Football

Scrimmage odds and ends – defense

We didn't get to see as much of our new attack defense as many would like but we put the offense on red alert several times when we dd wheel and deal from a pat hand. I have a feeling some of our best stunts/techniques aren't completely suited to our personnel on hand. I think we will need to recruit future breadwinners (edge comes to mind) that better fit the responsibilities and sound business decisions (LB comes to mind) in order to maximize the productive aspect of each defensive scheme.
Football

Hide in plain sight

Sark has hired several special teams (SPT) top hands among his assistants. Assuming they retain the degree of attention previously applied we should show drastic improvement in this area. Every coach is usually assigned at least one aspect of SPT that is his to teach, grade, and substitute. Some regard this as crap detail and box lunch through it. Others take it as seriously as their position assignment and show constant improvement. Why? Because they care.
Football

Coach V’s Grades – Baylor

It's only fair that I admit it's getting extremely difficult to stomach watching much less grading this sad mess that we call our football program these days. It doesn't really matter to what extent changes are made to finish this season but if the powers that be think staying the same course and work harder is the answer we might as well forfeit the last two and rest up for spring football.
Football

Coach V’s Grades – Kansas State

Our offense consisted of several big time individual efforts mixed with a bunch of "let's try this" along the way. That's what you get when your chief play-caller has too many hats to wear. This offense is in dire need of a leader that has both the time and desire to grow and develop a well oiled machine. The flea-flicker from the 20 worked for a td---the reverse from goal to goal 6 captured a loss and a penalty. Neither is a high percentage strategy and speaks volumes for our current situation. Here are the grades:
Football

Coach V’s Grades: TCU

We left some great opportunities to score more points on the field in the first half. Blame should be spread around. The one constant that is often overlooked is that the players play and the coaches teach. Regardless of the disconnect between the two real winning teams find a way to get the job done. We seem to have lost the ability to have fun playing the game. It's looks more like a full-time job at this point of the season---at least that's the way it looks to me. Here are the grades.
Football

Coach V’s Grades – Kansas

It's fun to watch our guys make plays. When you score half a hundred it stands to reason we must have played pretty damn well and we did. The best part for me was we had guys picking up other guys when we fell a little short of positive execution. Four turnovers (interception, fumble, and two 4th down blunders) usually spells hello loss column but we overcame because players made plays down the stretch. Here are the grades:
Football

Coach V’s Grades – Oklahoma

Most teams like to make a statement with their first offensive play. We threw a five yard backward pass to a WR in motion where he had to fight to limit the loss due to the ineffective cupcake blocks provided by his fellow wideouts. We kept in script for the remainder of the first half by stumbling, bumbling, and basically hoping to prevent injury. I was reminded of the famous DKR talk when he told his squad there was one helluva fight going on in the Cotton Bowl---too bad we hadn't gotten in on it. Here are the grades: