In today's sports world of "what have you done for me lately", the Saints and LSU are asking themselves the same question about two players who've lately for me haven't done much good.
In LSU's case, the QB position has gone from a weakness to outright liability. We all knew the starter was coming into the year with questions but this is ridiculous. The LSU QB is the lone reason they've been in close games instead of blow outs in three of their four wins.
First it was his technique. Bad footwork , holding on to the ball to long, can't read a defense, locks in on receivers,etc.etc. But now you have an evan bigger factor...his mental status. The pressure of performing at the higest level of college football and to do well has made him a basket case. In other words...
It's in his head.
Of all positons in football, QB is the worst to have head issues. If your QB doubts himself every move he makes, your offense suffers. There's an old saying in football, "hit the QB and the whole team feels it". It's feels it worse if the hit is self inflicted. It leads to sacks, high throws,short throws and turnovers, and that's just on the field. Off the field a whole other set of problems come up. Once losses result there's a mutiny on hand and things spiral downward quickly.
To cut this off the head coach must step in and make a change. Make a change for team morale, especially as the defense and special teams are playng at BCS championship levels. Make a change for the coachng staff who put in hours of work breaking down film, conducting meetings and teachng on the field. Make a change for the fans who work hard all week and look forward to seeing their favorite team go to war with all weapons on the ready. Make a change for the head coach to call off the wolves chomping at his hide week after week.
But mostly, above all and for HIS sake, make a change for the QB himself. For him, so he doesn't have to worry after every play if he'll be booed, if he'll let down his teammates,coaches, family or himself. To me it's worse to keep sending a QB back on the field , setting him up for more failure and humiliation, when it's painfully obvious to all who will see that he is struggling badly. Make a change.
It's in his head.
In the case of the Saints you have a kicker, Garrett Hartley, coming off a dream season. He kicked his team into the Super Bowl, set a record for most kicks beyond 40 yards in that Super Bowl. Had his own float in the parade to honor that team.
That was last season.
This season started with two missed field goals, one from approximately the same spot of championship kick, the other from much closer in. Not only did he miss, he missed badly. He missed so bad that it caused doubt to creep in. In other words...
It's in his head.
Hartley now has to deal not only with the pressure of being the kicker on a team that looks toward another Super Bowl, but with a kicker's worst enemy in his head...doubt. That doubt, by his own admission, invaded his pysche on the overtime try against Atlanta resulting in a shank. A shank so bad the fans in the 20 yard line seats were seen scrambling for the souvenir. Doubt is why a kicker possessing the skills the likes of only a handfull of men in America misses a chip shot so close he could normally make blindfolded, leftfooted with one hand tied behind his back. Doubt is why a team with feelings of loyalty bring in an older kicker for a sideline episode of In Treatment. Doubt is the reason a change must be made.
Make a change for the fans, players,coaches and himself so now of us have to bite our nails, hide our faces or simply look the other way when he is sent out for another "chip shot" game winning field goal.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saints Version 3.0 Instill Calm
Sitting in my local watering hole watching the Saints beat the 49ers 25-22 on a last second field goal, I noticed something about myself. As the Saints were driving toward the game winning field goal, I was calm. Here were my beloved Saints in a do or die situation in San Francisco and I was cool as Knight from Real World. What up wit dat?
If you know me you know the last thing I am when it comes to watching the Saints is calm. In fact, if I were ever hooked to an EKG during a Saints game, a crash cart would have to be on stand by ready to hit me with the defib. Yet here I was completely at ease.
Can you blame me though? These are not your father's Saints, not even your uncle's Saints. Hell, not even your brother's Saints. These are the new Saints, version 3.0. The Saints 3.0 win games at the end, not blow them. These Saints allow the other team to commit crucial penalties, agonizing turnovers and game ending drives. These Saints close out games not leave the door open.
Remember the phrase "they left to much time on the clock"? That was the phrase most often used for the Saints when they were banging their heads against the Candelstick Park wall in the 80's and 90's as the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young were stealing victory from the back pockets of the Saints. Shoot, even some guy named Steve Bono got into the act during the Saints 1992 run to the divisional runner up spot. Remember? The Jim Mora coached 12-4 team? Finished second in the division to the 14-2 49ers?
