restate my weekly predictions that Florida State is good, Carolina will blow out Wofford, Auburn will barely score a point against LSU, and Georgia may still have a hangover after last week.
11:30 – Wonder where Lou got his medical degree.
12:00 p.m. – Breakfast remains a pipe dream.
12:30 – For a bad football team, N.C. State sure is on TV a lot.
12:45 – I highly recommend the Piggly Wiggly Deli pork chop – but only if you have the teeth of a mountain lion.
1:00 – Receive first phone call about a ride to the game. Naturally, the time that I’m planning on leaving doesn’t suit. No matter what time you say you’re going to a game, it’s always too late or too early.
2:00 – When does Mississippi State come back on the schedule?
3:00 – I hate it when Ron Morris is right. East Carolina is a bit overrated.
3:30 – Georgia Tech will give Clemson all they want.
3:45 – The Americans are starting to look very American in this Ryder Cup.
4:00 – Florida is good. Tebow is good. Maybe they’ll all get the flu when Carolina has to play them.
4:15 – North Carolina has a huge football team.
4:30 – Despite the fact that I have bought 78 tubes of Chapstick in the past year, I can not find any.
5:00 – Tell all who will listen about my predictions for the night games. I sure know a lot about football.
5:15 – Depart for game. Make a pit stop for Chapstick. I’m officially addicted.
5:30 – Drive by Barnes and Noble where they are handing out Wofford tickets to use as bookmarks.
5:45 – Arrive at game. Someone is parked in my spot. I inquire to the management about how that happened, only to get “Yeah that will happen around here.” I wonder what a cab ride would cost to the game?
6:00 – Take part in the first fourteen person tailgate to not have a TV. Ryder Cup, Florida, North Carolina – I might as well be on the moon.
6:30 – Observe a man on a bicycle start his own personal Game-cocks cheer as he rides through the parking lot.
7:00 – Why is Carolina now late coming out for 2001?
7:10 – Gamecocks are still average at quarterback.
7:20 - Man is quite pleased with himself for his Smelley stinks pun.
7:30 – Seventeen jillion dollars in stadium upgrades and I still can’t get a score from any other game. Why can’t there just be a scroll ticker going constantly?
7:35 – We’re going to lose to Wofford.
7:45 – I listen to a man explain to an 8 year old child what a fair catch is. Don’t they cover this stuff in school?
8:00 – There’s that option again.
8:10 – Pre halftime discussion revolves around how to get from West Club to South Lower. My simple directions fall on deaf ears.
8:20 – Look, I love America as much as the next guy, and fine if you want to do a salute to America halftime, but can we dig up some new props? The flags are so old that they have 48 stars on them.
8:40 – The most important defensive stop of the season occurs in the first part of the second half.
8:45 – The same man explains to the same child what a PSL is.
8:55 – Maddux and Baker look like they have a little wiggle to them.
9:05 – Ayers has lost his mind. Three pass plays – three and out. Did he watch the first half?
9:15 - Literally no one around me is paying any attention to the game. Most people might as well be at a grade school dance recital during the parts that don’t involve their relatives.
9:30 – I finally exhale as Carolina scores to make it 23 – 13. Why do I come to these things?
10:00 – Try to make a mad dash out of the parking lot. Someone gets out of my car to mix a liquor drink from my trunk. I’m buying a smaller car.
10:30 – Get home to watch the last two minutes of LSU-Auburn and UGA-ASU. I sure am smart.
10:45 – Why is there no Pac-10 game on TV? How am I supposed to sleep?
11:00 – How much is that UAB pay-per-view?
9:30 – Breakfast is contemplated.
10:00 – I think Jimenez misses playing with Sergio.
11:00 – Restate my weekly predictions that Florida State is good, Carolina will blow out Wofford, Auburn will barely score a point against LSU, and Georgia may still have a hangover after last week.
11:30 – Wonder where Lou got his medical degree.
