MTSU

[gophmeister]

They say a good comedian layers the jokes and slips some truth in there. Sportsfan24 really does know his stuff. But getting back to gameplanning, I still believe we have the upper hand on coaching. Don't believe me, ask Mark Dantonio. He endorsed Coach Brewster and his staff last year on Holloween. REALLY! No Joke.

Why didn't they stick with that formula? Why change everything week in week out when it was obvious to the casual fan that the offense was all screwy? We had two receivers run into each other in the Iowa game. I really want to believe in this staff, and to some extent I do, but man, some of the play calling last year stunk.

 

[AhliBobwa]

Why didn't they stick with that formula? Why change everything week in week out when it was obvious to the casual fan that the offense was all screwy? We had two receivers run into each other in the Iowa game. I really want to believe in this staff, and to some extent I do, but man, some of the play calling last year stunk.

Umm....yeah, that´s why we got a new coordinator to run a pared down simplified offense. Furthermore, Horton is a guy who has been very successful particularly in coaching up his QBs to overachieve.

I take it you missed the memo?

 

[eker0016]

Umm....yeah, that´s why we got a new coordinator to run a pared down simplified offense. Furthermore, Horton is a guy who has been very successful particularly in coaching up his QBs to overachieve.

I take it you missed the memo?

I think it is an indictment of Brewster that he hired Fisch, knowing he would install that kind of an offense. He knew better than most what would happen when you try to feed complicated NFL-level schemes to college players. We call that the Everett Withers experiment, and it ended in a smoldering pile of crap at the end of the 2007 season.

That said, I'm really glad he realized this (again) after this year and will simplify things with Horton.

 

[RodentRampage]

I think it is an indictment of Brewster that he hired Fisch, knowing he would install that kind of an offense. He knew better than most what would happen when you try to feed complicated NFL-level schemes to college players. We call that the Everett Withers experiment, and it ended in a smoldering pile of crap at the end of the 2007 season.

That said, I'm really glad he realized this (again) after this year and will simplify things with Horton.

He does bear responsibility for the hiring choices. If he doesn't last here, his too-radical changes in the offesne may be to blame. The spread was a major departure, the assumption seems to be that we could recruit into it. But if you're doing what is trendy, you're fighting with everyone to get the same pool of athletes.

 

[gophmeister]

I take it you missed the memo?

This explains why Fisch looked so different at the 'Signing Day' party.

Seriously though, I just question Brewster's judgement in hiring Fisch. I think if Brew were a more experienced and established head coach the Fisch experiment might have worked out. Hiring Horton isn't a slam dunk, but at the very least Brew went with someone proven.

 

[Stargenes]

I think it is an indictment of Brewster that he hired Fisch, knowing he would install that kind of an offense. He knew better than most what would happen when you try to feed complicated NFL-level schemes to college players. We call that the Everett Withers experiment, and it ended in a smoldering pile of crap at the end of the 2007 season.

That said, I'm really glad he realized this (again) after this year and will simplify things with Horton.

Do you not recall how many guys he went through before getting to Fisch? No indictment on Brewster for trying to get it done. I love the fact that he recognizes problems and moves right away. I think we have it right now and the Staff will move this Program forward.

 

[gophmeister]

He does bear responsibility for the hiring choices. If he doesn't last here, his too-radical changes in the offesne may be to blame. The spread was a major departure, the assumption seems to be that we could recruit into it. But if you're doing what is trendy, you're fighting with everyone to get the same pool of athletes.

Very true.

When the switch to a pro-style offense was made, I immediately thought it had to do with recruiting at some level. Most of these kids want to get to the NFL and what better way to do so than by proving yourself in program that tries to mimic what's being done in the pros.

 

[gophmeister]

Do you not recall how many guys he went through before getting to Fisch? No indictment on Brewster for trying to get it done. I love the fact that he recognizes problems and moves right away. I think we have it right now and the Staff will move this Program forward.

Brew really wanted to bring in a big name. Unfortunately big names tend to already have well-paying jobs with security and potential. I wish he would have hired Horton last year instead of this year. Horton's solid, he's someone you can be sure won't let the offense embarass itself. I doubt Adam will get sacked 11 times by the Illini this fall or that we'll throw a fade in the endzone to a 5'10" receiver. If I ever see Fisch in person, I may kick him in the nuts.

 

[eker0016]

Do you not recall how many guys he went through before getting to Fisch? No indictment on Brewster for trying to get it done. I love the fact that he recognizes problems and moves right away. I think we have it right now and the Staff will move this Program forward.

I do remember. It was the legendary kill shot. I like your enthusiasm, Stargenes, but I have to fault Brewster on this one. Even if your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices don't accept your offer, I think he would have been much better served going for a guy who would be able to teach an offense and call appropriate plays, rather than a guy who may be a genius with the X's and O's (as we were told Fisch is, and he may very well be. I think the main reason he took Fisch was because of his NFL ties (big recruiting pitch) when he almost should have avoided him because of it.

 

[dpodoll68]

If I ever see Fisch in person, I may kick him in the nuts.

QFT

I think the main reason he took Fisch was because of his NFL ties (big recruiting pitch) when he almost should have avoided him because of it.