The Saints verion 3.0 are now the team that make the likes of the 49ers players sit in their locker room and ponder the what ifs. Now THEY are the ones sitting in the lockers wondering "how in God's glory did we just lose this game"? Their fans are the ones who must walk the ramps of their home stadium in drunken disgust knowing we HAD the champs in our grasps and let them slip away. They now are the ones who must deal with the sickness in the pits of their stomachs as they watch the visiting fans dancing and celebrating out the stadium. Breaze is not just wind swirling in Candelstick anymore, Brees is now in their heads. Like Montana was to Saints fans. Just ask the folks in Minnesota, Indianapolis, Washington, Phoenix, etc. etc. etc.
So remember Saints fans, the next time you're biting your pillow, pacing the floor or burying your face in your hands as the Saints' game is coming down to the wire, CALM DOWN!
These are the new Saints, version 3.0
If you know me you know the last thing I am when it comes to watching the Saints is calm. In fact, if I were ever hooked to an EKG during a Saints game, a crash cart would have to be on stand by ready to hit me with the defib. Yet here I was completely at ease.
Can you blame me though? These are not your father's Saints, not even your uncle's Saints. Hell, not even your brother's Saints. These are the new Saints, version 3.0. The Saints 3.0 win games at the end, not blow them. These Saints allow the other team to commit crucial penalties, agonizing turnovers and game ending drives. These Saints close out games not leave the door open.
Remember the phrase "they left to much time on the clock"? That was the phrase most often used for the Saints when they were banging their heads against the Candelstick Park wall in the 80's and 90's as the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young were stealing victory from the back pockets of the Saints. Shoot, even some guy named Steve Bono got into the act during the Saints 1992 run to the divisional runner up spot. Remember? The Jim Mora coached 12-4 team? Finished second in the division to the 14-2 49ers?
The Saints verion 3.0 are now the team that make the likes of the 49ers players sit in their locker room and ponder the what ifs. Now THEY are the ones sitting in the lockers wondering "how in God's glory did we just lose this game"? Their fans are the ones who must walk the ramps of their home stadium in drunken disgust knowing we HAD the champs in our grasps and let them slip away. They now are the ones who must deal with the sickness in the pits of their stomachs as they watch the visiting fans dancing and celebrating out the stadium. Breaze is not just wind swirling in Candelstick anymore, Brees is now in their heads. Like Montana was to Saints fans. Just ask the folks in Minnesota, Indianapolis, Washington, Phoenix, etc. etc. etc.
So remember Saints fans, the next time you're biting your pillow, pacing the floor or burying your face in your hands as the Saints' game is coming down to the wire, CALM DOWN!
These are the new Saints, version 3.0
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Ready to Blast off for Second Year Coordinators
When you look at the two biggest football teams in Louisiana, you see two big similarities. The two have defensive coordinators in year two. You also don't need xray vision to see that these two have put their stamp on their two squads. OK ,enough wiht the twos already!
Alright, but it can't be denied that Greg Williams and John Chavis have done what they were brought in to do.
It didn't take long for New Orleans Saints' DC Greg Williams to change the culture of a defense that was an after thought in Sean Peyton's first three years as head coach. We all know that while the Saints enjoyed the #1 offense in the NFL in two(there's that number again) out of three years, the defense was less then spectaular, in fact it was pretty lousy.
In 2008 alone, the 8-8 Saints blew fourth quarter leads in nearly half of their 8 losses, finishing one game out of the playoffs. That defense finished 26th in scoring while the offense was first. So what did Peyton do? Something his predecessor refused to, cut ties with his long time friend, coaching associate and third year DC Gary Gibbs. Peyton recognized what previous Saints HC Jim Haslett would not or could not, the defense needed a change in leadership.
