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How We Are Better

BuffNut99

BuffNut99

Club Member
Some observations so far from what I have seen on the field that have me optimistic about the direction of the team:

  • More explosive plays. We practically didn't have any in 2012, and just not very many plays of 20+ yards. Now we're seeing them fairly regularly (and I don't think it's as simple as "PRich is healthy"), and are on track for more than we've had in a long time.
  • Reduction of "gashers" on defense. There have been some, mostly against very good competition, but our D is hanging in there and forcing good teams to drive the field. We're giving up alot of total yards, but fewer yards per play.
  • Dramatically more turnovers forced. We had 12 all of last season. We already have 14, the direct result of a change in mentality and forcing teams to run more plays.
  • Fewer penalties, and almost completely erased are the soul-crushing false starts, delay of game after a timeout, having to call timeout to avoid a penalty, personal foul after personal foul, etc. The team is much more disciplined (tied for 23rd in penalties).
  • Improved special teams play. Our returns are better (how could they get worse), and our return coverage, after being an issue in early wins, has improved weekly against very good competition. No highlight returns against us, let alone weekly. Kicking and punting have been very good, where both areas literally cost us games under HawkEmbree.
  • General demeanor of players. The level of engagement of players on the sideline, the emotion and support from player to player, the encouragement of coaches - all improved. We're post-honeymoon and guys are still bought in, no division in the locker room (when we have the potential for at least three factions), and guys are supporting one another. It actually feels like we have some true leaders on the team.
  • More play makers getting a chance to play, and players who are not getting it done are being replaced. No more Jordan Webb week after low grade week. Guys are getting a chance, and if they perform well, they continue to see the field; if they don't, a young guy gets a shot. Sounds easy, but it's been a while.
  • Nobody is giving up. There are some potential/likely blowouts to come, but by now a HawkEmbree team would have given up in half of our games by now.
  • Competent coaching. We're seeing in-game adjustments in all three phases, trick plays, aggressive play calling, not clearly being outcoached every single game, and an overall flexible mentality (as opposed to Round Peg, Square Hole Embree or Know It All Hawkins). I see a staff that looks around the college landscape to see what is working right now and isn't afraid to use it just because it's someone else's idea.
  • Fewer injuries. We've been due in a big way to have a healthy season, but you have to think that S&C is helping in this area.
  • Academics/APR. Embree started an upward trend, but MikeMac has already had a hand in rescuing a few players that were dangerously close to being gone due to grades.
  • Relatively incident-free. Webb and Crowder, yes, but we're shooting under par in this category.

There are plenty of areas to improve (3rd down %, red zone efficiency), but we're whittling down the list. I'm in a wait-and-see mode on recruiting, but we've learned the hard way how easy it is to squander decent talent with horrific coaching, and just as important is what you do with the kids when they get here. I'm confident that we have that part figured out - we just need to get more talented with each LOI.
 
I think we're improved this year. It's hard to see because with the exception of Stanford and Cal, the rest of the Pac-12 is substantially improved as well.
 
J.R. Ewing said:
I think we're improved this year. It's hard to see because with the exception of Stanford and Cal, the rest of the Pac-12 is substantially improved as well.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think this year may be the best PAC 10/12 ever, just insanely deep.

The turnovers are the biggest indicator to me. We are also beating teams we should, unlike last year. Now we need to pull an upset (looking at you Utah...no I don't think we beat them but Wilson is pretty TO prone).


Sent from a red light
 
'Tini said:
Yeah, I think this year may be the best PAC 10/12 ever, just insanely deep.

The turnovers are the biggest indicator to me. We are also beating teams we should, unlike last year. Now we need to pull an upset (looking at you Utah...no I don't think we beat them but Wilson is pretty TO prone).


Sent from a red light
Click to expand...

I think the conference will send 9 teams to bowls this year. Considering the 9 game conference schedule, that's pretty impressive.
 
Thanks for the post BuffNut. I agree with your assessment. It's easy to see the stats and scores and assume it's the same product on the field, but I see a difference. Most of the defensive problems, IMO, is youth. We don't adjust well to unseen formations and miss assignments...both signs of youth. The offensive problems are also inexperience at QB and a pretty poor O line...but we have made more big plays and have multiple playmakers.

With Embree, I didn't see any improvement. But just look at special teams this year...we started out ****ty but improved to the point where we held Oregon's guy to -3 yards total...when he led the nation with +30 yds per return.

If they don't lose heart, continue to buy in and work hard, I'm confident they will start making plays they're missing right now.
 
The culture and coaching are what I think has improved this team and that is what I hoped for most this year. These areas will continue to have an impact and we will see slow improvement over the next 2-3 years as. We are not going to have a dramatic turnaround with the talent and depth we have.
 
We need to schedule ala bugeaters or Mizzou and not schedule anyone OOC. It doesn't matter if we have a great SoS if we are going 0-3 or 1-2 OOC. Need those early wins. That's the biggest improvement I saw this year and want for the future. Let's get back to bowl games before thinking of scheduling better.
 
