If you had told me (us) ...

[kemajic]

In all fairness, Stitt mentioned in his post-game presser that the lack of a run game was the main reason we couldn't get going on offense.

We've got some good linemen coming in and a great coach in Germer. All signs point to improvement next season.

It takes more that some good linemen recruits to establish a good running game. We need an OC that knows something about it.

 

[kemajic]

If we didn't belong, then what does that say about SDSU?

We were outscored 54-6 in our last 6 quarters to close out the season. Those numbers are "Ron Ash-like."

 

[uofmman1122]

In all fairness, Stitt mentioned in his post-game presser that the lack of a run game was the main reason we couldn't get going on offense.

We've got some good linemen coming in and a great coach in Germer. All signs point to improvement next season.

It takes more that some good linemen recruits to establish a good running game. We need an OC that knows something about it.

Are you talking about Brady? Because unless I'm mistaken, he's the one who gets to decide when we run it most of the time.

In our case, better linemen would improve running across the board, so long as we are also teaching our two backs to have a little patience and to improve their vision. I don't know why anyone expected stellar numbers running the ball this year. We would've been in the same spot with any other coach.

We'll run the ball better next year, and the biggest reason why will be an improved line.

 

[uofmman1122]

If we didn't belong, then what does that say about SDSU?

We were outscored 54-6 in our last 6 quarters to close out the season. Those numbers are "Ron Ash-like."

Sure did coincide with Brady completely melting down, but if you want to pin that on Stitt, I can't stop you.

 

[UMGriz75]

If we didn't belong, then what does that say about SDSU?

We were outscored 54-6 in our last 6 quarters to close out the season. Those numbers are "Ron Ash-like."

It was similar to the four quarters of the Cal Poly and Liberty games in which we were outscored 23-5, even though Brady had one good game under his belt and then just went flat against Cal Poly, a team which did not have much of a season overall.

Notably, Stitt would not change his QB, even as four quarters of play were producing no results. Only when Brady's injury forced Stitt to change QBs, did the Griz open up, and then outscored Liberty 21-17, but not enough to overcome the lack of scoring while Brady was in the game.

Similarly, as Chad Chalich sputtered somewhat in subsequent games, Stitt would not change QBs until forced to do so, again, by Chad's injury. That led to a 42-16 drubbing of a team with an arguably good defense, a passing record set, and overall, the best combined offense and defense efforts of the season, which Stitt admitted resulted from deviating away from his "playbook." And you could tell, he resented that.

In each case, Montana was able to overcome the lagging offensive efforts by changing QBs. But in no instance would Stitt attempt to change negative inertia and direction by doing so on his own coaching volition. He was forced to do so by circumstance, and in each instance, the results were positive. Game momentums changed, team success changed.

Ash attempted to explain his own unwillingness to change QBs in the 2014 Griz Cat game over the six interceptions committed by Jake Bleskin. And Bleskin is a good, intelligent QB, but every coach has seen these "runs" and you don't break a bad streak by just doing the same thing over and over. And that is really when the "Ash" era began to end. It was simply damn poor judgment exercised by a coach who could not objectively assess his QB. It doesn't require gainsaying the individual QB, it just requires overcoming self-esteem and self-regard and playing football to win rather than prove a point.

 

[stubbins]

If we didn't belong, then what does that say about SDSU?

We were outscored 54-6 in our last 6 quarters to close out the season. Those numbers are "Ron Ash-like."

It was similar to the four quarters of the Cal Poly and Liberty games in which we were outscored 23-5, even though Brady had one good game under his belt and then just went flat against Cal Poly, a team which did not have much of a season overall.

Notably, Stitt would not change his QB, even as four quarters of play were producing no results. Only when Brady's injury forced Stitt to change QBs, did the Griz open up, and then outscored Liberty 21-17, but not enough to overcome the lack of scoring while Brady was in the game.