From day one of mini-camp the change in culture took hold. The defense becaome uber-aggressive. If nothing else was accomplinshed, that alone set the stage for what was in store for opposing offenses in 2009. The Saints D will challenge you every play of every day. The #1 objective? Create turnovers. The result? The Saints rocketed from -4 or 22nd in the giveaway /takeaway ratio to +11, #3 in the NFL. That stat alone made the switch worth it.
Now in year two of Williams system, the Saints D looks more aggressive and aimes to improve other areas. The most important being points allowed. The Saints under Williams did improve from 26th to 20th in the league, that number has to come down. Judging from game one it looks like they are on the right track. The Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings 14-9, the fewest points ever for a win in the Peyton era. Why? Because Wlliams boys stuffed the running of Adrien Peterson causing a rusty Brett Favre to carry the load. He couldn't. Saints win.
In Baton Rouge, good defense is not only expected but demanded. LSU fans throughout the years could always hang their hat on a tough SEC caliber defense. So in 2008, coming off a BCS championship, head coach les miles decided to go with co-coordinators to replace the departed Bo Pelini. That was doomed from the start. Realizing, to his credit, co-cordinators would not work at LSU, miles made the switch and brought in Chavis.
Chavis, who came from the University of Tennesse where his defenses were always highly respected in the SEC, went right to work instilling leadership and discipline. Year one's defense yeilded 103 less points than 2008, 68 less than the BCS title team of 2007. The early returns on year two are promising. Despite a meltdown in the fourth quarter of the UNC game, Chavis' defense have looked faster,quicker and more physical. They have dominated their opponent for 7 out of eight quarters with aggressive run stuffing coupled with more bltitzing. Outside that quarter LSU has surrendured only 13 points. Because Chavis' defenses have always improved as the season progressed, this bolds well for LSU fans hoping the Tigers return to the days of hearing the band play the Chinese Bandits salute.
A huge caveat in 2010 is the poor quarterback play by the offense which could be the worst enemy of the LSU defense. Since LSU has no SEC caliber QB and the risk of leaving the D on the field to long wearing them out, look for the offense to go to a more conservative running and short passing game.
In year one in charge of their defenses, Willimas and Chavis changed the culture, laid the foundation and provided a launching pad. In year two they're ready to blast off.
Alright, but it can't be denied that Greg Williams and John Chavis have done what they were brought in to do.
It didn't take long for New Orleans Saints' DC Greg Williams to change the culture of a defense that was an after thought in Sean Peyton's first three years as head coach. We all know that while the Saints enjoyed the #1 offense in the NFL in two(there's that number again) out of three years, the defense was less then spectaular, in fact it was pretty lousy.
In 2008 alone, the 8-8 Saints blew fourth quarter leads in nearly half of their 8 losses, finishing one game out of the playoffs. That defense finished 26th in scoring while the offense was first. So what did Peyton do? Something his predecessor refused to, cut ties with his long time friend, coaching associate and third year DC Gary Gibbs. Peyton recognized what previous Saints HC Jim Haslett would not or could not, the defense needed a change in leadership.
From day one of mini-camp the change in culture took hold. The defense becaome uber-aggressive. If nothing else was accomplinshed, that alone set the stage for what was in store for opposing offenses in 2009. The Saints D will challenge you every play of every day. The #1 objective? Create turnovers. The result? The Saints rocketed from -4 or 22nd in the giveaway /takeaway ratio to +11, #3 in the NFL. That stat alone made the switch worth it.
Now in year two of Williams system, the Saints D looks more aggressive and aimes to improve other areas. The most important being points allowed. The Saints under Williams did improve from 26th to 20th in the league, that number has to come down. Judging from game one it looks like they are on the right track. The Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings 14-9, the fewest points ever for a win in the Peyton era. Why? Because Wlliams boys stuffed the running of Adrien Peterson causing a rusty Brett Favre to carry the load. He couldn't. Saints win.
In Baton Rouge, good defense is not only expected but demanded. LSU fans throughout the years could always hang their hat on a tough SEC caliber defense. So in 2008, coming off a BCS championship, head coach les miles decided to go with co-coordinators to replace the departed Bo Pelini. That was doomed from the start. Realizing, to his credit, co-cordinators would not work at LSU, miles made the switch and brought in Chavis.
