Stop blaming the players… it’s the coaches

[CatManTrue]

Our coaches are paid small fortunes to find, recruit, develop, and retain talented football players.

If we were to do an honest assessment of our coaching staff, we would find that it is lacking in several ways. And it’s showing this year with Saint Hankwitz retired. We’ve been embarrassed by two quality B1G teams and demolished by one mediocre one (Nebraska). And don’t get me started about the debacle in Durham.

Hopefully our coaching staff can get it together, Marty returns, and we can eke three more wins for a bowl game. But there’s a real possibility that we’ll go 3-9 again. I thought Illannoy would be a guaranteed win but they had one of their best wins in years today.

And another 3-9 (or 4-8) season should mean that everyone on the coaching at staff gets a real review. At least the 2019 team had a competitive defense (except against dOSU).

If the players have to constantly compete for their jobs… then why don’t the coaches?

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Our coaches are paid small fortunes to find, recruit, develop, and retain talented football players.

If we were to do an honest assessment of our coaching staff, we would find that it is lacking in several ways. And it’s showing this year with Saint Hankwitz retired. We’ve been embarrassed by two quality B1G teams and demolished by one mediocre one (Nebraska). And don’t get me started about the debacle in Durham.

Hopefully our coaching staff can get it together, Marty returns, and we can eke three more wins for a bowl game. But there’s a real possibility that we’ll go 3-9 again. I thought Illannoy would be a guaranteed win but they had one of their best wins in years today.

And another 3-9 (or 4-8) season should mean that everyone on the coaching at staff gets a real review. At least the 2019 team had a competitive defense (except against dOSU).

If the players have to constantly compete for their jobs… then why don’t the coaches?

The defense has looked miles better the last two weeks after the bye despite ugly numbers today.

Size and explosiveness on offense as continues to hold us back. If you want to pin that on the coaches because they recruit the players that’s fine, but the players aren’t exactly executing all that well either.

 

[CatManTrue]

The defense has looked miles better the last two weeks after the bye despite ugly numbers today.

Size and explosiveness on offense as continues to hold us back. If you want to pin that on the coaches because they recruit the players that’s fine, but the players aren’t exactly executing all that well either.

We must have watched two different games today. Michigan ran the ball at will against us. 294 yards on the ground at a 5.4 ypc clip. I guess that’s better than what MSU and UNL did but not by much. We’re entering 2002 territory on defense. If not for Azema’s forced fumble near the goalline, the score would have been uglier.

Our offense hasn’t really clicked in a game yet. Injuries play a big part but so does not hitting the transfer portal hard in the offseason for more OL.

And there’s simply nothing special about our special teams. Adams had a nice punt in the first quarter, which was that unit’s highlight of the day.

 

[Rodenthater]

At least we’re not Arizona—19 straight losses!!’

 

[CatManTrue]

At least we’re not Arizona—19 straight losses!!’

Well, at least we can cheer for Arizona to keep losing and break our record for consecutive losses.

I was hoping UConn would do it but unfortunately they played UMass.

 

[Rodenthater]

We just do not have the talent! Drop the gpa a point so we can get more competitive consistently!!!

 

[Catreporter]

UConn lost to UMass but they edged Yale last week in the first game the Ivies have played against a supposed Division 1 program in a very long time (since NU beat Princeton 37-0 in 1986 perhaps??)

 

[NREPP Fraud]

The defense has looked miles better the last two weeks after the bye despite ugly numbers today.

Size and explosiveness on offense as continues to hold us back. If you want to pin that on the coaches because they recruit the players that’s fine, but the players aren’t exactly executing all that well either.

Defense was fine today! Refs ruined it for us!

 

[Catreporter]

That holding call on Heard early in the third quarter was completely bogus and led to their TD that made it 17-7. That said, gotta make plays offensively (and not miss open receivers) if you are going to compete with the elite.

 

[CatManTrue]

UConn lost to UMass but they edged Yale last week in the first game the Ivies have played against a supposed Division 1 program in a very long time (since NU beat Princeton 37-0 in 1986 perhaps??)

