Is Dan going to be Dan this year - or will he take the next step...

[Really Clark?]

No Clark, he didn't do it last year. Prescott was not the same player the last few games as we was agains LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M. That is because he had been ran too much and taken too many hits. Nobody can take the hits I watched every game and be able to make it through 12/13 games. If we don't want to see a repeat of that, Mullen has to do a better job of pacing Prescott. He has to be more aware of the damage he is taking each week. It isn't rocket science. Coaches do it all the time.

You are seeing what you want to for your agenda. You are not even looking at execution and play calling which have as much to do with the struggles at the end than any perceived injury you think he had. You would actually have a better case if you brought up the middle of the season as him being tweaked. Never mind the fact that one of the games that you're pointing to, Bama, was against the top rushing defense in the league. But that doesn't have any factor at all I guess.

[Really Clark?]

I would trade that #1 ranking for a 100% Prescott against Bama and OM last year - but that's just me. As for the 5 winning seasons, I have higher aspirations than winning 7 games a year.

Well you should be happy then. We are averaging over 8 wins a season over the last five years.

[Homedawg]

You are seeing what you want to for your agenda. You are not even looking at execution and play calling which have as much to do with the struggles at the end than any perceived injury you think he had. You would actually have a better case if you brought up the middle of the season as him being tweaked. Never mind the fact that one of the games that you're pointing to, Bama, was against the top rushing defense in the league. But that doesn't have any factor at all I guess.

Thank you. This gets an award!!! Someone gets it.

[DancingRabbit]

I don't Dawgheadcheese is trolling, just being a little overly critical.

I actually think we may see some of what he's calling for - a few less called Dak runs.

I think some of those runs are on Dak, rather than Dan's play-calling. With an off-season to review last season it wouldn't surprise me to see things tweaked a little.

But I don't think it was the quantity of runs that slowed Dak in the late season. It only takes one play, and I think it was that TD run at Kentucky where he got a bruised thigh and sprained ankle. Never was talked about much officially but after that play he never seemed to have the burst or moves quite the same.

Starting to think we are getting trolled in this thread.

- DawgheadCHEESE (Sounds like a bear-tard made up name)
- Concern trolling about Dan Mullen (specifically taking the 'next step', something they would probably be insecure about regarding Hugh Freeze)
-

Hmmmm

[drunkernhelldawg]

There is no doubt that Mullen has had some questionable coaching decisions over the past few years. But he is younger than most head coaches - especially ones that have reached number 1 - and I couldn't be happier with him as the lead Dawg. Here are some things i will be watching out for early on:

1. Protect Dak - Limiting unnecessary hits / wear and tear early in the season (not LSU) in lopsided games. Dan should have a number in mind of how many downs to run him. Last year was too many as evidenced in his play down the stretch. For us to have a shot at finishing 2015 strong, we have to have an LSU '14 performing Dak - not a Alabama '14 performing Dak. Dan has got to get this right.

2. No "brainfart" calls in games - was watching a replay of the Auburn game and it still gives me a migraine when I see us go for that fake punt. One of the craziest calls I have ever seen and i have watched a whole lot of football. I think it was simply a sign of immaturity - the question is, has Mullen learned from this and won't let a crazy call result in a loss that could disrupt the entire season.

3. Not be hardheaded - we all know the importance of the LSU game. He needs to be quicker to make adjustments if things are not going well. For instance, I hope Shumpert comes out on fire and can be a feature back - but I haven't seen evidence of that yet. If Shumpert is being shut down against LSU, will Dan be willing to bring in Dontavian Lee (if he in fact has shown the most potential in practice)? Again, rather than running Prescott to death which goes back to point 1.

Great post. Well chosen examples. Agree completely.

[MadDawg]

I think Dawgheadcheese would be happy if Dan had just beat Alabama and Mississippi last year.

This thread sucks.

[Coach34]

I think Dawgheadcheese would be happy if Dan had just beat Alabama and Mississippi last year.

This thread sucks.

We lost those games because they were on the road and we just werent quite good enough to overcome our mistakes teams make when on the road in hostile environments

[smootness]

I think Dawgheadcheese would be happy if Dan had just beat Alabama and Mississippi last year.

This thread sucks.

I was going to post and simply say, 'This thread sucks,' but you covered it.

Anyone who thinks Mullen has glaring weaknesses that keep him from being a top coach, mostly based on a disagreement over play calls here and there, is insane.

Is Pete Carroll not an elite coach because the Seahawks threw the ball instead of running Lynch to end the Super Bowl?

[SheltonChoked]

The game dak got hurt is was vs Kentucky. On a play he scored. We could have rested him there and lost to them instead of to Alabama. Would that have made you feel better?

[SheltonChoked]

So a loss to Kentucky while saving Dak for Bama and Ole Miss, costing us the number one ranking would be better. Got ya. That seems like a great plan***********

[Dawg61]

I was going to post and simply say, 'This thread sucks,' but you covered it.

Anyone who thinks Mullen has glaring weaknesses that keep him from being a top coach, mostly based on a disagreement over play calls here and there, is insane.

Is Pete Carroll not an elite coach because the Seahawks threw the ball instead of running Lynch to end the Super Bowl?

And the strength coach is never nice when you're trying to break records. Do we want to win a National Championship or not? Cause those of you bitching about this thread obviously don't understand what it takes to win one. Dan made mistakes last year in our 2 regular season losses. We and he can take advantage of that experience and learn from them or we can do what some of yall are doing and blast anyone that says anything critiquing Dan because yall are either superstitious and don't want to piss off some weird 'good football gods' or you're afraid to say anything that might be considered negative about Dan because you're afraid it will piss him off and he'll leave. Maybe the strength coach should talk to the players all sweet like too? I'm sure they'll be breaking records that way.

