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Today's Smocks Article Dead On...but?

TheGreenhouseEffect

TheGreenhouseEffect

Silver Buffalo
Aug 17, 2012
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http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151011/GZ02/151019878/1144

We can't rely on defense to win any longer. We need some serious offensive output. Still you can't blame a freshman QB and lots of injuries for everything. Legg's play calling has been down right atrocious at times. I get we're trying to bring a frosh QB along and build confidence but the 4 th qtr v so miss was terrible.

I hope he opens it up. Chase doesnt have to "win" the game like Cato used to, but it's time to take off the training wheels and open it up.
 
The FAU game will be a decent test, but I say remain a little conservative for that game, as well. Open it up vs North Texas for homecoming. They may be the worst team we face all season, so even a higher risk of mistakes on Litton's part will have less impact.
 
Of course the play calling has been terrible (will continue to be). More importantly, this article reminded me just how shitty this league is.
 
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There should be no reason we don't go into the WKU game at 11-1. However, I have little faith that this offense will suddenly wake up and I could see a loss or two if we sleepwalk on any of these games prior to. We will take everyone's best shot and if we don't match their intensity it'll be Ohio all over again.
 
and yet right now we are the 2nd or 3rd best team. So how much tougher do we really need it? Be careful what you wish for.
 
Yup best WKY has the QB in college football and S Miss had the 2nd best until he played us.

Crappy league? No, I'd say exactly the opposite. Much underrated. Almost all of UABs transfers have made huge impacts.....think about that.

Back to the point, we need offense baaaaaaadly.
 
Marine03 said:
There should be no reason we don't go into the WKU game at 11-1. However, I have little faith that this offense will suddenly wake up and I could see a loss or two if we sleepwalk on any of these games prior to. We will take everyone's best shot and if we don't match their intensity it'll be Ohio all over again.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with your first sentence.

We can't go into the WKU with an 11-1 record. ;)
 
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Playcalling is always the first thing people blame for struggles because its a lot more comfortable to believe that you could be awesome if only it wasn't for a coach screwing it up.

Allow me to be the wet blanket: our offense isn't good. The line play has been atrocious, and the holes aren't there for the running game. Pass protection is okay (not great), but we have a true freshman QB that looks like a potential stud but makes decisions like a true freshman. The playmakers we came into the season with have underwhelmed (especially Foster, who looked special - and still may be). The whole thing adds up to an ineffective offense that may gel before the end of the season, but isn't going to be lighting up the scoreboards this season on anybody with at least an average defense.

If reading that makes you reach for the Prilosec, just disregard and blame Bill Legg.
 
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Personally I believe Legg is protecting the confidence of our Freshman QB......Once we got into the 4th quarter there was no reason to put our QB in positions to fail. Litton is going to be very good but that INT highlighted some of his issues. Still makes poor freshman decisions at times and throws off of his back foot under pressure.

Add to that, our offensive line is not very good and is missing our best player. Protection is so, so and run blocking is not good. Our guys are not opening holes at the 1st level and rarely get to the 2nd level to block....You could see the frustration on DJ's face Friday night during the 4th quarter.
 
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herdalicious said:
Playcalling is always the first thing people blame for struggles because its a lot more comfortable to believe that you could be awesome if only it wasn't for a coach screwing it up.

Allow me to be the wet blanket: our offense isn't good. The line play has been atrocious, and the holes aren't there for the running game. Pass protection is okay (not great), but we have a true freshman QB that looks like a potential stud but makes decisions like a true freshman. The playmakers we came into the season with have underwhelmed (especially Foster, who looked special - and still may be). The whole thing adds up to an ineffective offense that may gel before the end of the season, but isn't going to be lighting up the scoreboards this season on anybody with at least an average defense.

If reading that makes you reach for the Prilosec, just disregard and blame Bill Legg.
Click to expand...

I actually may be more critical than you. I've never accused us of being awesome. Far from it. But as a coach, why not help the team (offensively) by calling a less predictable offensive scheme. Afterall, you have all week to practice what the game plan will be. I also said this in another thread..........Legg has always been a terrible, predictable play caller. Our offense (and fans) may have started telling themselves we had a genius offensive coordinator over the last couple seasons.

