This quote from QB coach Greg Olson pissed me off. Especially the part I bolded...
so we're still trying to find that combination of plays that benefit the skills of our players, our skill players, and maybe with the wide receivers in the routes that they run, blocking schemes for our running back. So we've got to just become more consistent. We've had some good games and we've had some clunkers. So how do we find that consistency that you're looking for as an offense and how do we cater our offense to what fits our players?"
Gee, I don't know coach. Isn't that what YOU guys get paid to do? This is crap that should have been figured out in training camp, not December.
I feel more and more that this team needs a complete regime overhaul with the coaching staff. This team has too much talent to look this poor.
You know, the problem with Pete and his selection of coaches is the same as it was with his drafting of players. The metrics he uses to evaluate their sutabality for the job are too steeped in his desire to build people and allow them to grow into success, and not rigorous enough in just looking at a candidates qualification and talent. I think its part based in his desire to grow people and part his personality and not wanting to deal with too much confrontation. But as a leader, confrontation is sometimes necessary to elevate the quality of the group - healthy confrontation. But if Pete values too highy the mild mannered types, you are also often sacrificing that edge leaders bring to demand the best from their players. Sure, there was KNJ, who few would call mid mannered. But he and Ken were also friends and agreed philosophically on how things should be done. He got passed over a few years before when Pete went with Richard as DC and i think hired him back because he wanted to give him a shot. Quinn was groomed from within and became DC after leaving for a year and Bradley was inherited and retained on the recommendation of M Kiffin.
On offense, i dont think Cable gets enough credit for helping coordinate the run game while he was here. I think it was because of his presence that Bevell was given the long stay he had. PC no doubt saw Bev as being good enough to manage a passing game for a guy who he felt struggled to see plays develop and whos magic was in making things up anyway. Cable was the discplinarian who interfaced with Lynch, M Rob and the rest to maintain order and the edge while Pete pumped the positive energy.
Schotty was a great get. ANd i think much of his success was attributable to the fact that he was known as a hard nosed coach. He was the anti Bevell who by accounts, got into some pretty weak shouting matches with LOB members post SB loss.
Hurtt? in terms of leadershp qualities, he SOUNDS like the guy players will respect, but i dont know how much bite there is behind the bark, or whether he isnt being hard enough on guys, if its in an effort to maintain the positive vibes of positive reinforcement. I thik we will see soon enough if his interview post game this past week is any indicator. Either he's losing his guys, or his frustration at the missed assignments is going to turn into a tangible shift in the way teaching is applied.
Waldron? Nothing about the guy says leader to me. Nothing says demanding. Nothing about the way he talks, carries himself, interacts with players, answers questions speaks to an ability to command a room and demand respect. Is Shane going to chew DK out for running a soft route? I dont think so. My eyes tell me he seems like the type to want to design his way out of the issues we are having rather than address the failures head on. problem is , the design wont work if your guys arent executing it because they are disconnected and not playing at 110% ever play, laser focused and on assignment. And i'd also bet that no coach who is hard nosed will want to stay on staff with Waldron if he's soft. Failure due to lack of discipline and then lack of accountability and players pussyfooting it too much to take for someone with pride and the fight in them to demand perfection.
So yeah, you are right. That repsonse is BS. And Pete continuing to just say' we werent on it today' as a standard response after we lose is also BS. It might not be his responsibility to call the plays on offense or defense, but its his job to make sure the pieces he puts in place to lead, get the maximum out of the 53 men on the field. And of he isnt doing that, he is failing. ESPECIALLY if he doesnt recognize it soon and make a change.
If he doesnt recognize it and see the problem, then he becomes the problem.