Good catch. Got my bad northeastern teams mixed up. Man it would have been awesome if Yale pulled off that upset.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

We must have watched two different games today. Michigan ran the ball at will against us. 294 yards on the ground at a 5.4 ypc clip. I guess that’s better than what MSU and UNL did but not by much. We’re entering 2002 territory on defense. If not for Azema’s forced fumble near the goalline, the score would have been uglier.

Our offense hasn’t really clicked in a game yet. Injuries play a big part but so does not hitting the transfer portal hard in the offseason for more OL.

And there’s simply nothing special about our special teams. Adams had a nice punt in the first quarter, which was that unit’s highlight of the day.

I have eyeballs. The defense was playing much more fundamentally sound in a much more technically sound scheme than the first part of the season. That isn’t saying much, but at least our defense wore down rather than looking broken from the first snap.

I’ll be right there with you banging the drum for 3-5 transfer OL this cycle. We need an infusion of size and attitude in that room and we need it to come quickly.

 

[zeek55]

I'm with gcg on this..., the defense was miles better these past 2 games than it was against Nebraska/Michigan State/first half of Duke.

We were giving up gigantic plays early and often in those other games. A whole bunch of 1-2 play touchdown drives the length of the field. Not so the case here. Yes Michigan scored, but most of their drives were long and went to 3rd down territory often especially in the first half.

Michigan is probably the best and most talented team that we play this year by a fair distance.

We should look a lot better against Purdue/Illinois and I think we can snag a win against Iowa/Minnesota/Wisconsin if things go our way in one of those games.

Do we need an infusion of talent at some positions? Yes. But the team didn't look anywhere near as discombobulated defensively against Michigan as it did against Nebraska. Michigan just executed on longer drives.

 

[Cat Fan in Buckeye Land]

The offense not being able to sustain anything led to the defense having to be on the field too long, they weren’t going to be able to hold up for 60 minutes.

 

[CatManTrue]

The offense not being able to sustain anything led to the defense having to be on the field too long, they weren’t going to be able to hold up for 60 minutes.

All three phases of our game are mediocre at best, and bad usually. Sometimes they’re unwatchable.

I’ll quote the NY Giants head coach… the fish stinks from the head down. Fitz needs to do a full staff review and jettison the coaches that haven’t cut the mustard yet or for some time.

 

[Fanaticat98]

The offense not being able to sustain anything led to the defense having to be on the field too long, they weren’t going to be able to hold up for 60 minutes.

Time of possession essentially 40 minutes to 20. Wow.

Of course, people always blame the offense for bad time of possession but the defense couldn’t get off the field much of the first half, before they were too worn down.

 

[CatManTrue]

I have eyeballs. The defense was playing much more fundamentally sound in a much more technically sound scheme than the first part of the season. That isn’t saying much, but at least our defense wore down rather than looking broken from the first snap.

I’ll be right there with you banging the drum for 3-5 transfer OL this cycle. We need an infusion of size and attitude in that room and we need it to come quickly.

I bet if we look back, we can find a handful of defensive performances as bad as the four we’ve seen so far against MSU, Duke, Nebraska, and Michigan.

A couple came in 2010 after Persa was hurt and we had the heart ripped out of our team. Wisconsin and Illinois were brutal and we gave up a boatload to Texas Tech.

This defense misses a large number of tackles and has dumb penalties. That’s not fundamentally sound in my book.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

I bet if we look back, we can find a handful of defensive performances as bad as the four we’ve seen so far against MSU, Duke, Nebraska, and Michigan.

A couple came in 2010 after Persa was hurt and we had the heart ripped out of our team. Wisconsin and Illinois were brutal and we gave up a boatload to Texas Tech.

This defense misses a large number of tackles and has dumb penalties. That’s not fundamentally sound in my book.

Which is why I said “much more fundamentally sound” and not “fundamentally sound.”

