My Take on This Season

[cohwx]

Call it emotion, if you want...that certainly plays a role. But all the shortcomings we are seeing - recruiting too many "under the radar" types, off and on field discipline problems, meddling in academics, refusal to adjust schemes to compensate for weaknesses - it all falls on the coaching staff, particularly the guy running the show.

Yesterday the team looked particularly unprepared and uninspired. Some of that is coaching (both technical aspects and lack of fire/emotion), but some is probably just the fact that the team is tired of being beaten this way. It looks like they are defeated before the first snap. Very frustrating to watch, it must be even worse to be a player under these conditions.

Seems so long ago now that Schiano blew into town with all that optimism. When are we going to feel that again? And no, that's not a plug for Schiano to return (though I wouldn't be against it), just a request for something to give us hope.

 

[gef21]

It shocks me how much cover 2 we play. You would think that with a backfield full of inexperienced guys that man coverage would be called more often. We'd probably still get beat, but we wouldn't look so lost so often.

Playing true man coverage would be nearly impossible with our lack of depth. We would be putting a Sam LB on a #2 or #3 slot WR which would be putting a kid in a position he could not play (remember Snyder trying to cover slot WRs a few years ago). It also takes much more technique to play true man coverage and hurts in the run game.

 

[PSUTony]

I do not post a lot on the board. I mostly read posts and digest what is going on. I do not post a ton because I am a high school coach (have coached at the D1AA college level).

I see the reactionary stuff of wanting Flood fired (who would we pay for that would be better?) and I get it. I have been a major fFood supporter for a long time. I have always said the things about us getting better, we are doing the right things, the right kids will come but they are not all coming. There is a major issue at RU

The issue I see with the program right now is a lack of excitement. There can be excitement behind a struggling program but right now Flood brings none to the table. Kids of all ages will get behind a charismatic leader and Flood is showing none of that at the moment. I would love to see fire in Flood during a press conference, on the side line, or in the media but he plays it too cool too much. Sometimes the best way to get a kid to know you care, and that something needs to change, is to really get in his face or show some serious emotion (huge norries wilson fan here for a lot of reasons).

I have spent a lot of time at practices at RU. I have spent time talking with coaches, talking with players, and just being present. I know the potential is there, I know the coaching is there but there is no excitement. I am very close with kids who made the decision to go else where and not Rutgers. I have players who are getting looks and there is no excitement with Rutgers (it is not all about Ws and Ls). The thing is the kids WANT to be excited about Rutgers (again it is not about Ws and Ls). It is a lack of excitement and a lack of identity that is holding the kids back. Right now NJ kids want and need a reason to believe in RU and it is not there yet.

I think the one area Rutgers is improving on is there social media use for football (and other sports) kids needs to be constantly flooded (no pun intended) with pro Rutgers excitement in order for things to change. Do I believe a coaching change is in order? Honestly I do not know that we will spend the money to hire a coach that will be instantly exciting. We either need to give Flood the time to really try and create his brand (and let his young coordinators develop) or we need to pony up for a top tier coach. I think we all know what choice we actually have in that.

I think we have the players on the team to be successful. I think our secondary was put into a terrible situation of having to play kids who were not ready. They made plays because they are athletes and the experience will pay off but getting their dicks kicked in for four weeks in a row has clearly taken a tole on the team. I know some people want us to lose all of our games, so Flood will be fired, but in my mind the KIDS on this team deserve two more wins (whoever is coaching them) and I hope they get the two wins to go into the off season with some positive momentum.

At some point I will do a complete break down of our commits (I really love a few of them).

Thanks for looking at my ramble.

Big disagreement here; the issue with the program is poor coaching by Flood. All decisions fall at his feet; from coaching decisions, to player discipline, and even as far as player development. Now the most glaringly obvious blunter it he missmanagement of the QB situation. You mean to tell me his handling of the QB situation, as one example, is being managed correctly? again just the most transparent issue.....

 

[gef21]

Big disagreement here; the issue with the program is poor coaching by Flood. All decisions fall at his feet; from coaching decisions, to player discipline, and even as far as player development. Now the most glaringly obvious blunter it he missmanagement of the QB situation. You mean to tell me his handling of the QB situation, as one example, is being managed correctly? again just the most transparent issue.....

