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ESPN Preseason Mag - Confidential Questions to Pac-12 Coaches

Buffnik

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
Club Member
Junta Member
CU At The Game printed this yesterday. What did Pac-12 coaches anonymously say about CU?

ESPN … Confidential questions posed to opposing Pac-12 coaches render interesting answers

Coach, can you talk about whether Mike MacIntyre is the right guy? … “I think so. I think he went into a tough spot because – and I like Jon Embree a lot – but that was the wrong hire (in 2011) from where they were. You don’t give a team like that to a first-time coach. The wrong hire can set a program back years. You can see they are slowly starting to build out from that” … Pac-12 offensive coach

Coach, can you talk about why the Buffs struggle inside the 20 (last in the conference in red zone scoring)? … “Red zone offense is all about play calling. I know they brought the guy over from Texas Tech (Darrin Chiaverini) to shake things up. They didn’t have anyone who really scared us. We felt like we had a good feel for their tendencies” … Pac-12 defensive coach

Coach, can you talk about how the Buffaloes can catch up with the rest of the league? … “For a while, they didn’t have the facilities that some of the other schools did. I think they are caught up now. The best recruiting tool is winning, and until they start showing they can do that, they are going to have to put the most of their emphasis on developing guys that higher-profile schools passed on” … Pac-12 offensive coach

http://www.cuatthegame.com/2016/preseason-magazines-3/
 
#1 is interesting to me. It seems like just about everyone in coaching and media thinks Mike MacIntyre is doing a really good job at CU. It's only CU fans who seem frustrated. As bad as we thought the program had gotten, I think it was actually much worse. Like, "couldn't make the FCS playoffs" worse.

#2 hits the nail on the head. I know Lindgren does a ton of analysis after the season. So, I expect he has seen the problems. I believe in Chev's ability to help a lot here. But it does highlight what may be the main problem: an offensive playcaller either has a feel for things to call the right plays within the rhythm of the game or he doesn't. Some know when to go against tendencies and when to go at a defense with the base "bread & butter" plays... and some don't. This is the area where I worry about Lindgren. He may not have "it". Using some of the great ones as examples, this in-game feel is why Spurrier would often take over playcalling from his OC. It's why Bobby Petrino does it and why his same offense doesn't work as well with someone else calling the plays. It's a big part of what made Bill Walsh a legend. Experience helps, but at a certain point a guy either has this or he doesn't.

The second point on this one is that CU didn't have anyone who scared a defense in terms of offensive talent. With some new guys coming in (Winfree, Ento, Bisharat, Huntley, Julmisse, Rakestraw) and the most dynamic athletes on the offense having another year of development (Carr, Adkins, Lee, Fields, Ross, Keeney), there's reason to hope this will change.

#3 is, I believe, a misconception by this opposing coach. Recruiting is going better for CU than 2/3 of the Pac-12. Between retention and some roster moves with JUCOs that don't show up well in the class ranks, the talent is higher than a cursory look would reveal. Plus, the facilities are better than everyone else's and Boulder/ CU Campus are nicer than everyone else's. The 2016 team has enough to win more than it loses... and if it does then the 2017 class is going to be a monster.
 
Fair analysis. We need some breakout performances this year from speed and skill guys on offense, and the playcalling in the red zone needs to be on point and it needs to keep Sefo from making big mistakes.
 
Buffnik said:
#1 is interesting to me. It seems like just about everyone in coaching and media thinks Mike MacIntyre is doing a really good job at CU. It's only CU fans who seem frustrated. As bad as we thought the program had gotten, I think it was actually much worse. Like, "couldn't make the FCS playoffs" worse.

#2 hits the nail on the head. I know Lindgren does a ton of analysis after the season. So, I expect he has seen the problems. I believe in Chev's ability to help a lot here. But it does highlight what may be the main problem: an offensive playcaller either has a feel for things to call the right plays within the rhythm of the game or he doesn't. Some know when to go against tendencies and when to go at a defense with the base "bread & butter" plays... and some don't. This is the area where I worry about Lindgren. He may not have "it". Using some of the great ones as examples, this in-game feel is why Spurrier would often take over playcalling from his OC. It's why Bobby Petrino does it and why his same offense doesn't work as well with someone else calling the plays. It's a big part of what made Bill Walsh a legend. Experience helps, but at a certain point a guy either has this or he doesn't.

