So, before I say the rest. I am no Gus apologist. I like him and I am glad he is the Coach at AU. I don’t think anyone in the world thinks he has done a very good job to this point this year getting this team ready to play. That said, it is not just Gus. The buck stops at his desk but all the coaches on this staff have a lot of work to do over the next few weeks to get this turned around and that includes Muschamp.
I am a fan. First and foremost. I am also an alumni. But I am a coach (full disclosure – I am a basketball coach) and I look at things through little different lenses sometimes. It is usually never helpful to react rashly about the HC or the QB or anyone else. I tend to look at it from the standpoint of a coach. What did we do that caused us to get here and what do we have to do moving forward to fix it.
So that said – I think there are some reasons they are where they are (sorry but this is a thesis):
1. OL. The OL has been not good. Just is what it is. Part of that problem is the whole fall camp was spent without a starting 5 unit that could work together, grow together, learn the calls together, etc…etc… The LG and the C position were both contested throughout fall camp. At LG both guys took 1st team snaps all the way up to game week. Center was contested until AG got dinged and missed some time. But this created problems too as the OL went for a week with a different C than who was going to start. When AG got back they still shared 1st team reps for a number of practices before settling on AG game week. The OL has just not had a chance to work together as a unit and gel as they have needed.
Then, they decided to go into game one with two LGs. Just no continuity on the OL. And then due to an injury at RT they shuffled the line in week two that put two players at new positions. Yes they had practiced at those spots during the fall but you would probably be surprised at how few snaps those two guys had taken at those spots in August. I get putting the best 5 out there but in a game like JSU, I think it is better to go with the normal depth chart at OL and go with the #2 who has been working at that spot and leave everyone else where they are.
2. WR. We all know what happened with Duke in preseason. No need to rehash. But the reality is he missed a full week. Then spent a week basically as 3rd team. Took 2nd team snaps in the last scrimmage and then was a starter again by the time they got to game 1. Not going to discuss his attitude or whatever. The reality is that he did not and does not have any real chemistry with JJ right now. That chemistry and timing comes from practice. It is not something you suddenly find in games.
3. The coaches were very focused on “getting their edge back” in the fall. It meant a lot of contact. Thing is saying that is one thing and the practice itself is something different. There was a lot of contact during the fall BUT there was not a lot of 11 on 11full speed, tackle to the ground type of contact during the fall. A lot of full speed – full contact is done in breakdown drills. One OL vs a DL in pass rush drills. Inside run drills with half lines. They do this to minimize injury to best players. Less really big bodies in close proximity to each other less chance someone gets rolled up and lost for year with knee.
Most of the preseason 11 on 11 work was thud. Now those are supposed to be full speed but the reality is it is never full speed because you know you before the snap the rule is no one hits the ground. OL are not going after it like they should, guys on defense are not attacking the ball like they normally would because a kill shot or a tackle that puts the ball carrier on the ground in a thud drill is going to get you into trouble with the head man which then causes your position coach to jump you. Thud work is just not full speed.
Combine that with QBs in Orange jerseys and holding out the best players from a lot of full contact (Roc for example got very little full contact in fall while Barber got almost all of it – I think it is showing up) and you just don’t have an offense that was fine tuned and ready to hit on all cylinders.
4. JJ has made some bad decisions. To say otherwise is not true. No one would dispute that (at least I don’t think so). But CGM’s offense is a little different than most. Not all but a good number of pass plays are called from the sideline with the intention of throwing it to a specific person.
Evidence of this is go back and watch Duke on every pass play. You will know within two steps off the line if he is the primary or not just by how he runs his route. Now that is on him. He is playing very lazy right now but not the point of this. Anyway, many (not all) pass plays called JJ has been told during the week who to throw it to. CGM does this trying to help his QBs not have to read the D etc. They are called targets so to speak. He does this in the run game too by the way. Even last year, many “read” plays were called gives or pulls by Marshall based on what CGM expects the D to do. Now does this excuse JJ from throwing directly to defenders. Absolutely not. Period. He has to be better at decision making. But it does explain his comment after the game about CGM not calling the right play for the defense/coverage. CGM and CRL are looking at the D and making the “reads” and then calling the play. JJ is really not reading much on most (not all) plays. That is a coaches decision and he does it for his own reasons but point is JJ has to play better but it is not all on him.
5. Finally defense. The reality is that they need Lawson and Mathews on the field. They also really needed Holsey out there. Not that Irvin is playing poorly. But Holsey brings maturity to the D (just like Lawson and Mathews) and that is really needed right now. Combine that with playing at times 3 true frosh at DB (including both corners), and two true frosh at DE (#9 and #4) for a bunch of snaps and to be real about it the D is not getting off the field for a reason. They will get better. Every snap is a new adventure for some of them. Last thing I will say about D. There are LBs that just do not play very well at all. I know if frustrates CWM. One started the first game and then barely played Sat - the other is a Sr. Both of those guys have to play better. Period.
So thesis over. I think these are some of the reasons why they are where they are. Can it be fixed? Sure. Will it? I think the D will get there and be pretty salty by the end of the season IF they can keep certain key players healthy and a few other guys step up their game and join their teammates. The O. They need to find 5 OL and play them. They need to decide what they want to be and be it. Do they want to be downhill run with play action pass or do they want to be 4 wide drop back. Right now they are “sort’uv” both. If they find an identity and stick with it even when it doesn’t look like it is working I think they come out the other side looking like a Gus O of old.
