quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
Don't you guys agree though that coaches can sometimes make things more complicated than they really are?

There's so much pressure with all the money in the game these days and the increased media (fan blogs can break down your coaching now; video is widely available; etc;etc) that coaches think they have to be geniuses. And a lot of them are probably smart guys who know their X's and O's...but here's the thing: amidst all that pressure and complex, rigorous analysis, sometimes you just forget to give the ball to you best player and let him make a play.

I don't care how good your defense is...Kobe Bryant is going to get a shot off. Joe Montana is going to find a way. Urban Meyer is one of the rare coaches who has the brilliance when it comes to X's and O's, but still knows to get the ball to Tim Tebow.

_________________________________

quote:

Originally posted by GatorRuss:

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
Don't you guys agree though that coaches can sometimes make things more complicated than they really are?

There's so much pressure with all the money in the game these days and the increased media (fan blogs can break down your coaching now; video is widely available; etc;etc) that coaches think they have to be geniuses. And a lot of them are probably smart guys who know their X's and O's...but here's the thing: amidst all that pressure and complex, rigorous analysis, sometimes you just forget to give the ball to you best player and let him make a play.

I don't care how good your defense is...Kobe Bryant is going to get a shot off. Joe Montana is going to find a way. Urban Meyer is one of the rare coaches who has the brilliance when it comes to X's and O's, but still knows to get the ball to Tim Tebow.

You see how seamless that was?

Saban won't get the ball to Kobe...Kobe plays basketball.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
Yeah, I was speaking metaphorically.

But he did give it to Mark Ingram for like 30 straight plays and that's what I'm talking about.

If you've got a mismatch, then you can dominate your opponent every play. If your fastball has gotten you in position to win the game, then why throw a curveball when the game is on the line just to "mix it up"? You're not fooling your opponent...you're just fooling yourself. Go with your strengths.

quote:

That's the thing...it's not "utterly brilliant" and it's not "very deep." YET, it's so basic and simple that we lose sight of it.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
When Nick Saban was a 15 year old sophomore quarterback, his coach - Earl Kreener - let him call a lot of the plays. After a successful season, Nick's team was playing in a state playoff game and got behind 18-0 early. Yet, they were able to cut the score to 18-12 and got the ball back with 1:30 to play. Their two minute drill got them to the 20 but the drive stalled and they faced a 4th and 12 with 25 seconds left. Feeling the pressure, Nick called timeout to ask his coach what he should do. Coach Kreener said the following:

"You've got one of the fastest players in the state at left halfback and a great senior split end. I don't care what play you call but I'd like to see the ball go to one of those two guys."

Nick decided on a play action/fake handoff to the tailback and then let it fly into the back corner of the endzone to the senior split end for the touchdown and a 19-18 win.

After the game, in a quiet moment, Coach Kreener said, "Nick, in critical situations don't think of plays...think of players."

Now, flash forward to 2009. I can't help but think of how the ball suddenly went to Mark Ingram on every single play in that one drive after the Tide had sort of bogged down against South Carolina. Or how he dialed up two straight Mount Cody blitzes on Tennessee's placekicker to secure a win.

I think this is what is unique about Saban. He's has one of the most brilliant minds in the game today, at any level, YET he doesn't ever let that complex brilliance detach him from the simple maxim of getting the ball into his best player's hands in critical times.

I thought he made some very telling comments when he said, "I've seen some defenses in the past that can't stop the run but refuse to play 8 man fronts. I've seen great passing teams insist on running the ball. Are these coaches not aware of their strengths or are they too stubborn to change their approach?"

I think we should all ask ourselves this question b/c it's a great life lesson...not just football. What are we doing? Are we "getting the ball" to "our best players" in critical times?

Don't make life harder than it is...give the ball to Mark Ingram and tell Mount Cody to be the mountain that he is and block a kick.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
Divits- That's the thing...it's not "utterly brilliant" and it's not "very deep." YET, it's so basic and simple that we lose sight of it. I just think it's impressive that a guy like Saban has the presence of mind and psychological balance to not lose touch with a fundamental truth like that amidst all the chaos. And let's face it...when you are the head football coach at Alabama, it doesn't get much more chaotic.

quote:

Originally posted by itsgr82baflagator:
I'm glad to see a certain someone has quit posting pictures in CT threads that almost caused me to question my sexual orientation.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
When Nick Saban was a 15 year old sophomore quarterback, his coach - Earl Kreener - let him call a lot of the plays. After a successful season, Nick's team was playing in a state playoff game and got behind 18-0 early. Yet, they were able to cut the score to 18-12 and got the ball back with 1:30 to play. Their two minute drill got them to the 20 but the drive stalled and they faced a 4th and 12 with 25 seconds left. Feeling the pressure, Nick called timeout to ask his coach what he should do. Coach Kreener said the following:

"You've got one of the fastest players in the state at left halfback and a great senior split end. I don't care what play you call but I'd like to see the ball go to one of those two guys."

