• Freshmen Thoughts

 #92547  by FUATT
 Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:03 pm
AllTimeFU wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 5:40 pm
I agree with all that. I at least liked seeing them mix it up a bit.

One other thing hit me. 77 (Bug Fred) had eligibility and left I think the last day of Spring ball. While we’ve had some time since then, in the long range planning he would have likely been still starting at a tackle.
If memory serves, we had two guys, Fred being one, who could have come back on the OL and did not, for very different reasons. If they both had come back, we would have looked very different indeed across our front.
gofurman liked this
 #92548  by FUATT
 Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:10 pm
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 6:06 pm
Afurmanfan wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am
GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though
Well, I hung out with the Center's parents at a tailgate so I am hesitant to be critical. But yes, we are making a change there and it will help everyone.

Look, the margin for error at Furman as opposed to 85 scholarship schools is much thinner and when the slightest things goes wrong it shows up first in the trenches. And its showing up. We have guys who either are not quite ready, underperforming, etc. whatever.

I will generally always defer to the coaches. We see the games but we don't see what happens in practice all Spring, all Fall and M-Th during the season. Some guys practice like Tarzan and play like Jane when the lights come on and you just can't see it coming. There are a a lot of things that happen. I generally trust that the right adjustments to scheme and personnel are being made.

But this is a classic situation where we got who we got and they need time to grow into their roles as result of a mind numbing loss of injuries and other issues and we just have to ride the tilt a whirl at the county fair till they get there.
 #92554  by gofurman
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:30 am
FUATT wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:10 pm
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 6:06 pm
Afurmanfan wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am
GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though
Well, I hung out with the Center's parents at a tailgate so I am hesitant to be critical. But yes, we are making a change there and it will help everyone.

Look, the margin for error at Furman as opposed to 85 scholarship schools is much thinner and when the slightest things goes wrong it shows up first in the trenches. And its showing up. We have guys who either are not quite ready, underperforming, etc. whatever.

I will generally always defer to the coaches. We see the games but we don't see what happens in practice all Spring, all Fall and M-Th during the season. Some guys practice like Tarzan and play like Jane when the lights come on and you just can't see it coming. There are a a lot of things that happen. I generally trust that the right adjustments to scheme and personnel are being made.

But this is a classic situation where we got who we got and they need time to grow into their roles as result of a mind numbing loss of injuries and other issues and we just have to ride the tilt a whirl at the county fair till they get there.
Like your posts FUATT.

Just glad we are trying a few different combinations. And Center is a HUGE key on OL. will be interesting to see if we try more to play to win Now with elder guys who are currently slightly better but are perhaps leaving …. or go younger to get more reps for the future and concede it makes winning now harder

My worthless. When I consider that option I would play the best I have (older guys?) vs VMI and Wofford. Try for 3 or 4 wins if possible. Just can’t stand to think of losing to Wofford. Also try to get a win here in last few games. Then if things get out of hand vs Mercer or ETSU put in all the young guys that don’t burn a redshirt
 #92573  by FUATT
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:20 pm
gofurman wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:30 am
FUATT wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:10 pm
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 6:06 pm
Afurmanfan wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am
GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though
Well, I hung out with the Center's parents at a tailgate so I am hesitant to be critical. But yes, we are making a change there and it will help everyone.

Look, the margin for error at Furman as opposed to 85 scholarship schools is much thinner and when the slightest things goes wrong it shows up first in the trenches. And its showing up. We have guys who either are not quite ready, underperforming, etc. whatever.

I will generally always defer to the coaches. We see the games but we don't see what happens in practice all Spring, all Fall and M-Th during the season. Some guys practice like Tarzan and play like Jane when the lights come on and you just can't see it coming. There are a a lot of things that happen. I generally trust that the right adjustments to scheme and personnel are being made.

But this is a classic situation where we got who we got and they need time to grow into their roles as result of a mind numbing loss of injuries and other issues and we just have to ride the tilt a whirl at the county fair till they get there.
Like your posts FUATT.

Just glad we are trying a few different combinations. And Center is a HUGE key on OL. will be interesting to see if we try more to play to win Now with elder guys who are currently slightly better but are perhaps leaving …. or go younger to get more reps for the future and concede it makes winning now harder

My worthless. When I consider that option I would play the best I have (older guys?) vs VMI and Wofford. Try for 3 or 4 wins if possible. Just can’t stand to think of losing to Wofford. Also try to get a win here in last few games. Then if things get out of hand vs Mercer or ETSU put in all the young guys that don’t burn a redshirt
My guess - the way you set and keep a winning culture is to play the guys who have earned the right to be on the field, through their actions at practice, in the meeting room, in the weight room and in the classroom. And then, you try to win every rep, every play, every series, every quarter, every game.

