Post season thoughts

[Ole Man Dan]

I think one thing is a certainty next year… DeBoer will have a quarterback that can run his offense or one that can read defenses.

Yesterday I saw 4 quarterbacks that were better in the pocket, better at reading the field pre and post snap, and far more mobile than Milroe. Milroe’s mobility is greatly exaggerated and i honestly don’t get why so many see him as another Lamar.

Milroe was pretty fast, straight line runs, but when he tried to cut, it was all over. He couldn't read the field.

 

[Tidewater]

I suspect if the story ever comes out about this season, it will be that coach Deboer was told that the leader of the team was Milroe and he went to Milroe and said "You help me keep this roster together and stop a stampede for the door and I will guarantee you the starting quarterback job for as long as you want it in 2024."
Then, with poor performance on the field at times, Coach Deboer had a choice between going back on his word (and the word would've gone around the team and to all future recruits that Coach Deboer cannot be trusted) or just riding the horse that had brought him this far and hoping for the best through the season. That decision tanked the season and cost the team a lot of good players that hit the portal last month, but it maintained his reputation for integrity in subsequent years.

 

[BamaBoySince89]

I will note that I’m still doubtful of the DC as the team played bad offenses the back half so credit for improving is fine but also should note it was against bad offense. I will say they did great as far as holding Mich and OU and gave the team every chance to come back and win. So major credit there. Roach should probably be replaced and or moved.

I’ll give Womack some credit, it was a new system but to be fair we didn’t lose the Tennessee, Oklahoma, or Michigan games because of bad defense. When your offense can’t move the ball and have sustained drives it puts pressure on the defense to keep the game close. I think that side of the ball will be improved next year

 

[TDBama78]

I suspect if the story ever comes out about this season, it will be that coach Deboer was told that the leader of the team was Milroe and he went to Milroe and said "You help me keep this roster together and stop a stampede for the door and I will guarantee you the starting quarterback job for as long as you want it in 2024."
Then, with poor performance on the field at times, Coach Deboer had a choice between going back on his word (and the word would've gone around the team and to all future recruits that Coach Deboer cannot be trusted) or just riding the horse that had brought him this far and hoping for the best through the season. That decision tanked the season and cost the team a lot of good players that hit the portal last month, but it maintained his reputation for integrity in subsequent years.

. Now that milroe is gone ,his word needs to be ,if you don't perform up to expectations,I give you my word you'll be sitting on the bench.

 

[AlexanderFan]

F undamentals
F ocus on improving
F ind some toughness.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I suspect if the story ever comes out about this season, it will be that coach Deboer was told that the leader of the team was Milroe and he went to Milroe and said "You help me keep this roster together and stop a stampede for the door and I will guarantee you the starting quarterback job for as long as you want it in 2024."
Then, with poor performance on the field at times, Coach Deboer had a choice between going back on his word (and the word would've gone around the team and to all future recruits that Coach Deboer cannot be trusted) or just riding the horse that had brought him this far and hoping for the best through the season. That decision tanked the season and cost the team a lot of good players that hit the portal last month, but it maintained his reputation for integrity in subsequent years.

Could very well have been that way............but now Milroe is gone and he needs to let them know that things have changed

 

[Tidewater]

. Now that milroe is gone ,his word needs to be ,if you don't perform up to expectations,I give you my word you'll be sitting on the bench.

One of the things that I loved about Coach Saban was he played the players that he felt gave the team the best chance to win. (Although he did put a premium on ball security so a player like Tua scared him with half his throws).

 

[gtgilbert]

I’ll give Womack some credit, it was a new system but to be fair we didn’t lose the Tennessee, Oklahoma, or Michigan games because of bad defense. When your offense can’t move the ball and have sustained drives it puts pressure on the defense to keep the game close. I think that side of the ball will be improved next year

I'll go even further. The only reason the UcheaT, Chokelahoma and Meatchicken games were remotely close was because the D kept us in the games. It was a rough start for the D, and I will fully admit I was skeptical, but they seemed to pull it together down the stretch.

 

[merino]

Milroe was pretty fast, straight line runs, but when he tried to cut, it was all over. He couldn't read the field.

Ponder this: notwithstanding our > 300lb plodding and dreadful OL, is Milroe truly “fast” considering the number of sacks? I content he is “fast” like a thoroughbred once he gets going, but unlike a rabbit with spurts and swerves. A nimbler QB could have avoided many of those sacks.

Also, look at our OL vs those of several teams in this playoff---should our coaches continue to favor tonnage over agility?

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Ponder this: notwithstanding our > 300lb plodding and dreadful OL, is Milroe truly “fast” considering the number of sacks? I content he is “fast” like a thoroughbred once he gets going, but unlike a rabbit with spurts and swerves. A nimbler QB could have avoided many of those sacks.

Also, look at our OL vs those of several teams in this playoff---should our coaches continue to favor tonnage over agility?

Ohio St's OL is huge

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I played almost everyday into my 20's and no less than weekly into my 30s.

I had to stop because of my knees. Had surgery on both and just can't do it anymore in competitive court games.

I still mess around every now then just shooting but I can't guard/defend anymore like I use to.

But yeah that was my sport too. Miss it.

Yeah, me too. One hip replaced and the other one needs it, plus my knees. I've also packed down my spine about 5". I'd probably do it all over again...