The second point on this one is that CU didn't have anyone who scared a defense in terms of offensive talent. With some new guys coming in (Winfree, Ento, Bisharat, Huntley, Julmisse, Rakestraw) and the most dynamic athletes on the offense having another year of development (Carr, Adkins, Lee, Fields, Ross, Keeney), there's reason to hope this will change.

#3 is, I believe, a misconception by this opposing coach. Recruiting is going better for CU than 2/3 of the Pac-12. Between retention and some roster moves with JUCOs that don't show up well in the class ranks, the talent is higher than a cursory look would reveal. Plus, the facilities are better than everyone else's and Boulder/ CU Campus are nicer than everyone else's. The 2016 team has enough to win more than it loses... and if it does then the 2017 class is going to be a monster.
Click to expand...

While #1 may be true, it doesn't change the fact that I believe in year 4 HCMM should be getting the buffs bowl eligible. I am not asking for excellence, dominance, or greatness. I want mediocre play. I want .500 at the end of the regular season. I think the Buffs are close to being able to do that, we need some teams in the Pac-12 to have some bad games/seasons too.
 
BuffNut99 said:
Fair analysis. We need some breakout performances this year from speed and skill guys on offense, and the playcalling in the red zone needs to be on point and it needs to keep Sefo from making big mistakes.
Click to expand...

I am hoping and praying that with the big receivers we added, we see a lot more jump balls in the endzone, or with the addition of BB, development of Lindsay Carr Adkins etc, and the (hopeful) improvement of our O-Line we can just give it to the backs in the redzone.
 
I want a running back to take the job and the rest fill in when needed or play certain packages.
 
#2 is the one I question a bit, maybe just because it conflicts with my worldview :) I think the red zone is all about the ability to run the ball. If you can't run it in the red zone at all, you are likely in trouble. We were in trouble big time last year.

And the coach mentions we didn't have anybody that scared them. That is independent of play calling, but certainly was true.

Miles Jack in the red zone running the ball scared just about everybody. I don't think it was play calling genius or a play caller in rhythm.
 
Buff_nc said:
#2 is the one I question a bit, maybe just because it conflicts with my worldview :) I think the red zone is all about the ability to run the ball. If you can't run it in the red zone at all, you are likely in trouble. We were in trouble big time last year.

And the coach mentions we didn't have anybody that scared them. That is independent of play calling, but certainly was true.

Miles Jack in the red zone running the ball scared just about everybody. I don't think it was play calling genius or a play caller in rhythm.
Click to expand...

Good point. If the OL can't open a hole or protect the QB when things get to key play situations, then it really doesn't matter what play is called.
 
Buffnik said:
Good point. If the OL can't open a hole or protect the QB when things get to key play situations, then it really doesn't matter what play is called.
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Yup. At best, your available options are limited to trying to get in through trickery, which eventually gets found out and is not sustainable.
 
Never finished in the top 100 of rushing offense at SJSU under MacIntyre.
 
Barnett's last 3-4 years, the team was playing .500 conference ball, but winning more than they lost in the pre-conference games, getting to bowls, and even playing in the CCG because no one else in the north could play better than .500 in conference.

I was completely oblivious to how bad things had gotten because they were still winning 8-9 games a year.

I don't think getting back to that type of standard is much to ask for.
 
patebuff said:
I still have nightmares of that Hawaii game. I will never understand the thought process in the play-calling in that game, offensively.
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It was the Hawaii game that made me start really doubting myself...CU just didn't seem prepared and to me that is a coaching issue. We would have smashed UH by the middle of the season. MAC is a good coach and I support him, but I have had lingering doubts after that one game.
 
8Jah said:
It was the Hawaii game that made me start really doubting myself...CU just didn't seem prepared and to me that is a coaching issue. We would have smashed UH by the middle of the season. MAC is a good coach and I support him, but I have had lingering doubts after that one game.
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Most of my problems with the coaching in that game were the piss-poor in game decisions. I think they prepped the team correctly, and had them ready to play. But the coaches failed to consider how the time zone changes and late start would impact themselves. They prepped the players for it, but failed to prep themselves.

Going 19 hours without sleep impairs your judgement equally as much as being drunk.

