Will isn't the answer....

Look - this isn't hard. The reason we looked so good against A&M and Arkansas is that we ran the ball, which created passing lanes for Will.

We had 7 designed runs the entire game.

S-E-V-E-N

That is ridiculous I'm not a huge Time of Possession guy, but they had the ball 40 minutes to our 20. They had 73 plays to our 47.

We cannot win football games if we only run it 7 times. People can talk about Kentucky and their run game, but we did this to ourselves.

Will is going to look average to below average if we give him zero run game. The big issue is that he threw it 37 times for 203 yards which is just awful.

I'm really just bummed out because I really thought we had turned a corner in the run game and that Leach had figured something out. It is possible Arkansas and A&M are just not good.

Finally, we have to find some depth in the front seven. I swear that Wheat, Johnson and Watson didn't come out all game. It is not surprising that they wore down. We have to develop some depth.

I don't know whether it's true or not, but I heard somebody say when Bear Bryant was coach at Alabama and playing State at Scott Field, he wasn't satisfied with how his team played in the first half and made them have head-on tackling in the end zone at the half instead of going to the dressing room. Of course, Alabama won as they did every game against us while Bryant was coach except 1980.

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Originally Posted by basedog

I guess I'm ole school, I never said that with any team I had, never ever heard any coaches I played for or even coached against talk about not practicing good and knew they were in trouble going into a game. Oh, I had teams (a few) that I had to work their tail off to get their attention, my thought was if practice wasn't going well, we would stop and work on conditioning. Played football and had a Coach who saw things going bad in practice and he would stop things, and we went into tackling drills and one on one blocking. Got everyone attention.

Enough from me, on to the next game. LOL

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I get you Base. I'm actually pretty old school too. Very much about taking care of team issues within the team and not outside the team. But, if the Leach has done all he can and still couldn't get it from the inside, sometimes saying it publicly is the only way. I do like that he took accountability for it when he did.

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Originally Posted by NCDawg

I don't know whether it's true or not, but I heard somebody say when Bear Bryant was coach at Alabama and playing State at Scott Field, he wasn't satisfied with how his team played in the first half and made them have head-on tackling in the end zone at the half instead of going to the dressing room. Of course, Alabama won as they did every game against us while Bryant was coach except 1980.

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I also read many times that many teams dreaded playing us in years past, because win or lose we were a very physical team who left them bruised and battered. I don't think any opponent feels this way the last few years I am not against Coach Leach, but we must be able to also run the ball and be physical on D. Our tackling against KY looked like a matador waving his cape. They could not get off the field. We looked totally intimidated on O and D. ST continue to be a joke.

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Originally Posted by HancockCountyDog

Look - this isn't hard. The reason we looked so good against A&M and Arkansas is that we ran the ball, which created passing lanes for Will.

We had 7 designed runs the entire game.

S-E-V-E-N

That is ridiculous I'm not a huge Time of Possession guy, but they had the ball 40 minutes to our 20. They had 73 plays to our 47.

We cannot win football games if we only run it 7 times. People can talk about Kentucky and their run game, but we did this to ourselves.

Will is going to look average to below average if we give him zero run game. The big issue is that he threw it 37 times for 203 yards which is just awful.

I'm really just bummed out because I really thought we had turned a corner in the run game and that Leach had figured something out. It is possible Arkansas and A&M are just not good.

Finally, we have to find some depth in the front seven. I swear that Wheat, Johnson and Watson didn't come out all game. It is not surprising that they wore down. We have to develop some depth.

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I think the runs or lack of is a direct result of Rogers seeing too many in the box and them dropping back after the snap and then the injuries. It's hard to run a RB with a torn MCL. Or run a RB that has seen his minutes drop off due to being banged up. Add to that Sharp going down which changed the OL.

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Originally Posted by BlackSailsDawg

I think the runs or lack of is a direct result of Rogers seeing too many in the box and them dropping back after the snap and then the injuries. It's hard to run a RB with a torn MCL. Or run a RB that has seen his minutes drop off due to being banged up. Add to that Sharp going down which changed the OL.

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Does Johnson have a torn MCL? If true, big loss.

One last thing - people blaming the defense for this loss has lost their damn mind.

We had 4 drives in the first half. Only one ended up with points. Our defense gave up 3 points in the first half.

Second half we had 1 sustained offensive drive. One.

Hell the defense scored 7 points and offense scored 10. Our defense wasn't perfect, but they played well enough to get a W. If the offense shows up in the first half, we should be up 17-3 at halftime.

