We've Seen this Shakespaere Play Before
A Comedy of Errors
In the unusual streak of rookie head coaches that have rolled through here since the mid 2000's (5 and counting) we've seen yet again the results of what happens when a first year HC takes the reigns and like with CJ, when the first year man also takes on a co-ordinator's role.
This team was not assembled with the notion of a wholesale staff change, but that's what we got. And there have been some regression pains (I use regression because I haven't seen any growth with the exception of perhaps Walker), in the philosophical, scheme, and personality changes this squad has been asked to take on.
Sure there's a lot of disappointment to go around; the vets talked the talk but they aren't walking the walk when it comes to not being regarded as 1 year wonders.
We know that our DC was not our first, or second choice for that matter.
I think we all expected JM to make his share of rookie HC mistakes, and there have been more than a few when it comes to game management, but knowing him, he will work to get better.
I'm far more disappointed in the staff around him, including JM the OC but more on that a bit later.
Bene, while I hoped for the best like we all have, has been very underwhelming, regardless of the D's improved play from the trainwreck beginning of the year. He's taken a D that was built to play fast, and aggressive, and hooked up plows to a bunch of thoroughbreds. I understand that some was out of key personnel losses/injury (Ojo) but the manner in which he chooses to not keep his Dline fresh, further putting pressure on his secondary late in games, leading to multiple collapses is on him. I would be very disappointed if he is back next year if Thorpe becomes available.
Cory McDiarmid should be sent packing at season's end if it were me. His units have been outcoached, out hustled, and outschemed all season long. Too many times he's been caught with his pants down not being ready for big plays against. The Doe experiment has also fallen flat on it's face, and I find it hard to think Bell couldn't provide what Doe is, allowing us to get 30/33 on the field at the same time
JM the HC should have a chat with JM the OC and tell him to stop thinking like a QB and more like an OC when it comes to his offensive playcalling balance. Say what you will about McAdoo, but his gameplan and playcalling was far more balance and kept defenses far more OFF balance. When half the building knows when we're going to run (between the 35's usually on first down, seek play) I think our opponents do as well. I would like to see as much creativity into the ground plays as we take in the passing game. Only once against Calgary did we execute a well designed run where we overloaded the right side and caught the stamps in man coverage only to pull our RG to the left side with White for a nice big run. That play stands out cos we've seen so few nice run plays. Also, the DM/JM concept of a 3 yard pass equaling a 3 yrd run is equally as rubbish now as it was then. We have an OLine that is proven to be able to dominate teams at the LOS yet we handicap them in terms of poorly designed running schemes, and predictable situational playcalling
There is still time to get it turned around and sneak in, and if you get in, anything can happen. The players have to show some urgency and after 9 games, there are no rookies anymore. What concerns me most is we are making too many mistakes and seem too poorly prepared at key times too late in the year. I'm positive year 2 will get better, but as disappointing as it is now, it's hard not to say you could see it coming the way the offseason shaped up firmly stacked against us
In the unusual streak of rookie head coaches that have rolled through here since the mid 2000's (5 and counting) we've seen yet again the results of what happens when a first year HC takes the reigns and like with CJ, when the first year man also takes on a co-ordinator's role.
This team was not assembled with the notion of a wholesale staff change, but that's what we got. And there have been some regression pains (I use regression because I haven't seen any growth with the exception of perhaps Walker), in the philosophical, scheme, and personality changes this squad has been asked to take on.
Sure there's a lot of disappointment to go around; the vets talked the talk but they aren't walking the walk when it comes to not being regarded as 1 year wonders.
We know that our DC was not our first, or second choice for that matter.
I think we all expected JM to make his share of rookie HC mistakes, and there have been more than a few when it comes to game management, but knowing him, he will work to get better.
I'm far more disappointed in the staff around him, including JM the OC but more on that a bit later.
Bene, while I hoped for the best like we all have, has been very underwhelming, regardless of the D's improved play from the trainwreck beginning of the year. He's taken a D that was built to play fast, and aggressive, and hooked up plows to a bunch of thoroughbreds. I understand that some was out of key personnel losses/injury (Ojo) but the manner in which he chooses to not keep his Dline fresh, further putting pressure on his secondary late in games, leading to multiple collapses is on him. I would be very disappointed if he is back next year if Thorpe becomes available.
Cory McDiarmid should be sent packing at season's end if it were me. His units have been outcoached, out hustled, and outschemed all season long. Too many times he's been caught with his pants down not being ready for big plays against. The Doe experiment has also fallen flat on it's face, and I find it hard to think Bell couldn't provide what Doe is, allowing us to get 30/33 on the field at the same time
JM the HC should have a chat with JM the OC and tell him to stop thinking like a QB and more like an OC when it comes to his offensive playcalling balance. Say what you will about McAdoo, but his gameplan and playcalling was far more balance and kept defenses far more OFF balance. When half the building knows when we're going to run (between the 35's usually on first down, seek play) I think our opponents do as well. I would like to see as much creativity into the ground plays as we take in the passing game. Only once against Calgary did we execute a well designed run where we overloaded the right side and caught the stamps in man coverage only to pull our RG to the left side with White for a nice big run. That play stands out cos we've seen so few nice run plays. Also, the DM/JM concept of a 3 yard pass equaling a 3 yrd run is equally as rubbish now as it was then. We have an OLine that is proven to be able to dominate teams at the LOS yet we handicap them in terms of poorly designed running schemes, and predictable situational playcalling
There is still time to get it turned around and sneak in, and if you get in, anything can happen. The players have to show some urgency and after 9 games, there are no rookies anymore. What concerns me most is we are making too many mistakes and seem too poorly prepared at key times too late in the year. I'm positive year 2 will get better, but as disappointing as it is now, it's hard not to say you could see it coming the way the offseason shaped up firmly stacked against us
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