What are the things you are looking for to change...

[dawgstudent]

defensively and offensively for next season in football?

Defensively - it was obvious the defense improved tremendously the last 1/3 of the season. I think our secondary will be much improved
Offensively - I think next year will be huge for our WR corp. I thought they had a breakout year with a nice 3 man group of Wilson, Lewis and R. Johnson. Lewis is our short route receiver who looks for YAC, R. Johnson is a physical receiver who is now fitting that Chris Smith role, and Wilson is our tall, deep ball threat.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Defensively I would like to see the secondary continue to improve and develop some depth. I also expect our D line to continue to improve as well. I think we will have one of the most talented and deep LBing corps around.

I think you nailed it with the offense, we have to have continued improvement from our receivers to keep defenses from stacking the box against us.

I think our biggest challenge is still special teams. I would love to see us line up for a FG without the entire Bulldog Nation cringing in fear.

 

[johnson86-1]

Defensively - We don't seem to have any huge question marks or problems to address. I guess I'm looking for Cox or somebody else to fill in at FS and it'd like to have a DT show up that gives us options on how to use Chris Jones.

Offensively -
- I'd like to see us stretch the field for the first time in Mullen's tenure (hoping Wilson and some of the other younger WRs allow us to do this).
- I'd like to see no series stalled because of leaning on players weaknesses (i.e., no equivalent of running Russell on sweeps on critical third downs or pounding perkins up the middle).
- limiting designed runs by Dak outside of critical SEC games
- Using Shumpert at FB some.
- See some promising tackle play from at least two people other than Clausell

 

[boatsandhoes]

A few things

Defense
-Continue to add quality depth at the DT spots. Quay would, but I guess he is outie. Nick James *****. If your strong enough in the middle to give the Oline problem it leaves the ends free. The ability to move CJ around some wherever he wants to go like Johnson86 said.
-Solidify the back end and at FS. I love Kendrick Market, and he is/has been a great player for us. The kid is smart, and always seems to be in the right place. We have as much talent at corner as a couple years ago or the days of smoot.
-Really I just want to see all of the talent on the field. I really hate Quay "can't get right" what a waste.

Offense
-Is it possible to finally play our very best players on offense? specifically at TB. Can't wait to see a backfield where we can run Shump, JROB, and Griffin in excess.
-We should be strong at WR, TE. Tubby, Rojo, Malcolm, Artimus, Wilson, Chappelle, Ross (if he doesn't leave), Morrow and the RS's coming in. Play guys who are all threats please. Morrow needs to find some aggression with the ball in the air to continue to play.
-we need the oline to continue their great play at the end of year. I like the fact that Clayborn was in there contributing. Get malone back. shore up the tackles leaving. Get strong in the offseason.

Special teams has to get better.

 

[uptowndawg]

Most of my comments are coaching related.

Offensively:
-More Short Yardage & Goal Line Packages with 2 tights and a fullback. I'm tired of seeing 5 wide when we're 3rd and goal.
-More diamond package
-I want the coaches to realize that each skill player has strengths and weaknesses and that our personnel's strengths should match the playcalling. This is the same old 'perk up the middle' argument. But it just seems like our coaches operate on the assumption that all of our skill players are equal in all situations. Since Mullen won't be able to hand it to perk this year up the middle, I guess we should just expect him to throw jump balls to Lewis in the corner of the endzone - great reciever, wrong application. Use Wilson there.


Defense:
-Keep the staff together during the offseason, more of the same of what we saw in the last half of 2013. Experience will come with time to the secondary.

 

[The Peeper]

Biggest improvements I would ask for:

Offense: Get the TE's more involved in the passing game. It puts lot more pressure on the opponents DC when he has to worry about covering another receiving threat rather than just putting the slowest LB he has on our TE just in case he goes out for a pass. I see us doing that in spots and its effective when we do but I don't think DC's respect it enough.

Defense: The DB's improved over the season but were horrendous first half or more of season, especially against LSU, I would have to think hard about a game where I saw DB's as confused and out of place as the LSU game. Don't know if that's on them, Townsend, or Collins but it was bad first half of season. As I said it got better but still not where it needs to be.

Special Teams: The kick coverage was much improved this year. It was horrible the previous two seasons but was better. With the popularity of soccer in the USA, how do we not have a kicker we can depend on for a 30 yd FG and extra point? I'm still confused about benching Swedenburg too, he was always dependable. Bell seems ok on KO's, but a little inconsistent. One kick will go into the endzone then the next to the 7, just need more consistency.

 

[coach66]

I want to see the offense put their foot on the gas and keep it there. Score as

much as they can every game. See Liberty Bowl.

 

[esplanade91]

We didn't allow a single return yard on punts in '12.*

 

[57stratdawg]

Speed rusher on D.
Big play WR on the outside.

 

[The Peeper]

When I say kick coverage I'm talking kickoff not punt. Our KO coverage was turrrrible in '11 & '12, punts been awesome.

 

[kired]

New cleats. I'd guess at least 5% of our offensive plays were either busts or resulted in fewer yards than they should have because of guys slipping. Particularly Lewis, Perkins, and Robinson.

 

[cdawg.sixpack]

Hoping the offense matures enough to limit Dak's designed runs so we can help keep him on the field.

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

(1) Better FG kicking
(2) Better OL play to open holes for our RB's

 

[maroonmadman]

Someone who can kick field goals from 40yds or less with accuracy and consistency.

A go to clutch running back so the majority of our running isn't on Dak's shoulders.

Receivers who will catch the ball when it hits them in the hands, no more dropsies. Improved YAC.

Continue defensive improvements.

Better kick off coverage.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Defense: hold our opponents points to an amount that is lower than the points that are produced by our offense in each individual game
Offense: Produce more points than our opponent in each individual game
If we do this I think we can win some ball games and have a pretty good season.

