I'm not sure firing CJMc is necessarily the answer. We did put up the third most points in the SEC as I recall, though some of that was padded by SJS, Duke, and GaSt. We were scoring at will against Auburn in the first half and left at least 10 if not 14 points on the field due to turnovers which would have been enough to win. Also, remember that during 2009, our O-Line was so good that we physically beat up other teams and wore them down. By the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, they were crying for mercy and we could literally run the ball down their throats.
On the other hand, while we beat Penn St., and UF, we didn't do much in the second half. I think some of it is player maturity as well as coaching. When we get a lead - especially a big one - our guys coast. Ingram pretty much said as much. I am hopeful that alot of that is addressed with maturity and learning by being stung by it. Attitude and motivation is not something you can just turn on and off in a game. If a team comes out in the second half and coasts and Big Mo (momentum) shifts to the other side, it is often times too late to reverse it. Add to that the fact that our O-Line just wasn't as dominant this year... we weren't wearing other teams down. We weren't physically beating them up. This can also be said to some degree on the defensive side. The team in general just did not seem hungry to me.
As far as CJMc and this season is concerned, where I think we stumble is in four areas; we are not anticipating opposing team defensive adjustments coming out of halftime, we are playing conservative to avoid mistakes once we have a lead, we are not adequately assessing and then utilizing our talent in the most effective ways, and we have been running the same set of plays for three years now - the other teams get it.
- Coming out of half-time our coaches must do a better job of anticipating defensive adjustments and making our own offensive adjustments as well. We too often just stick with the same ole, same ole and other teams adjust and defend it better. This happened many times this year not just against Auburn. With a less effective O-Line, we should have been doing more misdirection, two back option sets, and other formations to gain an advantage.
- I've never been a fan of playing "not to lose." Invariably it allows the opposing team back in the game and Big Mo shifts. This is strictly a coaching attitude. We had Auburns defensive secondary figured out and we stopped beating on them in the second half. If Julio is hurt, throw to Marquis or - heck let some of the young guys get in there. And what happened to our TE all year? You're telling me none of those guys can catch at all? Which brings me to...
- Talent utilization effects the team in two ways: outright skill sets and game-specific performance. The O-Line is the perfect example. This year our O-Line was simply not as dominant. Apparently the loss of two seniors hurt more then we thought. Either way, it is up to the coaches to adjust accordingly. If we're playing alot of young guys, let them use their athleticism to make plays instead of holding them back trying to avoid mistakes. If a veteran with all the skill in the world is just flat OR WORSE is playing unmotivated then sit his a$$ on the bench for awhile and make him think about it; field the guys that have a fire in their bellies and want to play.
- Same ole, same ole. The swing pass to Julio still works occasionally but most teams expect it now. Mark or Trent in the wildcat doesn't really present an advantage because everyone expects and you end up with a useless player out wide. Everyone knows they are no threat to throw the ball. Why not put them both back there for an option play? Why not use a back that could either run or pass? Why not put Phillip Sims out wide - it would provide an option to swing to him and he can throw deep. Either way, while execution is paramount, you have to give your players their best chance to succeed and have an advantage. After three years and not changing up a thing, other SEC defenses pretty much have us figured out.
The thing that annoys me the most, however, is that this year we were supposed to really open things up on offense. Instead, we ran the same stuff - no wrinkles. What will next year bring?
