Athan's dad comments on Fleck's press conference - by Andy Greder

Enjoy it. We might be covering our eyes for most of Ciarrocca vs. Collins if we continue to attempt three man rushes during clear passing situations….
I'm more along the lines of PJ is very afraid of showing anything on tape to opponents. So there is the possibility he didn't want Collins showing Rutgers the blitz packages versus Cal.
I think we give PJ's coordinators too much responsibility for what happens...PJ is the guy pulling the strings..
 

I'm more along the lines of PJ is very afraid of showing anything on tape to opponents. So there is the possibility he didn't want Collins showing Rutgers the blitz packages versus Cal.
I think we give PJ's coordinators too much responsibility for what happens...PJ is the guy pulling the strings..
Fleck doesn't have a call sheet for either offense of defense out during the game so the coordinators are making the in game calls.

Fleck obviously has his influence on the game plan during the week and I am sure is providing his input during the game as well, but the coordinators are the ones making the calls during the game.
 

Fleck doesn't have a call sheet for either offense of defense out during the game so the coordinators are making the in game calls.

Fleck obviously has his influence on the game plan during the week and I am sure is providing his input during the game as well, but the coordinators are the ones making the calls during the game.
Sure they are
 

Sure they are
Fleck must have one hell of a memory to be able to make the play calls in game....that is pretty damn impressive to do it without a call sheet. Especially when you factor in that most of the time when they show him on the sideline he isn't speaking into his headset.
 

Fleck doesn't have a call sheet for either offense of defense out during the game so the coordinators are making the in game calls.

Fleck obviously has his influence on the game plan during the week and I am sure is providing his input during the game as well, but the coordinators are the ones making the calls during the game.
Yeah I also haven't seen evidence that PJ is making a lot of calls (outside say critical 4th down and so on).

Historically, if you listen to the coordinators talk they very strongly indicate they're making the calls...
 


Yeah I also haven't seen evidence that PJ is making a lot of calls (outside say critical 4th down and so on).

Historically, if you listen to the coordinators talk they very strongly indicate they're making the calls...
Could it be a little of both?

Fleck: "Drop 8 into coverage."

Collins: "Aye aye captain."

Collins then figures out which call to make from the available calls of rushing 3 and droppin' 8?
 


Could it be a little of both?

Fleck: "Drop 8 into coverage."

Collins: "Aye aye captain."

Collins then figures out which call to make from the available calls of rushing 3 and droppin' 8?
A head coach who isn't calling plays will dictate things like 3 down or 4 down territory, may express a preference on run vs. pass in certain situations, decide when to call timeouts.....lots of influence on action but still not the guy making the actual play calls as much as some fans want to believe he is.

I would bet that Fleck has far less input on what the defense does during a series as he has always seemed more connected to the offense then the defense overall.

I think a lot of fans fail to grasp how little time there is between plays to make decisions. Too many voices leads to confusion and things like delay of game penalties.
 

I'm more along the lines of PJ is very afraid of showing anything on tape to opponents. So there is the possibility he didn't want Collins showing Rutgers the blitz packages versus Cal.
I think we give PJ's coordinators too much responsibility for what happens...PJ is the guy pulling the strings..
I sure hope it's not like that. Worry about playing vanilla against Cal and losing so we can save the good stuff for the other teams. If that's anyone's mindset that's messed up. How about bringing your best and winning all the games you can. There's no point in saving/hiding things. We were 6-6 this year but did you see that trick play in the last game of the year...
 



I sure hope it's not like that. Worry about playing vanilla against Cal and losing so we can save the good stuff for the other teams. If that's anyone's mindset that's messed up. How about bringing your best and winning all the games you can. There's no point in saving/hiding things. We were 6-6 this year but did you see that trick play in the last game of the year...
Speculation here. Could be that this team isn't as upper classmen loaded as some teams. With that said, some/ most coaches won't call plays that the team isn't proficient or is just terrible at. Those they keep working on.
 

Could it be a little of both?

Fleck: "Drop 8 into coverage."

Collins: "Aye aye captain."

Collins then figures out which call to make from the available calls of rushing 3 and droppin' 8?
Anything is possible.

I doubt he's making the calls play to play, beyond that my only indication are the coordinators who clearly indicate they're making the calls outside of critical judgment call situations.
 

Anything is possible.

I doubt he's making the calls play to play, beyond that my only indication are the coordinators who clearly indicate they're making the calls outside of critical judgment call situations.
The funny thing is that these are probably the same people, that when things go wrong start yelling "let Simon make the calls, Harbaugh isn't the answer".
 

I sure hope it's not like that. Worry about playing vanilla against Cal and losing so we can save the good stuff for the other teams. If that's anyone's mindset that's messed up. How about bringing your best and winning all the games you can. There's no point in saving/hiding things. We were 6-6 this year but did you see that trick play in the last game of the year...
There is a fine line in terms of holding some things back but still getting the win. But there is zero chance that anyone associated with the football program is ok with not using something against Cal and losing in order to save it for a future game. Some fans love to think that way because it gives them a reason to bash the coaching staff and treat them like morons who don't understand the game of football.

The players and coaches invest way too much time and effort to not do everything they can to go out and try to win every game.....the guys on the other sideline are doing the exact same thing.

In terms of the Cal game it really isn't that complicated. We made too many mistakes and it cost us the game. If we play clean we almost certainly win that one but we didn't and they did.
 



The funny thing is that these are probably the same people, that when things go wrong start yelling "let Simon make the calls, Harbaugh isn't the answer".
And really there's that whole "well you call a different play, that would have worked"... it's not a game where someone throws down scissors and you throw rock and automatically win ...
 




