Outside of one or two offensive linemen, we have the talent to win 11.
But if Gus continues this trend of sticking his head straight up his ass when planning and calling the offense, we'll be lucky to win 6.
The fact that we are even having these conversations in year four of a tenure that has had incredible recruiting classes is enough to warrant a coaching search.
I read from time to time. I have not posted in a while. THS is pretty much spot on IMHO. I said to a couple of my buds pre-season that I think this is Gus' last season. I think Gus is an OK coach, but he has major weaknesses.
Talent, we do have some, but are missing some key components...ie a great QB, and a great Left Tackle. There's few on this team that wow you at all, but it's not devoid of talent, just seems to be devoid of game changing talent.
The good: He does win when has has talent. Some coaches can't even manage this. That said, some of his talented teams under-perform. This can be said of any coach really, but most great coaches manage to win even when under-performing. Great coaches manage to make average teams look better than average, and get the most from them. Gus wins when he has the better team more often than not, but looks silly and in above his head when he doesn't have the talent. He understands offense (Clemson game be damned...please read on and don't focus on that one line). He's a good teacher, and that's the biggest part of coaching, but not all there is at this level.
The bad: You saw it vs Clemson. His ego gets in the way. He knows he doesn't have world beater talent, and he is lacking at the QB position, but White should be enough, so rather than try to work with that, he got cute and came up with a game plan that can only be described as "What the fuck?"
Cuteness, tricks, QB changes...all made him look stupid...beyond stupid, with some crazy mixed in. Compound that with what we saw vs ASU, and you see he missed the boat on what he really has to work with at QB and RB. We have enough to win...11 maybe? We have the defense to win games IF...IF Gus will run the ball, throw play action pass, and shorten games. Give the defense a chance to carry us, and not put them on the field constantly with 3 trick plays and out. Run the ball. People might complain that it looks boring at times, but we can win games running and playing defense with what we have, but Gus has to put aside SOME of what he does...he doesn't have to completely change his stripes, but he has to reach in to his tool box and find the right tools, and he has to understand his personnel better. OL is not a strength though they are not horrid across the board. As a unit, probably the weakest on the team really, but they show signs of being serviceable. Gus apparently doesn't handle average talent well. He doesn't handle not having a QB that just screams "I'm the guy" with his performance. I get THINKING JJ was the guy...he looks the part...he's a bust, and that's been clear to all but Gus...til now? I get bringing in JF3...he has some athleticism. He probably should have a small roll on this team...instead of the wildcat...he could be a nice change of pace with some option and a vague threat to throw. The wildcat, as a package...if you have an entire series built on it...can work...it's not working for us the way it's being used...way, WAY too predictable. Sean White, serviceable, accurate, and takes care of the ball. THIS should have been the default for a guy that thought he had a defense. Not flashy, but can get it done with a defense and running game. It bothers me that he continues to look at all other options when it's clear White is the best he's got, AND he's good enough!
Anyway...I'm somewhat encouraged, not so much by the win over ASU, but by the changes I saw in Gus' DNA...or was it just window dressing...will he revert to the old tricks at the first sign of adversity.
Always liked Gus as a man, and even as a coach, but there's much more to it at this level than having tricky offensive plays, and right now (last season, and game one this year) he's not showing he can handle it, though he maybe he's willing to change...
Happy football season, and War Eagle.
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