The Coaching Turnaround Has Been Drastic

[CyCloned]

I think that the key is they are trusting Rocco now and they didn’t earlier.

This is pretty much it. Guess I can't blame them a lot after that lollypop pick 6 he threw against Iowa. He looks light years better than he did in the first 3 game. I guess we really shouldn't judge him too harshly on the Ohio game, since he was puking his guts out at halftime.

 

[Cyclones01]

Matt had some similar comments after the game yesterday about playing to win instead of not to lose.

Paraphrasing here, "We didn't have success in the past by being afraid to screw up. We did it by being a little bit fearless" (starts at ~1:30 mark)

 

[clonedude]

Matt had some similar comments after the game yesterday about playing to win instead of not to lose.

Paraphrasing here, "We didn't have success in the past by being afraid to screw up. We did it by being a little bit fearless"

I have to give CMC a ton of credit for adjusting this season because I've been quite critical of him for being ultra stubborn in the past.

I'm shocked that he somewhat admitted earlier in the year that he was coaching 'not to lose' instead of coaching 'to win'. And then after the game yesterday he somewhat admitted it again.... that he needed to let the guys play to win.

I think Matt prides himself as a 'players coach'. He cares very deeply about every one of his players, and I truly believe that he does... it is not lip service. You can see it.

But I think he's also found out that if you want to be the ultimate 'players coach'... you need to let them do what they LOVE... compete!! These guys are all competitors... that is what they live for. It is why they play the game. They want to win. If you hold them back, you are ruining their competitive spirit IMO. And finally I think Matt realizes this.

You want to end the game knowing you left no bullets in the chamber... you might have come up short, but at least you know you gave it everything and that just wasn't enough that day. If you lose, but feel like the coaches didn't let you go out there and try everything to win... that eats at you.

As CW always points out from Mike Leach's book (which I HAVE to read btw)... you MUST make a defense cover the entire field. You would think that is such an obvious concept, but it's amazing how many teams don't do it... and we were one of them for a long time. Teams would put 8 guys in the box and press our WR's, and we'd just keep running it right into their front. It was beyond stupid. But look at us now... 180 degree change.... and it's making a huge difference.

Great job Matt!!

 

[Dgilbertson]

Watching a recording of the game and almost spit out my water when we faked that FG.

Glad to see that the coaching staff is actually playing to win now.

Feel like I can count on one hand the number of “trick plays” run over the last 7 yrs

I was surprised to hear it on the radio call

 

[Dgilbertson]

I’m one that thought we had a bad train wreck…well, we sort of did, after the Ohio game. I’ve been impressed with what has transpired since (well, the OU game was a mess). Today was the first game I’ve seen this season where every aspect of the team looked locked in. One game at a time is the usual mantra…a week off to prepare and then Baylor.

Not as a knock against past teams, but honestly, don’t feel like we’ve had many games where we won 3/3 phases of the game.

Typically we win big in 1 and do enough in the other or cover up the one phase that was a minus.

Loved to see it.

 

[Dgilbertson]

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that the coaches and players are no longer playing not to lose. Instead, they are playing to win. They just have a different mindset. Plus, the team is playing with much more confidence than they were earlier in the year.

I don’t want to bag on Manning, and I don’t know where blame needs to be given. But through most of Campbells time, the offensive play calling, particularly when up against the clock has always felt anxious.

Wasted timeout ls, delay of games, and struggling to get play calls in on rhythm.

Doesn’t seem to be there this year. And the times we have taken a timeout against the play clock on a 3/4th down, we come out and convert vs punting or settling for the fg.

 

[CyclonesRock]

I love that he is coaching like 2017 and 2018 again as far as playing to win.

I wasn't expecting it, but am very happy about that development.

I didn't think that was an emotion you were capable of with all the negativity you post on this board. I am glad to see you, like CMC, are capable of change as well.

 

[HFCS]

The title of this post is humorous. No, the coaching they were doing all along and philosophies they push are slowly paying off. They didn't suddenly learn to coach, and they certainly didn't adjust play calling as a few on here think because of fan grumbling.

We are not still running up the middle at a .6 yard average across all running backs every single first and second down.

The coaching and play calling has definitely changed.

It didn’t change because of a message board but it changed.

 

[KnappShack]

We are not still running up the middle at a .6 yard average across all running backs every single first and second down.

The coaching and play calling has definitely changed.

It didn’t change because of a message board but it changed.

"It didn’t change because of a message board but it changed"

Are you sure?? There's been some premium flag football strategy spelled out around here

The staff would be FOOLS to not check out top feedback like that! It's like getting the answers to the goddam test

 

[madguy30]

"It didn’t change because of a message board but it changed"

Are you sure?? There's been some premium flag football strategy spelled out around here

The staff would be FOOLS to not check out top feedback like that! It's like getting the answers to the goddam test

I scored a TD on a wingback counter in 8th grade so I would totally be able to physically do that in a D1 P5 football game.

 

[KnappShack]

I scored a TD on a wingback counter in 8th grade so I would totally be able to physically do that in a D1 P5 football game.

I still have Wing T expertise in my head.

I'm ready to be a high paid consultant to people who's entire ******* job is to know football.

This board sometimes....

 

[CloneLawman]

"It didn’t change because of a message board but it changed"

Are you sure?? There's been some premium flag football strategy spelled out around here

The staff would be FOOLS to not check out top feedback like that! It's like getting the answers to the goddam test

How else would they know if any rot had set in?

