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Post by hlb2 on Sept 28, 2009 6:28:10 GMT -6
Hey guys, so far this season has been much better than last season, that's for sure (0-10 outscored 33-6 on avg.), however we are still 0-4 and we are about a dozen mistakes (3 per game) away from being 4-0. First game, we had 3 breakdowns in the secondary that led to 21 points and we lose 34-12 to a much bigger team than us. Second game, smaller school, decent speed, 2 miscues on special teams and 1 breakdown in the secondary cost us 14 points, and we lose 35-21. Next we face a young but good private school who in the first half hangs 16 on us due to poor tackling, then we settle down and limit the offensive production in the 2nd half to just 55 yards! However, the offense cannot get out of it's own way and we come up short 16-8. Last week, in our first conference game we go up 12-0 on some good offensive play, and a turnover forced by our special teams, only to turn the ball over twice inside our own 20 and give up 19 unanswered points in the second half. We come back, however only to fall 19-18 on a missed XP!!!!
We are not very athletic, so overcoming these mistakes is very tough at times. How do you limit mistakes such as we are seeing, other than just reps?? All of the mistakes made are:
1)Different, no mistake is made 2 weeks in a row or we get better at it (as you can see we go from 3 secondary miscues in week 1, to none in the last 2 games). Same with turnovers, we are an option offense (GT) and have very little turnovers, until last week when we fumbled twice inside our own 20.
2)At key times in the game (when aren't they though).
3)At 100 miles an hour, this team does not know what it means to "loaf" on a football field.
Any suggestions? I'm trying to find out what we are doing wrong, and it's like the old saying "fingers in the {censored}". We plug 1 hole 1 week, and the next a new one opens up!!! We do get better, and we have been in just about every game we've played, esp. compared to last year. Just venting I guess, but I want to find out what we might be doing wrong as a staff. Any ideas??
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Sept 28, 2009 6:39:11 GMT -6
Coach-
I've been there before and you really need to ask yourself if you're asking the kids to do too much?
If you're a small school I would imagine many 2 way players- playing 2ways and special teams is a TREMENDOUS strain on the average kid, and being able to learn all the skills and schemes and being able to execute them mistake-free is a battle in itself- let alone when you face another team!
Without seeing what you do I'd say limit your offensive & defensive packages to bread & butter only, maybe 4 runs (IV/Mid/Ctr Opt/Trap?) and 3 pass (4 verts/sprint flood/PAP off IV), a basic defensive front and coverage, and teach them to be flawless running your base stuff.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Sept 28, 2009 6:47:49 GMT -6
Age, maturity, experience can all come into play.
We are suffereing many mistakes (8 fumbles in game two, 6 in game three, 1 in game four) - we are putting kids under more pressure in scrimmage situations in practice, putting consequences on mistakes (updowns for false starts, motion penalties, alignment errors, fumbles) and we put time limit on offense such as "must score in three minutes or less" when scrimmaging...really ups the intensity level of practice which seems to help some.
not saying its perfect but its something ...
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Post by utchuckd on Sept 28, 2009 6:51:45 GMT -6
Just from the looks of it I'd say you're on the right track and I wouldn't change much, if anything. Look at the progress you've made as a program from last year to this. I've been there myself (turning around an 0-10 team) and it can get frustrating. Got to stay positive, keep them working, and keep fixing the breakdowns. Sounds like you've got a good group of kids, they'll make the connection.
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Post by hlb2 on Sept 28, 2009 7:11:11 GMT -6
Just from the looks of it I'd say you're on the right track and I wouldn't change much, if anything. Look at the progress you've made as a program from last year to this. I've been there myself (turning around an 0-10 team) and it can get frustrating. Got to stay positive, keep them working, and keep fixing the breakdowns. Sounds like you've got a good group of kids, they'll make the connection. They are, and it just rips my guts out to watch them work hard and then lose. Some of these kids have been through a lot going 0-10 last year with no senior leadership. I think we are finding ourself, it's just frustrating. After last weeks game, they were real down in the dumps before the ride home, however, once we got home and talked to them some more, they were quite chipper, I was impressed. They really are a good group of kids, just not a good group of athletes!  Thanks coaches! |
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Post by Wingtman on Sept 28, 2009 7:58:59 GMT -6
What year are you in at your school? Someone once said it takes four years to build a program.
Year one- Lose Big
Year two- Lose little
Year three- Win little
Year four- Win Big
If last year was year one, and this year is year two, it seems your on the right path.
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Post by hlb2 on Sept 28, 2009 9:23:37 GMT -6
I'm at year 2, but we are 0-14 under my tenure so far.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Sept 28, 2009 10:07:15 GMT -6
Hang in there, find success in other ways.
ie, I think we have been successful this year in reducing the finger pointing among players.
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Post by utchuckd on Sept 28, 2009 11:15:18 GMT -6
I like tdm's suggestions of upping the competitive pressure.
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Post by fbdoc on Sept 28, 2009 19:31:03 GMT -6
Sounds like our season so far - last year we're in the playoffs (finished 2nd in our district). This year, after graduating virtually every starter we're 0-4. The kids are working hard, but we're just not very good! We are simply trying to keep the wheels on as we have a decent group coming up and our Middle School team has tons of numbers and talent. Evaluate what you are doing and focus on the things you can control. Also look for small victories like - no turnovers. no offsides, sustain blocks, wrap up on tackles, positive yards, ANYTHING that can take the place (for now) of winning.
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Post by coachorr on Sept 28, 2009 21:22:49 GMT -6
FBDOC, I think you just got dumber as a coach since last year.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Sept 29, 2009 7:18:12 GMT -6
Graduation is the reason I got this job.
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Post by fbdoc on Sept 29, 2009 18:50:27 GMT -6
No question I'm Dumber this year than last year! And our QB just got himself suspended for this week by the head coach - it was a week overdue in my opinion - so those small victories become even more important. GREAT practice today! |
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