This was pretty good. It's a premium article and has some interesting points in it.
<h1>Monday Morning QB: Buzzards and Goats</h1><span id="size_icons" class="size_icons">http://bulldawgjunction.com/news/story_print.php?article=980</span> <p id="article_author" class="source_info">By Matt Wyatt, Football Expert
Posted Sep 22, 2008
<span class="article_copyright">Copyright © 2008 BullDawgJunction.com</span></p>
<div class="news_main_article_image"> <table width="100" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div id="article_deck" class="deck_copy"> I usually don't even read those forwarded emails. You know the ones. We've all got a certain friend or relative that spends way too much time forwarding humorous, political, or religious emails to everyone in their address book, and after a short time we condition ourselves to "delete" as soon as we see who the "sender" is. Well, for once I'm glad my curiosity got the best of me. </div>I "got mail" a while back from a friend, and it was a list of the all-time greatest quotes from some of college football's greatest coaches. I read and saved it, and I'm glad I did because there were two quips from one famous coach that kept popping into my head during, and after Saturday's "game" against a bunch of technical minded students from Atlanta. "That's it," I thought. "That describes this perfectly!"
Here you go...in the words of former Texas Tech coach Spyke Dykes:
"They whipped us like a tied-up goat."
...and...
"Well, we played like two tons of buzzard puke today."
'Nuff said. Spyke Dykes is now a member of my All-Name team, along with Jaybo Shaw.
As a matter of fact, I find it impossible to describe the GA Tech loss more accurately than that. In order to do my job, though, and provide a little insight into the loss from a former player's perspective I've chosen three areas to illustrate for all Bulldawgjunction-ites: Wesley Carroll, Croom-Woody-WC Offense (yep, it's one subject), and the Bulldogs' defense.
Wesley Carroll: C'mon folks, I mean...really
Do you honestly think you sound intelligent when you bash the kid and say he should never take another snap? What about when you type it into a message board thread? I'm waiting...
Yes, I've seen every game this season (and last season for that matter). Uh huh, I've seen the interceptions this season too. I realize I may rub some Bulldog fans the wrong way when I say this, but here goes: if you, sincerely, in-your-heart believe that Wesley Carroll is the problem with our offense then it's time for you to take a step back, and listen to someone else who knows a little more about what's going on out there. I don't intend to insult, but would just like to drive home the point that it's ignorant to, as fans, take part in the same old line of thinking, then vocalize that thinking, and prove our ignorance. What's the old saying? I think it goes something like this: "it's far better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and prove it."
Given what's going on around him, Wesley's doing a good job. Both interceptions on Saturday could have been easily avoided with just a little help and a little luck. When you play on an offense that's somewhat "snake-bit" however, bad luck is usually unavoidable. The first was a play-action, roll-out to Carroll's left where Brandon McRea was running a one-on-one deep comeback route. McRea was open, and Wesley was not pressured. However, I saw a mix-up between the two. Wesley was ready to deliver the football on time, but McRea put an extra little move to the inside at the end of the route that forced Carroll to adjust, hang on to the ball a little longer. In doing so, Carroll was still holding the ball when McRea broke to the sideline which should NEVER happen on a 15-yard comeback route. The ball should always be on it's way to a spot on the sideline by the time the receiver breaks. The hesitation forced Carroll to throw late, rush just a little, and the ball sailed high. We know the rest: McRea goes up, gets only one hand on the ball, and (bad luck) tips it right into the gut of the cornerback. It could have been tipped anywhere, and if "if's and but's were candy and nuts"...chalk it up to being snake-bit.
Folks, that was the one poor throw I saw Wes make on Saturday.
The second interception was a great play on Wes' part. Brandon Henderson was wide open, running a vertical between two safeties. Wes knew he would be hit, but he stood in there and delivered a good (not great) throw. Now, the ball was just a bit high, but Henderson mis-timed his jump. Any SEC receiver, tight-end or wideout, will be expected to go up and get that ball...and most will. It wasn't a bad read. It wasn't a terrible throw. It wasn't a careless play by Wes. It should have been a touchdown with just a little help. Should Wes throw every, single pass right into a Bulldog's bread basket for it to be a completion? SEC pass-catchers will from time to time (please excuse the sarcasm) be expected to jump...and make a catch at the same time.