I don’t think our tackling was all that bad before we started wearing down, nor do I recall many truly dumb penalties. The Heard hold/interference was iffy then Hampton panicked on a deep ball, but nothing overly egregious I recall.

 

[1830 Sherman]

I have eyeballs. The defense was playing much more fundamentally sound in a much more technically sound scheme than the first part of the season. That isn’t saying much, but at least our defense wore down rather than looking broken from the first snap.

I’ll be right there with you banging the drum for 3-5 transfer OL this cycle. We need an infusion of size and attitude in that room and we need it to come quickly.

Might as well toss in a LB or two as well. This group is really going to miss Bergin. Oh, and as long as we're making a list, a dependable PK would be nice.

 

[CatManTrue]

Might as well toss in a LB or two as well. This group is really going to miss Bergin. Oh, and as long as we're making a list, a dependable PK would be nice.

Isn’t Olson supposed to be reliable? Why didn’t he get in at the end of the Rutgers game to cut his teeth, and then in again against Michigan? That missed FG sucked any momentum we had away today.

You can’t leave points on the field. Especially playing on the road at the Big House against a top 10 team. Why, Fitz, Why?

 

[DaCat]

I'm with gcg on this..., the defense was miles better these past 2 games than it was against Nebraska/Michigan State/first half of Duke.

We were giving up gigantic plays early and often in those other games. A whole bunch of 1-2 play touchdown drives the length of the field. Not so the case here. Yes Michigan scored, but most of their drives were long and went to 3rd down territory often especially in the first half.

Michigan is probably the best and most talented team that we play this year by a fair distance.

We should look a lot better against Purdue/Illinois and I think we can snag a win against Iowa/Minnesota/Wisconsin if things go our way in one of those games.

Do we need an infusion of talent at some positions? Yes. But the team didn't look anywhere near as discombobulated defensively against Michigan as it did against Nebraska. Michigan just executed on longer drives.

Our defense has improved, but we're still not that good. We got burned so much early this season that it seems a lot of fans are looking at "holding" Michigan to 33 points as a moral victory. Give me a break.

 

[CatManTrue]

Our defense has improved, but we're still not that good. We got burned so much early this season that it seems a lot of fans are looking at "holding" Michigan to 33 points as a moral victory. Give me a break.

We kept them under 300 yards rushing by 6 whole yards! And to only 10 points in the first half!

Quick, tell our AD to give JON a 10 year extension!

(I agree. GMAFB.)

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

Well, at least we can cheer for Arizona to keep losing and break our record for consecutive losses.

I was hoping UConn would do it but unfortunately they played UMass.

Actually, UMass won.

It was Yale that they managed to vanquish by less than a touchdown.

 

[CatManTrue]

Actually, UMass won.

It was Yale that they managed to vanquish by less than a touchdown.

@Catreporter already corrected this. Which is all the funnier. God I wish Yale had won.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

We kept them under 300 yards rushing by 6 whole yards! And to only 10 points in the first half!

Quick, tell our AD to give JON a 10 year extension!

(I agree. GMAFB.)

Michigan has done that to a lot of teams this year. 343 yards against Washington, 373 against NIU, 335 against WMU. They’re a solid, physical, run-first team this year. Michigan had the ball for over 39 minutes. Tough for any defense to perform in that situation.

Nobody is pretending our defense played lights out. The last two games have looked much better and actually give us a chance, which we didn’t have before the bye.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

We kept them under 300 yards rushing by 6 whole yards! And to only 10 points in the first half!

Quick, tell our AD to give JON a 10 year extension!

(I agree. GMAFB.)

A blocked punt and an interception in our own side of the field didn’t help, this loss is not on your whipping boy JON.

 

[CatManTrue]

Michigan has done that to a lot of teams this year. 343 yards against Washington, 373 against NIU, 335 against WMU. They’re a solid, physical, run-first team this year. Michigan had the ball for over 39 minutes. Tough for any defense to perform in that situation.

Nobody is pretending our defense played lights out. The last two games have looked much better and actually give us a chance, which we didn’t have before the bye.

