My thoughts on Moorhead

[NWADog]

The guy is a salesman. He has a personality and a leadership quality that makes people want to follow. Thats a good thing.

He’s talked several former head coaches to all come together and coach for and with him. I realize some of them are not with us anymore but he got them here. I have no worries about him hiring the right guys.

He got an entire fan base to 100% buy in to what he had to say about this team and the program at the start of the season.

He’s recruiting pretty well imo. He can sell this program and this coaching staff to kids.

He’s gonna get the right coaches in here. He’s gonna get the players in here. The only thing that has to happen is some luck and a few big plays to line up for us to make it and be elite.

We were two dropped passes away from being 10-3 (Florida, Iowa).

I have a ton of questions and concerns but my belief hasn’t faltered. He’s got what it takes. He’s capable of making his staff and players believe. The fact that big time programs/franchises like Bama and Green Bay want his guys says that they see that he knows what he’s doing. Big time programs in big time games have big time players that make big time plays. Dropped passes, false starts, unsportsmanlike, targeting calls at inopportune times won’t win you those big games.

Roast me all you want but I’m choosing positivity with the outlook. We were so close this year.

 

[Nama Carl]

Agree on all points

 

[kired]

For me it's not the 8-5 record that bothers me... all 5 teams we lost to were good. But it's how terrible our offense performed in those 5 losses. I expect you'd have to go back to Croom / 2008 to find a season where we had 4 games with 7 or fewer points. And I still can't understand how our offense managed to piss away that bowl game.

I expected there to be some bumps in the road due to the completely new offensive coaching staff... but it was a complete train wreck many times this season. I did not expect that.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

No. We really aren’t close. We were, but we didn’t make big strides this year and take advantage of the talent we had. 8-5 with the #1 defense. We were a long way away this year on him figuring out how to make our offense effective against anyone with a pulse on defense. He padded stats against the worst teams. They were the only ones we could move the ball against. Being am offensive guru and relying on G5 receivers to win you games on a deep ball with a qb not known for accuracy just shows how dumb Moorhead really is. A team with a line built to run block and three really good running backs. Yeah but let’s pass deep or run qb power.

 

[bulldognation]

We were mediocre at best in a year where we should have won 10. But as you said, it's not like we lost to bad teams.
The combined records of the 5 teams we lost to come out to 53-14. Four of those five ended the season with 10 wins and one played for the National Championship. So it's not like we lost to South Alabama or could only squeak out a win vs UMASS.

What's irritating is our offense took a step back during a year where our defense was stellar. We only gave up 171 points on the season. 171 points. If our offense had generated the numbers we all felt it was capable of producing, we aren't even having this discussion. We would be looking at signing day and excited about what we would be adding to Key. Instead we're bitching about how long Moorhead will last and it sucks.

 

[Seinfeld]

Truth be told, I'm not sure we learned a whole lot about Moorehead this past season. He met what most would describe as floor expectations record-wise, his offense faltered at times but without one of "his" QBs, and recruiting is basically on par with Mullen's last 3-5 years.

We're going to see what we've got this season, though. Aside from possibly OM, I don't really see any West teams taking a step back, and the world's not going to be able blame Fitz anymore for not being able to run the offense. If Moorhead can weather the storm in spite of the expected dropoff on D, my hat's off to him. It's time to show us some progress, though, specifically on the offensive end.

 

[patdog]

Dropped passes happen. We should have won both games even with those dropped passes. It's not how close we were to 10-3 that has me concerned. It's how inept our offense looked against good defenses this year. If Moorhead was a defensive coach, I wouldn't be as concerned. But he's supposed to be an offensive genius, and we looked lost offensively far too often this year.

 

[RiverCityDawg]

My biggest issue with him is how poorly he evaluated his own team. He was caught off guard by how we played on offense. It's one thing for our personnel not to be a fit, it's a whole lot worse that he didn't even realize it until it was too late. Did we not practice at the right speed to see that it wouldn't work against (most) good defenses? If so, that's a problem. Did it not work in practice, but he thought it would work in real games anyway? If so, that's a problem.

I can buy the transitional issues and poor personnel fit, but the fact that he didn't see it coming is truly concerning.

 

[Cow College]

I agree on all points. The guys gets good coaches and it looks like good players to buy in to his program. His results on the field this year were a mixed bag. Other than Iowa and maybe auburn we got blown out when we were out talented. When we had the better talent we won by 30+. I have my reservations but there are enough positives going for us I still hold some hope.

Got to score more in big games

 

[NWADog]

I agree the offense looked inept and just pure garbage at times this year. But I also don’t know if many of you ever played past junior high.

Every big game we had, mainly the losses, there were absolute drive/momentum killing penalties that completely disrupt an offenses rhythm and can unfortunately dictate play calling.

I dont know how many times I saw during the Florida, and Kentucky games especially where we had a false start or a dropped pass or a completely whif on the edge that kept us behind the chains or caused us to play into a more conservative type playcalling at times. Combine that with a second too slow reads and it caused too many issues to overcome.

When youre disrupted like that with penalties, sacks, drops it makes it almost impossible to move the ball consistently. This even happened to Bama (the national championship game). Drops and penalties cost us probably 3 games this season.

 

[patdog]

I dont know how many times I saw during the Florida, and Kentucky games especially where we had a false start or a dropped pass or a completely whif on the edge that kept us behind the chains or caused us to play into a more conservative type playcalling at times. Combine that with a second too slow reads and it caused too many issues to overcome.

All of those things come down to coaching except the dropped passes. And even those do to an extent.

 

[maroonmania]

I agree the offense looked inept and just pure garbage at times this year. But I also don’t know if many of you ever played past junior high.

Every big game we had, mainly the losses, there were absolute drive/momentum killing penalties that completely disrupt an offenses rhythm and can unfortunately dictate play calling.