Also QFT

 

[RodentRampage]

Attempting to get a bunch of college students to run an NFL offense is like going to your local diner and expecting the cooks to prepare meals as if it is a 5-star gourmet restuarant. Those 5-star meals may be fantastic, but only when done right. The local diner would make them into inedible glop. But the local diner probably has a lot of items on the menu that they know how to make quite well.

Fisch had the X's and O's that he wanted to run, but the player just weren't able to implement it. I'm optimistic that the offense tailored to the players abilities will surprise a lot of people. It's better to have lesser number of simple plays that you know how to run well than a giant playbook of complex plays that you can't run well. Give me a good chicken fried steak rather then a bad attempt at haute cuisine.

 

[Sean Lumpkin]

Brew really wanted to bring in a big name. Unfortunately big names tend to already have well-paying jobs with security and potential. I wish he would have hired Horton last year instead of this year. Horton's solid, he's someone you can be sure won't let the offense embarass itself. I doubt Adam will get sacked 11 times by the Illini this fall or that we'll throw a fade in the endzone to a 5'10" receiver. If I ever see Fisch in person, I may kick him in the nuts.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fishers-nuts

 

[dpodoll68]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fishers-nuts

Broken link is broken.

 

[tds2n]

Brain Vs. Braun

Since I couldn't find an updated depth chart for 2010, I took the 2009 Rivals Depth Chart and updated with the 2010 weights from goblueraiders.com, subtracting seniors and placing the second string in as the starter if a senior graduated/other starter gone due to attrition.

OT Mike Williams - 260
OG Evon Lettsome - 260
C Chris Hawkins - 285
OG Brandon McLeroy 0 305
OT Mark Fisher - 272

DE Jamari Lattimore - 231
DT Dwight Smith - 272
NT Sacoby Carter - 284
DE Emmanuel Perez - 236

Compare that with our offensive and defensive lines: (note -- these are my guesses to who starts the season, not necessarily who remains the starters. I think the term "starter" is especially meaningless for our DE's where we have depth and rotate quite frequently).

OT Dom Alford - 336
OG Chris Bunders - 332
C DJ Burris - 290
OG Matt Carufel - 302
OT Jeff Wills - 365
Dark Horse - Ed Olson (OG) - 288, Brooks Michel (OT) - 295, Jimmy Gjere (OL) - 300

DE DL Wilhite - 233
DT Brandon Kirksey - 295
NT Jewhan Edwards - 333
DE Ra'Shede Hageman - 272
Dark Horses/rotation guys Matt Garin (DE) - 220, Kendall Gregory-Mcghee (DE) - 241, Anthony Jacobs (DE/DT) - 289

Looks like we have a serious, serious size advantage here...especially when pitting our offensive line against their defensive line. I like that we have some depth so that we can rotate guys in if they are getting tired against a fast paced offense. I would not be surprised at all to see us play a very grinding style of offense (at least in the first) half where we simply push the ball down the field rather than trying to get fancy and ask Adam Weber and our inexperienced WR's to do too much. I'm getting really excited.

I wouldn't look too much into the size advantage. MTSU is built to play every game as a shoot out. They recruit smaller guys that can rush the QB.
The only team that was affective in running the ball on them was really, Miss state. That's only because Dasher was benched for missing a team meeting, then when he came late in the second half - he thew i think 3 or 4 picks in hail mary attempts late in the game.

Mainly, I'm just saying : beware the appearance of the match up. if MT goes up by 14, then there will be pressure to throw the ball. This is a defense that last year lead the NCAA in tackles for loss, and i believe they were in the top 5 for sacks.

 

[TrojanFan42]

QB Dwight Dasher

Hello All. I figured I'd give you guys a little Troy Trojan perspective. Troy has won the Sunbelt four years in a row and Middle could actually have a pretty decent team this year, so I'm eagar to follow the blue raiders and see what they can do. My thoughts on the game are a mixed bag. They had a high turnover ratio last year and could have a hard time matching that record again, as they lose some top players in turnovers. Dasher seems to cave in and fold up shop when facing a d-line that has any kind of talent. Dwight Dasher's a tough kid, though he's only 5'9" and while I have limited football knowledge, it would seem that he would have trouble with the bigger taller defenses because of this. I think they may have peaked too early. On the other hand, this team could be really special. They have a great coach and some pretty decent talent. Though a Big Ten team with a senior quarterback shouldn't lose to a Sunbelt team. It should be a really good game for both teams.

Here you can get a glimpse on how to shut down Dwight Dasher:
http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b...on=view&current=DwightDasherShowCANCELLED.mp4

 

[GophersInIowa]

I think the main reason he took Fisch was because of his NFL ties (big recruiting pitch) when he almost should have avoided him because of it.

Fisch just didn't have much college experience and that's what made it tough in my opinion. Horton has been at both levels and hopefully understands the difference.

 

[Rosemountian]

Fisch's biggest problems were these:

1) Had never worked at the college level, so he did not know how in depth of schemes college guys could handle.
2) Had never called plays before.....I personally think his play calling was pretty decent, but he was LATE getting them in. Making it tougher on the QB and the whole offense.
3) Lack of consistent play by the OL and QB.