Your comparators are a 3-4 PAC team, and two bad MAC teams?

We are not a good football team. Some would consider us a bad football team. And that’s on our coaches first and foremost. A lot of our fans just want to blame the players.

 

[Jaguar 88]

We must have watched two different games today. Michigan ran the ball at will against us. 294 yards on the ground at a 5.4 ypc clip. I guess that’s better than what MSU and UNL did but not by much. We’re entering 2002 territory on defense. If not for Azema’s forced fumble near the goalline, the score would have been uglier.

Our offense hasn’t really clicked in a game yet. Injuries play a big part but so does not hitting the transfer portal hard in the offseason for more OL.

And there’s simply nothing special about our special teams. Adams had a nice punt in the first quarter, which was that unit’s highlight of the day.

Totally agree. The offense has not found a rhythm all season, with maybe the exception of the Ohio game, and even then it was not great.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Your comparators are a 3-4 PAC team, and two bad MAC teams?

We are not a good football team. Some would consider us a bad football team. And that’s on our coaches first and foremost. A lot of our fans just want to blame the players.

And some of our fans just want to blame the coaches.

 

[CatManTrue]

And some of our fans just want to blame the coaches.

Because, again, the coaches are compensated well to recruit, develop, and hopefully coach the players.

Can you answer the mystery as to why all of our starting OL are 295 pounds? I can’t.

 

[zeek55]

Our defense has improved, but we're still not that good. We got burned so much early this season that it seems a lot of fans are looking at "holding" Michigan to 33 points as a moral victory. Give me a break.

But look at time of possession, it was 40 minutes Michigan, to 20 minutes Northwestern.

A big part of that is on the offense if you only have 7 points.

What are you expecting if Michigan is getting the ball that much? We had maybe 2 long drives the entire game. Not sure how the defense is supposed to hold that much.

This defense is serviceable right now; not great, not championship-worthy, but at the very least it looks like it works to some length.

We were not going to hold Michigan to 14 points or something like that with them having that # of possessions.

I'm not trying to call this a moral victory, but it was pretty much a typical loss that we could have if we don't really have a functional offense.

This Michigan game looked a lot like some of our 2019 games. Defense was okay but not really the problem. This game just had way too many drives because we were not holding the ball on offense.

This program has always won games with ball control on offense; we've never been a quick strike team. Look at the division title years; our defense did a lot of work, but our offense did its job enough holding the ball and putting up 20-24 points where needed.

 

[EvanstonCat]

The defense has looked miles better the last two weeks after the bye despite ugly numbers today.

Size and explosiveness on offense as continues to hold us back. If you want to pin that on the coaches because they recruit the players that’s fine, but the players aren’t exactly executing all that well either.

I would say so as well, particularly in the first half.

While we have our problems on defense, our offense is terrible. We really need to get a lot more imaginative to offset the talent deficit and also because Hank and the defense can't carry us anymore. Bama can give up 33 points and still win games because of the offense. Fitz is stuck in the 1990's while the game has moved on.

 

[Jaguar 88]

I would say so as well, particularly in the first half.

While we have our problems on defense, our offense is terrible. We really need to get a lot more imaginative to offset the talent deficit and also because Hank and the defense can't carry us anymore. Bama can give up 33 points and still win games because of the offense. Fitz is stuck in the 1990's while the game has moved on.

Exactly!!!! You can't get the talent, create a system the enhances what you have!

 

[CatManTrue]

I would say so as well, particularly in the first half.

While we have our problems on defense, our offense is terrible. We really need to get a lot more imaginative to offset the talent deficit and also because Hank and the defense can't carry us anymore. Bama can give up 33 points and still win games because of the offense. Fitz is stuck in the 1990's while the game has moved on.

Jake called a beautiful drive on the one that resulted in a missed FG (that would have made it 17-10 in the 3rd).

We had a botched snap that led to an automatic loss of 7 on the first play. The Michigan DL had a “Remember the Titans” like shift on the motion that threw Gerak off.

