|
Post by purplepig on Oct 6, 2018 21:38:01 GMT -5
At what point will the FCS pull the auto-bid? Colgate can not prop this league up forever. Sending losing teams to the playoffs looks bad. It’s just FCS football. Most Americans don’t know there is such a division and most sports fans do not know who won it last year. The weather on game day is the main thing.
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Oct 6, 2018 22:25:30 GMT -5
Chesney is regretting Murphy. Zero doubt about that.
We are in good hands with Chesney, but he has to correct the offense during the offseason.
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Oct 6, 2018 22:38:49 GMT -5
Here's the thing that perplexes me: viewing this from 1,000 miles away, and not being a football expert, I'm inclined to suggest that Degenhardt should get his chance to show what he can do in a game with his highly touted throwing arm. Then I ask: "If I can see this, why can't the coaches?" The answer always comes back : "The coaches see everything I am seeing and more--in practices and in the game--and they know more about football than I ever will, and they don't want to put the new guy in." It's frustrating, isn't it? Surely the coaches can look at the scoreboard and the stat sheet and see that the offense is struggling mightily. Could it be that Coach Chesney wants to wait for an easier opponent for CD's debut, rather than throwing him to the wolves? This is not like our baseball debates where the moronic sacrifices are clearly ill-advised......
|
|
|
Post by crusader12 on Oct 7, 2018 2:44:30 GMT -5
So glad I did not go and losing interest in this program. This is bad!
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 7, 2018 5:07:34 GMT -5
No offense to anyone, but I hope someday Coach Chesney makes these threads look idiotic.
Turning around a culture in football has to be a lot harder than in other sports, just by the sheer numbers. I mean, it's not like you can just bring in Potter and Vicens and take off right away.
I also wonder if it would be any different right now if the 32 freshmen were 32 REDSHIRT freshmen.
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 7, 2018 6:54:46 GMT -5
Army under Jeff Monken:
2014: 4-8 2015: 2-10 2016: 8-5 2017: 10-3 2018: 3-2
I remember reading their board a bit back in 2015. Many posters were going out of their skulls with their displeasure. Not sure what turned it around, but he got it done.
Lafayette, on the other hand.....
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 7, 2018 7:06:29 GMT -5
It would be nice if someone could ask Coach about the QB situation at the next Coaches Show.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Oct 7, 2018 7:26:53 GMT -5
No offense to anyone, but I hope someday Coach Chesney makes these threads look idiotic. Turning around a culture in football has to be a lot harder than in other sports, just by the sheer numbers. I mean, it's not like you can just bring in Potter and Vicens and take off right away. I also wonder if it would be any different right now if the 32 freshmen were 32 REDSHIRT freshmen. It would make a difference if you could bring in a starter from another school (like UNH did) as a grad student; but that's not possible at Holy Cross.
|
|
|
Post by trimster on Oct 7, 2018 8:16:37 GMT -5
Chesney is regretting Murphy. Zero doubt about that. We are in good hands with Chesney, but he has to correct the offense during the offseason. Anyone know if I am correct in assuming Coach Chesney is running the same offense that he ran at Assumption.
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 7, 2018 8:24:49 GMT -5
Outside of the much covered QB/OC issues, this looks like a team that could desperately use either a 30 yd. punt return or 60 yd. kickoff return.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Oct 7, 2018 8:31:01 GMT -5
Outside of the much covered QB/OC issues, this looks like a team that could desperately use either a 30 yd. punt return or 60 yd. kickoff return. The punter(s) themselves seemed way off yesterday as well. There were two or three exchange-of-punts where UNH gained considerable yardage (and not from getting first downs in-between, either).
|
|
|
Post by trimster on Oct 7, 2018 8:36:05 GMT -5
UNH will probably be the 2nd or 3rd best team we play this year with Knight at QB. We could have one of the OC's in the country and we'd still struggle to score...particularly against the stronger teams we play. I'm not absolving Murphy (or Chesney) but we have been "out talented" overall, sometimes significantly so, in every game this season save for Bucknell. Probably true but my first thought is That may have also been true for Ralph Willard's teams over the years and rarely did his teams get blown out and they won a lot more than they lost. I know RW's teams had an advantage in conference but they didn't out of conference.
|
|
|
Post by jflare on Oct 7, 2018 9:01:34 GMT -5
There are three games left with which we may have a shot ( 50/50 ) at victory. Lafayette, Fordham and Georgetown. We better win at least one of them. Finishing 1-10 would be a real issue even with our talent level. A good staff should be able get more than one win even with this schedule. Let's face it our program right now is at rock bottom. Let's hope coach can get this turned around within 3-4 years ( yes it will take that long )
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 7, 2018 9:08:32 GMT -5
It’s all about momentum and “muscle memory.” You can’t just go 3 and out for games at a time on offense and suddenly kick into high gear. You have to have some time to find your bread and butter and go-to plays. This is where the competitiveness of our schedule can bite us in the rear end. Colgate has managed to push the rock over the top of the hill, as we were doing from ‘07-‘10 or thereabouts. Right now we’re pinned under the rock, at the bottom of the hill. We almost had the rock half way up the hill against Yale, but not now. It’s going to be very hard the rest of the way, as virtually all of our remaining opponents this season and going into 2019 are positioned better.