Chavis, who came from the University of Tennesse where his defenses were always highly respected in the SEC, went right to work instilling leadership and discipline. Year one's defense yeilded 103 less points than 2008, 68 less than the BCS title team of 2007. The early returns on year two are promising. Despite a meltdown in the fourth quarter of the UNC game, Chavis' defense have looked faster,quicker and more physical. They have dominated their opponent for 7 out of eight quarters with aggressive run stuffing coupled with more bltitzing. Outside that quarter LSU has surrendured only 13 points. Because Chavis' defenses have always improved as the season progressed, this bolds well for LSU fans hoping the Tigers return to the days of hearing the band play the Chinese Bandits salute.
A huge caveat in 2010 is the poor quarterback play by the offense which could be the worst enemy of the LSU defense. Since LSU has no SEC caliber QB and the risk of leaving the D on the field to long wearing them out, look for the offense to go to a more conservative running and short passing game.
In year one in charge of their defenses, Willimas and Chavis changed the culture, laid the foundation and provided a launching pad. In year two they're ready to blast off.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Now THAT'S les miles Football
If any of you hear me on the radio (Fridays 1pm-2pm on 690am WIST), last Friday you would have heard as close to a mea culpa toward les miles that I could possibly make. If you read this you also know what little respect I have for les miles' coaching ability. Last Friday (9/3) I predicted that despite les miles, LSU's schedule sets up to be a possible BCS bowl season.
Well it's Sunday after game one and those regurgitated words are already stuck in my throat. I say this because of the events that unfolded last night.
We all know the story. LSU's opponent, UNC, was devastatingly undermanned due to NCAA and self imposed suspensions. They were also distracted because these suspensions came down the day before the game. LSU is returning a 3rd year QB, 4th year RB and WR, and a 5th year RB amongst other 4 and 5 star recruits. Included in this group is the #1 ranked overall player in the country, the #1 rated WR in the country and the #1 defensive player in the country, all second and third year players. You get where I'm going with this. LSU is loaded with experienced talent, period.
This should have been a game LSU fans were embarrassed about because they ran up the score on a defenseless bunch of back ups and sub par ACC starters. A team in disarray. A game where ESPN commentators were blasting les miles for leaving Jordan Jefferson in during the 4th quarter with such a big lead.
For three quarters this game was looking like just that. LSU led 30-10 and was inside the UNC 15 yard line when Steven Ridley scored a touchdown that made it 37-10. Now in Tuscaloosa, Gainesville or Austin this would have been the final nail in the coffin of a team that put up a valiant fight under extremely challenging conditions.
But this is Baton Rouge, well Atl in this case, but you know what I mean. This is les miles football, baby!
After leading 30-10 and scoring an apparent td the following happen in the 4th quarter:
1. That nail clinching TD was nullified by a holding penalty
2. That 3rd year qb Jordan Jefferson lost 20 yards on grounding penalty putting his team out of field goal range
3. After pinning UNC at their three yard line with 10:14 showing on the clock and before I could finish the thought in my head "just don't give up a big play here and ...", the defense, which had dominated for 3 quarters gives up a 97 yard td pass..30-17
4. Another LSU holding penalty, LSU punts
5. UNC drives, scores a td on the nations best red zone defense from last season...30-24
6. UNC recovers an onsides kick
7. LSU's D gets up from the mat and holds on 4th down with a great blitz from freshman Tyronn Mathieu
8. LSU runnig back Steven Ridley, a senior, in the midst of running for the game clinching 1st down fumbles
9.UNC drives to LSU's 5 yard line and on the final play of the game has a chance to score the go ahead touchdown
10. they fail!!!!
LSU wins!!!!!!
Only among LSU fans there was no !!!!. No celebrton for surviving such a debacle. Every LSU fan that I know was pissed! Even the most fervent defenders of les miles were calling for his head. In general, the concensus among LSU faithful was embarrassment. After WINNING a game, LSU fans were embarrassed!
Why?