Wes does not have an extremely strong arm. Wes is a sophomore. He is carrying more of a load this year, and he struggled mightily in game-1. Since then he's done a decent job, and he is NOT the problem.
The responsibility for not scoring points on offense does not 100% fall on Wes.
Croom-Woody-West Coast Offense
Let's get one thing straight. The formations and plays being run by the Bulldogs' offense are no different than the ones we ran at State when I was playing. (Go back and read that line again...let it sink in). This year's flat/curl route combination is the same as it was in '98. A tight-end with an offset fullback and two wide-outs for Croom's bunch Saturday was the same formation used by LSU, Auburn, Alabama, etc. Insert any team in the country. What about 4-wides and shotgun? Yes. Five wideouts and no backs? Yes, yes, and yes. We did it in '99 with the same routes and basic blocking schemes. It's all the same stuff, passed around, and recycled, and given a different name.
The "West Coast" idea is an overall philosophy, a style of play calling. It's the "intention" with how to use backs and receivers.
I just want to make sure that none of us are under the impression that our offense is an "apple" and that successful teams like USC and Oklahoma have a "banana".
What about Georgia Tech's option? Nope, they're an apple, too. The difference is teams like State call an option (read and pitch or keep) out of the shotgun maybe once a game, and the Yellow Jackets are always under-center and call an option (read and pitch or keep) on almost every play. The basic idea is exactly the same: pitch off the end-man on the line of scrimmage, block the outside linebacker and the corner, and force the safety to come up and make the tackle.
If executed by all eleven (on any team) it works great, as evidenced by the fact that Demon Glanton, Derek Pegues, and Keith Fitzhugh were three of State's top four tacklers Saturday.
Defense: What do you do?
I'm not sure I know the answer. However, it's plain to me Saturday's predicament. On the first play of the game, and on the last play of the game, our defensive objective was the same: take away the inside give, force the quarterback to pitch, and don't give up a homerun.
Those of us that saw the game know that feeling of frustration, wondering what it would take to have linebackers in a position to make tackles on the edge, as opposed to seeing Pegues (ex.) locked in a battle with a blocker on the sideline hoping he beats said block AND makes the tackle seeing as he's the last stop before said homerun sails over the fence.
I kept thinking, "is there nothing we can do/line-up in that would throw them for a loop instead of them keeping us off balance?"
Truth is, when your defensive ends aren't dominating the opponent's tackles, you're already whipped.
I still think our "D" can be solid versus most teams on the schedule, but I worry that Tech's option may have shined a spotlight on some weaknesses that SEC teams now have on film. What'cha wanna bet LSU puts in some wing option this week?
Overall:
There are plenty of challenges in Bulldog country after four weeks of the '08 season. The biggest challenge in my opinion is now on the part of Sylvester Croom keeping players' attitudes on the up&up for the remainder of the season. They must not panic, and the staff must set that example. It will be doubly tough with the majority of the fanbase in doubt. The players will hear it in class, in the cafeteria, at home, etc. It's an absolute must that teammates lock arms, cover their ears, and wade through the storm as a unit. Got no choice...LSU certainly won't feel sorry for you.
The lack of points from the offense is unfortunately a pattern. It's a pattern that must be thwarted starting Monday. I think Coach Croom realized this following Saturday's loss, and that's positive.
Coming into this season I made a statement several times, to Bulldog fans as well as over the airwaves on my radio show. Considering the buzz among the fanbase, and the drastic increase in early commitments from big-time recruits, I said it was imperitive in '08 that MSU did NOT take a major step backwards. Sure, improving on last season's eight wins would be nice. But I said a HUGE factor in the future of the football program would be simply to win six games, be bowl eligible, and in a word - maintain. Maintain the idea that MSU football had again turned the corner as it appeared to have done a decade ago. Maintain a high expectation among supporters, and maintain the satisfaction of meeting a few of those expectations. At 1-3, the 'Dawgs need to become giant killers in a hurry to maintain the notion that the program is making progress.
Have fun in Red Stick!