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Originally Posted by HancockCountyDog

One last thing - people blaming the defense for this loss has lost their damn mind.

We had 4 drives in the first half. Only one ended up with points. Our defense gave up 3 points in the first half.

Second half we had 1 sustained offensive drive. One.

Hell the defense scored 7 points and offense scored 10. Our defense wasn't perfect, but they played well enough to get a W. If the offense shows up in the first half, we should be up 17-3 at halftime.

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Offense was bad, but D couldn't get off field. Check their total O numbers. Except for pick 6, secondary was a penalty machine. Our Safety play against the pass has been bad for the past couple of years. Time of possession by about 2 to 1 for them was helped by about 200 yards by Rodriguez. We were not prepared on O, D, or ST. Have a lot to fix.

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Originally Posted by HancockCountyDog

One last thing - people blaming the defense for this loss has lost their damn mind.

We had 4 drives in the first half. Only one ended up with points. Our defense gave up 3 points in the first half.

Second half we had 1 sustained offensive drive. One.

Hell the defense scored 7 points and offense scored 10. Our defense wasn't perfect, but they played well enough to get a W. If the offense shows up in the first half, we should be up 17-3 at halftime.

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Hard to point fingers at a specific person or group. The whole team and staff didn't show up. It happens.

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Originally Posted by Goldendawg

Does Johnson have a torn MCL? If true, big loss.

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From what I read, yes. The source is his former HS coach's wife.

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Originally Posted by BlackSailsDawg

From what I read, yes. The source is his former HS coach's wife.

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Well, that's better than my cousin's wife's hairdresser.**** Hope he's just banged up, brings a tough, physical presence to our running game and pass blocking.

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Originally Posted by R2Dawg

I'm not saying Will is a great QB but he runs Leach's system to perfection hence all the yards and records. He is doing what Leach wants. It is more the HC than anything. Don't blame Will anyway, he is just doing what HC wants him and allows him to do. Leach can do what he wants, he answers to no one.

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You are just blaming Leach to blame him. Leach doesnt send Rogers out there to be a freaking check down Charlie, When Rogers is rolling out of the pocket and there is a clear path to run for 5 yards and get the first down, but in stead he throws it to Walley for 2 yards and immediately is hit, Leach doesnt want that.

Rogers is great, but he has to take the next step. He hasnt learned to take ownership over a game. Until he does that we will keep having these issues.

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Originally Posted by Maverick91

You are just blaming Leach to blame him. Leach doesnt send Rogers out there to be a freaking check down Charlie, When Rogers is rolling out of the pocket and there is a clear path to run for 5 yards and get the first down, but in stead he throws it to Walley for 2 yards and immediately is hit, Leach doesnt want that.

Rogers is great, but he has to take the next step. He hasnt learned to take ownership over a game. Until he does that we will keep having these issues.

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REP REP and more REP!

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Originally Posted by Maverick91

You are just blaming Leach to blame him. Leach doesnt send Rogers out there to be a freaking check down Charlie, When Rogers is rolling out of the pocket and there is a clear path to run for 5 yards and get the first down, but in stead he throws it to Walley for 2 yards and immediately is hit, Leach doesnt want that.

Rogers is great, but he has to take the next step. He hasnt learned to take ownership over a game. Until he does that we will keep having these issues.

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Wow, send me some of the maroon kool aid you two have left. WR "runs Leach's system to perfection" and "Rogers is great". I must have misinterpreted the results of the LSU & KY games and worry about all remaining games except ETU. Five good victories so far, but much to fix, quickly, in all three phases of our game. Hail State!

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Originally Posted by Maverick91

You are just blaming Leach to blame him. Leach doesnt send Rogers out there to be a freaking check down Charlie, When Rogers is rolling out of the pocket and there is a clear path to run for 5 yards and get the first down, but in stead he throws it to Walley for 2 yards and immediately is hit, Leach doesnt want that.

Rogers is great, but he has to take the next step. He hasnt learned to take ownership over a game. Until he does that we will keep having these issues.

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I saw on two replays Saturday night where Walley was open in the middle or Rara had a step on his cover guy downfield but Will chose to throw to the dump off for virtually nothing or in the second one just throw it out of bounds. If that's just two plays I caught then what about the others? Will sucked his nuts up his ass Saturday night.