What will it take? Extraordinary coaching and recruiting for here on out, and patience.
The situation at present underscores how poor of a decision it was to not immediately follow-up the “statement” termination of CTG with a preordained replacement coach ready during the hot recruiting period last year.
We continue to bungle things that don’t need to be bungled.
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 7, 2018 10:32:26 GMT -5
It’s all about momentum and “muscle memory.” You can’t just go 3 and out for games at a time on offense and suddenly kick into high gear. You have to have some time to find your bread and butter and go-to plays. This is where the competitiveness of our schedule can bite us in the rear end. Colgate has managed to push the rock over the top of the hill, as we were doing from ‘07-‘10 or thereabouts. Right now we’re pinned under the rock, at the bottom of the hill. We almost had the rock half way up the hill against Yale, but not now. It’s going to be very hard the rest of the way, as virtually all of our remaining opponents this season and going into 2019 are positioned better. What will it take? Extraordinary coaching and recruiting for here on out, and patience. The situation at present underscores how poor of a decision it was to not immediately follow-up the “statement” termination of CTG with a preordained replacement coach ready during the hot recruiting period last year. We continue to bungle things that don’t need to be bungled. Crickets? Yeah, I get it, reality stinks.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Oct 7, 2018 10:43:59 GMT -5
Would you feel better if he was clothed in purple?
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Oct 7, 2018 10:44:27 GMT -5
1.) A featured part of Chesney's resume was that he turned around losing programs in Div III and Div II in year ONE, not year three or four. When he arrived at these schools, I would imagine, given their long, losing traditions, that there wasn't much to work with, talent-wise. To his great credit, he was able to achieve those turnarounds from the outset.
2.) The toughness of the schedule was set in stone years ago. The BC series revival was negotiated by DR. Whether one should hire as a head coach someone who had zero previous experience in Div. I, even as a player, and, straight-away, send him and his team up against schools from Power Five conferences is another matter. Next year's schedule is no easier. (Chesney: > Assumption, >Salve Regina, >Johns Hopkins, >Kings, > Norwich, >Dickinson. I can easily envision the reaction of the board if FCMB's successor had that sort of lineage.)
3.) It is not promising, as SoV noted, that the team seems to be regressing. For those thinking this is a three-four year turnaround, that starts with momentum in year one. The common perception is that the Colgate game was close because HC was much better conditioned, and 'Gate was gassed in the second half. Casting aside the BC game, the victory over Yale was thought by some the product of HC again being better conditioned in the second half , and Yale's coaching staff reprising Gilmore at Dartmouth last year. Clifford started the first three games. With Harvard losing to Cornell, I would expect to see a definite improvement against Harvard on Friday night, IMO, it is critical that HC do well against Harvard, to demonstrate that HC can do well against the top half of FCS. Any wins against Fordham, GU, and Lafayette will be hollow if HC can't at least hold its own against schools in the top half of FCS.
4.) In retrospect, and IMO, this offense seems to have been put in place during spring practice and fall camp in the expectation that Clifford would be the QB. Given his size, the idea was to use his mobility to let him see the field. (Based on the photo of Clifford and Wade standing together, Clifford's true height is 5'9" or 5'10". Whatever potential they saw in practice/camp turned to dross when it came to game-time. Wade remains the QB apparently because he is mobile, and they are reluctant (incapable of) changing the offense to feature a drop-back passer.
|
|
|
Post by purple1 on Oct 7, 2018 10:46:48 GMT -5
Degenhardt should get a chance to show what he has.....what do you have to lose - NOTHING. He will gain experience for next year as well, and/or try Nagle as well. You do not have to be a coach to see the shortcomings of Wade - poor field vision, inaccurate throws, height, a senior, no audible decisions from what I can see ( I have been to all games). He has tried his best and used his feet to gain yardage - it is far too short what is needed. The coaching calls for zero or negative pass routes are ridiculous - throw the ball downfield !! Our receivers look helpless in their pass patterns - god help them if they could come back and look for open spaces. Wade's passing percentage would be 20% or less if he did not throw these short passes. Someone could make a living throwing to our tight ends - down field, we just do not use them enough. Oliver had 2 runs what happened to him the rest of the game ? He could certainly take on the blitzing linebackers with his size.