Head college coaches do very little coaching. They manage the assistant coaches. Clearly there are some major minor issues being over looked in practice and that falls on Flood.

The QB issue is not what I consider to be a major issue for this team. People want a savior and they think Rettig is it. I do not see any difference in the season if Rettig is playing over Laviano. I do think that kids can do with time on the bench after making major mistakes but I think that falls far down on the chart of things that need to be fixed.

 

[zappaa]

I said that we do have the players on our roster to be successful and I disagree with people who say we are not at the same skill level of most Big 10 teams. I strongly believe we have multiple NFL caliber players on the team and some serious skill level is present. My issue is that we are not playing with intensity and that was my point.

Emotion and intensity is an intangible that's either there or it aint. I've played at the highest level and know exactly what you're talking about.
It's so fleeting because I'm sure you'll agree each kid feels like they're playing as hard as they can, I'm sure you aren't questioning effort, but collectively they lack that edge you speak of.

It's painfully obvious we play like robots with metal arms, there's only one thing that can change it and that's a new coach, this affiliation of paralysis by analysis will not stop as long as Flood is here.

Tell me if this is a good example of an intangible at work gef21…I played on Pirate teams known as the "lumber company" when we traded for a guy in the winter, Willie Stargell would walk up to the new player the first day of spring training and say, you are know a line drive machine, you put the Bucco jersey on and you hit, that's what we do here and that's what you'll do! It was an awesome feeling knowing other teams we're afraid of us.

Just recently Flood spoke of the importance of pre snap for the QB, "with most young quarterbacks, it's about everything that happens before the snap, than really what happens after the snap" Really?

 

[kupuna133]

There is not much difference in talent on this team compared to many that are on our schedule. The difference is coaching and the general lack of emotion and urgency this coaching staff exudes. This team can be competitive with 80% of the teams on it's schedule. This is not a schematic problem. This is a fundamental problem that leads to schematic problems. As Gef stated there are breakdowns on every play. That comes down to coaching.

This coaching staff grants season long starting and playing privileges. There are no consequences to not playing well or not following assignments. They know they will not lose playing time or be relegated to the bench. That is a major issue. There needs to be consequences to consistent under achieving and continued poor play. There is no incentive for the younger players to compete and a breakdown of assignment football by the players on the field.

 

[gef21]

Emotion and intensity is an intangible that's either there or it aint. I've played at the highest level and know exactly what you're talking about.
It's so fleeting because I'm sure you'll agree each kid feels like they're playing as hard as they can, I'm sure you aren't questioning effort, but collectively they lack that edge you speak of.

It's painfully obvious we play like robots with metal arms, there's only one thing that can change it and that's a new coach, this affiliation of paralysis by analysis will not stop as long as Flood is here.

Tell me if this is a good example of an intangible at work gef21…I played on Pirate teams known as the "lumber company" when we traded for a guy in the winter, Willie Stargell would walk up to the new player the first day of spring training and say, you are know a line drive machine, you put the Bucco jersey on and you hit, that's what we do here and that's what you'll do! It was an awesome feeling knowing other teams we're afraid of us.

Just recently Flood spoke of the importance of pre snap for the QB, "with most young quarterbacks, it's about everything that happens before the snap, than really what happens after the snap" Really?

That is a great example of having a true identity as a football team and that is what we are lacking.

I completely agree that pre snap is the most important moment for a QB. That is when all of his preparations come into play. First thing a qb needs to do is look at how many high safeties there are, then look for where open space will be. This is entirely how the spread offense works. Looking for the immediate space and attacking it.

Ralph Friedgen has a quote (I can not remember the exact words) but it is basically recognizing space+quarter back timing= yards after the catch. All of that recognition happens pre snap.

 

[PSUTony]

Head college coaches do very little coaching. They manage the assistant coaches. Clearly there are some major minor issues being over looked in practice and that falls on Flood.

The QB issue is not what I consider to be a major issue for this team. People want a savior and they think Rettig is it. I do not see any difference in the season if Rettig is playing over Laviano. I do think that kids can do with time on the bench after making major mistakes but I think that falls far down on the chart of things that need to be fixed.

I would not disagree with you; only mention the QB as the most transparent issue to the casual fan. Again, it was a tight competition but then never play him; essentially wasting his sophomore year. CL has contributed too many mental errors to warrent the confidence of any good HC. Flood has now underperformed 3 out of 4 years....Fire him now before it gets any worse.

 

[zappaa]

I am not questioning the importance of pre snap read, I'm questioning being so consumed by it that it takes away all of your natural ability and improvisational skills.
There's a level of awareness and pocket presence that can't be taught, it's innate…great coaches allow for your natural ability to take over.
Fine line stuff again, buts it's the difference between playing tight and afraid vs loose and freewheeling

 

[gef21]

I would not disagree with you; only mention the QB as the most transparent issue to the casual fan. Again, it was a tight competition but then never play him; essentially wasting his sophomore year. CL has contributed too many mental errors to warrent the confidence of any good HC. Flood has now underperformed 3 out of 4 years....Fire him now before it gets any worse.

The issue is going to be Rutgers will not pay for a high profile coach that will bring excitement. They need to find a high energy, high intensity, young coach who is going to get people and kids excited.

 

[gef21]

I am not questioning the importance of pre snap read, I'm questioning being so consumed by it that it takes away all of your natural ability and improvisational skills.
There's a level of awareness and pocket presence that can't be taught, it's innate…great coaches allow for your natural ability to take over.

I think very few QBs have the complete "it factor". The "high chin swag" I call it. I coached one player who had that at QB. He ended up being a D1 lacrosse player but he just had it. He made plays constantly no matter what. Everything with everyone in football needs to be instant reaction without thinking. If our QB is thinking , and not reacting, then he is not ready. In the summer the differences I saw between the two QBs was Rettig was still over thinking pre and post snap. Laviano had more of a reaction than Rettig.

I do strongly believe that Laviano should have seen some time on the bench for some of his poor plays though.

 

[zappaa]

The issue is going to be Rutgers will not pay for a high profile coach that will bring excitement. They need to find a high energy, high intensity, young coach who is going to get people and kids excited.

Lots of different ways to achieve that goal, you know you can play for a high energy rah rah guy who the kids think is a phony…won't work.
You can play for a Vince Lombardi type who's on you like stink on the practice field..then sees you in the locker room after practice and tells you "you're going to be a great player kid" and you wanna run through a wall for him.

Part charisma, part respect…once again mostly intangible.

 

[lighty]

I don't believe Rettig is the savior, but I would have liked to see how he could have fared at the start of the second half in one of the games Laviano struggled. Let's face it, there were numerous games when he could have had an honest shot.

Maybe he wouldn't have done any better, maybe he would have. Some guys rise to the occasion during game time more than in practice. I think anybody that's ever played a sport has seen guys like that. It's easy to say there would have been no difference in play. The HOPE is that there would have been. Flood, for whatever reason, did not want fans to have that hope.

 

[zappaa]

Lets make a long story short gef, unfortunately it's not gonna happen with Flood, we will never be that react don't think, high emotion, play with your hair on fire team with him.

We're going to be an obsessed with our assignments, tight, emotionless team, with no Willie Stargell like upper classmen to instill swagger into in the young guys, because they don't have it…collectively.
(not saying Carroo doesn't, but he's only one guy)

Do you painfully agree? I understand you more than likely like KF.

 

[gef21]

Lets make a long story short gef, unfortunately it's not gonna happen with Flood, we will never be that react don't think, high emotion, play with your hair on fire team with him.

We're going to be an obsessed with our assignments, tight, emotionless team, with no Willie Stargell like upper clansmen to instill swagger into in the young guys, because they don't have it…collectively.
(not saying Carroo doesn't, but he's only one guy)

Do you painfully agree? I understand you more than likely like KF.

I like him as a person but as a HC he does not act the part to be successful. The happiest I was with a post game press conference under flood was when Wilson took over. At least he showed emotion and passion.

What I fear is Rutgers doing a poor job of bringing in a new HC and taking even more steps back. I do not have an answer. I wish I did. I would love to have every D1 kid I know and coach go to Rutgers.

Flood needs to create a team identity or he needs to go. He is still Schiano's offensive line coach and has not created a true identity as KF the head coach.