And really there's that whole "well you call a different play, that would have worked"... it's not a game where someone throws down scissors and you throw rock and automatically win ...
I love how easy some fans act like it is....now granted, coaches can be their own worst enemy at times by overthinking things.....but there is almost always a reason for why they do what they do or call what they call and that reason is typically based on hours of film study and practice.
 


I'm not suggesting PJ makes every play call or that he relays them to the QB on offense
One, these guys have meetings for hours during the week...PJ makes his preferences clear.
2. I'm saying he does say..."Run Taylor left" as the previous play concludes...not every time but more than once a game. Or, throw deep to so and so. Again, stuff they've discussed in meetings or things PJ instinctively feels. Or same play again...those kind of things on offense and between
possessions....let's establish the run...let's get Drake going.
Under those caveats...ya, Harbaugh calls the plays.
Defensively, you are telling me we are dropping 8 into coverage...getting sliced and diced and Collins just keeps doing it because he's stubborn? I'm suggesting there was a bigger picture in mind preventing him from adjusting.
PJ is making his desires clear. There is no way when the game ends PJ is thinking to himself.
Geez, I should have said something. He's not shy. He may say, wow, I botched that up pretty bad,
to himself. But he's making his desires known to the coordinators...who then yes, make the calls.
And if you have coached before there is time for this...you are thinking one play ahead and you are concise and decisive and there is no discussion.
 



I'm more along the lines of PJ is very afraid of showing anything on tape to opponents. So there is the possibility he didn't want Collins showing Rutgers the blitz packages versus Cal.
I think we give PJ's coordinators too much responsibility for what happens...PJ is the guy pulling the strings..

This is complete nonsense
 

The dad's not wrong. PJ can say pretty much the same system, but Sanford and Harbaugh are not the same system as Ciarrocca. Pretty sure Athan was recruited by Ciarrocca and then he left for PSU.

AK has been way better with Ciarrocca than he was with the other two. Sanford and Harbaugh are not on the same level when it comes to being an OC and QB coach. Ciarrocca is one of the best in the country. Franklin was stupid to let him go. Ciarrocca is so much better than Sanford & Harbaugh at developing a game plan, developing a run game, developing a QB, and play calling.

I think Harbaugh is better than Sanford, but Harbaugh 's run game is not good, and his redzone play calling is not good. Lastly, his timing for trick plays is some of the worst I've ever seen.

Way better? AK put up very similar numbers last year at Rutgers as he did the previous year at MN under Harbaugh. And no one was sad to see him leave here. So let's see where he's at after the B1G season.

Cirrocca's offenses at Rutgers have been marginally better than the Gophers the last two seasons, yet he makes more than the Gophers OC, DC and STC combined. Doesn't seem worth it to me.
 


I don't care if it's Deion or Mr. Kaliakmanis, I really hate it when parents start yakking to the press.
He wasn't "yakking to the press" - he wrote something on twitter. Then someone from the press saw it and decided to write about it in a story.
 
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I'm not suggesting PJ makes every play call or that he relays them to the QB on offense
One, these guys have meetings for hours during the week...PJ makes his preferences clear.
2. I'm saying he does say..."Run Taylor left" as the previous play concludes...not every time but more than once a game. Or, throw deep to so and so. Again, stuff they've discussed in meetings or things PJ instinctively feels. Or same play again...those kind of things on offense and between
possessions....let's establish the run...let's get Drake going.
Under those caveats...ya, Harbaugh calls the plays.
Defensively, you are telling me we are dropping 8 into coverage...getting sliced and diced and Collins just keeps doing it because he's stubborn? I'm suggesting there was a bigger picture in mind preventing him from adjusting.
PJ is making his desires clear. There is no way when the game ends PJ is thinking to himself.
Geez, I should have said something. He's not shy. He may say, wow, I botched that up pretty bad,
to himself. But he's making his desires known to the coordinators...who then yes, make the calls.
And if you have coached before there is time for this...you are thinking one play ahead and you are concise and decisive and there is no discussion.
Your offense theory has a chance to be close to reality. I am sure Fleck expresses opinions on how aggressive he wants the offense to be on a particular series in terms of taking shots downfield and things like that.

I disagree wholeheartedly with your take on defense though.
 

Way better? AK put up very similar numbers last year at Rutgers as he did the previous year at MN under Harbaugh. And no one was sad to see him leave here. So let's see where he's at after the B1G season.

Cirrocca's offenses at Rutgers have been marginally better than the Gophers the last two seasons, yet he makes more than the Gophers OC, DC and STC combined. Doesn't seem worth it to me.

Below are the offensive yards per game and points per game from the last few years:
  • Ciarrocca’s 2024 AK-led offense: 382.7 ypg, 28.9 ppg
  • Harbaugh’s 2023 AK-led offense: 300.9 ypg, 20.9 ppg
  • Harbaugh’s 2024 Brosmer-led offense: 337.8 ypg, 26.2 ppg
In his first year with AK, and with AK still showing the same issues as he did with us, Ciarrocca’s offense averaged 82 more yards and 8 more points per game. That is a huge difference.

Last year, our offense was led by a now NFL QB that many say is the best QB the Gophers have had in decades. Even with that advantage, Ciarrocca’s AK-led offense averaged 45 more yards and 3 more points per game. That is marginal but keep in mind that Brosmer is supposed to be much better than AK, and we lost three games by 3 points or less last year. If we could have squeezed those extra yards and points out of our offense last year, we likely finish 9-3 in the regular season.
 

I hope PJ uses his comments to motivate the team. Nothing motivates better than being disrespected
 

Just win this game and move on.

Be done with AK and all the drama

Please, just win this game.
And please take note to rush 4 and 5, Iowa did it very successfully in the 2nd half and took the game last week.
 




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