So I started off being mad. Then I went to embarrassment. Then back to anger. Then apathy. Now, I just don't know what I am (mad, embarrassed or just indifferent).
I've seen the posts about firing this coach or that coach. Frankly, I would bet that DC circles the wagons and talks about "getting better next year" and saying "we've got work to do" - but ultimately does nothing. I am no expert on football strategery and know very little about X's and O's - but I do know that our offensive line is terrible. Absent ACS' ability to escape, we would be even worse off. I don't know that Arroyo is the problem (although if I see another lateral running play hoping to get the corner with our crappy line, I will have a stroke). But I do wonder about Kaligas and Harding. Surely those two could figure something out to at least stop the bleeding, especially with DC's history with being a lineman as a potential sounding board and all.
In terms of defense, I am losing my patience for English. We were not good against Southern Utah and haven't been any better since. I don't want to get in the Chris Pro fight, but none of our guys know if they are afoot or horseback it seems. There seems to be very little creativity on overall strategy and no relief in sight. We can't rely on our corners to cover. We can't rely on our defensive line to tackle and fill holes. We can't rely on our safeties to not bite on play action. And I have seen no evidence that we have any form of blitz package to take pressure off of our corners. Things are not good. Montgomery, Grinch and English clearly don't know how to stop the hemorage...maybe we need a new doc.
I guess at my core, I am most concerned about the lack of progress and regression in most places. Shouldn't we be getting better in ALL phases of the game? Sure we are running the ball better, which might be indicative of better line play for the run (or maybe just lesser competition) - but ACS has NO TIME to throw.
I don't really care about UNLV, but don't want to lose the Boot. My fear is that CSU could drill us. Watching them against SDSU - they are the team we really have trouble with. They can run the ball, when their coach has patience, and their QB is going to be good. They play action well and their receivers are starting to catch the ball. No matter who the safeties are, they aren't going to know whether they should be coming up for the run or trying to defend the middle of the field against the throw. I have some confidence that we can score some points, but really don't know how we will stop them. Seemingly any QB that can hit the broadside of a barn absolutely kills us (Moore, Dalton, Lindley - even the kid from Southern Utah). Pete Thomas is a helluva thrower and they have the RBs to force us to honor the run. The season can be somewhat revived with a win vs. the Sheep - but I am increasingly skeptical.
As for next year, I am sick of betting on freshmen to change the face of a program. Men's basketball has conditioned me to actually fear "next year" and this year's football experience has reiterated it for me. Until we have a core of upper classmen as leaders, on both sides of the ball, I don't see massive improvement. Sure our schedule improves a lot, in terms of wins and losses, but will we actually be better? If not, it might be time for some major changes in the Assistant Coach and coordinator ranks. From there if we continue to see the same ol' same ol', it might be time for a change at the top. I am still two years away from turning on DC - but he has some work to do.
I've seen the posts about firing this coach or that coach. Frankly, I would bet that DC circles the wagons and talks about "getting better next year" and saying "we've got work to do" - but ultimately does nothing. I am no expert on football strategery and know very little about X's and O's - but I do know that our offensive line is terrible. Absent ACS' ability to escape, we would be even worse off. I don't know that Arroyo is the problem (although if I see another lateral running play hoping to get the corner with our crappy line, I will have a stroke). But I do wonder about Kaligas and Harding. Surely those two could figure something out to at least stop the bleeding, especially with DC's history with being a lineman as a potential sounding board and all.
In terms of defense, I am losing my patience for English. We were not good against Southern Utah and haven't been any better since. I don't want to get in the Chris Pro fight, but none of our guys know if they are afoot or horseback it seems. There seems to be very little creativity on overall strategy and no relief in sight. We can't rely on our corners to cover. We can't rely on our defensive line to tackle and fill holes. We can't rely on our safeties to not bite on play action. And I have seen no evidence that we have any form of blitz package to take pressure off of our corners. Things are not good. Montgomery, Grinch and English clearly don't know how to stop the hemorage...maybe we need a new doc.
I guess at my core, I am most concerned about the lack of progress and regression in most places. Shouldn't we be getting better in ALL phases of the game? Sure we are running the ball better, which might be indicative of better line play for the run (or maybe just lesser competition) - but ACS has NO TIME to throw.
I don't really care about UNLV, but don't want to lose the Boot. My fear is that CSU could drill us. Watching them against SDSU - they are the team we really have trouble with. They can run the ball, when their coach has patience, and their QB is going to be good. They play action well and their receivers are starting to catch the ball. No matter who the safeties are, they aren't going to know whether they should be coming up for the run or trying to defend the middle of the field against the throw. I have some confidence that we can score some points, but really don't know how we will stop them. Seemingly any QB that can hit the broadside of a barn absolutely kills us (Moore, Dalton, Lindley - even the kid from Southern Utah). Pete Thomas is a helluva thrower and they have the RBs to force us to honor the run. The season can be somewhat revived with a win vs. the Sheep - but I am increasingly skeptical.
As for next year, I am sick of betting on freshmen to change the face of a program. Men's basketball has conditioned me to actually fear "next year" and this year's football experience has reiterated it for me. Until we have a core of upper classmen as leaders, on both sides of the ball, I don't see massive improvement. Sure our schedule improves a lot, in terms of wins and losses, but will we actually be better? If not, it might be time for some major changes in the Assistant Coach and coordinator ranks. From there if we continue to see the same ol' same ol', it might be time for a change at the top. I am still two years away from turning on DC - but he has some work to do.