[pilldawg]

Would Nick Saban have had a better record with MSU's talent last year? I say, no. When I watch Alabama, they have ultra talented players all over the field. I think Saban gets away with out talenting more than outcoaching. He is also great at developing those talented players, but I don't think a lot of Saban's flaws are covered up by elite talent vs. elite coaching. In college recruiting is part of the entire equation, so Saban is great, but from an overall coaching decision standpoint, I am not sure I don't take Mullen over Saban.

[Really Clark?]

And the strength coach is never nice when you're trying to break records. Do we want to win a National Championship or not? Cause those of you bitching about this thread obviously don't understand what it takes to win one. Dan made mistakes last year in our 2 regular season losses. We and he can take advantage of that experience and learn from them or we can do what some of yall are doing and blast anyone that says anything critiquing Dan because yall are either superstitious and don't want to piss off some weird 'good football gods' or you're afraid to say anything that might be considered negative about Dan because you're afraid it will piss him off and he'll leave. Maybe the strength coach should talk to the players all sweet like too? I'm sure they'll be breaking records that way.

The problem is too many people having tunnel vision concerning Dan. Because you are not a fan of Bama or OSU or FSU you can't see their issues that those fan bases nitpick. EVERY coach and teams have issues. And it is pretty egotistical for fans to think they know what it takes to win a national title when the coach you are criticizing has two rings. I think he has a much clearer picture than most on here.

[sleepy dawg]

I'm pretty sure dawgheadcheese doesn't watch a whole lot of football. He probably watches State, and keeps up with sports, watches a few minutes of the Ole Miss game, checks some scores then watches sportscenter. If you watched the elite teams for multiple games, you will see many mistakes... by every team/coach.

What Mullen has done with our program is something very few coaches in this country could do in this amount of time... very few. He has raised our base level and our ceiling tremendously, and we continue to trend upward. It wasn't that long ago we were one of the worst teams in the country for while, playing in the hardest division in the hardest conference in the country. We have been surrounded with powerhouse schools with long standing traditions that have made it almost impossible to breathe. To get where we are now with the all that around us in just 6 years is just flat out unreal. He accepted a challenge nobody wanted, and to say he has risen to the occasion, is a vast understatement.

[HSVDawg]

I think we can all think of a play call here or a drive there when Dan had a WTF moment. However, the one thing that sticks out to me is we still won all those games. Fake punt against Auburn last year, pulling our starting Center in the 4th against LSU, etc. Not making excuses for stupidity but it hasn't cost us as of yet. That shows me most of these decisions were calculated, acute lapses in judgment in the midst of an otherwise sound gameplan.

The one game in 6 years that I felt Dan singlehandedly lost it for us was at Auburn in 2013. The uber conservative, play not to lose playcalling in our final drive was and still is inexcuseable. However, that is only one game in 6 years and it was largely aided by an equally awful defensive series that followed which gave Auburn the W. All in all, I think there are far more games that Mullen has won for us than lost and will certainly take the odds he has given us so far on any given Saturday with his management of the offense and our team as a whole.

[shoeless joe]

The problem is too many people having tunnel vision concerning Dan. Because you are not a fan of Bama or OSU or FSU you can't see their issues that those fan bases nitpick. EVERY coach and teams have issues. And it is pretty egotistical for fans to think they know what it takes to win a national title when the coach you are criticizing has two rings. I think he has a much clearer picture than most on here.

EXACTLY. And this goes for every coach folks bitch about. ..except ray

[DancingRabbit]

The problem is too many people having tunnel vision concerning Dan. Because you are not a fan of Bama or OSU or FSU you can't see their issues that those fan bases nitpick. EVERY coach and teams have issues. And it is pretty egotistical for fans to think they know what it takes to win a national title when the coach you are criticizing has two rings. I think he has a much clearer picture than most on here.

Nailed it.

[ScoobaDawg]

Starting to think we are getting trolled in this thread.

- DawgheadCHEESE (Sounds like a bear-tard made up name)
- Concern trolling about Dan Mullen (specifically taking the 'next step', something they would probably be insecure about regarding Hugh Freeze)
-

Hmmmm

Nah..I just checked him out. He is a Dawg.

[TUSK]

Would Nick Saban have had a better record with MSU's talent last year? I say, no. When I watch Alabama, they have ultra talented players all over the field. I think Saban gets away with out talenting more than outcoaching. He is also great at developing those talented players, but I don't think a lot of Saban's flaws are covered up by elite talent vs. elite coaching. In college recruiting is part of the entire equation, so Saban is great, but from an overall coaching decision standpoint, I am not sure I don't take Mullen over Saban.

Be careful... some here might not agree with this...*

[BoomBoom]

I was going to post and simply say, 'This thread sucks,' but you covered it.

Anyone who thinks Mullen has glaring weaknesses that keep him from being a top coach, mostly based on a disagreement over play calls here and there, is insane.

Is Pete Carroll not an elite coach because the Seahawks threw the ball instead of running Lynch to end the Super Bowl?

I dont think its insane at all. I think its quite obvious that Dan does not adjust in-game very well, or even in-season. It has been a glaring weakness every year. Last year woke everyone up to our offense, opposing coaches have had time to adjust. Dan will have to anticipate and adjust as well, not just rely on his system. We'll see, this year will tell.