The reality is, we had a special qb (cato) who was unpredictable in the pocket, and had the ability to use his feet and throw to a receiver he played with for almost a decade when the play calling got predictable and things were at risk of breaking down. This assisted the efficacy of the run game too over that time by spreading opposing defenses out. I like Litton's potential, but not sure his style of play is going to be the kind we saw with Cato.

We are very lucky we play in a weaker league, allowing us to be 5-1, and have a defense that can make some stops (and occasionally score points). I've never been a fan of "simplifying" your play book just because someone is "young". Furthermore, IMO, I don't believe the suggestion that the play book is even being simplified all that much. It appears to be the same 5-10 plays we have run since Leggs arrival. Not only the same plays.........but also the same "sequence" (predictable) of plays time and time again.
 
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We run a read-option offense that uses set schemes that are adjusted at the line in response to the defensive formation. Every play essentially has three options, regardless of formation: HB run, QB run, pass. Without knowing Marshall's playbook, I can still say that many offenses of this nature use a limited number of formation sets, and that individual playcalls are (supposed to) be a branching option from the basic set, and that's where your variety comes in.

A QB that is really good at this type of system can really exploit it - Byron Leftwich and Rakeem Cato were two such QBs, and both had a knack for improvisation at the line (though Leftwich was the best I've ever seen at it). Unfortunately, as a true freshman, Chase Litton isn't that good yet, so what you see is likely an extension of that dynamic, as opposed to a limitation imposed by the coaching staff. He doesn't "see" everything yet, but he clearly has the tools such that when he learns how to read, he should be a pretty dynamic QB.

There's been a lot of hand-wringing over the fourth quarter of the USM game, because we ran the ball so many times, to such little effect. I actually agree with this approach, because Monken was coaching like a 15 year old playing Madden, going for it on 4th every time. Let him increase his own risk, stay conservative, kill the clock and reap the reward. What I did take issue with was using Devin Johnson, who has shown durability issues in both of his seasons as our primary HB, as the ball-carrier in garbage time. We have plenty of backs who can take those reps and get experience from them, without risking losing our HB1.
 
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We have no rhythm on offense. The last two home games I have watched our wideouts in the 3rd and 4th quarters on first and second downs. They don't even leave the line of scrimmage. They become spectaors. Then when we get behind the chains on down and distance we wonder why we can make third down conversions? It has bee rather painful to watch from the stands.
 
Marine03 said:
There should be no reason we don't go into the WKU game at 11-1. However, I have little faith that this offense will suddenly wake up and I could see a loss or two if we sleepwalk on any of these games prior to. We will take everyone's best shot and if we don't match their intensity it'll be Ohio all over again.
Click to expand...

Loss one or 2 to whom????? I think after last week you should just stop talking about football. You have shown you have little knowledge of the football teams in this conference. FAU has 1 player and he has been injured for most of the year. Charlotte and North Texas are 2 of the worst teams in the country and MTSU is vastly overrated. FIU will give us a game but a late season game in frigid Huntington on the Crash Anniversary should lead to another victory.

We will be 10-1 going against a 9-2 or even better 10-1 WKU the last week of the season. This Marshall team might not put up a bunch of stats or be perfect in every phase of the game like Marshall fans want. But they know how to win, are very physical, don't take anything for granted, and are mentally tough
 
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The shitty league is fully responsible for us beating Maryland who beat Michigan their first yr in the Big. Michigan is now 5 and 0. Guess that's why we beat NIU by 31 before they gave OSU all they wanted at the horseshoe. Guess what? We played an easy slate in 99 but that had nothing to do with us being the first team to deny BYU a TD in a Bowl in umpteen yrs. This yr a letdown no doubt but real Herdfans praising the D rather than jumping on the program when its down a little.
 
