Take A Step Back

[BigPapaVol]

Great post...I'd also add

Defensive Backs: Decimated by attrition. We had to replace 2 great d-backs who left after Jr. yr to persue NFL careers, lost another expected starter who couldn't meet team expectations, and one to MCL in spring.

disagree. This is one spot where it doesn't appear that the coaching is getting through.

 

[LawVol13]

disagree. This is one spot where it doesn't appear that the coaching is getting through.

Agreed. I'm beginning to think it's just a lack of talent. Art Evans has sucked with the last two coaching staffs. No reason to think he's going to get any better. About 190 of Julio's 200+ yards were on him.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I think it's fair to do an initial evaluation based on what we see in November. The competition level goes down several notches after SC. With 8 games under their belts, even true Freshmen should be playing noticably better than they were in September. Even if they go 2-10, it's not like Dooley's gong to get fired but it does give me an idea as to what these coaches can do when they are not completely outmanned.

It's fair to do it all the time and we should. I don't think there is any doubt that we are improving, but the hyperventilation over the men on the field counts has masked actual football here.

Improvement at this point is going to be tough to see. For me, it's about what we're being taught and is that stuff becoming rote / reactionary rather than a thinking process.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Agreed. I'm beginning to think it's just a lack of talent. Art Evans has sucked with the last two coaching staffs. No reason to think he's going to get any better. About 190 of Julio's 200+ yards were on him.

that's some of it, but it's nonsensical for him to avoid jamming receivers. I know we're afraid of getting beat deep or having to run support rather than help over the top, but his lack of skills say to me that he has to try to disrupt routes and timing rather than give up the under.

 

[LawVol13]

It's fair to do it all the time and we should. I don't think there is any doubt that we are improving, but the hyperventilation over the men on the field counts has masked actual football here.

Improvement at this point is going to be tough to see. For me, it's about what we're being taught and is that stuff becoming rote / reactionary rather than a thinking process.

That's true. I was referring to the people that have come to the conclusion that he'll never be successful based on the first 7 games.

 

[TVT]

moronic.

exactly

 

[BigPapaVol]

That's true. I was referring to the people that have come to the conclusion that he'll never be successful based on the first 7 games.

why bother?

I was vocal about not liking the hire and am skeptical, but it isn't the disaster that people are ranting about here. The coaching appears respectable and we appear to set expectations for players, on and off the field. That's a lot of the battle. If this crew can recruit and we can field a respectable defensive front 7, we'll be competing again, which is what we're after.

 

[LawVol13]

that's some of it, but it's nonsensical for him to avoid jamming receivers. I know we're afraid of getting beat deep or having to run support rather than help over the top, but his lack of skills say to me that he has to try to disrupt routes and timing rather than give up the under.

I'd be shocked if he wasn't supposed to be jamming Jones. If he was trying to avoid getting beaten deep, he wouldn't have been pressed up on him at the line. I'm not trying to bash the kid personally, but he just can't play, and unfortunately we have no one to replace him with at this point.

 

[LawVol13]

why bother?

I was vocal about not liking the hire and am skeptical, but it isn't the disaster that people are ranting about here. The coaching appears respectable and we appear to set expectations for players, on and off the field. That's a lot of the battle. If this crew can recruit and we can field a respectable defensive front 7, we'll be competing again, which is what we're after.

Agree 100%.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I'd be shocked if he wasn't supposed to be jamming Jones. If he was trying to avoid getting beaten deep, he wouldn't have been pressed up on him at the line. I'm not trying to bash the kid personally, but he just can't play, and unfortunately we have no one to replace him with at this point.

I'm all for figuring out what guys like Meline can do. He's plenty athletic and can't get beaten any worse. I'm absolutely 100% certain that he can't tackle any worse than the corners we run out there today.

 

[LawVol13]

I'm all for figuring out what guys like Meline can do. He's plenty athletic and can't get beaten any worse. I'm absolutely 100% certain that he can't tackle any worse than the corners we run out there today.

If I was Dooley, I'd just about play anyone to avoid watching Evans screw up anymore.

 

[tigervol9802]

Our of curosity, did anyone else think the offensive line actually put forth a respectable game against Bama Saturday? All in all I thought it may have been their best game of the season.

 

[RockyTopThriller]

Moronic.

Why is it moronic? Because it doesn't match your opinion? Or is it because my opinion has been backed up by 5 humiliating losses and 1 embarrassing win? Moronic is when people give one word responses without having either an opinion of their own or the fortitude to backup their opinion. But on a brighter note your post has one thing in common with our coach, it was pathetic.

 

[Biopsyman]

Moronic.

How could anyone make this conclusionWhy do you think so many said "No" They knew that the next few season were going to be difficult and that is putting it mild. I don't know if Dooley will be Vince Lombardi or Vince McMann in the long run but he does have a SET....for taking this challenge on. GBO:rock:

 

[LawVol13]

Why is it moronic? Because it doesn't match your opinion? Or is it because my opinion has been backed up by 5 humiliating losses and 1 embarrassing win? Moronic is when people give one word responses without having either an opinion of their own or the fortitude to backup their opinion. But on a brighter note your post has one thing in common with our coach, it was pathetic.

My answer is my first post. If you expected anything different this year, then you obviously know nothing about football.

 

[calban]

Our of curosity, did anyone else think the offensive line actually put forth a respectable game against Bama Saturday? All in all I thought it may have been their best game of the season.

I was amazed at how well our oline played against Bama.
Going in I thought they were dead meat.

 

[BmoreVol]

I was amazed at how well our oline played against Bama.
Going in I thought they were dead meat.

same. great improvement in OL play

 

[Pulscifer]

Great post, OP. I think all the negavols need to see this post and take a look at this situation and know that no one would be successful with this team, not even Saban. Give him and the staff until 2012 before we start calling for his head. GBO

:rock:

 

[Vol Main]

I don't disagree with the post, the situation Dooley came into was very tough. The only reasonable way to evaluate Dooley to this point is in his coaching to this point and there is valid reason for criticism, some go too far with this criticism IMO while others dismiss it entirely. The truth is somewhere in the middle. The coaching staff and players need to make a significant jump next year if we want to compete in the SEC. If they do not we can look forward to mediocre 6-6 or 7-5 seasons and meaningless bowl games for the foreseeable future.

We should see a better team next year. That doesn't mean that we'll be a top ten team or that we'll beat a group of top ten teams, although we might might go the distance and take one. Because the team is so low in depth this year, it can not practice as it should or run all the plays it should or sub in the games to prevent players fatiguing against the opposition. So I expect the team to be a little better next year and a little better the year after that, becoming fully competitive in three years. JMHO

 

[EconVol92]

I agree with an earlier post in that I think that it is too early to make any type of call on the job that Dooley is doing until the 2012 season. Since that is when the team will just start to reflect the job that he has done.