Similarly, as Chad Chalich sputtered somewhat in subsequent games, Stitt would not change QBs until forced to do so, again, by Chad's injury. That led to a 42-16 drubbing of a team with an arguably good defense, a passing record set, and overall, the best combined offense and defense efforts of the season, which Stitt admitted resulted from deviating away from his "playbook." And you could tell, he resented that.

In each case, Montana was able to overcome the lagging offensive efforts by changing QBs. But in no instance would Stitt attempt to change negative inertia and direction by doing so on his own coaching volition. He was forced to do so by circumstance, and in each instance, the results were positive. Game momentums changed, team success changed.

Ash attempted to explain his own unwillingness to change QBs in the 2014 Griz Cat game over the six interceptions committed by Jake Bleskin. And Bleskin is a good, intelligent QB, but every coach has seen these "runs" and you don't break a bad streak by just doing the same thing over and over. And that is really when the "Ash" era began to end. It was simply damn poor judgment exercised by a coach who could not objectively assess his QB. It doesn't require gainsaying the individual QB, it just requires overcoming self-esteem and self-regard and playing football to win rather than prove a point.

informative post...I just can't recall what happened in the PSU and ISU games, could you add those to your post to help me get a little bigger picture? Much appreciated, Thanks!

Also,
Are you saying that as soon as a qb has a bad half, replace him? That seems like that would allow a qb to really focus on the game and not look over his shoulder at all times....I like where you're going with this.

And one more...You are advocating not playing the best player available to you in any certain position, or just qb?

 

[UMGriz75]

Also,
Are you saying that as soon as a qb has a bad half, replace him? That seems like that would allow a qb to really focus on the game and not look over his shoulder at all times....I like where you're going with this.

And one more...Your are advocating not playing the best player available to you in any certain position, or just qb?

This is a good example of Ash-think.

Did I mis-spell that?

 

[griznation23]

... on Oct 31 (after the PSU game) that the Griz would win out for the regular season and then get into the second round ... we'd have asked you what you were smoking. (And other words to that effect.)

After that game, when the Griz were 4-4, plus the late-night brain-fart at the construction site, no one on eGriz was, or could have predicted what happened after that. I just looked back to the threads during that period. Plenty of people were saying the Griz might not win another game. Many thought they would probably be 1-2, and could do no better than 2-1 (and would therefore not make the playoffs).

Yes, today was very painful and we should not be happy about it. But, all things considered, we should all be damn proud of this team ... and I am. (And I know most on here are.)

(Put something like this on another thread, earlier, but the notion deserves its own thread.)

:clap: :thumb:

 

[Spanky]

I will make it easy for you Stubbins......if a QB has a bad half, yes, replace him!

 

[kemajic]

In all fairness, Stitt mentioned in his post-game presser that the lack of a run game was the main reason we couldn't get going on offense.

We've got some good linemen coming in and a great coach in Germer. All signs point to improvement next season.

It takes more that some good linemen recruits to establish a good running game. We need an OC that knows something about it.

Are you talking about Brady? Because unless I'm mistaken, he's the one who gets to decide when we run it most of the time.

In our case, better linemen would improve running across the board, so long as we are also teaching our two backs to have a little patience and to improve their vision. I don't know why anyone expected stellar numbers running the ball this year. We would've been in the same spot with any other coach.

We'll run the ball better next year, and the biggest reason why will be an improved line.

You overlook the loss of Canada and Van; we have no RBs close to their caliber. As I said at the end of the year last year, they would be hard to replace. Canada was fast and capable of running north to south; Van was an outstanding receiver and forced a D to contain him. Nguyen does not have Canada's speed and puts no real pressure on a defense. We could have had a far better OL and still had an inadequate running game for playoff competition. It is clear a running game is a second priority with Stitt. Unless he gets an assistant particularly skilled in the running game (and listens to him) we are likely to keep repeating this performance.

 

[kemajic]

If we didn't belong, then what does that say about SDSU?

We were outscored 54-6 in our last 6 quarters to close out the season. Those numbers are "Ron Ash-like."

Sure did coincide with Brady completely melting down, but if you want to pin that on Stitt, I can't stop you.

You must have done that; I didn't.