 

[BamaMoon]

I think one thing is a certainty next year… DeBoer will have a quarterback that can run his offense or one that can read defenses.

Yesterday I saw 4 quarterbacks that were better in the pocket, better at reading the field pre and post snap, and far more mobile than Milroe. Milroe’s mobility is greatly exaggerated and i honestly don’t get why so many see him as another Lamar.

So frustrating! I've never seen somebody tackled by his shoestrings while trying to go horizontal so often. I thought he was "strong" and he probably can lift weights like Jalen Hurts, but he's so easy to tackle if he's not running north and south.

BTW, there were so many times he could have gotten 10 yards and a first down if he stayed verticle, but he'd try to go horizontal to make a bigger play and he'd get tackled, not make the first down, and we'd have to punt.

We got frustrated with his passing inadequacies, but because of them he ran more than a QB should and it's a fact that he's not a GREAT runner because he's not elusive!!!

We still have a few days before our portal window closes. MIGHT have a coach or two move on to other opportunities after NSD in February. So all the hay isn't in the barn yet. This upcoming season - to me - feels like a fresh start and in retrospect last season was a bridge between the Saban regime and the DeBoer regime. (I'm definitely hoping that that's how history shows it....positively of course).

I'm definitely excited about spring ball. Looking forward to seeing a new direction.

Great analogy about the bridge! I know it's not apples to apples, but it's analogous to CNS's 2007 year.

He didn't have talent and there were attitude problems and it showed. CKD might have had more talent (although I think our talent level may be over-exaggerated by some) but that talent didn't fit CKD's system. Plus he had to deal wth the problems that made the GOAT say NOPE and retire.

 

[bamadwain]

So frustrating! I've never seen somebody tackled by his shoestrings while trying to go horizontal so often. I thought he was "strong" and he probably can lift weights like Jalen Hurts, but he's so easy to tackle if he's not running north and south.

BTW, there were so many times he could have gotten 10 yards and a first down if he stayed verticle, but he'd try to go horizontal to make a bigger play and he'd get tackled, not make the first down, and we'd have to punt.

We got frustrated with his passing inadequacies, but because of them he ran more than a QB should and it's a fact that he's not a GREAT runner because he's not elusive!!!



Great analogy about the bridge! I know it's not apples to apples, but it's analogous to CNS's 2007 year.

He didn't have talent and there were attitude problems and it showed. CKD might have had more talent (although I think our talent level may be over-exaggerated by some) but that talent didn't fit CKD's system. Plus he had to deal wth the problems that made the GOAT say NOPE and retire.

I agree with your post especially about talent, I don't believe we are as talented as we have been in the past and it's showing

 

[denver]

ND has used the portal very well....added impact at the right places...experience at QB, WR and on the DL...basically all their big plays were from transfers...this is now the state of CFB....you can be competitive without younger talent being brought through...its the same in CBB...teams are now a snowflake each year...unique to that one year roster...and reformed every year..there will be no more dynasties for a while unless the rules change.

 

[Coach D]

I’ll give Womack some credit, it was a new system but to be fair we didn’t lose the Tennessee, Oklahoma, or Michigan games because of bad defense. When your offense can’t move the ball and have sustained drives it puts pressure on the defense to keep the game close. I think that side of the ball will be improved next year

I did give them credit for that. I am more pointing out those teams were not good offensive teams though. After USC it was very avg offensive teams. With Mizzou missing their Rb and QB hurt at the start. So while having great moments those moments were against bad to avg offense at best. That’s why I’m very skeptical and also want at least DL to have a new coach as development hasn’t happened there under him.

 

[TD7]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1875192603429511596

 

[B1GTide]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1875192603429511596

Wonder about that one.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Wonder about that one.

Yeah it's a head scratcher.

The defense for sure had issues at times but for as young as our secondary was that group played better than expected.

If anybody was sent packing this soon I figured it would be on the other side of the ball.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

If I was expanding the playoff beyond 4 teams, I would've only done 8.

Regardless of if Alabama et al. should've been included over the ones that got in, the 3+ week break for the autobids and the way the seeds were placed in the bracket were awful. As a neutral, I didn't watch any of the opening games, and I only had ND-UGA on TV yesterday b/c my kids weren't in the house.

Biased take, but I was only interested in the playoff as long as Alabama could've been in it, so remove them, and I could not care enough to put it on as background noise. Expansion should've been limited to 8 teams, not 12, and they should've used the BCS formula for ranking the playoff teams. I'd also have the semifinals and finals be the bowl game location if the playoff was 12 teams.

 

[B1GTide]

If I was expanding the playoff beyond 4 teams, I would've only done 8.

Regardless of if Alabama et al. should've been included over the ones that got in, the 3+ week break for the autobids and the way the seeds were placed in the bracket were awful. As a neutral, I didn't watch any of the opening games, and I only had ND-UGA on TV yesterday b/c my kids weren't in the house.

Biased take, but I was only interested in the playoff as long as Alabama could've been in it, so remove them, and I could not care enough to put it on as background noise. Expansion should've been limited to 8 teams, not 12, and they should've used the BCS formula for ranking the playoff teams. I'd also have the semifinals and finals be the bowl game location if the playoff was 12 teams.

I would have gone to 6 and kept the conference championship games. Going to 12 or higher makes them detrimental to teams trying to win a championship.