+1 allen ! I would add that as we started the year, this team came out throwing the ball deep,(long bomb to Pappi) and doing some things on offense and defense that we have not seen much of. (blitzes, different coverages, reverses, multiple backs) As the staff learned what we do well and what we don't do well, our game plans have evolved during the year. Some posters on here contend that any mentioning of injuries amounts to "making excuses" for poor performance. Nothing could be further from the truth. Injuries to key players provide answers for why we are doing certain things, and not doing others. For instance, with Cope and Pappi out, we have struggled to take the top off the defense with the long ball. This problem was made worse with early season dings to Pappi, and to Dorian which has allowed our opponents to try to concentrate on #6, rolling coverages toward him. Things that we had worked on all spring and early fall to feature multiple running backs attacking the edges had to be scrapped as guys went down and out. We had to do what available personnel were capable of doing to win some games. (moving Bo from defense back to offense) As some guys are returning to form, we can see some of the potential that was present early on. Playing some field position football which can allow our defense to get some rest is not always exciting to watch, but it can keep you in position to win a game in the second half if you can garner a lead, and have a strong kicking game.
On defense, I agree that you have to pick your spots to blitz or not to blitz. Early on, with so much inexperience on the back end, we have counted on underneath coverage support from our three athletic linebackers. As our defensive backs have matured through experience, we have seen Burrow adjusting and turning our backers loose in key situations. Subtle, but very effective adjustments by our coaches have been visible all season long, culminating with last night's performance.

Good analysis, doubledribble. You, obviously, have a great eye for the game and the subtle things that many regular fans like me miss unless they are pointed out in clear fashion as you have done. Thanks.

Huh? I'm not a good Xs and Os guy, but even I know that this indicates that you aren't either.

Please carefully read what doubledribble said, and then look at your spin on what he said. Doubledribble was clear that we were adjusting based on injuries. You said that we shouldn't have to adjust. That's about as ignorant a statement about football game planning as I've ever seen.

I gingerly turned on this week's televised contest with no small amount of concern that ohio would be overmatched, which would negatively impact my mood on the first evening of a 10 day vacation that I've been eagerly awaiting.

Props to Frank. Big time. He had the boys well prepared, makes a fella proud to be a Bobcat!

Bowl eligibile for 8th consecutive year is tremendous.

Tell me how you prepare for losing your top 5 running backs. You're sound crazy when you say things like this.

Be a true believe who endorses everything that Solich ever did, said, or breathed if you want.

But get what I said correct, please.

Here's what doubledribble wrote (in relevant part): "Some posters on here contend that any mentioning of injuries amounts to "making excuses" for poor performance. Nothing could be further from the truth. Injuries to key players provide answers for why we are doing certain things, and not doing others."


And, my view is that I don't buy injuries as an excuse because they happen to about all teams every year and, so, a coaching staff must know they'll happen and have plans to address injury depletion.

This, because so many years this staff has been let off the hook because of "injuries."

I don't buy injuries as an excuse.

And no one else should either.



Deal
with
it.


Don't misconstrue miss the point of what I write.


Deal
with
it.

Solich has created urgency for change, he has called out coaches and players for their performance. The team is alot more aggressive than before, he is not settling for the status quo. He believed like we could beat Tennessee, which we could have, he is upset when we lose due to bad play-calling and bad defense. Players have been elevated. This is a new coach and if we win the MAC, he sjould be coach of the year. We lost all of our running backs at one point and our top two QB's and top four corners, we need to concentrate and make sure that we don't implode, like we have done years prior.

We have to be honest, we have been munching on cupcakes, it's time to take a step forward. We have had the same coaching staff for 12 years in a weak division, we should be bowl eligible every year.

Monroe, you quote the correct part, then proceed to construe it to mean exactly the opposite of what he said. His statement seems clear enough to me, but apparently not to you so let me state it but you another way.

Restated:
It is possible to mention injuries without using them as an excuse. Injuries cause coaches to adapt their game plan, and therefore may explain why coaches try to do some things and don't try to do others.

There isn't anything controversial here. There isn't any excuse making. All he says is something that you agree with, that injuries affect strategy. Obviously, if the only healthy back was White, you wouldn't want the coaches to call the same plays as if AJ was in.

I agree with you roughly half the time, but it's clear you've never played football. Injuries do happen to every team. And they are always affected by them. When you lose certain starters at certain positions it always limits what you can do. Especially on defense with blitz packages and stunts. I don't care how many "stars" a recruit has. VERY FEW players can just step in to a starters role like nothing's changed.

In my world, in year 12 in a weak conference which has 13 teams, I expect at least one conference title.

And, I do not accept injuries as an excuse against the failure to achieve that title when there have been a few other years in which followers of OHIO on this board have pointed to injuries as a cause of the failure to achieve the title.

Yeah, in the face of injuries, you adjust and do what you are able...as all teams do all years.

But one time in ALL THOSE YEARS in a weak conference you bring down a title. As other teams do.

Unless you are mediocre.


I don't want to hear anything about injuries. Get it done.