To me that is what a winning culture looks like and that's what I expect we will see from FU for the rest of the year.
gman84, FUwolfpacker, din23 liked this
 #92578  by The Jackal
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:51 pm
FUATT wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:20 pm
gofurman wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:30 am
FUATT wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:10 pm
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 6:06 pm
Afurmanfan wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am
GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though
Well, I hung out with the Center's parents at a tailgate so I am hesitant to be critical. But yes, we are making a change there and it will help everyone.

Look, the margin for error at Furman as opposed to 85 scholarship schools is much thinner and when the slightest things goes wrong it shows up first in the trenches. And its showing up. We have guys who either are not quite ready, underperforming, etc. whatever.

I will generally always defer to the coaches. We see the games but we don't see what happens in practice all Spring, all Fall and M-Th during the season. Some guys practice like Tarzan and play like Jane when the lights come on and you just can't see it coming. There are a a lot of things that happen. I generally trust that the right adjustments to scheme and personnel are being made.

But this is a classic situation where we got who we got and they need time to grow into their roles as result of a mind numbing loss of injuries and other issues and we just have to ride the tilt a whirl at the county fair till they get there.
Like your posts FUATT.

Just glad we are trying a few different combinations. And Center is a HUGE key on OL. will be interesting to see if we try more to play to win Now with elder guys who are currently slightly better but are perhaps leaving …. or go younger to get more reps for the future and concede it makes winning now harder

My worthless. When I consider that option I would play the best I have (older guys?) vs VMI and Wofford. Try for 3 or 4 wins if possible. Just can’t stand to think of losing to Wofford. Also try to get a win here in last few games. Then if things get out of hand vs Mercer or ETSU put in all the young guys that don’t burn a redshirt
My guess - the way you set and keep a winning culture is to play the guys who have earned the right to be on the field, through their actions at practice, in the meeting room, in the weight room and in the classroom. And then, you try to win every rep, every play, every series, every quarter, every game.

To me that is what a winning culture looks like and that's what I expect we will see from FU for the rest of the year.
Winning is nice, but I'm excited to see the future of the program in action.

Really the only thing bugging me is that even with the young guys in the game we are struggling to move the ball on the ground.
 #92583  by gofurman
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 4:44 pm
The Jackal wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:51 pm
FUATT wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:20 pm
gofurman wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:30 am
FUATT wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:10 pm
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 6:06 pm
Afurmanfan wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am
GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though
Well, I hung out with the Center's parents at a tailgate so I am hesitant to be critical. But yes, we are making a change there and it will help everyone.

Look, the margin for error at Furman as opposed to 85 scholarship schools is much thinner and when the slightest things goes wrong it shows up first in the trenches. And its showing up. We have guys who either are not quite ready, underperforming, etc. whatever.

I will generally always defer to the coaches. We see the games but we don't see what happens in practice all Spring, all Fall and M-Th during the season. Some guys practice like Tarzan and play like Jane when the lights come on and you just can't see it coming. There are a a lot of things that happen. I generally trust that the right adjustments to scheme and personnel are being made.

But this is a classic situation where we got who we got and they need time to grow into their roles as result of a mind numbing loss of injuries and other issues and we just have to ride the tilt a whirl at the county fair till they get there.
Like your posts FUATT.

Just glad we are trying a few different combinations. And Center is a HUGE key on OL. will be interesting to see if we try more to play to win Now with elder guys who are currently slightly better but are perhaps leaving …. or go younger to get more reps for the future and concede it makes winning now harder

My worthless. When I consider that option I would play the best I have (older guys?) vs VMI and Wofford. Try for 3 or 4 wins if possible. Just can’t stand to think of losing to Wofford. Also try to get a win here in last few games. Then if things get out of hand vs Mercer or ETSU put in all the young guys that don’t burn a redshirt
My guess - the way you set and keep a winning culture is to play the guys who have earned the right to be on the field, through their actions at practice, in the meeting room, in the weight room and in the classroom. And then, you try to win every rep, every play, every series, every quarter, every game.

To me that is what a winning culture looks like and that's what I expect we will see from FU for the rest of the year.
Winning is nice, but I'm excited to see the future of the program in action.