Just keep chopping wood. Beat LSU!
I am a fan. First and foremost. I am also an alumni. But I am a coach (full disclosure – I am a basketball coach) and I look at things through little different lenses sometimes. It is usually never helpful to react rashly about the HC or the QB or anyone else. I tend to look at it from the standpoint of a coach. What did we do that caused us to get here and what do we have to do moving forward to fix it.
So that said – I think there are some reasons they are where they are (sorry but this is a thesis):
1. OL. The OL has been not good. Just is what it is. Part of that problem is the whole fall camp was spent without a starting 5 unit that could work together, grow together, learn the calls together, etc…etc… The LG and the C position were both contested throughout fall camp. At LG both guys took 1st team snaps all the way up to game week. Center was contested until AG got dinged and missed some time. But this created problems too as the OL went for a week with a different C than who was going to start. When AG got back they still shared 1st team reps for a number of practices before settling on AG game week. The OL has just not had a chance to work together as a unit and gel as they have needed.
Then, they decided to go into game one with two LGs. Just no continuity on the OL. And then due to an injury at RT they shuffled the line in week two that put two players at new positions. Yes they had practiced at those spots during the fall but you would probably be surprised at how few snaps those two guys had taken at those spots in August. I get putting the best 5 out there but in a game like JSU, I think it is better to go with the normal depth chart at OL and go with the #2 who has been working at that spot and leave everyone else where they are.
2. WR. We all know what happened with Duke in preseason. No need to rehash. But the reality is he missed a full week. Then spent a week basically as 3rd team. Took 2nd team snaps in the last scrimmage and then was a starter again by the time they got to game 1. Not going to discuss his attitude or whatever. The reality is that he did not and does not have any real chemistry with JJ right now. That chemistry and timing comes from practice. It is not something you suddenly find in games.
3. The coaches were very focused on “getting their edge back” in the fall. It meant a lot of contact. Thing is saying that is one thing and the practice itself is something different. There was a lot of contact during the fall BUT there was not a lot of 11 on 11full speed, tackle to the ground type of contact during the fall. A lot of full speed – full contact is done in breakdown drills. One OL vs a DL in pass rush drills. Inside run drills with half lines. They do this to minimize injury to best players. Less really big bodies in close proximity to each other less chance someone gets rolled up and lost for year with knee.
Most of the preseason 11 on 11 work was thud. Now those are supposed to be full speed but the reality is it is never full speed because you know you before the snap the rule is no one hits the ground. OL are not going after it like they should, guys on defense are not attacking the ball like they normally would because a kill shot or a tackle that puts the ball carrier on the ground in a thud drill is going to get you into trouble with the head man which then causes your position coach to jump you. Thud work is just not full speed.
Combine that with QBs in Orange jerseys and holding out the best players from a lot of full contact (Roc for example got very little full contact in fall while Barber got almost all of it – I think it is showing up) and you just don’t have an offense that was fine tuned and ready to hit on all cylinders.
4. JJ has made some bad decisions. To say otherwise is not true. No one would dispute that (at least I don’t think so). But CGM’s offense is a little different than most. Not all but a good number of pass plays are called from the sideline with the intention of throwing it to a specific person.
Evidence of this is go back and watch Duke on every pass play. You will know within two steps off the line if he is the primary or not just by how he runs his route. Now that is on him. He is playing very lazy right now but not the point of this. Anyway, many (not all) pass plays called JJ has been told during the week who to throw it to. CGM does this trying to help his QBs not have to read the D etc. They are called targets so to speak. He does this in the run game too by the way. Even last year, many “read” plays were called gives or pulls by Marshall based on what CGM expects the D to do. Now does this excuse JJ from throwing directly to defenders. Absolutely not. Period. He has to be better at decision making. But it does explain his comment after the game about CGM not calling the right play for the defense/coverage. CGM and CRL are looking at the D and making the “reads” and then calling the play. JJ is really not reading much on most (not all) plays. That is a coaches decision and he does it for his own reasons but point is JJ has to play better but it is not all on him.
5. Finally defense. The reality is that they need Lawson and Mathews on the field. They also really needed Holsey out there. Not that Irvin is playing poorly. But Holsey brings maturity to the D (just like Lawson and Mathews) and that is really needed right now. Combine that with playing at times 3 true frosh at DB (including both corners), and two true frosh at DE (#9 and #4) for a bunch of snaps and to be real about it the D is not getting off the field for a reason. They will get better. Every snap is a new adventure for some of them. Last thing I will say about D. There are LBs that just do not play very well at all. I know if frustrates CWM. One started the first game and then barely played Sat - the other is a Sr. Both of those guys have to play better. Period.
So thesis over. I think these are some of the reasons why they are where they are. Can it be fixed? Sure. Will it? I think the D will get there and be pretty salty by the end of the season IF they can keep certain key players healthy and a few other guys step up their game and join their teammates. The O. They need to find 5 OL and play them. They need to decide what they want to be and be it. Do they want to be downhill run with play action pass or do they want to be 4 wide drop back. Right now they are “sort’uv” both. If they find an identity and stick with it even when it doesn’t look like it is working I think they come out the other side looking like a Gus O of old.
Just keep chopping wood. Beat LSU!
