Coaching adjustments

with his eye on a head coaching job left Alabama to work for an inept dictator who would control his every move.

the O-line can only be expected to keep them off Gardner(in the pocket) for 4 seconds MAX. Watching Gardner get happy feet and bobble head before there's even any REAL pressure is so frustrating. Also Gardner has to MAKE THE DECISION and THROW THE DAMN BALL in those 4 seconds.

Asking the O-line to give him unlimited time back there is a recipe for failure everytime. The young man needs to get his head right and make the read and trust his instincts. IMHO I'd make it this simple. One more yakity sax moment(especially over these next 4 games) and you go directly to the bench for at least a quarter.

He's been here too long and should be past this playground level shit. I'd rather see him step up into the pocket and eat the ball due to good coverage than go all 9th grade.

If his plan is to not have a plan, does he still have a plan?

Unfortunately Hoke has backed himself into a corner and the fanbase is starting to turn.  He has coached himself into a situation where I think he can afford to lose one more this year.  So he has to beat either MSU or Ohio and then not lose another.

 

That is a tall order but possible.  I am not being over optimistic about those chances, we looked worlds behind ND Saturday.  Could it be a fluke possibly for the love of God I hope so.

and fix the O-line in, like, two and a half weeks.

       The reality is that in 2004 we had the talent to surround a true freshman quarterback with enough talent to win the Big 10(although we lost to ND), and come within an inch of beating a Texas team that would win the MNC the next season.  Today, we do not have that talent, or it is not developed to that point.  We have 1) an offensive line that is improving, but not good yet, 2) only one premier receiver; the others are developing, 3) our talented tight end is not playing, 4) our talented senior QB has vision and decision making problems, the things that coaches say can't be taught when talking about QBs that just have it.  So how many adjustments do you think the coaches can make in game.  It is hard to realize how embryonic this offense is, when our hopes are so high and the star rankings are so high.  But realism would point us away from the usual crankiness.

       As to the defense, same deal.  The defensive line actually stopped the run Saturday.  Still working on the pass rush.  The linebackers are a work in progress due to injury (Morgan) and shuffling of positions (Ryan).  The coaches went aggressive with the pass coverage, and it didn't work, and they were outfoxed.  This is the same secondary that was not good enough to cover within 10 yards last year.  They just are not good enough, but I like to think they are improving.  Face reality, and give them time to improve.  The better they are, the better the coaches will be, and the more the staff can do.  Even the 2013 MBB squad lost to Penn State and generally looked awful for a week before almost winning the tournament.  Maybe the deficits of the 2010 and 2011 recruiting cycles were far more devastating than we have admitted (combined with problems like Borges, etc.)

The first adjustment I'd make is putting Shane in. Let's pass the baton now, I love Devin, he's got a lot of heart, kid has been beat up, he plays scared, gets happy feet too soon, holds the ball too long, he is even hesitating now when he runs. I'm not sure Shane would be a whole lot better now, but I think he is ready, Gardner could play wr, again, I'm not slamming Gardner, I just think it's time for a change.