ShotgunDawg
09-24-2016, 09:16 PM
It's a new season fellas. We are 2-2 & a missed field goal to USA & 3 points against LSU from being 4-0, but let's be serious: anyone with two eyes can tell that this is team trash.
The Bad
1. The SR leadership is awful. Other than Ross, Jefferson, Calvin, & maybe another, we basically have fringe players occupying the SR leadership positions on this team. For all the 2 & 3 stars that Mullen & Co hit on such as Dak, Preston Smith, Slay, Banks, Ballard, Josh Robinson, Bear, etc..... there is no such thing as a super scout. It wasn't a sustainable business model & it has caught up with us. For all the 2 & 3 stars we hit on, we are now missing on just as many 4 star players that have turned out to be marginal. It evens out overtime.
2. This is the worst defensive secondary I've witnessed in a long while. Yes, this team did lose both it's starting corners, but, how much better do Cleveland & Jiles really make us? Ugh. Extremely under talented. Coman can't cover a toilet seat & Bryant in extremely overrated with very little football instincts. For goodness sakes, it's like non of our DBs played backyard football growing up & have no idea how to just cover a damn guy. The lack basic ball skills are mind boggling.
3. Basic tackling skills & physicality are lacking on the defensive side of the ball. There appears to be way to much space for offensive players to operate. With LSU & Auburn, every pass is contested. When watching us, if the QB gets the pass off, there is a wide open receiver.
4. We have some nice players on offensive, but their skill sets don't complement each other. We are a running team that has a 160 running back & weak OL, but we lack real over the top ability because all our WRs are midgets. We have a West coast offense receiving core with a running QB that lacks touch & feel for the short to middle range passing game. On offense, our problem isn't one single player. It's that the offense we run & the types of players we have don't mesh. Give us a few of Ole Miss' receivers that are long & fast & combine that with a power running back & we'd have a pretty good offense in which the pieces and parts fit the scheme & QB.
5. Our WRs have been pathetic this year. Gabe Myles plays like he didn't get his orange slices before the game, & the rest of them are just inconsistent. This team doesn't come close to having enough talent to drop passes. We have no deep threat here. No guy that can win a jump ball down the field.
The Good
1. We still don't quit. Say what you want, but we generally play hard. Not as hard & physical as Freezus gets Ole Miss to play, but we don't give up.
2. Fitz is coming along. He's got a long way to go, but he made real progress today & led his team. I thought Mullen sticking with Fitz today may have been the single greatest decision he's made this year. He basically told all the Damian Williams Pole Smokers to screw off & play football. It was the right decision & big for Fitz. He may have won the team today.
3. Shumpert is running the best he has in his career, but I feel like it's a big tease & we'll get 15 carries for 20 yards against Auburn. Nonetheless, he does appear better.
What I Want See Done in Next 2 Weeks
1. I want to hear a story about Fitz wearing somebodies ass out for making a mistake. This is his next step. In the same way that Dak won Dallas' locker room by ripping Dez in a scrimmage, Fitz needs to let Ross, Gray, Shump, or somebody else hear it when they screw up. Time to lead.
2. I want our DBs to go play a backyard football game. For goodness sakes, just make it simple & cover somebody.
3. I want to see Malik Dear worked more into the flow of the game & this starts in practice.
4. I want Jiles to come on in the next two weeks & make an impact in the secondary.
5. I want our coaches to focus on simplifying & going with our identity. The 2nd half of this season needs to be about getting our best players the ball.
6. Defensive coaches need to simplify & make sure everyone knows what they are doing. Work on tackling & have physical practices.
The next two weeks of practice are potentially the most important two weeks of practice in the Dan Mullen era. Every win is precious & I'm glad we won today, but the caliber in which this team is currently playing is unacceptable to this fan base & university & must be improved. When Mullen got to MSU, he talked about raising expectations. Well..... good job Dan. You raised my expectations, & they exceed what is currently be done on the field.
TWO WEEKS & WE NEED TO SEE A BETTER, MORE FOCUSED FOOTBALL TEAM THAT KNOWS WHAT IT'S DOING.
