Rye: I so wanted help with the LB’s that I read what wasn’t there. In the PR that was released on gopack.com only co-DC, safeties and nickels were listed as Roof’s coaching responsibilities. He is also Associate HC. When it all shakes out nobody knows what the actual assignments will be. DD changed his mind about something when he hired Roof. He may change it again.
While Doeren is responsible for everything to do with the team, he doesn’t make the “mind boggling” calls you and so many others blame him for. The calls may have been influenced by him during Drink’s first year, but last year he let Drink make his own calls (and mistakes.)
Drink is up in the box. Des Kitchings, Assistant Head Coach for Offense is on the sidelines I believe.
Drink, along with his fellow offense coaches, will go over what worked and what didn’t work and refine the play calling and much more. BTW I wonder why Kitchings is never mentioned when mind-boggling play calling comes up. Because of these calls some of us advocate firing DD mid-season if not mid-game and replace him with… wait for it… Kitchings, Assistant Head Coach for Offense.
One of the many things most fans don’t know is we (the football staff) employ an analytic consultant. Maybe even have one on staff now. Some of the strange calls may be influenced by analytics. The “go for it or not” decisions are influenced by analytic. As far as calling plays fans think should be called, defenses are prepared for those calls. Notice the good teams seem to have a selection of what I would call semi-trick plays to select from.
I’ve said this before and I know I’m wasting my breath doing it again. Schemes make a difference but the real difference in upgrading special teams is done by upgrading personnel. The pros trade for upgrades in personnel to upgrade special teams, infrequently bringing in a new coach. A new special teams coach does not make the gunners faster or better tacklers, the return man faster or the kickers more accurate or skillful. It’s been said many times, it ain’t about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmies and Joes.
Some teams upgrade the special teams by using players who are starters on offense and defense. Our special teams will get better as we continue to recruit better. One of the best special teams players I ever saw play was Stephen Tulloch when he was a freshman. You knew you were watching a future star play.
There are a trade offs using starters on special teams: Starters risk injury and fewer players get to play. Fewer players playing can have an effect on recruiting. Doeren seems to be making the right decisions right now.
Beamer Ball wasn’t about correcting things that cost him games, it was about aggressively doing things that won games for him. I expect he had some of his best personnel on those special teams. Remember Terrence Holt blocking punts and Manny Lawson blocking kicks? Great personnel, not so much schemes.
Glad to hear Beamer’s cancer is clearing up.
Cheers for the holidays.
Grey