Start Degenhardt against Harvard and turn this season around helping him gain more experience for next year's schedule. He can make the throws !!
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 7, 2018 10:53:33 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Oct 7, 2018 10:57:32 GMT -5
OK, it's early on a Sunday, so while most are sleeping in, I'll bite.
The best recruiting in the world isn't going to help us this season. The hardest games on the schedule are behind us but while Harvard remains a big challenge, they are not BC, probably not Dartmouth, maybe not Yale and maybe not even Colgate. I can't judge UNH but suspect Harvard will not be as good as UNH. Doesn't mean we'll beat them but after Harvard, the schedule softens and as long as we don't play down to the competition, we could still win 5 games this season. I predicted 6 wins if things broke our way. Only Yale did and Bucknell was a bad surprise.
What does HC need to do? We've already discussed it. Mix up the play calling to keep opponents of balance and need drastic improvement in 3rd down conversions. Way too often we are 3rd and long because we seem to be getting only a yard or 2 on the first two downs and way too often we have actually gone backwards and are 3rd and 13 or 15 or longer. Need to stop drive-obstructing penalties and shooting ourselves in the foot. It seems a lot of the procedural penalties are not on the young offensive linemen but a senior.
I'm not sure that Nate could have done anything quicker on TG replacement as I don't think you can talk to replacement coaches under hire until after the season is over. Could have been a quicker hire but Chesney seems to be the one that over time will get us to the promised land. He did some very good recruiting but say he was able to get even more/better recruits, would you expect them all playing right now. As I posted elsewhere, talent is very important but so is experience.
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 7, 2018 11:02:12 GMT -5
If so then not sure why he would create a humiliating spectacle of firing the guy in mid season? I think Pine had someone lined but couldn’t seal the deal. Maybe HC couldn’t pony up. Yes you can’t talk to coaches but then again you can. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
I agree and part of what I’m talking about is experience. We’re getting tons on D.
On offense we’re not even providing the guys with experience, at least anything meaningful. We might as well be punting on first down and playing field position games, hoping for a miracle.
And what difference would it make if our schedule softens from here on out if we’re soft ourselves?
I’m willing to give this a couple years.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Oct 7, 2018 11:02:48 GMT -5
Touche! Could we at least put a Crusader knight logo tattooed on one of his cheeks?
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 7, 2018 11:07:37 GMT -5
Touche! Could we at least put a Crusader knight logo tattooed on one of his cheeks? Yes.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Oct 7, 2018 11:27:20 GMT -5
I've posted multiple times that I did not agree with the firing of TG but also understand that I knew Tom over the many years he was coaching and that I was biased. I take Nate at his word that he felt a change needed to be made and could not wait until the end of the season, which he thought was salvageable. For sure, having seen it in person, the team basically was a no-show at the Yale Bowl. Why? I don't know and have no inside information but have to assume that Nate felt Tom "lost" the team. We had a much more experienced team last year, full of 5th year seniors and it looked to me like they "quit." That may be a harsh judgement on them but from the stands, that's what it looked like. So, a more experienced team against Yale and we got creamed. This season, lots of new people and a new coach. Looks like we are going to get creamed again but the inexperienced, but perhaps overall better talented team, makes a tremendous comeback for an OT win.
Chesney and Gilmore appear to have radically different approaches to coaching. Tom is old school and suspect he'd be the first to admit it. Take a look at 43's avatar saying, which I also heard, if you are going to shoot me, you better kill me! Chesney is younger. TG was/is your drill sgt in basic training. Chesney is your big brother who cheers you on. TG has said multiple times, he was not just a football coach, he was trying to prepare his charges for life after the playing field and college and that everyone will encounter adversity that needs to be overcome. Some respond to that, some don't.
Tom still bleeds purple; supports Holy Cross and supports his successor. I will tell you that I am sure that Nate felt very badly to fire TG but also felt he had to do it.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Oct 7, 2018 11:30:31 GMT -5
There are three games left with which we may have a shot ( 50/50 ) at victory. Lafayette, Fordham and Georgetown. We better win at least one of them. Finishing 1-10 would be a real issue even with our talent level. A good staff should be able get more than one win even with this schedule. Let's face it our program right now is at rock bottom. Let's hope coach can get this turned around within 3-4 years ( yes it will take that long ) Lehigh doesn't look like a world-beater either. For comparison's sake, Gilmore was 3-8 his first year, winless in the PL until the overtime win vs Gtown in the season finale.
|
|