 

[zappaa]

Yup, his identity is being 1-0 every week and being excited for the future of the program.

 

[Knight Shift]

Yup, his identity is being 1-0 every week and being excited for the future of the program.

I hung on for longer than many with Flood. The best word I can use to describe him is milquetoast.

 

[gef21]

Yup, his identity is being 1-0 every week and being excited for the future of the program.

He has nothing to hang his hat on. We do not do anything well.

 

[MoobyCow]

What I fear is Rutgers doing a poor job of bringing in a new HC and taking even more steps back. I do not have an answer. I wish I did. I would love to have every D1 kid I know and coach go to Rutgers.
.

We all fear that. But you can't be scared of change. It could get worse, but it could also get better. The only thing that matters right now is that the current state of affairs is unacceptable.

 

[lighty]

I like him as a person but as a HC he does not act the part to be successful. The happiest I was with a post game press conference under flood was when Wilson took over. At least he showed emotion and passion.

I think Flood acts the way he does because he thinks it shows he's in charge. He appears to be the type that believes any sign of passion is actually a bad thing. Be calm, be focused... that shows you know what you're doing.

To me though, he looks like a guy that feels he has way more job security than any coach should ever feel they have. I want to see that passion, that anger. Wilson definitely showed it. I'd much rather have a passionate coach than a lifeless one. If Flood was coaching a 10-0 team he could act lifeless. When the team is struggling, show some friggin' life. He SHOULD be angry. He SHOULD worry that his job is on the line... Instead, he's lifeless.

 

[Knight Shift]

We all fear that. But you can't be scared of change. It could get worse, but it could also get better. The only thing that matters right now is that the current state of affairs is unacceptable.

Fear of changing and hanging on is like being in a bad marriage and being afraid to get a divorce. Never experienced it, but witnessed it, and it can be brutal.

 

[gef21]

I think Flood acts the way he does because he thinks it shows he's in charge. He appears to be the type that believes any sign of passion is actually a bad thing. Be calm, be focused... that shows you know what you're doing.

To me though, he looks like a guy that feels he has way more job security than any coach should ever feel they have. I want to see that passion, that anger. Wilson definitely showed it. I'd much rather have a passionate coach than a lifeless one. If Flood was coaching a 10-0 team he could act lifeless. When the team is struggling, show some friggin' life. He SHOULD be angry. He SHOULD worry that his job is on the line... Instead, he's lifeless.

That is actually a really good synopsis of him. Good post.

 

[knightfan7]

I believe that whenever RU hires the next HC it will be the most important hire they've ever made because so much will be on the line. It has to be the right guy. Can't be a poor hire or even so-so for Rutgers to be even remotely relevant in the B1G. It's why I disagree so strongly with the anyone but Flood crowd.

Whatever juice RU still has left from prior modest success will disappear completely with another poor hire and Rutgers will find itself in a hole that it will not be able to climb out of considering what our conference mates are doing.

Does this make sense?

 

[gef21]

I believe that whenever RU hires the next HC it will be the most important hire they've ever made because so much will be on the line. It has to be the right guy. Can't be a poor hire or even so-so for Rutgers to be even remotely relevant in the B1G. It's why I disagree so strongly with the anyone but Flood crowd.

Whatever juice RU still has left from prior modest success will disappear completely with another poor hire and Rutgers will find itself in a hole that it will not be able to climb out of considering what our conference mates are doing.

Does this make sense?

I completely agree. A coach told me a long time ago that you want your first HC job to never follow a legend but be the man that follows the man that follows the legend. Schiano left and flood never filled the shoes (real or made up) that Schiano left. Our next hire needs to recreate Rutgers not try and continue what Schiano did.

 

[Blitz8RUCrazy]

tl;dr

 

[SkilletHead2]

I have been a part of teams that have won a lot of games and a part of teams that have not. As long as teams are doing what they are supposed to do I will always be happy. If players are doing the right things, in the right positions, and you still lose so be it. The other players play the game also and sometimes they are just better than you. The thing that is discouraging to me is that Rutgers is losing because they are not doing the right things. There is a break down on every play that is a technique thing. A corner flips his hips the wrong way, a linebacker does not drive his feet through contact, an offensive linemen does not get his head on the correct side, the qb pulls out too early on a snap (this is a huge WTF in my book). These little things not being fixed go back to the lack of emotion that I see from Rutgers.