NMBuff said:
We need to schedule ala bugeaters or Mizzou and not schedule anyone OOC. It doesn't matter if we have a great SoS if we are going 0-3 or 1-2 OOC. Need those early wins. That's the biggest improvement I saw this year and want for the future. Let's get back to bowl games before thinking of scheduling better.
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Paging Skidmark...
 
I thought we'd lose a player a game for the targeting rule. You know, based on past experience.
 
Here's another good sign for this year. How many times have we gotten a delay of game penalty or had to burn a time out because the play was late coming in? I don't think even one. The previous two staffs were horribly unorganized about play selection and communication but Mac seems to have his ***** in one sock and it shows.
 
REP! I have been thinking of making this post but hadn't gotten around to it. Pretty inclusive list and hard to argue with it. We are definitely on the right track.
 
'Tini said:
Paging Skidmark...
Click to expand...
:wave2:

NMBuff said:
We need to schedule ala bugeaters or Mizzou and not schedule anyone OOC. It doesn't matter if we have a great SoS if we are going 0-3 or 1-2 OOC. Need those early wins. That's the biggest improvement I saw this year and want for the future. Let's get back to bowl games before thinking of scheduling better.
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ABC > CCC

Schedule to fill Folsom and always have on marquee home and away series against some school at a storied school with an awesome tailgate scene.
 
'Tini said:
At this point we need as many wins as possible, and that is accomplished by scheduling easy OOC games.
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CU's decline has little to do with OOC scheduling. Nor does any future resurgence.

The three victories this season did little to positively build confidence against conference foes.
If wins are more important than anything else, you might consider moving to the Mountain West or some other mid-level conference.
 
So you'd rather watch CU get ass raped but have good tailgating over seeing CU get a win which has been at a premium lately. Gotcha.

I'd also argue that those wins did boost the confidence of the players, but in every PAC 12 game so far we've been out talented. It's a whole helluva a lot easier to win 3 conference games than 4 conference games at this point. We need to put ourselves in the best position we can to get to 6 wins, scheduling a tough OOC is not the answer to that.

This is big boy football, wins should be above almost all.
 
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DOn't worry Q, everyone gets it except those who want to try to live the glory days with Mac1's attitude. Unfortunately, with no facilities mapped out, and a rebuilding process going on, a soft OOC helps us get to the game that matters...A BOWL GAME. Every SEC team gets it. Most other big name teams get it. Make sure you get the best postseason game you can, and easy games early mean three to four more weeks of 'practice' before you have a real fight on your hands. I like that philosophy right now. Someday, yes, give me a marquee matchup in the OOC. Right now? Nope. I want wins and bowl eligibility. **** the 'Well, we won five games, but we played a tough OOC!!' attitude. Give me 'We are rebuilding and had a few patsies, but we are going bowling again!'.
 
I'm sure if CU was invited to the NM bowl by playing Southeastern Missouri School for the Blind, Deaf and Mute among others people would be ecstatic. At 9 conference games there's no need to schedule like CU did back in the Big 8 days when you teams like Iowa State and KSU on the schedule.
 
'Tini said:
So you'd rather watch CU get ass raped but have good tailgating over seeing CU get a win which has been at a premium lately. Gotcha.

I'd also argue that those wins did boost the confidence of the players, but in every PAC 12 game so far we've been out talented. It's a whole helluva a lot easier to win 3 conference games than 4 conference games at this point. We need to put ourselves in the best position we can to get to 6 wins, scheduling a tough OOC is not the answer to that.

This is big boy football, wins should be above almost all.
Click to expand...

I saw CU get "ass raped" by Sacramento State and Montana State and recognize CU paid several hundred thousand for the privilege. And I thought of your candy ass OOC scheduling arguement about needing wins. Then I saw Folsom fill up with less than 40K against the likes of Charleston Southern. Again, I thought about your candy ass OOC arguement.

The fans and recruits see through hollow victories. How much confidence do players really get by trailing Central Arkansas at the beginning of the forth quarter, while playing in front of a less than capacity crowd and on a TV network that isn't available in most US households?

Then I see you once again bastardize my preference for an A-B-C scheduling scheme as some lecture by a college kid going to school on his daddy's dime who has never used his hard earned money to travel out of state to watch CU football game. You, 'Tini, are on record, as being a fan of USC, Michigan, adore Oregon's uniform fashion statement, and are one of the 85% of the Bama idiot fan base. Yet you have never attended a game at any of these institutions.

Then on the very same day you lecture an OOS season ticket holder about needing wins, you hypocritically turn into a sunshine pumper in the game day thread, where you espouse the virtue of being positive and seeing progress in defeat. You can't have it both ways, where every OOC game is a win following the MSU and SAC disasters. Those FCS losses have done their part in damaging the program and the fan base.
You framed your question wrong. I'd rather watch CU win. But when it comes to watching another loss, I'd prefer it be against a good team on some fabled campus and not against some chump that is scheduled to placate the likes of some dope smoking red light texting video game addict like yourself.

