OSU-DNA
11-29-2009, 11:05 AM
I have been and continue to be a Mike Gundy supporter, that said, there are things that need to be changed. I have no problem with Mike being both the HC and play caller. You see this across the nation; Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Tennessee being just a few examples where the HC is also the play caller. However, I do believe during the season that it is a 24/7 job and needs to be treated that way.
These are a few of things that need dramatic work and improvement.
-Punt and Kickoff coverage
Our punt coverage went down the tubes with the loss of Victor Johnson. But that is a loss of one, not having gunners to bottle up returners is amazing given the recruiting that we have been doing. Surely we must have DBs and LBs with enough speed to cover punts.
Our kickoff coverage has been great when booted out of the end zone, but how many times have stopped a team inside the 20 when they attempted to return it.
-Punt and Kickoff Returns
Once a strength has dramatically declined. Of course the loss of Dez hurt, but even with Dez playing this year, he was allowing the punts to hit the ground. Sometimes the best play is just a fair catch. Please get R.W. McQuarters to come up this Spring and work with the Punt returners.
Kickoff returns, not every one is going to result in a 30 yard gain, but at some point we need to focus on taking what is there and stop the juking at the 18 yard line.
-Receivers and Plays
Anyone observing the WR play against Texas, TT, and CU knows that our Receivers can not get open on their own moves. Further, a simple bump puts them off their routes. We need to substantially upgrade our WR coaching. Bring in Rashaun Woods to teach our WRs how to deliver bumps and get separation. Yesterday, Aniyam fell to the ground when a OU DB was beaten and he grabbed Aniyam's wrist. Of course it was pass interference, but no way was it going to be called because a WR should easily be able to get through that and continue on his route. Blackmon was bumped on a long pass and his reaction was to look for a flag. Instead he should have bumped the DB and created the separation.
Plays for WRs.
TT gave an easy game plan for handling OU's secondary. Crossing routes that 'inadvertently' were pick plays. We have failed to use those this year and our passing game has suffered.
There are clearly other things that need to be changed, every second needs to be spent on preparing for situations and anticipating situations. An easy example demonstrating that this is not happening came at the end of the first half. OU was at midfeld and had a 4th down, OU left the clock running with 18 seconds to go in the half. Mike should have instantly called a time out. Instead he let the clock run and OU called a timeout with 3 seconds left so they could throw a Hail Mary. Fortunately, I think it was Jarka that got to Landry and the pass was never launched, but it was a needless stress on the defense. A simple TO at 18 seconds and OU punts.
Frankly, until we beat OU 4 times in row, I do not want to hear about another Gundy Thanksgiving Day celebration unless it is that Mike is not attending as he continues to work on game preparation. Mike is in the entertainment business, if the family wants a Thanksgiving Day do what all folks that are working do, hold it on another day and in this case outside of the season. HC and play calling is a 24/7 job.
These are a few of things that need dramatic work and improvement.
-Punt and Kickoff coverage
Our punt coverage went down the tubes with the loss of Victor Johnson. But that is a loss of one, not having gunners to bottle up returners is amazing given the recruiting that we have been doing. Surely we must have DBs and LBs with enough speed to cover punts.
Our kickoff coverage has been great when booted out of the end zone, but how many times have stopped a team inside the 20 when they attempted to return it.
-Punt and Kickoff Returns
Once a strength has dramatically declined. Of course the loss of Dez hurt, but even with Dez playing this year, he was allowing the punts to hit the ground. Sometimes the best play is just a fair catch. Please get R.W. McQuarters to come up this Spring and work with the Punt returners.
Kickoff returns, not every one is going to result in a 30 yard gain, but at some point we need to focus on taking what is there and stop the juking at the 18 yard line.
-Receivers and Plays
Anyone observing the WR play against Texas, TT, and CU knows that our Receivers can not get open on their own moves. Further, a simple bump puts them off their routes. We need to substantially upgrade our WR coaching. Bring in Rashaun Woods to teach our WRs how to deliver bumps and get separation. Yesterday, Aniyam fell to the ground when a OU DB was beaten and he grabbed Aniyam's wrist. Of course it was pass interference, but no way was it going to be called because a WR should easily be able to get through that and continue on his route. Blackmon was bumped on a long pass and his reaction was to look for a flag. Instead he should have bumped the DB and created the separation.
Plays for WRs.
TT gave an easy game plan for handling OU's secondary. Crossing routes that 'inadvertently' were pick plays. We have failed to use those this year and our passing game has suffered.
There are clearly other things that need to be changed, every second needs to be spent on preparing for situations and anticipating situations. An easy example demonstrating that this is not happening came at the end of the first half. OU was at midfeld and had a 4th down, OU left the clock running with 18 seconds to go in the half. Mike should have instantly called a time out. Instead he let the clock run and OU called a timeout with 3 seconds left so they could throw a Hail Mary. Fortunately, I think it was Jarka that got to Landry and the pass was never launched, but it was a needless stress on the defense. A simple TO at 18 seconds and OU punts.
Frankly, until we beat OU 4 times in row, I do not want to hear about another Gundy Thanksgiving Day celebration unless it is that Mike is not attending as he continues to work on game preparation. Mike is in the entertainment business, if the family wants a Thanksgiving Day do what all folks that are working do, hold it on another day and in this case outside of the season. HC and play calling is a 24/7 job.