I wouldn't even say the program is down at all. How can any look at a program that is 5-1, 4-0 with a True Freshman starting at QB and be like "Damn that program is down this year"

We have a different bunch, a lunch pail, blue collar bunch and I love it. They dig deep and find ways to win. The second half of Kent State proved that to me. There is no quitters in that locker room
 
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The reason we are not scoring more is because we have an O-line that cant open up holes in the running game and their pass protection is mediocre. You also have a receiving unit that has had trouble getting open on pass routes. Many times when they do get open they drop the ball when it hits them in the hands. You then turn around and are expecting a true Freshman QB to put up points when the running game isnt working, his receivers are not getting open and/or dropping the ball.

If the O line can play better and the receivers can hold on to the ball you will see a jump in offensive output. Until that happens, we will have to count on the defense.
 
pintcan said:
The shitty league is fully responsible for us beating Maryland who beat Michigan their first yr in the Big. Michigan is now 5 and 0. Guess that's why we beat NIU by 31 before they gave OSU all they wanted at the horseshoe. Guess what? We played an easy slate in 99 but that had nothing to do with us being the first team to deny BYU a TD in a Bowl in umpteen yrs. This yr a letdown no doubt but real Herdfans praising the D rather than jumping on the program when its down a little.
Click to expand...

Maryland 2 years ago, Michigan this year, NIU last year, OSU this year, 1999??????? BYU?????? WTF are you even talking about?

Back to the original statement......yes, IMO, this is a shitty league. I am glad we are dominating it (I expect nothing less when looking at who we play), but to deny this league is....well... shitty. I wonder what some of you are smoking.
 
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TheGreenhouseEffect said:
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151011/GZ02/151019878/1144

We can't rely on defense to win any longer. We need some serious offensive output. Still you can't blame a freshman QB and lots of injuries for everything. Legg's play calling has been down right atrocious at times. I get we're trying to bring a frosh QB along and build confidence but the 4 th qtr v so miss was terrible.

I hope he opens it up. Chase doesnt have to "win" the game like Cato used to, but it's time to take off the training wheels and open it up.
Click to expand...

Personally, I think maybe the key to "opening up" the offense more than the QB situation will be getting back a fully healthy or nearly fully healthy tackle Van Horn, arguably our best offensive lineman going into the season. Not sure of his status this Saturday, but hopefully he will able to play by homecoming next week and be available for the remainder of the season. His presence would hopefully let OL coach Mirabal make some needed position changes/switches to enhance our overall OL play. This should aid Rockhead and our ground game significantly
 
Back to Legg and his OC play calling...a coach is pretty much the product of his own college experience.
Remember Legg's legacy... He was an offensive lineman ( think center ) under Don Nehlan in MoHole.
What kind of offensive genius can this produce? Bland Vanilla Predictable Unimaginative
The High-octane offenses of today are too complicated for Legg.
 
Legg has been vanilla since the get go. His play boards (w/ the pictures that are held up for the QB to see) would be 1. Bowl of Vanilla ice cream; 2. Vanilla milk shake; 3. Ice cream cone w/ single scoop of vanilla ice cream; 4. Ice cream cone w/ double scoop of Vanilla; 5. Ice cream cone w/ 3 scoops of vanilla; 6. Banana split w/ 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream WITHOUT the banana and no toppings.....
 
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My shit meter says MAC and SB more shitty and last yr the AAC too. But whine on buddy. No other league is offering but maybe a shitty league for a shitty fan? Whe we go to MT and WKU I'll be looking for that domination you're talking about.
 
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No G5 conference is much, if at all, better than CUSA. MAC and American are looking good this year, but were terrible last year. MWC is looking down outside of Boise. SBC is looking as bad as ever outside of GASO and Appy State. CUSA is looking better than it has since the Anerican formed, with three good teams (MU, WKU, LT) and several solid teams (MTSU, USM, FIU, Rice). Even several of the bad teams show promise (ODU, UTSA, FAU). Things don't get much better in the G5, and anyone who thinks so is crazy. So enough about our shitty conference - everyone knows it sucks being stuck in G5 land, but until the major conferences come knocking, nothing will change regardless of what little conference we're in. At least we're not in the MAC or the Southern Conference.
 
