It starts with coaching and I am specifically talking about when both teams are close to evenly matched. Its the coaches job to make sure they call the right plays at the right times based on a number of things. The players you have and their ability to specifically perform for the play you called, e.g. You can’t have a Receiver run Y crosser if he runs a 4.5+, and not every Defensive player blitzes well, not all corners can play bump and run well. Your units momentum and execution at that time, the unit your facing their S&W etc…it’s like a continuous algorithm.
You think Alabama has more J&J talent than Texas? I think so…Sark knew Bamas weaknesses on defense and exposed it in the flats…you have to have really fast OLBer and Safeties to play Sabans 3-4 schemes. Bama doesn’t have the same skill at those positions..perhaps he could have pivoted into another defensive look and set up his players for more success?
Another example is Illinois vs. us last year..I think we all know it’s apples to oranges the difference in J&J‘s between us and Illini….Bielema adjusted his team to beat our weaknesses..
I think a lot of our fans are frustrated with our lack of adjustments and frankly stubbornness and politics with our Offense last few years.
This is very well thought out and articulated.
Week over week, it’s increasingly difficult to imagine what goes on between Saturdays with our program.
A good program should, in theory, improve as the season goes on. This has not been the case for Penn State. We started the season with a weak run game, and 8-games deep, there’s been no improvement.
The passing game has arguably regressed since week-1.
What bothers me is how divorced from realty JF sounds in press conferences.
“We battled.”
“We were resilient.”
“We made big plays at critical moments.”
“We found a way to win.”
If you heard those comments in a vacuum, you’d never guess he was talking about playing Indiana at home. It’s astounding.
To me, there doesn’t seem to be any discernible plan for this program. It’s a bunch of guys with cushy jobs resting on their laurels. “If we win, great. If not… meh, that’s fine, too.” How else would you explain not just the lack of improvement, but the complete lack of the coaches making changes?
If I’m HC, and we’re 8 games deep, and looking like the Keystone Cops on one side of the ball, I want answers. I want to know what we’re going to do about it. And if the OC’s answer is, “Just keep doing the same dumb s#,” I’m relieving him of his play calling duties.
No one expects us to win every single game. But at least convince us, as fans, that you’re TRYING.
Throwing 10% of your pass attempts to the middle of the field (actual stat) doesn’t convince you’re trying to win. It convinces me you shouldn’t be a coach at a P5 program.