And on the 3rd down screen pass that was stopped by the DT, if our LG had chipped him harder it probably would have worked for a first down.

So I still think Jake can call a quality offensive game and meet Fitz’s objectives. He’s not one of my “problem coaches” by a long shot.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Because, again, the coaches are compensated well to recruit, develop, and hopefully coach the players.

Can you answer the mystery as to why all of our starting OL are 295 pounds? I can’t.

Because we haven’t recruited nearly enough size until the last few cycles and are traditionally a developmental program. Even Tiernan and guys like that are going to take a couple years to get up to playing weight. 6-3 guys like Gerak, Schmidt, etc. are never going to be able to get up to 330 and play effectively.

Still, players have to execute at some point. Even just Hilinski hitting simple underneath throws today lets our offense catch even a little rhythm. He was missing easy, open throws all day long.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

I would say so as well, particularly in the first half.

While we have our problems on defense, our offense is terrible. We really need to get a lot more imaginative to offset the talent deficit and also because Hank and the defense can't carry us anymore. Bama can give up 33 points and still win games because of the offense. Fitz is stuck in the 1990's while the game has moved on.

Exactly!!!! You can't get the talent, create a system the enhances what you have!

That’s… just now how it works, especially when the biggest deficiency is the OL.

 

[CatManTrue]

Because we haven’t recruited nearly enough size until the last few cycles and are traditionally a developmental program. Even Tiernan and guys like that are going to take a couple years to get up to playing weight. 6-3 guys like Gerak, Schmidt, etc. are never going to be able to get up to 330 and play effectively.

Still, players have to execute at some point. Even just Hilinski hitting simple underneath throws today lets our offense catch even a little rhythm. He was missing easy, open throws all day long.

I’m not expecting 330 from 6’3 guys. Unless they’re built that way.

But why not 305, 310, 315? The only OL we have that “shouldn’t” be there is Skoronski because he relies on his athleticism. I’m fine with our LT being 6’3 295 with what he’s done. And Priebe gets a pass given he’s a second year player.

Gerak, Schmidt, and Wiederkehr should each be 15 pounds heavier by now. They are too lean. Where’s the beef?

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

I’m not expecting 330 from 6’3 guys. Unless they’re built that way.

But why not 305, 310, 315? The only OL we have that “shouldn’t” be there is Skoronski because he relies on his athleticism. I’m fine with our LT being 6’3 295 with what he’s done. And Priebe gets a pass given he’s a second year player.

Gerak, Schmidt, and Wiederkehr should each be 15 pounds heavier by now. They are too lean. Where’s the beef?

An extra 5 or 10 or 15 pounds isn’t gonna suddenly make those guys appreciably better players.

 

[NJCat]

An extra 5 or 10 or 15 pounds isn’t gonna suddenly make those guys appreciably better players.

Exactly. Slater was a first round pick at 305#, and is one of the best in the NFL at 315#. There is much more to it than just weight.

 

[CatManTrue]

An extra 5 or 10 or 15 pounds isn’t gonna suddenly make those guys appreciably better players.

We have no push. At all. Especially on the right side of the line where we’re often over powered.

Do you recall the days when we had two 350 pounders at RG and RT in Ndukwe and Strief? And how well they got the job done against OSU in 2004 and others?

Again, where’s the beef? I don’t think we need 350 pounders unless they’re freaks. But what’s wrong with having a few 310+ OL in the Big Ten?

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

We have no push. At all. Especially on the right side of the line where we’re often over powered.

Do you recall the days when we had two 350 pounders at RG and RT in Ndukwe and Strief? And how well they got the job done against OSU in 2004 and others?

Again, where’s the beef? I don’t think we need 350 pounders unless they’re freaks. But what’s wrong with having a few 310+ OL in the Big Ten?

I’m not arguing with you. Lack of size in OL recruiting has been an issue for a while (along with recruiting way too many nice suburban soft kids, IMO). But some extra pounds wouldn’t suddenly make Charlie Schmidt able to pass block or move people off the ball.