Being drunk would explain some of the play calling in that game - sleep deprivation would also explain it.
 
skibum said:
Most of my problems with the coaching in that game were the piss-poor in game decisions. I think they prepped the team correctly, and had them ready to play. But the coaches failed to consider how the time zone changes and late start would impact themselves. They prepped the players for it, but failed to prep themselves.

Going 19 hours without sleep impairs your judgement equally as much as being drunk.

Being drunk would explain some of the play calling in that game - sleep deprivation would also explain it.
Click to expand...

I think Lindgren and Bernardi were surprised by Hawaii's defensive strategy of bringing all kinds of blitzes and stunts on every play, totally selling out in a high risk/ high reward desperation defense. What worked against this did not go to game plan. Lindgren had trouble sticking to what was working within the live game and Bernardi was unable to adjust protection schemes to account for the stunts.
 
Buffnik said:
I think Lindgren and Bernardi were surprised by Hawaii's defensive strategy of bringing all kinds of blitzes and stunts on every play, totally selling out in a high risk/ high reward desperation defense. What worked against this did not go to game plan. Lindgren had trouble sticking to what was working within the live game and Bernardi was unable to adjust protection schemes to account for the stunts.
Click to expand...
I don't think we disagree that much. I think part of the reason Lindgren had trouble recognizing and sticking to what was actually working in the game was because he was drunk tired and stressed out; the same thing applies to Bernardi. I honestly think both of them would have done a better job reacting to what Hawaii was doing had they been less fatigued.

When you're tired and stressed out, you go with what you planned - and that's what they kept on doing.
 
Buffnik said:
I think Lindgren and Bernardi were surprised by Hawaii's defensive strategy of bringing all kinds of blitzes and stunts on every play, totally selling out in a high risk/ high reward desperation defense. What worked against this did not go to game plan. Lindgren had trouble sticking to what was working within the live game and Bernardi was unable to adjust protection schemes to account for the stunts.
Click to expand...
So BL and GB got outcoached by their former WAC peers...impressive.
 
Even with those mistakes special teams was a complete **** show that gave them the game lol. Still can't believe Lindgren just ran it down their throat for two straight drives and then stopped.
 
skibum said:
I don't think we disagree that much. I think part of the reason Lindgren had trouble recognizing and sticking to what was actually working in the game was because he was drunk tired and stressed out; the same thing applies to Bernardi. I honestly think both of them would have done a better job reacting to what Hawaii was doing had they been less fatigued.

When you're tired and stressed out, you go with what you planned - and that's what they kept on doing.
Click to expand...
So instead of being one play away a la HaLk, CU was one nap away? I guess the "we didn't get enough fiber" excuse can be used at least once this coming year.
 
onealcd said:
Even with those mistakes special teams was a complete **** show that gave them the game lol. Still can't believe Lindgren just ran it down their throat for two straight drives and then stopped.
Click to expand...

Neinas would not have had a job at the end of the night if I was the HC.
 
leftybuff said:
So instead of being one play away a la HaLk, CU was one nap away? I guess the "we didn't get enough fiber" excuse can be used at least once this coming year.
Click to expand...
I blame the coaching staff for losing that game. I'm not giving them a pass or an excuse.

It is 100% predictable that your judgement is going to be impaired if you fail to get the rest you need - especially when faced with a long trip, different time zone, and having to exercise judgement at an unusual time for your body's natural rhythm. They worked hard to account for the physical effect it would have on their players - made sure they slept, got naps, etc, etc.

I think they failed to do that for themselves, and the results were predictable. Hell, it wasn't limited to our coaches, even the officials exercised bad judgement at the end of the game.

The good news is that they won't have the chance to make that same mistake this year.
 
skibum said:
I blame the coaching staff for losing that game. I'm not giving them a pass or an excuse.

It is 100% predictable that your judgement is going to be impaired if you fail to get the rest you need - especially when faced with a long trip, different time zone, and having to exercise judgement at an unusual time for your body's natural rhythm. They worked hard to account for the physical effect it would have on their players - made sure they slept, got naps, etc, etc.

I think they failed to do that for themselves, and the results were predictable. Hell, it wasn't limited to our coaches, even the officials exercised bad judgement at the end of the game.

The good news is that they won't have the chance to make that same mistake this year.
Click to expand...
Do we know for a fact the staff was sleep deprived? I almost kick myself for asking, because CU should have rolled that pathetic UH team 10/10 times. I realize you aren't making excuses, I am just sick of CU shatting the bed.
 
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