Thanks, gef. Couldn't agree more. I remember my high school coach always talking about "out-toughing" the other team. I would sit there thinking, "That's exactly what the other coach is telling his team. Why would we be tougher than them?" I played the game tough enough to draw a pretty good number of D1 offers, but I always thought, "Can't we outsmart them a bit also?" That's why I'm looking for high quality coaching ability in a new hire.

 

[mildone]

The issue is going to be Rutgers will not pay for a high profile coach that will bring excitement. They need to find a high energy, high intensity, young coach who is going to get people and kids excited.

The problem with this approach is that if you find a good young coach for low money, it's likely to be a short-lived thing because some team w/more institutional willingness to spend money will poach him away. I think, for Rutgers and the situation we're currently in, the only path to long-term success is going to be to spend a huge amount of money. At first.

Winning is the key to success. If the program is regularly winning, we'll sell out the stadium, we'll get more private funding, the admin will be more willing to spend when necessary, etc. Only in order to consistently be winning in the Big Ten East, we need to be able to recruit better and coach better. It's a catch-22 hump that I feel we can only get over by spending money to bring in a huge name w/an experienced staff.

 

[BUDMAN4RU]

Gef, since you were probably around during the Schiano years, what is your opinion if he should return?

 

[RU2055]

I believe that whenever RU hires the next HC it will be the most important hire they've ever made because so much will be on the line. It has to be the right guy. Can't be a poor hire or even so-so for Rutgers to be even remotely relevant in the B1G. It's why I disagree so strongly with the anyone but Flood crowd.

Whatever juice RU still has left from prior modest success will disappear completely with another poor hire and Rutgers will find itself in a hole that it will not be able to climb out of considering what our conference mates are doing.

Does this make sense?

No, it does not make sense. You're pitting a hypothetical versus a known.

Making a bad hire (hypothetical) will result in a hole Rutgers may never be able to dig out of (another hypothetical).

Keeping Kyle Flood will lead to more talent depletion due to bad recruiting (known from 4 years of data). Kyle Flood is tarnishing the program (known from 4 years of data). Keeping him will lead to a hole Rutgers will have a hard time digging out of (also known from current state of affairs - replenishing talent void, rebuilding broken recruiting relationships, reestablish fan confidence, etc).

 

[RU2055]

It shocks me how much cover 2 we play. You would think that with a backfield full of inexperienced guys that man coverage would be called more often. We'd probably still get beat, but we wouldn't look so lost so often.

Exactly. When Narduzzi was asked about inexperienced DBs, he said the best thing you could do for them is play man. In 2013, when teams like Houston was having their way with our DBs, Flood and Rossi stubbornly continued to play zone because they thought it helped the young secondary. Same thinking continues today. Just one of many examples why our coaching staff sucks.

 

[nafije]

..the players try hard every week....they simply are out manned against top 20 type teams ......jpo Mera and lambert start on our dline....they are woefully undersized.....our tight ends are woefully undersized.......we don't have a bruising back with speed.....our receivers don't have enough speed and twitch.....we have zero depth at lb...zero ...etc..etc......could another coach do more? ...probably .....but thus roster would struggle with bill belichek as our coach.......we need a major major upgrade in recruiting....

Rutgers has very few accomplished players compared to the competition. The best will leave soon, to be replaced by a mediocre freshman class. Thank KF.

 

[WhiteBus]

I respectfully disagree about Schiano. He had a good amount of WTF losses. In the last 2 seasons, we beat the teams we were supposed to beat. But the WTF losses have been replaced by blowout losses. Equally bad. The penalty issues have been largely cleaned up the last several games.

He had WTF loses but from 2005 and on his teams haven't got embarrassed week after week like Flood has. Not even close. And before you respond Rutgers wasn't in the Big Ten let me remind you of Kent State, Cincy at home Houston....

 

[gef21]

Gef, since you were probably around during the Schiano years, what is your opinion if he should return?

Schiano was a good guy who know xs and os, was a great politician, and has great connections. His issue was being a micromanager for his coaches which caused a lot of burn out and fruastration. I don't see him coming back.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Flood deserves to be fired/