What if....

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:52 pm

Urban Meyer was still in charge of this program? I don't think we would be sitting at 6-5. I think his leadership skills, and attention to detail might have carried us to a couple more victories. I don't think Brandon brings these intangibles to the table as a head coach....at least not yet.

Meyer had this infectious attitude that made everyone around them want to do their best and believe they could do more than there were capable of. This year's team seems to be weak mentality. I don't think Meyer would have let that happen. I know that he would have never let the special teams drop to the level we saw from this year's squad.

Brandon is a bright offensive mind, but I wonder about his ability to motivate and his game management.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 6:43 pm

I'll just say I agree with you whole-heartedly.

Now be prepared for a LOT of posts saying that you need to look forward, not back. You need to deal with the fact that Urban is no longer here. Etc, etc.

This coaching staff failed miserably this season, and I don't think you can even argue that point. It was made adamantly clear that our preseason expectations were a MAC title. a 6-5 season is a disaster, and I don't think even the most pessimistic among us foresaw that. Honestly, I didn't think we could POSSIBLY be worse than 7-4, but I expected 8-3 or 9-2. It turns out that Brandon and his staff have been able to make me think even less of them this season, and that's really saying something.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 7:40 pm

What if Spartacus had had a Cessna....

always a falcon · Post by **always a falcon** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:13 pm

Something I have wondered about Urban Meyer. What if he had stayed? Would his intensity "lasted" more years? Would he have driven people away- coaches and players? Would he have burned them or himself out?

It is yet to be seen what UM does with a program where he is a coach for say 5 or 6 years. All the players are his, all recruited by him, all in his program for that length of time. He may create one of the biggest dynasties at FL ever. Or not. Time will tell.

I cannot disagree that I feel that UB did some things better than Gregg Brandon. Every person has their strengths AND weaknesses. I wish our coaches had done a better job this year. I wish we would have won more games. But to say- it would have been totally different with UM- I can't go there. Not until I see his longevity product.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:32 pm

Here's some other what ifs (pretty much all we have left):

What if Josh Harris has been QB? Do we win?

What if Bruce is our QB? Do we win?

What if our offensive playcalling was half as creative and aggressive as Toledo's? Do we win?

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:51 pm

What if PJ Pope was healthy for every game and Omar didn't miss 3 games? Would Brandon be a better coach? Would we have had a better record?

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:19 pm

What if Cole Manger had been a senior this year? As good as Chuck and Steve were at wide receiver, I think we missed Cole's sure hands, clutch catches and leadership from the slot. Corey is going to be nice player for us, but certainly he didn't set the tone for the offense like Cole did.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:29 pm

Rollo83 wrote:What if Cole Manger had been a senior this year? As good as Chuck and Steve were at wide receiver, I think we missed Cole's sure hands, clutch catches and leadership from the slot. Corey is going to be nice player for us, but certainly he didn't set the tone for the offense like Cole did.

Corey played hurt almost all year and was still very productive for a freshman. It's kind of unfair to compare him to an experienced Cole.

I've never heard of Cole Manger though. I don't know what would happen if he were a senior this year.

You guys want a what if? What if we had lined up in the direct snap to BJ formation every play in the third quarter coming out of halftime, and threw out of it about every third play? Rotate AT in there every now and then and keep doing it until Toledo adjusts. Maybe it will take something crazy like that do not get our asses handed to us in every third quarter we ever play in. Run 10 straight sprint draws. You know, there's a reason they call it the coach's quarter.

What if we had continued to run the ball out of the two back set that has not been stopped by any team this whole season, instead of abandoning it after the first TD drive until the 4th quarter.

What if we had used the shovel option play at least 5 times -- you know, the one that usually gets 5-10 yards without breaking a sweat?

What if we had the balls to go for it on 4th and 6 with 38 seconds left, instead of playing for overtime with a tired defense and our season on the line?

What if Tom Amstutz was from Bowling Green instead of Toledo?

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:34 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:
Rollo83 wrote:What if Cole Manger had been a senior this year? As good as Chuck and Steve were at wide receiver, I think we missed Cole's sure hands, clutch catches and leadership from the slot. Corey is going to be nice player for us, but certainly he didn't set the tone for the offense like Cole did.

Corey played hurt almost all year and was still very productive for a freshman. It's kind of unfair to compare him to an experienced Cole.

I've never heard of Cole Manger though. I don't know what would happen if he were a senior this year.

You guys want a what if? What if we had lined up in the direct snap to BJ formation every play in the third quarter coming out of halftime, and threw out of it about every third play? Rotate AT in there every now and then and keep doing it until Toledo adjusts. Maybe it will take something crazy like that do not get our asses handed to us in every third quarter we ever play in. Run 10 straight sprint draws. You know, there's a reason they call it the coach's quarter.

What if we had continued to run the ball out of the two back set that has not been stopped by any team this whole season, instead of abandoning it after the first TD drive until the 4th quarter.

What if we had used the shovel option play at least 5 times -- you know, the one that usually gets 5-10 yards without breaking a sweat?

What if we had the balls to go for it on 4th and 6 with 38 seconds left, instead of playing for overtime with a tired defense and our season on the line?

What if Tom Amstutz was from Bowling Green instead of Toledo?

Nice post! Especially the part about the two back set, and how we abandoned it--I think that's a problem.

In all fairness, I wanted to punt at the end of regulation, but seeing how tired we were, maybe going for it was the better play.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:36 pm

Just a comment on the direct snap play. UT was only putting two defenders our there to guard the two WR and Omar. Once, just once, don't you think we have to throw out there to keep the defense honest?

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:47 pm

Warthog wrote:Just a comment on the direct snap play. UT was only putting two defenders our there to guard the two WR and Omar. Once, just once, don't you think we have to throw out there to keep the defense honest?

That's what I'm saying. How about for once in our lives WE become the aggressor in the third quarter. Even though Toledo knew it was going to be BJ up the middle, that play always seems to get 4-5 yards, except on the goal line. Why not throw some bubble screens out to bunched WR's. Why not split BJ, PJ, and Omar out wide with AT and Corey in the backfield. How does any defense defend all those possibilities?

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:52 pm

The group I was with kept figuring a handoff/pitch out of the two-back, direct snap formation would have been a nice, and probably pretty productive wrinkle, too. Or get it to Corey on a reverse and see if Omar is still open when he gets to the wide side of the field.

hamjunior · Post by **hamjunior** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:05 am

This "WHAT IF" crap has to stop, whats done is done!!!! The game I watched Tuesday night was one of the best games I've seen all year. Yeah it sucked BG lost, but time to move on get ready for the future. You guys have to quit talking about UB he's gone and unless BG has about 3 million dollars to offer him per year he won't be seen around BG anytime soon. As far as GB is concerened 2 bowl games in the last three years, and at this point the season isn't over yet, and both games leaving a winner, that's not bad. Go KENT!!!!!

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:35 am

Easy big fella, I think it was more for people's amusement than anything else. I think everyone gets the first part of what you are saying. We could go back and forth on GB--I still have hope, but not as much as I did. The proof will be in the pudding. And, let's nto overdo the two bowl game thing---that was a quirk. Under normal circumstances, there's no bid for us last year because we failed to win the big games.

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:30 pm

What if Brandon used Turner in the same role as Omar like in the spring game? What if he didn't use Turner like an option quarterback that couldn't pass?