12:00 p.m. – Breakfast remains a pipe dream.
12:30 – For a bad football team, N.C. State sure is on TV a lot.
12:45 – I highly recommend the Piggly Wiggly Deli pork chop – but only if you have the teeth of a mountain lion.
1:00 – Receive first phone call about a ride to the game. Naturally, the time that I’m planning on leaving doesn’t suit. No matter what time you say you’re going to a game, it’s always too late or too early.
2:00 – When does Mississippi State come back on the schedule?
3:00 – I hate it when Ron Morris is right. East Carolina is a bit overrated.
3:30 – Georgia Tech will give Clemson all they want.
3:45 – The Americans are starting to look very American in this Ryder Cup.
4:00 – Florida is good. Tebow is good. Maybe they’ll all get the flu when Carolina has to play them.
4:15 – North Carolina has a huge football team.
4:30 – Despite the fact that I have bought 78 tubes of Chapstick in the past year, I can not find any.
5:00 – Tell all who will listen about my predictions for the night games. I sure know a lot about football.
5:15 – Depart for game. Make a pit stop for Chapstick. I’m officially addicted.
5:30 – Drive by Barnes and Noble where they are handing out Wofford tickets to use as bookmarks.
5:45 – Arrive at game. Someone is parked in my spot. I inquire to the management about how that happened, only to get “Yeah that will happen around here.” I wonder what a cab ride would cost to the game?
6:00 – Take part in the first fourteen person tailgate to not have a TV. Ryder Cup, Florida, North Carolina – I might as well be on the moon.
6:30 – Observe a man on a bicycle start his own personal Game-cocks cheer as he rides through the parking lot.
7:00 – Why is Carolina now late coming out for 2001?
7:10 – Gamecocks are still average at quarterback.
7:20 - Man is quite pleased with himself for his Smelley stinks pun.
7:30 – Seventeen jillion dollars in stadium upgrades and I still can’t get a score from any other game. Why can’t there just be a scroll ticker going constantly?
7:35 – We’re going to lose to Wofford.
7:45 – I listen to a man explain to an 8 year old child what a fair catch is. Don’t they cover this stuff in school?
8:00 – There’s that option again.
8:10 – Pre halftime discussion revolves around how to get from West Club to South Lower. My simple directions fall on deaf ears.
8:20 – Look, I love America as much as the next guy, and fine if you want to do a salute to America halftime, but can we dig up some new props? The flags are so old that they have 48 stars on them.
8:40 – The most important defensive stop of the season occurs in the first part of the second half.
8:45 – The same man explains to the same child what a PSL is.
8:55 – Maddux and Baker look like they have a little wiggle to them.
9:05 – Ayers has lost his mind. Three pass plays – three and out. Did he watch the first half?
9:15 - Literally no one around me is paying any attention to the game. Most people might as well be at a grade school dance recital during the parts that don’t involve their relatives.
9:30 – I finally exhale as Carolina scores to make it 23 – 13. Why do I come to these things?
10:00 – Try to make a mad dash out of the parking lot. Someone gets out of my car to mix a liquor drink from my trunk. I’m buying a smaller car.
10:30 – Get home to watch the last two minutes of LSU-Auburn and UGA-ASU. I sure am smart.
10:45 – Why is there no Pac-10 game on TV? How am I supposed to sleep?
11:00 – How much is that UAB pay-per-view?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
They might not be terrible
First off, let me say that I am not an optimist about anything, especially Carolina. I am quick to criticize fans for running around spouting high expectations every year. And I am always the first to be critical of the football team. So for me to say they’re not terrible is quite a statement. Dare I even suggest that I have a little bit of hope for these guys. Here’s why:
For one, they did just about everything to improve themselves that I suggested last week, with the exception of one thing: they insist on running the damn zone play. Junior was back in the box, Daddy called most of the game, and they tried to play a little Beamer Ball (which can be really tough to do when you can’t run it). Despite the mere seven points, there was some progress. The offensive line did a good job with protection, Smelley looked like he had a clue, and Moe Brown showed up.