Really the only thing bugging me is that even with the young guys in the game we are struggling to move the ball on the ground.
I agree to an extent with the bolded- but just a thought exercise to Jackal's point - so what if we are down 25 at the late 3rd Q vs ETSU and/or Mercer? I agree you start the guys for 2 or 3 quarters who have earned it - that's why they get the starting nod!... but If we find ourselves down that much and won't burn a redshirt I don't have an issue putting in the future at that point. Especially if it is to replace a Senior who is leaving... If it is for a Junior who said they will return then leave him in as he needs the reps. IE, if a blowout get the Fr, Soph, Juniors in.

But what do I know. Just hope we find some answers at the OL soon - Go Furman !!!
 #92587  by gofurman
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:39 pm
FUPlayer74 wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:56 pm
I agree with you GF. You don't have a clue as to anything regarding play in the OL.
Cmon man. Layoff. You had been doing SO WELL.

I probably don’t know much. But I KNOW that in combination with other parts… they aren’t getting the job done. THATS FOR SURE.
So that’s one. We ALL know that

I mean it's an old truth that it’s either Xs and Os or Jimmies and Joes. So which is it? Bad coaching? Or bad players ? Or players not being ready / old enough ?? I guess that’s more a mixture of coaching, recruiting and the players … or players put in the wrong position?

Here - Instead of sniping me why not provide ANSWERS. SOLUTIONS. Let’s hear your ideas!!! It’s SO EASY to sit back and snipe. Saying “you don’t know”. Ok then - What do YOU know? What would help. Please share your knowledge …. Like when AP corrected me… check me on that…. I WANTED TO BE CORRECTED. about the only guy on this board who wants that. ( see below post 92508 ). I TRULY DON’T CARE WHOSE RIGHT. I CARE WHATS RIGHT. So Let’s have a rational even-keeled discussion

Like FuAllTime does. Since you probably do know a lot I would love to hear -
Who should be playing where on OL ??
Whats the biggest issue?
What might prove beneficial?
Open ended here What do you think would help or why are we struggling on offense in general ??


One thing I KNOW. I KNOW. It is NOT mature to snipe someone without ideas of your own. Analogy is saying “we aren’t going to that restaurant… “. Like a line item veto. But without offering an alternative option of your own. Oh So easy to just SNIPE someone on an internet board. I thought we were better than that here. Instead of saying “you. Are. Wrong”…. Why don’t you actually offer something constructive???

——-
PROOF. EXHIBIT A of my wanting to be corrected … page 2 of this thread. Post 92508
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 1:35 am
apaladin wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 1:19 am
GF- in defense of Hedden he’s thrown 7 int’s all year so one a game average.
AP, I stand corrected. Thank you for the correction - seriously.

As I was taught by someone much smarter…. We should never care WHOSE right. Only WHAT is right. Thanks !!!
Last edited by gofurman on Fri Oct 25, 2024 9:05 am, edited 8 times in total.
 #92591  by gofurman
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 8:24 pm
FUPlayer74 wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:56 pm
I agree with you GF. You don't have a clue as to anything regarding play in the OL.
FUPlayer74, please check your PMs. Thanks !!! I’ll take this off line.
 #92592  by FUPlayer74
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 9:01 pm
yea sure. No sniping, just agreeing with you. You really shouldn't post so much about things you don't know. I was just fishing for a PM, hadn't had one in a while!
gofurman liked this
 #92595  by FUATT
 Thu Oct 24, 2024 9:57 pm
gofurman wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 4:44 pm
The Jackal wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:51 pm
FUATT wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:20 pm
gofurman wrote:
Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:30 am
FUATT wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:10 pm
gofurman wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 6:06 pm
Afurmanfan wrote:
Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am
GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though
Well, I hung out with the Center's parents at a tailgate so I am hesitant to be critical. But yes, we are making a change there and it will help everyone.

Look, the margin for error at Furman as opposed to 85 scholarship schools is much thinner and when the slightest things goes wrong it shows up first in the trenches. And its showing up. We have guys who either are not quite ready, underperforming, etc. whatever.

I will generally always defer to the coaches. We see the games but we don't see what happens in practice all Spring, all Fall and M-Th during the season. Some guys practice like Tarzan and play like Jane when the lights come on and you just can't see it coming. There are a a lot of things that happen. I generally trust that the right adjustments to scheme and personnel are being made.

But this is a classic situation where we got who we got and they need time to grow into their roles as result of a mind numbing loss of injuries and other issues and we just have to ride the tilt a whirl at the county fair till they get there.
Like your posts FUATT.