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Hey fever, did you see the part where I said if we sleepwalk? Kind of like we did against Ohio and were embarrassed and again against KSU for the majority
of 4 quarters who was just demolished by Toledo? When the fvck did you become the equivalent of Madden? I predicted a win in the prediction thread last week. Did we win? Yes we did, but we have a boat load of issues on offense and play like shit on the road, 1-1 against the MAC and a win in OT proves that fact correct. If we sleepwalk we very well could drop one of the 4 road games coming up, that's not a slam it's a fact.
 
I am sorry if we finish 8-4 with this schedule and in CUSA the season should be graded as a F.
 
We lost in Athens...again. We looked terrible. We can win out and still won't crack the top 25. This schedule sucks, this conference sucks, and Bill Legg really sucks. I will agree with fever to an extent, this is a gritty tough bunch and I do respect the way Doc has rebuilt the program. I've just decided to accept the fact Doc will have a let down game every year but other than that he's done a damn good job of running the program given the circumstances.
 
Hey, the only team to beat us is 5-1. Sounds good.
No matter the players or experience, Legg will still call the same plays.
As said above, if in 4th qtr, all we are going to do is run up the middle 3 times, then punt, Why didn't we save DJ?
 
On no raleighherdfan tell me you didnt say "just how shitty this league is" in referring to CUSA! Tsk Tsk dont you know how many on here love CUSA even though many more of us would love to have been in the dreaded and hated AAC! Oh well, spilt milk.
 
That's the thing Marine, I don't see us sleep walking anymore. This is a different team since Reeves kickoff return at Kent State. We have the 1 pony show in FAU then 2 of the worst teams in the country with North Texas and Charlotte, we have the road game with MTSU which I know the team will not sleep walk, then an important game against a good FIU squad.

We will be 10-1 and fresh walking in WKU who will be 9-2 and by a miracle 10-1 and ranked
 
And enough about the schedule, the schedule doesn't make us. What we have in that locker room makes us
 
No matter who we play, we still have to win the game. That's the ONLY thing we can control and care about. We have a shot of going 13-1 in back to back season and 36-5 in the last 3 years. Let's worry about that, not how shitty the conference is or what other conferences are doing.

And Marine, Toledo is really good this year
 
TheGreenhouseEffect said:
Yup best WKY has the QB in college football and S Miss had the 2nd best until he played us.

Crappy league? No, I'd say exactly the opposite. Much underrated. Almost all of UABs transfers have made huge impacts.....think about that.

Back to the point, we need offense baaaaaaadly.
Click to expand...


LMAO this is close the worst league in DIV 1. Don't kid yourself.
 
bbneutralfan said:
On no raleighherdfan tell me you didnt say "just how shitty this league is" in referring to CUSA! Tsk Tsk dont you know how many on here love CUSA even though many more of us would love to have been in the dreaded and hated AAC! Oh well, spilt milk.
Click to expand...

LOL. Yeah, I am a "bad fan" because I actually expect us to completely dominate teams like UNCC, ODU, FIU, MTSU and USMs of the world. I am a "bad fan" because I should consider conferences like MAC less superior despite getting beat handily by one and needing overtime for another.... THIS season.

Here we have PINTCAN celebrating the current CUSA, and questioning my loyalty while using historical win references of the past to justify his "fandom" with other schools. Hilarious. If I were to do the same as it pertains to this league (just our division), it would actually reinforce my point. A 3 win opponent over the last 2-3 seasons? 3 recent history FCS level teams??? 1 non existent/newly formed football program???

We really have no excuses in not dominating this league. NONE. To do otherwise would be counter-intuitive considering the talent, depth, improved/new facilities, coaching, etc. the apparent so-called "real fans" have celebrated and bragged about over the last few seasons. I celebrate our wins. I appreciate our wins. I also believe we are a much improved team, but....in a overall weaker conference.

This doesn't make one less of a fan or any less proud of the program overall. I just have an understanding of where the program actually stands in the college football world. It is what it is.
 
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