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Originally Posted by basedog

I don't care who is the Coach, but when a coach says we had a bad week of practice, just doesn't set in with me. I don't care what sport it is; Coaches are paid to get their team ready. Would you feel good about attending a game knowing the team isn't prepared? That is exactly what Leach meant.

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I get what Leach is saying there.

Things are so different and complicated now- especially on the HS level. Players miss practice for haircut appointments, to babysit cause Momma said come home, gotta drive Momma to the Dr because she doesnt drive, suspensions from school, injuries, missed school and couldnt get a ride....just to name a few. Then you still have some Covid protocols in place hampering what you are doing that are different from other schools/districts.

Colleges have their issues as well. Trainers have more power than the coaches. Guys are held out of practice, contact, etc at the drop of a hat. NCAA limits practice and meeting time so you have that to deal with also. Just so many more reasons for teams to not be as prepared as they should at times.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

I get what Leach is saying there.

Things are so different and complicated now- especially on the HS level. Players miss practice for haircut appointments, to babysit cause Momma said come home, gotta drive Momma to the Dr because she doesnt drive, suspensions from school, injuries, missed school and couldnt get a ride....just to name a few. Then you still have some Covid protocols in place hampering what you are doing that are different from other schools/districts.

Colleges have their issues as well. Trainers have more power than the coaches. Guys are held out of practice, contact, etc at the drop of a hat. NCAA limits practice and meeting time so you have that to deal with also. Just so many more reasons for teams to not be as prepared as they should at times.

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College coaches getting paid million$ to manage this and it comes with the job responsibilities. We were not ready on O, D, or ST with a very well paid, SEC coaching staff. I recently retired from teaching in MS middle school, never coached, but saw and agree with all the issues you mentioned on the HS level. Hail State!

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Originally Posted by Cooterpoot

Rogers cant handle the mental games DCs play. He has guys open but dumps it off. He was lost as a damn goose with all the looks KY gave him. And it was the same damn looks he saw last year.
But, for our coach to come out and say he knew we weren't ready is also an indictment on him and that staff. I really hope we let some kids walk end of season and fill their spots with transfers. I've seen enough of some of these guys. They aren't good enough.

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Originally Posted by basedog

How can a 5 million Dollar Coach say he knew we were in trouble because we had a bad week of practice? If I'm Cohen we would be having a good long conversation Sunday afternoon. I was shocked to hear Leach say that.

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You guys kill me. Alabama nearly lost a week ago to a team we stomped and lost this past weekend. Did superstar Coach Saban who gets paid twice as much as our coach fail? Is he over the hill?

Saban saw Alabama looked ?tight? before Vols

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Originally Posted by Coach34

I get what Leach is saying there.

Things are so different and complicated now- especially on the HS level. Players miss practice for haircut appointments, to babysit cause Momma said come home, gotta drive Momma to the Dr because she doesnt drive, suspensions from school, injuries, missed school and couldnt get a ride....just to name a few. Then you still have some Covid protocols in place hampering what you are doing that are different from other schools/districts.

Colleges have their issues as well. Trainers have more power than the coaches. Guys are held out of practice, contact, etc at the drop of a hat. NCAA limits practice and meeting time so you have that to deal with also. Just so many more reasons for teams to not be as prepared as they should at times.

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It's crazy the way it is now. Back in the day nobody missed practice or games unless you were dying. I remember my sons junior year in baseball, when they won the state championship, we had a couple of our best players sit out the last couple of games with a stiff back, stuff like that. And nowadays you can't question it because if the trainer says they need to sit, you can't put them out there or risk repercussions. Back in the day, if you got hurt, coaches would say can you stand? Yes, sir. Well get back in there! Things are way different than they used to be and that doesn't even take into account all the issues you mentioned as reasons why the miss practice and stuff, which is exactly what happens.

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

It's crazy the way it is now. Back in the day nobody missed practice or games unless you were dying. I remember my sons junior year in baseball, when they won the state championship, we had a couple of our best players sit out the last couple of games with a stiff back, stuff like that. And nowadays you can't question it because if the trainer says they need to sit, you can't put them out there or risk repercussions. Back in the day, if you got hurt, coaches would say can you stand? Yes, sir. Well get back in there! Things are way different than they used to be and that doesn't even take into account all the issues you mentioned as reasons why the miss practice and stuff, which is exactly what happens.

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Missing for a haircut appt is the one that is crazy to me. Or the kids that miss 2 or even 3 days of practice that week and are then shocked when they dont play on Friday. People in the hall asking why we practice everyday????? Just makes you shake your head at this generation.