PS to Bo Bounds: We know this team is trash. Let's talk about realistic solutions this week, not about how bad we are.
The Bad
1. The SR leadership is awful. Other than Ross, Jefferson, Calvin, & maybe another, we basically have fringe players occupying the SR leadership positions on this team. For all the 2 & 3 stars that Mullen & Co hit on such as Dak, Preston Smith, Slay, Banks, Ballard, Josh Robinson, Bear, etc..... there is no such thing as a super scout. It wasn't a sustainable business model & it has caught up with us. For all the 2 & 3 stars we hit on, we are now missing on just as many 4 star players that have turned out to be marginal. It evens out overtime.
2. This is the worst defensive secondary I've witnessed in a long while. Yes, this team did lose both it's starting corners, but, how much better do Cleveland & Jiles really make us? Ugh. Extremely under talented. Coman can't cover a toilet seat & Bryant in extremely overrated with very little football instincts. For goodness sakes, it's like non of our DBs played backyard football growing up & have no idea how to just cover a damn guy. The lack basic ball skills are mind boggling.
3. Basic tackling skills & physicality are lacking on the defensive side of the ball. There appears to be way to much space for offensive players to operate. With LSU & Auburn, every pass is contested. When watching us, if the QB gets the pass off, there is a wide open receiver.
4. We have some nice players on offensive, but their skill sets don't complement each other. We are a running team that has a 160 running back & weak OL, but we lack real over the top ability because all our WRs are midgets. We have a West coast offense receiving core with a running QB that lacks touch & feel for the short to middle range passing game. On offense, our problem isn't one single player. It's that the offense we run & the types of players we have don't mesh. Give us a few of Ole Miss' receivers that are long & fast & combine that with a power running back & we'd have a pretty good offense in which the pieces and parts fit the scheme & QB.
5. Our WRs have been pathetic this year. Gabe Myles plays like he didn't get his orange slices before the game, & the rest of them are just inconsistent. This team doesn't come close to having enough talent to drop passes. We have no deep threat here. No guy that can win a jump ball down the field.
The Good
1. We still don't quit. Say what you want, but we generally play hard. Not as hard & physical as Freezus gets Ole Miss to play, but we don't give up.
2. Fitz is coming along. He's got a long way to go, but he made real progress today & led his team. I thought Mullen sticking with Fitz today may have been the single greatest decision he's made this year. He basically told all the Damian Williams Pole Smokers to screw off & play football. It was the right decision & big for Fitz. He may have won the team today.
3. Shumpert is running the best he has in his career, but I feel like it's a big tease & we'll get 15 carries for 20 yards against Auburn. Nonetheless, he does appear better.
What I Want See Done in Next 2 Weeks
1. I want to hear a story about Fitz wearing somebodies ass out for making a mistake. This is his next step. In the same way that Dak won Dallas' locker room by ripping Dez in a scrimmage, Fitz needs to let Ross, Gray, Shump, or somebody else hear it when they screw up. Time to lead.
2. I want our DBs to go play a backyard football game. For goodness sakes, just make it simple & cover somebody.
3. I want to see Malik Dear worked more into the flow of the game & this starts in practice.
4. I want Jiles to come on in the next two weeks & make an impact in the secondary.
5. I want our coaches to focus on simplifying & going with our identity. The 2nd half of this season needs to be about getting our best players the ball.
6. Defensive coaches need to simplify & make sure everyone knows what they are doing. Work on tackling & have physical practices.
The next two weeks of practice are potentially the most important two weeks of practice in the Dan Mullen era. Every win is precious & I'm glad we won today, but the caliber in which this team is currently playing is unacceptable to this fan base & university & must be improved. When Mullen got to MSU, he talked about raising expectations. Well..... good job Dan. You raised my expectations, & they exceed what is currently be done on the field.
TWO WEEKS & WE NEED TO SEE A BETTER, MORE FOCUSED FOOTBALL TEAM THAT KNOWS WHAT IT'S DOING.
PS to Bo Bounds: We know this team is trash. Let's talk about realistic solutions this week, not about how bad we are.