there's no way we keep Chizik. Just my rant saying what's already been said. I know a change needs to be made. I’ve accepted that Chizik is not the man for the job and it’s not going to be much/any better if he’s given another year to right the ship. The results, or lack thereof, on the field speak for themselves. But why has it gotten to this point? Simple. Practice...we talkin' bout practice...not a game...not a game....we talkin' bout practice.
We’ve been hearing reports about how the practices are run from several different sources, including people here on this board. And now that I think about it, I'm convinced they're spot on. I’ve been to 4 practices with Chizik at the helm and I really never paid that much attention to the intensity or how they were run because I was the wide-eyed kid in the candy shop. Just walking around going, “Cool, there’s Lutz….whoa, look at Trooper cutting up with the players…I have a porn-stache right in front of me.â€
But looking back, there’s never been any tackling. The only tackling they’ve ever done was in some scrimmaging with the 2’s and 3’s. Otherwise, they stay broken up in groups and work with their respective units. This year, I admit that Chizik was an intense mofo, but it was mostly directed at the QB (Wallace) and the tempo. It was apparent that they were running a hurry up to get the D ready for Climpsum, but funny thing about that was…the first team D stayed on the bench the entire time. There were no 1’s involved in any scrimmage situation with the exception of Frazzers throwing some passes.
I've heard many a player say the games were a like a vacation after practicing all week under Pat Dye. My very limited exposure tells me it's the exact opposite under Chizik. I believe the players are unprepared for the speed and intensity of the actual game and they're getting their collective asses handed to them on Saturdays because of it. I actually hated this tradition but anyone recall when Dye refused to allow his players to shake the opponents' hand after the game. Win or lose, get your asses off the field. That's the enemy. Hated that practice but it was more evidence of how Pat Dye approached the game and how he demanded his players play and approach the game.
Everything begins and ends with preparation and I think Gene Chizik just flat out doesn't get it. His methods don't work...period. Brian Van Gorder may be the best defensive mind in the game. But his defense is going to practice the way Gene Chizik wants them to. If Gene doesn't want them to hit mother fuckers til they bleed, if he doesn't want to demand that they run tackling drills til they either get it right or drop, if he doesn't snatch Jake Holland by his face mask and say do it right or fucking transfer, it doesn't matter what kind of corch Van Gorder is. They are ALL going to prepare the way Gene Chizik wants them to. It's his show. So, if we keep Chizik and get all these great recruits in here...again...they're still going to come out of the tunnel with the same attitude, the same lack of intensity, the same preparation. They'll be bringing a knife to a gun fight. He's got to go.
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