Defensively, they held two Heismann candidates to pedestrian numbers and they played with a lot of effort. More importantly, the team looked like they have grown a bit of a backbone. With three and half minutes left (after the offense misfired on fourth and two), Georgia got the ball needing one first down. They didn’t get it. For me, that was evidence of a team that had not thrown in the towel. That’s a good sign. (It will be interesting to see if any other team holds Moreno under 80 yards.)
I gleaned more reasons to be encouraged from Spurrier’s press conference today. For one, he mentioned that they might stop running “that little base play” (code for zone play) and start running it at people. That is wonderful news. Second, he had little complaints about the effort of his football team. Still not the smartest bunch, but they are flying around. Third, Meredith is moving to guard and King will go to tackle (you have no idea how good that news is).
Fourth, someone else will get a look at running back. I have nothing against Mike Davis, but he is hardly a dynamic back. Let some of these young guys that have a little burst get in there. The problem with Davis is that he makes no one miss and he is not that fast. When Carolina does block a play correctly, Davis barrels ahead for four or five yards instead of nine or ten. Go back and look at the first three games on tape. Throw out the zone plays (I know I keep harping on this, but you have no idea how bad they are at blocking it). Look at the sprint draws and isolation plays. There are decent holes there. It is time to get a back that can hit them with a burst and make a guy miss. Instant running game.
But we shall see. If the offense scores in bunches the next couple weeks, get excited. This season may not be over.
For one, they did just about everything to improve themselves that I suggested last week, with the exception of one thing: they insist on running the damn zone play. Junior was back in the box, Daddy called most of the game, and they tried to play a little Beamer Ball (which can be really tough to do when you can’t run it). Despite the mere seven points, there was some progress. The offensive line did a good job with protection, Smelley looked like he had a clue, and Moe Brown showed up.
Defensively, they held two Heismann candidates to pedestrian numbers and they played with a lot of effort. More importantly, the team looked like they have grown a bit of a backbone. With three and half minutes left (after the offense misfired on fourth and two), Georgia got the ball needing one first down. They didn’t get it. For me, that was evidence of a team that had not thrown in the towel. That’s a good sign. (It will be interesting to see if any other team holds Moreno under 80 yards.)
I gleaned more reasons to be encouraged from Spurrier’s press conference today. For one, he mentioned that they might stop running “that little base play” (code for zone play) and start running it at people. That is wonderful news. Second, he had little complaints about the effort of his football team. Still not the smartest bunch, but they are flying around. Third, Meredith is moving to guard and King will go to tackle (you have no idea how good that news is).
Fourth, someone else will get a look at running back. I have nothing against Mike Davis, but he is hardly a dynamic back. Let some of these young guys that have a little burst get in there. The problem with Davis is that he makes no one miss and he is not that fast. When Carolina does block a play correctly, Davis barrels ahead for four or five yards instead of nine or ten. Go back and look at the first three games on tape. Throw out the zone plays (I know I keep harping on this, but you have no idea how bad they are at blocking it). Look at the sprint draws and isolation plays. There are decent holes there. It is time to get a back that can hit them with a burst and make a guy miss. Instant running game.
But we shall see. If the offense scores in bunches the next couple weeks, get excited. This season may not be over.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Is Clemson any good?
And I mean that as a serious question. Before the season started, I would have bet even money that the Tigers would walk away with the ACC crown. Now, I’m not sure that they can even win their own division. True enough, they have won two in a row after Alabama made them look like a JV team. But, after three games, it is clear to see that this team has some problems.