Then there is the reality that scheduling is done years in advance. CU has its schedule set for 2014 and 2015 with cupcakes UMASS, CSU and Hawaii already booked.

So in reality, by arguing that CU should continue with a candy ass OOC schedule, you have no confidence that Mike MacIntyre can win enough P12 games to get to a bowl game next year or the year after that.

What CU needs is coaching and talented players who can execute for four quarters. What CU needs is leadership who are passionate about CU being competitive in the conference of champions. What CU needs are fans who fill Folsom to see some quality football.

You've got your CCC schedule this year and the two that follow. And the results of that existing schedule will speak for themselves in both bowl eligibility and attendance. I get that the schedule is what it is for now. And it's soft and safe and filled with cupcakes, just like you like it.

Congrats.

By 2016, we will be rolling, right? Good. Because we have an ABC OOC already set with SJSU, CSU and Michigan. Are you wanting to take Michigan off the schedule three years from now? Are you saying CU needs a CCC cupcake schedule in 2017 and beyond, too?

If you are so sure CU is going to need a weak OOC for the next five years in order to become bowl qualified, then you basically expect MacIntyre and CU to be mediocre for a long time. Nice statement, you nutless sunshine pumper.
 
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Skid out of curiosity how many CU football games will you attend this year.
 
tante said:
Skid out of curiosity how many CU football games will you attend this year.
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Flew up for Fresno and got rained out.
Flew out to Oregon State.
The other tickets donated
 
Thank you for being the spokesperson for many of us, Skiddy. Well said.
 
tante said:
Damn are you not going to make a game at Folsom?
Click to expand...
$1400 worth of tickets and $1000 on air fare and all I got to show for it is a beat down in Corvallis and the opportunity bail out a flooded basement in Aurora.

Got my Tip-Off showcase tickets in Dallas, though.
 
Skidmark said:
I saw CU get "ass raped" by Sacramento State and Montana State and recognize CU paid several hundred thousand for the privilege. And I thought of your candy ass OOC scheduling arguement about needing wins. Then I saw Folsom fill up with less than 40K against the likes of Charleston Southern. Again, I thought about your candy ass OOC arguement.

The fans and recruits see through hollow victories. How much confidence do players really get by trailing Central Arkansas at the beginning of the forth quarter, while playing in front of a less than capacity crowd and on a TV network that isn't available in most US households?

Then I see you once again bastardize my preference for an A-B-C scheduling scheme as some lecture by a college kid going to school on his daddy's dime who has never used his hard earned money to travel out of state to watch CU football game. You, 'Tini, are on record, as being a fan of USC, Michigan, adore Oregon's uniform fashion statement, and are one of the 85% of the Bama idiot fan base. Yet you have never attended a game at any of these institutions.

Then on the very same day you lecture an OOS season ticket holder about needing wins, you hypocritically turn into a sunshine pumper in the game day thread, where you espouse the virtue of being positive and seeing progress in defeat. You can't have it both ways, where every OOC game is a win following the MSU and SAC disasters. Those FCS losses have done their part in damaging the program and the fan base.
You framed your question wrong. I'd rather watch CU win. But when it comes to watching another loss, I'd prefer it be against a good team on some fabled campus and not against some chump that is scheduled to placate the likes of some dope smoking red light texting video game addict like yourself.

Then there is the reality that scheduling is done years in advance. CU has its schedule set for 2014 and 2015 with cupcakes UMASS, CSU and Hawaii already booked.

So in reality, by arguing that CU should continue with a candy ass OOC schedule, you have no confidence that Mike MacIntyre can win enough P12 games to get to a bowl game next year or the year after that.

What CU needs is coaching and talented players who can execute for four quarters. What CU needs is leadership who are passionate about CU being competitive in the conference of champions. What CU needs are fans who fill Folsom to see some quality football.

You've got your CCC schedule this year and the two that follow. And the results of that existing schedule will speak for themselves in both bowl eligibility and attendance. I get that the schedule is what it is for now. And it's soft and safe and filled with cupcakes, just like you like it.

Congrats.

By 2016, we will be rolling, right? Good. Because we have an ABC OOC already set with SJSU, CSU and Michigan. Are you wanting to take Michigan off the schedule three years from now? Are you saying CU needs a CCC cupcake schedule in 2017 and beyond, too?

If you are so sure CU is going to need a weak OOC for the next five years in order to become bowl qualified, then you basically expect MacIntyre and CU to be mediocre for a long time. Nice statement, you nutless sunshine pumper.
Click to expand...

Skidslapped.
 
We play 9 conference games with 1 ooc game being csu. That leaves 2 teams we can schedule against.

If that makes a difference in who gets to go to the holiday bowl or the nm bowl sign me up for playing 2 shot teams.
 
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