14 pealties, 5 turnovers and again blowing a 4th quarter lead!
How does this keep happening!?
Because in the 6th year of his program, les miles' team still makes the same mistakes at the same time the same way. In short, they show NO SIGN of improvement. From the 3rd year qb who couldn't find a secondary receiver with a GPS device to a 4th year rb who couldn't protect the ball in a Wells Fargo truck.
Why?
Because les miles does not demand this from his players. He may say the words, but he doesn't demand it. If anyone watched ESPN's coverage of Alabama'a fall practices, you witnessed a coach who demands improvement from his players. His mantra? Win every play every day. He doesn't just say it he demands it. That team hasn't lost a regular season game in 3 years.
les miles? He overslept on game day. That's all you need to know.
THAT'S les miles football!
Well it's Sunday after game one and those regurgitated words are already stuck in my throat. I say this because of the events that unfolded last night.
We all know the story. LSU's opponent, UNC, was devastatingly undermanned due to NCAA and self imposed suspensions. They were also distracted because these suspensions came down the day before the game. LSU is returning a 3rd year QB, 4th year RB and WR, and a 5th year RB amongst other 4 and 5 star recruits. Included in this group is the #1 ranked overall player in the country, the #1 rated WR in the country and the #1 defensive player in the country, all second and third year players. You get where I'm going with this. LSU is loaded with experienced talent, period.
This should have been a game LSU fans were embarrassed about because they ran up the score on a defenseless bunch of back ups and sub par ACC starters. A team in disarray. A game where ESPN commentators were blasting les miles for leaving Jordan Jefferson in during the 4th quarter with such a big lead.
For three quarters this game was looking like just that. LSU led 30-10 and was inside the UNC 15 yard line when Steven Ridley scored a touchdown that made it 37-10. Now in Tuscaloosa, Gainesville or Austin this would have been the final nail in the coffin of a team that put up a valiant fight under extremely challenging conditions.
But this is Baton Rouge, well Atl in this case, but you know what I mean. This is les miles football, baby!
After leading 30-10 and scoring an apparent td the following happen in the 4th quarter:
1. That nail clinching TD was nullified by a holding penalty
2. That 3rd year qb Jordan Jefferson lost 20 yards on grounding penalty putting his team out of field goal range
3. After pinning UNC at their three yard line with 10:14 showing on the clock and before I could finish the thought in my head "just don't give up a big play here and ...", the defense, which had dominated for 3 quarters gives up a 97 yard td pass..30-17
4. Another LSU holding penalty, LSU punts
5. UNC drives, scores a td on the nations best red zone defense from last season...30-24
6. UNC recovers an onsides kick
7. LSU's D gets up from the mat and holds on 4th down with a great blitz from freshman Tyronn Mathieu
8. LSU runnig back Steven Ridley, a senior, in the midst of running for the game clinching 1st down fumbles
9.UNC drives to LSU's 5 yard line and on the final play of the game has a chance to score the go ahead touchdown
10. they fail!!!!
LSU wins!!!!!!
Only among LSU fans there was no !!!!. No celebrton for surviving such a debacle. Every LSU fan that I know was pissed! Even the most fervent defenders of les miles were calling for his head. In general, the concensus among LSU faithful was embarrassment. After WINNING a game, LSU fans were embarrassed!
Why?
14 pealties, 5 turnovers and again blowing a 4th quarter lead!
How does this keep happening!?
Because in the 6th year of his program, les miles' team still makes the same mistakes at the same time the same way. In short, they show NO SIGN of improvement. From the 3rd year qb who couldn't find a secondary receiver with a GPS device to a 4th year rb who couldn't protect the ball in a Wells Fargo truck.
Why?
Because les miles does not demand this from his players. He may say the words, but he doesn't demand it. If anyone watched ESPN's coverage of Alabama'a fall practices, you witnessed a coach who demands improvement from his players. His mantra? Win every play every day. He doesn't just say it he demands it. That team hasn't lost a regular season game in 3 years.
les miles? He overslept on game day. That's all you need to know.
THAT'S les miles football!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)