Clemson’s mere 27 points against N.C. State is like a neon sign that this offense isn’t quite the sleek scoring machine that everyone thought it would be. Three games have revealed their biggest weakness on offense – up front. Most Tiger fans have complained that Thunder and Lightening don’t get the ball enough. After watching them Saturday, I’m not sure that is the solution. These guys are not exactly stellar blockers at the moment. Against a good defense, just handing the ball off to the backs may not provide enough offense.
On the other side of the ball, Clemson is struggling to stop people. Even if you throw out the Alabama game as a fluke, Clemson gave up 400 yards of offense to the Citadel, and almost 300 to the worst offense in Division I football (the Gamecocks being number 2). And before Tiger fans point out that Citadel was throwing the ball because they were playing from behind, note that the Cadets had 200 yards of passing at halftime.
Meanwhile, Wake has looked pretty good in its two games. Riley Skinner is the best quarterback in the conference. The Wake defense, however, has not shown itself deserving of some of its preseason hype.
Quietly lurking in the weeds are the Florida State Seminoles. You probably have written off their two lopsided wins over Western Carolina and Chattanooga. You shouldn’t. The Noles held both teams to around 150 yards of offense while scoring points by the bucket load. The low profile Noles get their chance to make a statement against the Deacs this Saturday. Perhaps the elder Bowden has gotten his team back on track. From the looks of it, this division is now a three horse race.
Oh, and with the Terps win against Cal, how interesting is Clemson’s game with the Terrapins? This cake walk schedule Clemson had is now starting to reveal some booby traps.
Clemson’s mere 27 points against N.C. State is like a neon sign that this offense isn’t quite the sleek scoring machine that everyone thought it would be. Three games have revealed their biggest weakness on offense – up front. Most Tiger fans have complained that Thunder and Lightening don’t get the ball enough. After watching them Saturday, I’m not sure that is the solution. These guys are not exactly stellar blockers at the moment. Against a good defense, just handing the ball off to the backs may not provide enough offense.
On the other side of the ball, Clemson is struggling to stop people. Even if you throw out the Alabama game as a fluke, Clemson gave up 400 yards of offense to the Citadel, and almost 300 to the worst offense in Division I football (the Gamecocks being number 2). And before Tiger fans point out that Citadel was throwing the ball because they were playing from behind, note that the Cadets had 200 yards of passing at halftime.
Meanwhile, Wake has looked pretty good in its two games. Riley Skinner is the best quarterback in the conference. The Wake defense, however, has not shown itself deserving of some of its preseason hype.
Quietly lurking in the weeds are the Florida State Seminoles. You probably have written off their two lopsided wins over Western Carolina and Chattanooga. You shouldn’t. The Noles held both teams to around 150 yards of offense while scoring points by the bucket load. The low profile Noles get their chance to make a statement against the Deacs this Saturday. Perhaps the elder Bowden has gotten his team back on track. From the looks of it, this division is now a three horse race.
Oh, and with the Terps win against Cal, how interesting is Clemson’s game with the Terrapins? This cake walk schedule Clemson had is now starting to reveal some booby traps.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Here's the problem
Unfortunately, it’s more than one thing. On Thursday, Carolina looked terrible on the offensive side of the football. While much of it is personnel related, there are a few things that the Ball Coach should consider changing:
1. Put Junior back in the box. I did not notice it during the N.C. State game, but young Spurrier has moved from up top to the sidelines. In this age of college football, not having experienced people in the box can be problematic. They are especially important in reading coverages. Having both Spurriers on the sidelines means the two guys in charge of the passing offense are calling plays without a true picture.
2. Pick someone to run the offense and let him go with it. Although nothing has been said publicly, I think Junior and Daddy are a little at odds. In both games, there has been shifts in the play calling in the second half. Spurrier’s comment in the paper today was telling: “We’re not dead set on the way we’ve been doing things around here.” That sounds like code for an offense operating under two directors. It would be hard enough for the Gamecocks to run one offense, let alone two.