Nick decided on a play action/fake handoff to the tailback and then let it fly into the back corner of the endzone to the senior split end for the touchdown and a 19-18 win.

After the game, in a quiet moment, Coach Kreener said, "Nick, in critical situations don't think of plays...think of players."

Now, flash forward to 2009. I can't help but think of how the ball suddenly went to Mark Ingram on every single play in that one drive after the Tide had sort of bogged down against South Carolina. Or how he dialed up two straight Mount Cody blitzes on Tennessee's placekicker to secure a win.

I think this is what is unique about Saban. He's has one of the most brilliant minds in the game today, at any level, YET he doesn't ever let that complex brilliance detach him from the simple maxim of getting the ball into his best player's hands in critical times.

I thought he made some very telling comments when he said, "I've seen some defenses in the past that can't stop the run but refuse to play 8 man fronts. I've seen great passing teams insist on running the ball. Are these coaches not aware of their strengths or are they too stubborn to change their approach?"

I think we should all ask ourselves this question b/c it's a great life lesson...not just football. What are we doing? Are we "getting the ball" to "our best players" in critical times?

Don't make life harder than it is...give the ball to Mark Ingram and tell Mount Cody to be the mountain that he is and block a kick.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
Does anyone on here remember the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz? It wasn't the one where Jordan hit that final shot and held the pose...it was the year before that. The Jazz and Bulls played in two straight finals against each other and this was the first. Anyway, if I remember correctly, in a pivotal game...and it may have even been the championship clinching game...the Bulls had a final shot to win and, if they lost, were facing a trip back to Utah for the final games I think. Instead of calling Jordan's number, Phil Jackson set up Steve Kerr just beyond the foul line for the game winning shot. The Jazz bit on Jordan and Kerr was pretty much wide open.

I admire the confidence of a coach to make those type of moves, but, at the end of the day, I don't advise it. And neither does Saban obviously. If I'm going to lose, it's going to be because Michael Jordan missed the jumper. I guarantee you more championships have been won by great players making great plays rather than unsung role players converting on a "fake out."

So I would play the percentages and not get cute.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneThing:
Russ- After doing some thinking, I'm not really sure if Meyer fits this philosophy or not. Certainly, it would seem a prima facie case can be established because he goes to Tebow a lot. But it's more complex than that.

I think Meyer is actually more in love with a play rather than a single player. And the play is the option play in which he creates his beloved "Plus 1" opportunity on the edge. Whether it's Tebow, Harvin, or Leak, that seems to be his goal. So, I would actually argue that Meyer is more "play-oriented." And I think the production we're seeing from Harvin during his rookie season with the Vikings bears that out...although Gator fans alleged that he got the ball too much, in all likelihood, he probably didn't get the ball enough. A Nick Saban philosophist would have given it to him even more.

Just to contrast, and hopefully make this even clearer, if Nick Saban had Meyer's players, he would be getting the ball to Tebow and Harvin with all kinds of different plays...but the ball would be going through them almost all the time. Meyer, on the other hand, seems to use a SPREAD of players to run basically the same play: the Plus One dive/option action play to the edge.

Distilled to just a single point:
1. Nick Saban: best players getting the ball using a multitude of plays.
2. Urban Meyer: a multitude of players getting the ball through his best play (plus one dive).


And that's really where your difference is.

quote:

Originally posted by NashvilleGator:
Nevermind. Found it:

Philosophist

quote:

Originally posted by GatorRuss:
As much time as you waste on here, you haven't picked up one iota of information of what is going on in Gainesville.

Meyer is all about getting his best players in the best position to be able to make a play. That's why you saw Percy all over the field the past few years, he was dynamic everywhere, and he opened it up for other great players to do their thing. All great coaches do this.

Why do you think in 2005 Urban tweaked our offense so that Leak's skills would be better suited? It's not Urban's fault that when he got here he had a more pro-style QB. Urban made it work in '06 with a seemingly square peg in a round hole. When Saban got to Bama, he already had pro-style players there to fit his system. Urban didn't have the luxury, and in his 2nd year he won a MNC by getting the ball to his play makers in space by using the option and bubble screens, because that's what had to be done.

I haven't seen Nick have to tweak his fundamental philosophies as a coach at all, AND he has less rings than Urban.

What's his excuse for not being more successful?

I guess the answer to that is simple.

Urban.