I dont know how many times I saw during the Florida, and Kentucky games especially where we had a false start or a dropped pass or a completely whif on the edge that kept us behind the chains or caused us to play into a more conservative type playcalling at times. Combine that with a second too slow reads and it caused too many issues to overcome.

When youre disrupted like that with penalties, sacks, drops it makes it almost impossible to move the ball consistently. This even happened to Bama (the national championship game). Drops and penalties cost us probably 3 games this season.

That is something that HAS to improve for next season. We were a very undisciplined team this past season. Undisciplined in executing the offense AND undisciplined in our behavior on the field. You are right, we had pre-snap penalties with players not knowing their assignments and we had lots of post whistle penalties with players acting out and not keeping their emotions in check. Moorhead should be taking it personally that we had players out there getting flagged for unwarranted personal fouls, spinning a football, throat slashes, and on and on. I would tell my team that if you get a penalty like that where you put yourself before the team that you will be sent to the locker room for the rest of the game no questions asked. That crap has to stop and those type things where we were out of control basically cost us the Kentucky and Iowa games.

 

[NWADog]

I agree. And you have to know that the coaches aren’t just ignoring that. They’ve had to address it. I mean there are/were like 5 former head coaches on staff. We don’t have a bunch of idiots coaching. I’d be willing to bet they know a little more than us about football.

At some point it’s gotta be on the players to hold themselves accountable and hold each other accountable.

 

[tired]

I agree. And you have to know that the coaches aren’t just ignoring that. They’ve had to address it. I mean there are/were like 5 former head coaches on staff. We don’t have a bunch of idiots coaching. I’d be willing to bet they know a little more than us about football.

At some point it’s gotta be on the players to hold themselves accountable and hold each other accountable.

Could these penalties have been committed out of frustration due to their coach not knowing what to do and/or lack of disciplined instilled? I don't remember these same players committing these penalties under Dan. We only have 1 idiot coaching. Hope he makes me eat crow.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Moorhead?

I’m for it.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

I agree the offense looked inept and just pure garbage at times this year. But I also don’t know if many of you ever played past junior high.

Every big game we had, mainly the losses, there were absolute drive/momentum killing penalties that completely disrupt an offenses rhythm and can unfortunately dictate play calling.

I dont know how many times I saw during the Florida, and Kentucky games especially where we had a false start or a dropped pass or a completely whif on the edge that kept us behind the chains or caused us to play into a more conservative type playcalling at times. Combine that with a second too slow reads and it caused too many issues to overcome.

When youre disrupted like that with penalties, sacks, drops it makes it almost impossible to move the ball consistently. This even happened to Bama (the national championship game). Drops and penalties cost us probably 3 games this season.

really hate when posters try to use that. chances are some of the posters may have a lot more playing and/or coaching experience than you do. that may be why they raise so much hell because they can see the issues.

Again. all of that is coaching to see and change throughout the season. adjust. simplify the offense. That's the coaches job to make adjustments. The offense with basically the same players as the year before never had that much trouble with penalties and blocking last year. they were a much more refined machined that didn't look so out of sorts and discombobulated. This year that's all they were even in some of the games we put a lot of points up. they still didn't have any rythym. we were a couple big play drops in TAMU from losing that one. JoMo's offense relies too much on the big play to happen instead of sustained consistency of a rhythmic drive. Just don't think that's going to get you very far in this conference. relying on the big play is playing with fire.

 

[NWADog]

That’s why I said “many of you” didn’t say all of you. I’ve been frustrated and pissed too through half the season. I also played at the college level and I’ve watched enough film and been around it enough to know that when a coach baits and baits players in with plays designed for a big play coming up and that ball is dropped after the coach dials up the perfect play it’s pretty demoralizing and frustrating. Coaches plans also have to change when you’ve got a little rhythm going and a false start or a sack happens.

Im not saying the coach is perfect and there’s nothing that needs to be fixed. I’m saying that he has leadership qualities, he has charisma, he’s intelligent, and he can sell his/our brand. Coaches have to put the players in the best position to win. Players have to execute the plays and make the plays when their number is called.

 

[SwampDawg]

Yes, yes, and yes. Could not agree more.

 

[PreacherDog]

Did we not practice at the right speed to see that it wouldn't work against (most) good defenses?

We sure didn't play with pace. So slow getting into play. Defenses loved our slow pace of play.

 

[Dawgtruc]

Fast forward a few years down the road, and when JoMo gets his QB in here and the offense is still **** against good defenses...the NoMoor crowd will be able to say "I told you so". Good luck to them. I'm hoping things click.

 

[Chris Mannix]

I think that NWA brings up some great points and comes at this question from the perspective of a true football guy. I myself played college play, and have coached at the high school level as an OC and HC for the last 10 years.

I disagree with the idea that Moorhead is a great coach or an offensive guru. I am not saying he is not a good coach or will not grow into a head coach. I am saying he is not one now. He looked overwhelmed far too much this year for someone that is a guru. I hate the idea that we are just going to make the players fit the system. Any good offensive coach, at any level, should be able to scheme up what their unit does well then play to those strengths. This simply did not happen with Morehead. Will he get better with time? I don’t know and neither does anybody on this board. I hope that he does. I know I do not want to spend the next two to three years letting him figure it out and get his own players in here. If he can’t blend his system to the kids we are getting, and that we will get then I don’t want him as the HC.

NWA I think you made some great points, I just happen to respectfully disagree. I also agree with you that many on this board do not know a football from their ***. Coming from someone that has dedicated the last 23 years of my life to the game, I do not think Moorehead will work out at MSU. I just think his system is something that we are very unlikely to ever be successful with. I hope that he does, but my football mind tells me something different.