participation trophies!

[argh!]

sorry, but while there were some inexcusable bonehead coaching calls this season, it seems to me that the same people who bemoan the 'participation trophy' segment of today's society are the same ones laying all the blame on stitt and the other coaches, and very little on any of the players. for instance, jensen has started enough games that he should have known not to throw a rainbow into double (triple?) coverage like he did against the bobs, resulting in a momentum-killing interception. also, is it really the job of the head coach to get players to get 'up' for a game that will decide whether their work all off-season and play through the season will result in the reward of a playoff game, probably at home?

so which is it - do the players have accountability, or are they deserving of participation trophies even when they blow it, as long as you have a coach to blame?

 

[Potomac Griz]

jensen has started enough games that he should have known not to throw a rainbow into double (triple?) coverage like he did, resulting a momentum-killing interception.

You've taken a big swing and a miss going after Jensen I'm afraid.

Jensen is a Freshman QB forced into the starting role due to injury.

Lets look at the last Freshman QB who was forced into the starting role (who also led us to a NC game later).

Cole Bergquist:
12 games, 133-246 (54.1%) 1275 yds, 106.2yds per game, 8tds, 6ints, 106.2 Efficiency

How did Jensen do?

Gresch Jensen:
10 Games, 177-294 (60.2%), 2205 yds, 253.1yds per game, 20tds, 10ints. 148.2 Efficiency

148.2 Efficiency rating as a Freshman. I'm guessing we all consider Craig Ochs as a damn good QB right? His junior year (not freshman year) he had an efficiency rating of 132.41. 9 TDs and 8 INTs. Jensen's 148.2 efficiency places him ahead of EWU's Gage Gubrud and NAU's Case Cookus in efficiency rating this year. He's the #21 rated QB in the FCS based on efficiency (and the #15 rated player in total offense).

Jensen stepped up in a BIG way for the Griz and performed like no other freshman I can remember has performed at QB, and you want to pile blame on him? Seriously?

 

[argh!]

jensen has started enough games that he should have known not to throw a rainbow into double (triple?) coverage like he did, resulting a momentum-killing interception.

You've taken a big swing and a miss going after Jensen I'm afraid.

Jensen is a Freshman QB forced into the starting role due to injury.

Lets look at the last Freshman QB who was forced into the starting role (who also led us to a NC game later).

Cole Bergquist:
12 games, 133-246 (54.1%) 1275 yds, 106.2yds per game, 8tds, 6ints, 106.2 Efficiency

How did Jensen do?

Gresch Jensen:
10 Games, 177-294 (60.2%), 2205 yds, 253.1yds per game, 20tds, 10ints. 148.2 Efficiency

148.2 Efficiency rating as a Freshman. I'm guessing we all consider Craig Ochs as a damn good QB right? His junior year (not freshman year) he had an efficiency rating of 132.41. 9 TDs and 8 INTs. Jensen's 148.2 efficiency places him ahead of EWU's Gage Gubrud and NAU's Case Cookus in efficiency rating this year. He's the #21 rated QB in the FCS based on efficiency (and the #15 rated player in total offense).

Jensen stepped up in a BIG way for the Griz and performed like no other freshman I can remember has performed at QB, and you want to pile blame on him? Seriously?

i'm talking about a play in the biggest game of the year, when his focus should have been at it's most acute, in his what, 8th start? plus, i know this is hard to comprehend, but that was just one example of the issue i was addressing. i didn't say it was all on him, or anything close.

but nevermind, participation trophies for all!

 

[Potomac Griz]

i'm talking about a play in the biggest game of the year, when his focus should have been at it's most acute, in his what, 8th start? plus, i know this is hard to comprehend, but that was just one example of the issue i was addressing. i didn't say it was all on him, or anything close.

but nevermind, participation trophies for all!

Your post seems to be trying to shift the blame mostly to the players (the whole "participation trophy" thing). You also singled out Jensen which in my opinion is one of the worst people you could single out for what went wrong this year.

Lets look at the coaching angle here for a minute instead of trying to throw freshman QBs who played better than any freshman QB in recent memory under the bus. What about the fact that the Griz defensive was laughably bad against the Cats and the halftime adjustments were non-existent?