 

[kemajic]

I will make it easy for you Stubbins......if a QB has a bad half, yes, replace him!

Really? DD had some bad halves; Ochs had some bad halves; I could go on. Stick with tennis.

 

[uofmman1122]

In all fairness, Stitt mentioned in his post-game presser that the lack of a run game was the main reason we couldn't get going on offense.

We've got some good linemen coming in and a great coach in Germer. All signs point to improvement next season.

It takes more that some good linemen recruits to establish a good running game. We need an OC that knows something about it.

Are you talking about Brady? Because unless I'm mistaken, he's the one who gets to decide when we run it most of the time.

In our case, better linemen would improve running across the board, so long as we are also teaching our two backs to have a little patience and to improve their vision. I don't know why anyone expected stellar numbers running the ball this year. We would've been in the same spot with any other coach.

We'll run the ball better next year, and the biggest reason why will be an improved line.

You overlook the loss of Canada and Van; we have no RBs close to their caliber. As I said at the end of the year last year, they would be hard to replace. Canada was fast and capable of running north to south; Van was an outstanding receiver and forced a D to contain him. Nguyen does not have Canada's speed and puts no real pressure on a defense. We could have had a far better OL and still had an inadequate running game.

I actually agree whole-heartedly, hence the patience and vision comment.

You can tell watching them that they are by no means adequate replacements for Canada and Van.

I do think the way this offense tries to run the ball that much more of the weight is on the linemen winning their battles than it was last year.

Either way, I'm hopeful and optimistic that it will improve next year, if for no other reason that the further we can move out from under the shadow of coach Gragg, the better.

 

[kemajic]

I do think the way this offense tries to run the ball that much more of the weight is on the linemen winning their battles than it was last year.

The most important statement of the thread; this is a fatal flaw for a good running game. Our OC is not a knowledgeable running game coach at this level.

 

[kemajic]

I do think the way this offense tries to run the ball that much more of the weight is on the linemen winning their battles than it was last year.

The most important statement of the thread; this is a fatal flaw for a good running game. Our OC is not a knowledgeable running game coach at this level.

 

[uofmman1122]

I do think the way this offense tries to run the ball that much more of the weight is on the linemen winning their battles than it was last year.

The most important statement of the thread; this is a fatal flaw for a good running game. Our OC is not a knowledgeable running game coach at this level.

But again, I think that's a bit of a stretch. If he had the running backs and the o line that were at least decent, I'd be more inclined to agree with you. Hauck would struggle to run the ball with the personnel on this team.

If it doesn't improve next season, I think you start to look at the coaches, but they did what they could with what they had this season.

 

[Spanky]

Kem....so you are saying that when a qb struggles like Brady did against North Dakota State, just leave him in and lose the game? Interesting view.

 

[stubbins]

Kem....so you are saying that when a qb struggles like Brady did against North Dakota State, just leave him in and lose the game? Interesting view.

depends on what's behind him....IF payton manning comes back and struggles, the Broncos know what they've got is adequate.

when gus struggles, there is nothing adequate behind him.....this year. Hopefully they all grow in the offseason.

 

[UMGriz75]

Kem....so you are saying that when a qb struggles like Brady did against North Dakota State, just leave him in and lose the game? Interesting view.

depends on what's behind him....IF payton manning comes back and struggles, the Broncos know what they've got is adequate.

This is simply false.

Each time this season when a QB was replaced, starting with Gus, the replacement either saved the game or did far better in the subsequent game. And for each QB, starting with Gus, a good game would be followed by decreasing performances from the QBs. It was an interesting pattern.

 

[kemajic]

Kem....so you are saying that when a qb struggles like Brady did against North Dakota State, just leave him in and lose the game? Interesting view.

I didn't say that. DD had games where his O stunk the first half and he rallied them in the second half sometimes to win. You would have pulled him at halftime?

You don't pull either at halftime; good coaching staffs make adjustments to put the QB in a better position to be successful in the 2nd half. Read did that with DD. Stitt not so much. I would have thought about it after the game was out of reach in the 2nd half.