3. Quit asking so much of the quarterbacks and offensive line. Spurrier’s system, at its very heart, calls for down field throws from seven step drops and full field reads. That means you have to be very good in two places: quarterback and offensive line. The Gamecocks are average at both. If you have the two Carolina games on tape, go back and watch each offensive play and put yourself in the shoes of the other team’s defensive linemen. On every play, ask yourself: Would I get myself in trouble by just blindly shooting my gap and sprinting up field? The answer, more than 85% of the time I would bet, is no. When the other team knows that your quarterback is going to take a seven step drop straight back, that’s like a green light at a drag race. It is part of the reason the line has struggled in the past. That, and defensive coordinators can draw up some of the craziest blitzes for those guys to pick up because there is little threat of losing contain on the quarterback. A screen here or there or rolling out would certainly help just to keep the other team honest.
4. Go with what you know. Now I’m going to say the exact opposite. Spurrier knows what Spurrier knows. So they might as well run it with the occasional wrinkle. There have been times in the past where Carolina has looked good doing it – even times without Sidney Rice. Now that Meredith is back, the offensive line play will pick up a bit. And there are ten more games left. If USC goes down, they might as well go down with the Ball Coach calling the plays and teaching what he knows how to teach.
5. Just don’t turn it over. Points off turnovers won the game for Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks may just have to play a little Beamer Ball. Figure out some way to run the ball and try to not let the quarterback get them beat. Unfortunately, teams are going to load the box and force them to throw. There will have to be some throw and catch at some point.
Hopefully, no one will get hurt Saturday. Maybe the defense can keep it from getting ugly. It is way too early in the year for this team to get demoralized.
1. Put Junior back in the box. I did not notice it during the N.C. State game, but young Spurrier has moved from up top to the sidelines. In this age of college football, not having experienced people in the box can be problematic. They are especially important in reading coverages. Having both Spurriers on the sidelines means the two guys in charge of the passing offense are calling plays without a true picture.
2. Pick someone to run the offense and let him go with it. Although nothing has been said publicly, I think Junior and Daddy are a little at odds. In both games, there has been shifts in the play calling in the second half. Spurrier’s comment in the paper today was telling: “We’re not dead set on the way we’ve been doing things around here.” That sounds like code for an offense operating under two directors. It would be hard enough for the Gamecocks to run one offense, let alone two.
3. Quit asking so much of the quarterbacks and offensive line. Spurrier’s system, at its very heart, calls for down field throws from seven step drops and full field reads. That means you have to be very good in two places: quarterback and offensive line. The Gamecocks are average at both. If you have the two Carolina games on tape, go back and watch each offensive play and put yourself in the shoes of the other team’s defensive linemen. On every play, ask yourself: Would I get myself in trouble by just blindly shooting my gap and sprinting up field? The answer, more than 85% of the time I would bet, is no. When the other team knows that your quarterback is going to take a seven step drop straight back, that’s like a green light at a drag race. It is part of the reason the line has struggled in the past. That, and defensive coordinators can draw up some of the craziest blitzes for those guys to pick up because there is little threat of losing contain on the quarterback. A screen here or there or rolling out would certainly help just to keep the other team honest.
4. Go with what you know. Now I’m going to say the exact opposite. Spurrier knows what Spurrier knows. So they might as well run it with the occasional wrinkle. There have been times in the past where Carolina has looked good doing it – even times without Sidney Rice. Now that Meredith is back, the offensive line play will pick up a bit. And there are ten more games left. If USC goes down, they might as well go down with the Ball Coach calling the plays and teaching what he knows how to teach.
5. Just don’t turn it over. Points off turnovers won the game for Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks may just have to play a little Beamer Ball. Figure out some way to run the ball and try to not let the quarterback get them beat. Unfortunately, teams are going to load the box and force them to throw. There will have to be some throw and catch at some point.
Hopefully, no one will get hurt Saturday. Maybe the defense can keep it from getting ugly. It is way too early in the year for this team to get demoralized.
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