Getting caught in an unfortunate blitz leaving a gaping hole open on a running play and giving up big yards sometimes happens. It DOESN'T happen when it's 3rd and 33 unless the person responsible for your defense has their head firmly up their own ass. The cats were running to basically try to get lucky and worse case scenario (for them) set up the punt at that point and we gave up a huge gain on the ground because we decided that at that time it'd be a good time to send our LBs on a Blitz leaving the middle of the field completely open and our DBs responsible for trying to stop the big gain on the ground (while also playing it safe to make sure not to give up the big gain through the air).

WTF is this, EA Sports Madden where you can get away with that shit on easy mode?! That was possibly the most infuriating thing I've seen since we backed off 5 yards on punt coverage against NAU under Delaney when it was like 4th and 4, allowing them to easily get the first down.

Anyway, back to the cat game. That was the 2nd time in the game we gave up HUGE gains on 3rd and WAY long. The other time was 3rd and 21 where we gave up a 71 yard touchdown run. Big gains on 3rd down happened too often this season...

We also seemed completely unprepared for what the cats were going to throw at us (or run at us). It seemed as if we were almost surprised they were now a running team. Did we think Murray was going to beat us through the air? That wasn't going to happen. What was most likely to happen is that the Griz would get run all over (like they did last year). Yet we seemed unprepared for it and got run all over again.

To be perfectly honest this Griz team reminds me a lot of the Broncos this year. They have enough talent to be much better on D (and also on O unlike the Broncos I guess), yet as Derek Wolfe said "I'm not a coach. I'm just doing what I'm told". The players are doing what they're told out there. If what they're told to do isn't working...well... who is responsible?

 

[rimrockgriz]

sorry, but while there were some inexcusable bonehead coaching calls this season, it seems to me that the same people who bemoan the 'participation trophy' segment of today's society are the same ones laying all the blame on stitt and the other coaches, and very little on any of the players. for instance, jensen has started enough games that he should have known not to throw a rainbow into double (triple?) coverage like he did against the bobs, resulting in a momentum-killing interception. also, is it really the job of the head coach to get players to get 'up' for a game that will decide whether their work all off-season and play through the season will result in the reward of a playoff game, probably at home?

so which is it - do the players have accountability, or are they deserving of participation trophies even when they blow it, as long as you have a coach to blame?

Going after Jensen is a big time losing proposition. Stand down before the 1000# bombs start landing in your living room... :egriz:

 

[UMAlum]

I hate to think where we would have ended up without him this season. His teammates have made it clear they realize the value of his role this year. Of course, he should continue to improve … and I see no reason why he wont.

 

[kemajic]

I'm guessing we all consider Craig Ochs as a damn good QB right? His junior year (not freshman year) he had an efficiency rating of 132.41. 9 TDs and 8 INTs.

Your point is a good one, but you are stretching it with the Ochs comparison. He was not available until the 5th game of his junior year, which was his first exposure to Montana, unlike Jensen who was in his second full year at Montana. Ochs also ran a conservative run-first offense that relied on ball control, defense and special teams, very difficult to compare.

We all knew there would be freshman mistakes with Jensen. It was up to the team (especially the D) to counterbalance. They weren't up to it.

 

[argh!]

sorry, but while there were some inexcusable bonehead coaching calls this season, it seems to me that the same people who bemoan the 'participation trophy' segment of today's society are the same ones laying all the blame on stitt and the other coaches, and very little on any of the players. for instance, jensen has started enough games that he should have known not to throw a rainbow into double (triple?) coverage like he did against the bobs, resulting in a momentum-killing interception. also, is it really the job of the head coach to get players to get 'up' for a game that will decide whether their work all off-season and play through the season will result in the reward of a playoff game, probably at home?

so which is it - do the players have accountability, or are they deserving of participation trophies even when they blow it, as long as you have a coach to blame?

Going after Jensen is a big time losing proposition. Stand down before the 1000# bombs start landing in your living room... :egriz:

to steal from greenie, you obviously didn't pass reading comprehension. i gave 'an' example that just happened to be jensen. i then came back and said it wasn't all on him, or anywhere close. oh well, as long are those bombs are as accurate as that interception throw, i'm safe!