Just glad we are trying a few different combinations. And Center is a HUGE key on OL. will be interesting to see if we try more to play to win Now with elder guys who are currently slightly better but are perhaps leaving …. or go younger to get more reps for the future and concede it makes winning now harder

My worthless. When I consider that option I would play the best I have (older guys?) vs VMI and Wofford. Try for 3 or 4 wins if possible. Just can’t stand to think of losing to Wofford. Also try to get a win here in last few games. Then if things get out of hand vs Mercer or ETSU put in all the young guys that don’t burn a redshirt
My guess - the way you set and keep a winning culture is to play the guys who have earned the right to be on the field, through their actions at practice, in the meeting room, in the weight room and in the classroom. And then, you try to win every rep, every play, every series, every quarter, every game.

To me that is what a winning culture looks like and that's what I expect we will see from FU for the rest of the year.
Winning is nice, but I'm excited to see the future of the program in action.

Really the only thing bugging me is that even with the young guys in the game we are struggling to move the ball on the ground.
I agree to an extent with the bolded- but just a thought exercise to Jackal's point - so what if we are down 25 at the late 3rd Q vs ETSU and/or Mercer? I agree you start the guys for 2 or 3 quarters who have earned it - that's why they get the starting nod!... but If we find ourselves down that much and won't burn a redshirt I don't have an issue putting in the future at that point. Especially if it is to replace a Senior who is leaving... If it is for a Junior who said they will return then leave him in as he needs the reps. IE, if a blowout get the Fr, Soph, Juniors in.

But what do I know. Just hope we find some answers at the OL soon - Go Furman !!!
If we are down 4 scores at a certain point, then yeah you protect the starters from injury and play the depth, if the game is not competitive of course. Agree.
 #92601  by FUATT
 Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:22 am
I'll just also say this - this is a message board and I get all that. And my posture is my posture...

I am really hesitant to be openly critical of players and coaches. If you played, or if you coached, you know that first off, in general, nobody wants to win more than the players and the coaches. Most of them are willing to do and try whatever it takes to win. The ones that don't tend to get weeded out.

Second, we all know that there is a lot of stuff that we just don't see. Don't see who is working hard at lifts. Don't see who is taking extra reps. Don't see who is crushing meetings and film study. And all of that goes into a coaches decision as to who the 1s and 2s are. And we don't see it.

And I stand by what I have said about this pure strangeness of this season. Couple guys we thought would return... don't. One of best Defensive players, locker room leader, died. Probably best offensive player, locker room leader arrested for weird offense. Rash of preseason injuries followed by rash of in seasons injuries further decimates leadership and experience. Hurricane in mountains cancels game and class for a week, impacts players and coaches families. To quote George Bush at Trumps inaugural "Man, that's some weird sh!t."

Most teams are looking at their seasons purely through the frame of what happens between the white lines. Lucky them.

Having said that... film don't lie. I get that. And it does not tell a great story right now.

My view, bye week comes at a good time to try to get some guys healthy, get them in the right places, give them assignments they can win, and come out and play two winnable games that could give us a little confidence and momentum going into the two tough closers.

Right now my plan is to be at VMI and Wofford and yell until I turn... PURPLE.

Staying Positive - it beats the alternative.

GO DINS.
gofurman liked this
 #92602  by The Jackal
 Fri Oct 25, 2024 9:01 am
My position on these subjects has been the same for a while now.

1. No one has more at stake in the programs successes than the coaches and players. Not the fans. Not the parents. Not the alumni. As badly as we want to see the team succeed, they want it more.

2. Few, if any, of us can intelligently speak on issues on the offensive line. We aren't in the huddle. We don't know who has what responsibility. We don't know whether the coach or QB checked out of a certain protection. We can speculate or make guesses, but we don't really know.

3. We have a good coaching staff. The same group of men that lead this team to being a top 5 team last season are the ones leading this team. Literally the same guys. We didn't lose a single coach off last year's staff. I trust that they know what they are doing.

We've got a lot to fix. The product isn't where we want to be. The coaches have to figure out what that is and get our players in the best spot to be successful. The players have to execute the plays and the game plan in the game. We have a steeper learning curve right now to accomplish those two things.
gofurman, din23, FUATT liked this
 #92604  by gofurman
 Fri Oct 25, 2024 9:12 am
I agree with both of the posts above. Hope to see improvement (and 2 wins?) in the next weeks. Anyone know if Luke Clark or ANY of the injured players might return with the off week? I note Clark because the Bandit is so decimated !! And instead of crutches or whatever he was said to have his "pads off" - but do we know of ANY guys that might be coming back for VMI or Wofford./? with teh off week that is three weeks or so
AllTimeFU liked this
 #92605  by FUBeAR
 Fri Oct 25, 2024 9:12 am
The Jackal wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 9:01 am
2. Few, if any, of us can intelligently speak on issues on the offensive line.
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Davemeister liked this