Post by joe on Oct 23, 2016 15:33:27 GMT -5
I previously pledged to remain 100% optimistic regarding this season up until the point at which our chances to be in contention for a PL title had vanished. Unfortunately that time has come. In looking at the situation as objectively as possible, it's critical to think about where we expected to be at this point, and then define the areas responsible for our failure to get there. With the return of schollies I think most of us expected a trajectory where we would be among the top of the PL year in and year out and, if not winning a title each year, to at least be in the hunt, like we were immediately before, during, and after the Dom years. I think we were also hoping for a deep run in the FCS playoffs once in a while. With regard to our FBS opponents I'm sure many would argue that even though these are exciting money games, there is a certain level of preparedness and physicality that is required in order to prevent a disaster and we do not seem to be on target for that either.
With the above objectives in mind, the first thing that comes to mind is where we are in terms of the 3 S's - size, strength, and speed. I think we have decent speed, but size and strength seem to be lacking. Some examples:
1. Outside receivers - need to be much taller at this level. At this level, we tend to see taller defensive backs, and we simply cannot match up one to one in these situations.
2. Lineman - have good height and size on paper, but need to develop more lean body weight, and carry less abdominal body fat. I can't help but think this is causing fatigue.
3. Middle linebackers - are tenacious, hard-nosed players, but are undersized and should be strong safeties at this level, maybe small outside linebackers. We need to recruit 6 foot, 235 - 240 lb backers.
4. Running backs - discussed ad nauseum can't all be finesse backs, need 1-2 power runner regardless of the type of offense.
5. Tight ends - they seem to be D1 players - big, strong, pass catchers that are unexplainably rarely exploited.
The second thing that comes to mind is injuries. We've been plagued year in and year out with injuries to key players, and in my mind we've exceeded what can be attributable simply to chance. Perhaps - and in reference to the 3 S's - we're either playing people in the wrong positions, or our physical stamina is simply not up to snuff and players are at a greater risk of serious injury. A third alternative is that we were not recruiting well enough. At this level, the guys at number 2 or 3 on the depth chart should only be hampered by inexperience, not lack of physical size, strength, or speed. When the "next man up" comes in, the only thing that he should need to do is adjust to the speed of the college game. Again, this could be a reflection of poor recruiting, poor position choices, and/or poor conditioning and strength-training. I think what we see with Blaise Bell is a fine example - a great athlete who should be been utilized as either a running back or slot receiver exclusively. I find it hard to believe that after so many camps it hadn't become clear that it would be foolish to keep him as the number 2 QB on the depth chart when he could have been contributing, all along, elsewhere, and to get Wade more practice reps as and he is clearly a much more natural QB. By the way, in my opinion, I think Coach Oliver is an outstanding S and C coach, so with the exception of my comments on the lineman, I think this problem is more with recruiting and position selection than with S and C.
The third thing that comes to mind is game strategy and adjustments. We have a pattern of starting strong, holding our own, and then blowing games in the 4th quarter. This has happened repeatedly over the last decade. This tends to happen when our defensive is on the field to long, and generally happens at the hands of the other team's power running back. I also note that when we get off to a hot start our opponents quickly adjust, but we often do not "adjust back." I'm not an X's and O's guy so I neither offer reasons as to why this has been a theme, nor why we can't remedy it.
The last thing that comes to be is an observation about branding and administrative support, as well as the local support fromWorcester and central MA. We've seen some early positive movement with scheduling and facilities, as well as some early but still limited community outreach, but I think we're still dramatically lacking in these areas. I think we can point to a few examples where a lack of forward progress can be interpreted as a lack of 100% committment by Holy Cross to their football team, the first of which is a lack of effort put toward bringing Fitton up to date, even if that means simply installing lights and a jumbotron to get us by for the next 5-10 years. If we expect to get fan support for Crusader football we need to go back to the night game initiative, as too many families have sports at 12 or 1 PM on a Saturday. To me this should have been Action Item 1 in restoring HC football. It simple requires a checkbook and a couple of phone calls. Another example that concerns me is how football games are still televised showing the visitor stands. Again, not a major issue, but just one of those little details that, when overlooked, reflects poorly. Same thing for how the schedule on the website appears on an iPhone - how you can't see the links to the audio and video coverage unless the phone is turned sideways. These are just a few examples of my specific peeves, and there are other. In my profession, I've learned it's all in the details, and I'm sure that holds even more truth in Division 1 athletics.