 

[madguy30]

I still have Wing T expertise in my head.

I'm ready to be a high paid consultant to people who's entire ******* job is to know football.

This board sometimes....

Remember when Breece Hall took some time to find his groove or countless other examples of players needing real time in a situation to get acclimated?

Or that time it took maybe a few years for someone to really be efficient at their job?

Well why don't 18 and 19 year olds skip that part!?

 

[2speedy1]

• We always start slow, some is do to us being hyper conservative in early games, some seems to be youth and lower talent level than some teams, requiring some more time to develop.
• We again are hyper young, and inexperienced. This caused many issues. Needed experience and development that only game time can give.
• Coaches I believe called games very conservative, and very tight, due to our youth and lack of experience in the early games. This I think was a double edged sword. We were either going to open things up early and risk big mistakes, or be uber conservative and risk not moving the ball enough to win.
• We have definitely opened things up on offense, is this because the coaches changed or they started trusting the players, or because everyone improved with game experience. I guess it could be any or all of those.

People need to realize just how extremely young we are. But we have had issues that have spanned years, some are starting to be corrected some things maybe are not.

Our special teams have extremely improved. Hiring a ST Coach seems to be a positive. Our line still has some issues, but has improved as the season has went on, a couple years of development with the new coach hopefully will show results. Im worried most about our Run Defense, this seems to have regressed some.

In all we are playing a ton better, some of that is development and experience, some of it is coaching and play calling. How much those each affects the other, are only known really by the team and coaches, and you will never get a real answer on that from them.

If we make a bowl game with this team even a very low bowl, has to be considered an amazing result for this team and circumstances. And the extra practice and experience will be a big deal for them moving forward.

 

[Die4Cy]

I'm thinking transfer portal, not "is it good for the team?" Sure it's good for the team to have multiple great QBs on the roster but JJ is going to want to play, not back up Rocco for four years.

I understand a player's desire to play as well. Ultimately they need to earn a starting job and Rocco has done that. This is not a new situation in college sports. JJ is working to get better and is a good teammate and Cyclone. Just because he's been on campus for four months and is not the starter yet does not mean he expects to move on. I imagine we will see him in action some this year yet, it's how this game is.

 

[Stormin]

I understand a player's desire to play as well. Ultimately they need to earn a starting job and Rocco has done that. This is not a new situation in college sports. JJ is working to get better and is a good teammate and Cyclone. Just because he's been on campus for four months and is not the starter yet does not mean he expects to move on. I imagine we will see him in action some this year yet, it's how this game is.

We will keep JJ’s redshirt if possible. Believe he has played in 2 games so far. JJ needs this year to learn.

 

[t-noah]

Matt had some similar comments after the game yesterday about playing to win instead of not to lose.

Paraphrasing here, "We didn't have success in the past by being afraid to screw up. We did it by being a little bit fearless" (starts at ~1:30 mark)

A little parody here. Matts Zirkonian strategy is now working.
Matt: "...it's a really special group of humans."

 

[jsb]

I have to give CMC a ton of credit for adjusting this season because I've been quite critical of him for being ultra stubborn in the past.

I'm shocked that he somewhat admitted earlier in the year that he was coaching 'not to lose' instead of coaching 'to win'. And then after the game yesterday he somewhat admitted it again.... that he needed to let the guys play to win.

I think Matt prides himself as a 'players coach'. He cares very deeply about every one of his players, and I truly believe that he does... it is not lip service. You can see it.

But I think he's also found out that if you want to be the ultimate 'players coach'... you need to let them do what they LOVE... compete!! These guys are all competitors... that is what they live for. It is why they play the game. They want to win. If you hold them back, you are ruining their competitive spirit IMO. And finally I think Matt realizes this.

You want to end the game knowing you left no bullets in the chamber... you might have come up short, but at least you know you gave it everything and that just wasn't enough that day. If you lose, but feel like the coaches didn't let you go out there and try everything to win... that eats at you.

As CW always points out from Mike Leach's book (which I HAVE to read btw)... you MUST make a defense cover the entire field. You would think that is such an obvious concept, but it's amazing how many teams don't do it... and we were one of them for a long time. Teams would put 8 guys in the box and press our WR's, and we'd just keep running it right into their front. It was beyond stupid. But look at us now... 180 degree change.... and it's making a huge difference.

Great job Matt!!

The other part of the 'player's coach' thing is that I think a lot of the stubbornness is less about his ego (obviously anyone who coaches has a healthy ego, so I'm not saying he doesn't have one) and more about he just wants those kids to win so badly and have success. And sometimes that sort of paralyzes everyone.

I think we've had plenty of coaches that are too stubborn to change. I think that did Rhoads in. I think you could say that about McCarney. You could say it about Prohm.

I think we are very, very lucky Campbell has been willing to change. This is still a young team with basically half a new staff, so there will be growing pains. But I hope the next time we worry about Campbell not being self aware and willing to change, we can remember that half of his coach speak is designed to protect those players.

 

[isufbcurt]

I thought Noel did play, but Vaughn didn't. Noel just didn't play well. I agree both those guys are critical.

If I recall Noel didn't even dress for the Ohio game because he was so sick

 

[jsb]

If I recall Noel didn't even dress for the Ohio game because he was so sick

He definitely didn't play. And I'll keep saying it, but I'd guess a big part of the play calling that day was due to not knowing if Rocco could throw more since he was literally throwing up all game.

The Ohio loss sucks because it may very well cost us a bowl game. But it's probably smart not to take anything away from it other than that.