 

[uptowndawg]

What makes you so confident that this is the formula for winning games? If it were that easy, hell, we'd all be coaching D1.

 

[CadaverDawg]

Offensively: I am quietly concerned about our lack of a run game with our running backs this year. I think a majority of the problem was too much Perk and too little JRob and Shump...but I still felt like we weren't a very good running team outside of Dak. If Dak is our only effective running option on a consistent basis, we will be unsuccessful overall and Dak's injury risk grows considerably. That being said, I think we can improve on this front with a bigger focus during the off season due to Dak, Shump, JRob being a more physical experienced group.

Defensively: I want to see us play all season like we did down the stretch. There is no real reason not to, because we return everybody and gain more experience in the secondary.

 

[tcdog70]

On defense we need to find how to apply more pressure to the QB. I think Ryan Brown might be the DE to do it. I think with or DBs getting better maybe more press coverage.

On offense we need to not be a finesse team in the RED ZONE. Dan is too cute. We will have power backs and QBs, use them. Learn to throw a fade to Wilson. The main thing I would like to see is a QB sneak when it is a yard or less.

 

[22yardpunt]

throw it up to Wilson in the end zone, so that he has to both jump and reach above his head for it. I think we left 3 tds on the field this yr because the pass at.his head.and thus broken up by the cb. Throw it UP!

 

[Rezpup]

Offense: QB sneak under center

Defense: More interceptions and strips. Although we sure did well in that department final two games this year.

 

[Sutterkane]

I agree with that, but he also needs to learn to push off without getting a penalty on that play.

If you do it with one hand and don't extend, you won't get a penalty called on you. There's a subtle art to it.

 

[Shamoan]

nailed it with the special teams comment. we have GOT to get that sorted out before it starts to cost us games. a kicker that doesnt make an adventure out of a 30-40 yarder should be a given at our level, yet juco kickers could kick circles around what we have. FIX IT NOW. how hard would it be to get the best kicker out of juco? hell, im willing to burn two schollys just to ensure the problem is fixed.

the defense seems to have turned a corner and les (if he sticks around) knows how to call for a running qb (relf, dak). im feeling pretty solid about the team right now, but our glaring weakness is special teams. im gonna snap it we lose a game because the half-time punt, pass, and kick student has a better leg than our kicker. probably not the most reasonable statement, but its sadly a pretty good comparison.

 

[Resolved]

Special Teams were not an option, but that's my main concern at this point.

Offense should be fine, assuming we can replace Gabe and get good OL play. NEVER FORGET, the OL is the most important unit on the football team.

Defense...play like the last five games and we'll be fine. And keep Wilson.

 

[lazlow]

I expect both sides of the ball, and even ST, to be improved

defensively and offensively for next season in football?

Defensively - it was obvious the defense improved tremendously the last 1/3 of the season. I think our secondary will be much improved
Offensively - I think next year will be huge for our WR corp. I thought they had a breakout year with a nice 3 man group of Wilson, Lewis and R. Johnson. Lewis is our short route receiver who looks for YAC, R. Johnson is a physical receiver who is now fitting that Chris Smith role, and Wilson is our tall, deep ball threat.

mainly because our opponents will not be as strong and we will be a year better with the majority of our starters coming back on both sides of the ball.

LSU, A&M, Vandy, and Bama, will all be worse than they were this year. UK might be marginally better but not enough to matter in Starkville. UPIG will be the most improved of our west opponents but I still like our chances @ home.....also like our chances at home early against auburn. Our opponents being down in 98 was a big factor in us going to Atlanta.

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

Our offensive line has to be priority #1

part of it is talent. But we also just flat out miss too many blitzes. On defense we need to get to the quarterback more than we have been. If we can improve those two areas we will be hell next year. Sadly, I don't expect much better from the O-line in 2014.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Just for Dak to stay healthy

 

[Resolved]

A HUGE yes to this...

Just for Dak to stay healthy

d

 

[AustinDawg]

Playcalling

We need to do a better job of calling plays to our personnel strengths. In Mullen's first year he did amazing things with Tyson Lee.
Then with Relph, we still played to our strengths.

I think with Russel, as has been said before, it was a square peg, round hole situation. TR did a great job, but just wasn't a fit for Mullen's offense -OR- Mullen wasn't able to adapt enough to call a good game with a drop-back QB.

Towards the end of the season, I thought we improved with playcalling (aside from LP runs up the middle), and I hope that continues.

Cheers!


Also, pay Geoff Collins!

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Fewer old fashioned cheers. Less cowbell. All of that is so 20 years ago.

 

[Old Fart Dawg]

Special Teams were not an option, but that's my main concern at this point.

Offense should be fine, assuming we can replace Gabe and get good OL play. NEVER FORGET, the OL is the most important unit on the football team.

Defense...play like the last five games and we'll be fine. And keep Wilson.

When you hear analysts talk about championship teams, the comment that we hear is something like, "this team is sound in all three phases of the game, offense, defense, and special teams. I think we will have both sides of the ball covered pretty well. But, special teams cannot continue to be the red-headed stepchild. Time for Coach Dan to do whatever we have to do to get the FG unit to be an SEC upper-tier unit, and for all of our special teams to become truly special.

 

[yee dawgy]

Special Teams-Hire a special teams coach. Dan is obviously not doing the job.
Offense-We really need an OC that understands the system we claim to be running. Les is as if he really doesn't exist. We do ok against lesser opponents but whoever is calling plays panics against the LSU & Alabama quality teams. We play the "run clock" or "run Dak" game which doesn't work with today's high scoring offenses and hard hitting defenses.
Defense-Continue to improve.