I'm not calling for a coaching change per se, because I think the current staff should have been able to solve these problems on their own. My only question is why, after all these years, are we no closer to that solution? I believe ADNP and our president will have to decide where the current staff or a new staff will be required to meet the above goals, however both men are also going to have to look each other squarely in the eyes and first determine if each of them have personally done enough on an administrative level. It will be interesting to see if each of them feels justified in placing full blame on a coaching staff whose collective resume should have by all measure led to far greater success. This will be a most interesting and important period for Crusader football.
With the above objectives in mind, the first thing that comes to mind is where we are in terms of the 3 S's - size, strength, and speed. I think we have decent speed, but size and strength seem to be lacking. Some examples:
1. Outside receivers - need to be much taller at this level. At this level, we tend to see taller defensive backs, and we simply cannot match up one to one in these situations.
2. Lineman - have good height and size on paper, but need to develop more lean body weight, and carry less abdominal body fat. I can't help but think this is causing fatigue.
3. Middle linebackers - are tenacious, hard-nosed players, but are undersized and should be strong safeties at this level, maybe small outside linebackers. We need to recruit 6 foot, 235 - 240 lb backers.
4. Running backs - discussed ad nauseum can't all be finesse backs, need 1-2 power runner regardless of the type of offense.
5. Tight ends - they seem to be D1 players - big, strong, pass catchers that are unexplainably rarely exploited.
The second thing that comes to mind is injuries. We've been plagued year in and year out with injuries to key players, and in my mind we've exceeded what can be attributable simply to chance. Perhaps - and in reference to the 3 S's - we're either playing people in the wrong positions, or our physical stamina is simply not up to snuff and players are at a greater risk of serious injury. A third alternative is that we were not recruiting well enough. At this level, the guys at number 2 or 3 on the depth chart should only be hampered by inexperience, not lack of physical size, strength, or speed. When the "next man up" comes in, the only thing that he should need to do is adjust to the speed of the college game. Again, this could be a reflection of poor recruiting, poor position choices, and/or poor conditioning and strength-training. I think what we see with Blaise Bell is a fine example - a great athlete who should be been utilized as either a running back or slot receiver exclusively. I find it hard to believe that after so many camps it hadn't become clear that it would be foolish to keep him as the number 2 QB on the depth chart when he could have been contributing, all along, elsewhere, and to get Wade more practice reps as and he is clearly a much more natural QB. By the way, in my opinion, I think Coach Oliver is an outstanding S and C coach, so with the exception of my comments on the lineman, I think this problem is more with recruiting and position selection than with S and C.
The third thing that comes to mind is game strategy and adjustments. We have a pattern of starting strong, holding our own, and then blowing games in the 4th quarter. This has happened repeatedly over the last decade. This tends to happen when our defensive is on the field to long, and generally happens at the hands of the other team's power running back. I also note that when we get off to a hot start our opponents quickly adjust, but we often do not "adjust back." I'm not an X's and O's guy so I neither offer reasons as to why this has been a theme, nor why we can't remedy it.
The last thing that comes to be is an observation about branding and administrative support, as well as the local support fromWorcester and central MA. We've seen some early positive movement with scheduling and facilities, as well as some early but still limited community outreach, but I think we're still dramatically lacking in these areas. I think we can point to a few examples where a lack of forward progress can be interpreted as a lack of 100% committment by Holy Cross to their football team, the first of which is a lack of effort put toward bringing Fitton up to date, even if that means simply installing lights and a jumbotron to get us by for the next 5-10 years. If we expect to get fan support for Crusader football we need to go back to the night game initiative, as too many families have sports at 12 or 1 PM on a Saturday. To me this should have been Action Item 1 in restoring HC football. It simple requires a checkbook and a couple of phone calls. Another example that concerns me is how football games are still televised showing the visitor stands. Again, not a major issue, but just one of those little details that, when overlooked, reflects poorly. Same thing for how the schedule on the website appears on an iPhone - how you can't see the links to the audio and video coverage unless the phone is turned sideways. These are just a few examples of my specific peeves, and there are other. In my profession, I've learned it's all in the details, and I'm sure that holds even more truth in Division 1 athletics.
I'm not calling for a coaching change per se, because I think the current staff should have been able to solve these problems on their own. My only question is why, after all these years, are we no closer to that solution? I believe ADNP and our president will have to decide where the current staff or a new staff will be required to meet the above goals, however both men are also going to have to look each other squarely in the eyes and first determine if each of them have personally done enough on an administrative level. It will be interesting to see if each of them feels justified in placing full blame on a coaching staff whose collective resume should have by all measure led to far greater success. This will be a most interesting and important period for Crusader football.