Getting defensive

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:17 pm

OK, I admit it. I can't stop overanalyzing things. Please, share my obsession by reading ...

My Latest Blog Post

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:30 pm

'87,

That was very in depth and many valid points were raised. I'd have to agree with just about everything there.
Thanks for writing that piece.

BEAT KENT!

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:32 pm

But I think it does show that Brandon doesn't deserve to be roundly criticized as a lousy coach who doesn't attempt to bring enough talent to the team especially on defense.

Good article '87, and there's no doubt that Urban largely ignored the defensive side. He brought in playmakers on offense, but not nearly as many on the other side of the ball.

However, I'm not so sure that there are too many people really complaining about his recruiting. Brandon himself is complaining about the recruiting. The problem that I have had with Brandon since his 2nd game as a coach is that he doesn't seem to have the killer instinct that a coach needs. As a result his teams are not developing that same killer instinct.

Urban's teams had a fiery intensity every game. They were strong fundamentally and dominated STs. I think if you look throughout the country you will see that most of teams with top notch coaches are good at 3 things predominantly: Blocking, Tackling, and STs. Since Brandon has been here we've gotten progressively worse at tackling & STs each year. Now this year we are not blocking up to par either.

I want to like coach Brandon, it would make life so much easier as a BG fan to know that we've got the right guy locked up long term, but I just cannot. I cannot shake the feeling that Urban brought an intensity and work ethic to this program that stuck with his players, but has slowly leaked away as his name is further removed from the program. Hopefully they're just in a funk and they can turn it around for the future, but Brandon does not strike me as the type of guy that is willing to light a fire under his players...sorry...

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:33 pm

Great analysis. It's amazing to see the recruits who managed to fall through the cracks for whatever reason. I guess all programs expereince attrition, but it'd be nice to see how they could have possibly contributed this year, although you also have examples like John Jakubowski, Andrew Stanford and Marques Parks who exceed expectations.

One point: Ryan Newble (2003 class) was a solid part of the D-Line rotation for two years, and a JUCO recruit named Bryan Gardner got time at D-end in 2003.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:47 pm

JoeFalcon wrote:Great analysis. It's amazing to see the recruits who managed to fall through the cracks for whatever reason. I guess all programs expereince attrition, but it'd be nice to see how they could have possibly contributed this year, although you also have examples like John Jakubowski, Andrew Stanford and Marques Parks who exceed expectations.

One point: Ryan Newble (2003 class) was a solid part of the D-Line rotation for two years, and a JUCO recruit named Bryan Gardner got time at D-end in 2003.

Weren't Jakubowski and Standford both walk-ons that were just given scholarships this season? I think that is why they were left off the analysis as they technically weren't recruited for four years of football.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:53 pm

hammb wrote:
But I think it does show that Brandon doesn't deserve to be roundly criticized as a lousy coach who doesn't attempt to bring enough talent to the team especially on defense.
... However, I'm not so sure that there are too many people really complaining about his recruiting. Brandon himself is complaining about the recruiting.

I guess that's part of my point here. Some folks have been painting Brandon with this large brush lately, like he's driven the program into the ground on all fronts. I just don't think that's the case.

By tracing the recruiting trail back to Blackney's last year, you can see some of the defensive problems lining up. Almost every year, we recruited a defensive tackle with good size (2005 being the exception, though we did get several D-linemen) and, with the exception of Thaler, they've all disappeared. You look at the linebackers we've recruited, and you see that we haven't brought in another Jovon Burkes or Mitch Hewitt. That cannot be soley pinned on Brandon.

This is the year Meyers' recruits should be carrying us in terms of leadership. Frankly, I don't think that's the case, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

You bring up several valid points about intensity and work ethic. I think those are questions that Brandon must face up to. But I guess what I wanted to do here was show that, in context, some of the problems we're seeing now should not have caught us by surprise.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:07 pm

1987alum wrote:
hammb wrote:
But I think it does show that Brandon doesn't deserve to be roundly criticized as a lousy coach who doesn't attempt to bring enough talent to the team especially on defense.
... However, I'm not so sure that there are too many people really complaining about his recruiting. Brandon himself is complaining about the recruiting.
But I guess what I wanted to do here was show that, in context, some of the problems we're seeing now should not have caught us by surprise.

Personally, the play of the defense really hasn't surprised me all that much. I thought they would play slightly better than last year and they have at times (Although they've also been dismal at times). Last year's D was the same way -- Inconsistent. Shutout WMU and then give up 80 points in the second half against UT. The Defense has not really surprised me.

The offensive underachievement, especially before Omar's injury, has surprised me.

The complete lack of leadership, starting at the top, has surprised me.

The barrage of excuses from Brandon has surprised me.

As long as we're on the subject of excuses, I have to keep reminding myself how much we've been bitten by the injury bug (someone should've eaten that bug.)

bgsufan1970 · Post by **bgsufan1970** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:07 pm

Interesting analysis. I don't think the issue is talent. Right now the issue is stability. My hypothesis is that Gregg Brandon may be thinking about the next bigger thing and has forgotten to focus on the here and now. He should learn the lesson from Gary Blackney. Momentum can be a good thing (we've had positive mo last 4 years) but it can also be a bad thing when it is working against you. I think there is something unstable within the coaching staff and here is why I say that:

1982-1985: 4 very succssful seasons followed 5 losing seasons
1991-1994: 4 very successful seasons followed by 6 losing seasons
2001-2004: 4 very successful seasons followed by...

1985: Denny Stolz uses Cal Bowl trip to interview for San Diego State job
1994: Gary Blackney rumored as top candidate for Michigan State job but loses to CMU, recruiting goes down hill...
2005: Gregg Brandon...tabbed as "bucking for a promotion" by CFN...

Will the wheels fall off after this year? I pray not. We have plenty of talent to win. Whose fault is it when a team with the kind of talent we have doesn't improve over the course of the year? Coaching.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:21 pm

bgsufan1970 wrote: 1982-1985: 4 very succssful seasons followed 5 losing seasons
1991-1994: 4 very successful seasons followed by 6 losing seasons
2001-2004: 4 very successful seasons followed by...

We've been on a roller coaster since Nehlen left in the mid 70's.

Stoltz came in and had 4 straight losing seasons, followed by 5-5-1 in 1981. He then had a great 4 year run. The next "coach" came in and you've listed the rest. Up & down....back & forth.

This is why, IMO, we are at the most critical point in our program's history. We simply cannot afford to slide back. Say what you will about UT (and we usually do

) but I think they've had ONE losing season in the last 15 years or so. Any way you look at it, it's impressive. Miami, I believe, has had 8 winning seasons in a row.

That is the kind of stability we need for the long haul. Sure, we won't win the title every year....nobody does (Even Mt Union). But we need to be competing and contending for the title almost every year.

Spart43 · Post by **Spart43** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:22 pm

Just a note on this past years recruiting class. Keep an eye on Brady Minturn from Loveland. He has put on about 50 pounds since he has arrived at BG. I see him as becoming an impact player on the DL starting next year. Time will tell, he will only be a RS-Freshman next year, but we have seen a few of those guys making some plays this year.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:28 pm

Spart:

I found this quote from the post-Akron press conference very interesting.

"We do have some great young guys that will be great for us next year. The tendency is to play those guys, but I don't want to. I want to red-shirt them. We are still good enough on both sides of the ball, including the injuries, to win games. I'm not willing to cash in the chips and burn guy's years. I am not going to sacrifice the farm. I am in it for the long haul."

Makes me think we may have more talent on the roster than we think and that Brandon is taking the correct approach in regard to roster & eligibility management, building for the long-term.

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:34 pm

1987alum wrote:Spart:

I found this quote from the post-Akron press conference very interesting.

"We do have some great young guys that will be great for us next year. The tendency is to play those guys, but I don't want to. I want to red-shirt them. We are still good enough on both sides of the ball, including the injuries, to win games. I'm not willing to cash in the chips and burn guy's years. I am not going to sacrifice the farm. I am in it for the long haul."

Makes me think we may have more talent on the roster than we think and that Brandon is taking the correct approach in regard to roster & eligibility management, building for the long-term.

For all the criticism and flack GB has taken from some of us on here lately that quote should bring some confidence back to some of the people on here.

That is a very strong statement followed up by the fact that he is sticking to it. I got on him for using non-100% Pope and Partridge but by saving the red shirted players he really is doing a great service to our program.

Nice find '87.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:48 pm

DD:

Thanks. Brandon has said on several ocassions that he'd like to redshirt his freshmen. The fact that he's played a few, notably Thomas and Smith, really stands out. Smith clearly had an immediate impact. Pope's injury probably helped force the decision on Thomas, but it seems Brandon made that move in an effort to redshirt Macon. That means will have a Macon-Thomas 1-2 punch for two years, similar to the Pope-Lane combo.

Despite the UNLV dalliance last year, I get the feeling that Brandon really is trying to build something here, not just create a stepping stone.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:51 pm

Dayons_Den wrote:
1987alum wrote:Spart:

I found this quote from the post-Akron press conference very interesting.

"We do have some great young guys that will be great for us next year. The tendency is to play those guys, but I don't want to. I want to red-shirt them. We are still good enough on both sides of the ball, including the injuries, to win games. I'm not willing to cash in the chips and burn guy's years. I am not going to sacrifice the farm. I am in it for the long haul."

Makes me think we may have more talent on the roster than we think and that Brandon is taking the correct approach in regard to roster & eligibility management, building for the long-term.
For all the criticism and flack GB has taken from some of us on here lately that quote should bring some confidence back to some of the people on here.

That is a very strong statement followed up by the fact that he is sticking to it. I got on him for using non-100% Pope and Partridge but by saving the red shirted players he really is doing a great service to our program.

Nice find '87.

This is definitely a smart move. Thanks for sticking to your guns GB. Nothing upsets me more than burning a redshirt late in the year. If they were able to make an impact on your team they should've been playing all year. If not, save them for the following years.

Still upset about that J5 thing...GRRR...

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:51 pm

1987alum wrote:Spart:

I found this quote from the post-Akron press conference very interesting.

"We do have some great young guys that will be great for us next year. The tendency is to play those guys, but I don't want to. I want to red-shirt them. We are still good enough on both sides of the ball, including the injuries, to win games. I'm not willing to cash in the chips and burn guy's years. I am not going to sacrifice the farm. I am in it for the long haul."

Makes me think we may have more talent on the roster than we think and that Brandon is taking the correct approach in regard to roster & eligibility management, building for the long-term.

I remember reading that quote but not paying too close attention to it at the time.

Very interesting statement....