Spring Football
Re: Spring Football
Listening to Coach WF, the defense had their way with the offense today. A lot of pressure on the QB’s, and the WR’s having a difficult time getting off of press coverage. The depth at WR is a concern. We need some development and the extra reps should pay off for Toles, Pressley, and P. Watt.
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Re: Spring Football
We have three starting quality guys out all of whom will be ready to go in August (sooner, really) when they'll be joined by four new WR's. Numbers there will be fine.
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Re: Spring Football
Numbers are not the concern, quality is. We all have very short memories here but last year we had a horrible problem with WRs who just plain dropped passes. Everyone is excited about Pratt and our RB stable but if guys continue to drop passes or can't get open against decent defenses (like last year), we won't live up to any expectations.long green wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:44 pm We have three starting quality guys out all of whom will be ready to go in August (sooner, really) when they'll be joined by four new WR's. Numbers there will be fine.
I hope the guys currently out do well when they come back.
On the bright side, last year's defense would not have caused any problems, so that's a potential silver lining.
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Re: Spring Football
Just got around to reading this. More than even the tempo and the discussion of certain players, I'm excited to hear Long is more in the Bowden mold of getting on guys hard for things they do wrong. We've had too many guys who did the "nice guy" approach of only complimenting things done right (as it says Hall did) and while that has advantages in some ways, it can also lead to being soft. It's been discussed here many times that our greatest successes have been under hard-nosed taskmasters and it sound like Long is one of those.long green wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:11 pm https://www.nola.com/sports/tulane/arti ... 21438.html
The linked story is about Long's different approach. I know I liked hearing him talk about the limits of speeding it up on offense. We'll probably be faster but not UCF fast.
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Re: Spring Football
Remember the talk about Long's personality "issues"? Not everyone responds the same way to tough coaching.
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Re: Spring Football
It's a fine balance. If it's only constant derision then most folks eventually tune out. If it's everyone gets a trophy you get soft players and soft adults. Praise where warranted and kick butt where needed.Sophandros wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:09 am Remember the talk about Long's personality "issues"? Not everyone responds the same way to tough coaching.
Fan since 1974 living in Phelps seeing the upper bowl of Tulane Stadium
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Re: Spring Football
So is the implication here that the only supposed issues at ND were that he was a hard-nosed guy who got in players' faces? I can't believe that players at ND (a lot of whom are midwestern, where high school coaches still lean a little "Bob Knight-ish") would be bothered enough by that to have him forced out.Sophandros wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:09 am Remember the talk about Long's personality "issues"? Not everyone responds the same way to tough coaching.
Whatever the case, I am happy to hear that our players - Pratt especially - are responding to it and even acknowledging it in the media, saying they appreciate it. That implies they aren't going to quit because of it. If he were that hard-nosed and no one talked about it, that would make it more likely that players didn't respond to it (and were only talking about it amongst themselves, or worse, just stewing) and/or would turn on him. Players publicly saying they appreciate him being so tough on them is a GREAT thing, IMO.
Re: Spring Football
Pete, this is what I was really referring to. Are we going to have to rely on freshman as quality back-ups? I hope Sutton is the real deal. We need someone with his experience to provide the 4th wide out. Hope he gets to practice this week.PeteRasche wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 8:00 pmNumbers are not the concern, quality is. We all have very short memories here but last year we had a horrible problem with WRs who just plain dropped passes. Everyone is excited about Pratt and our RB stable but if guys continue to drop passes or can't get open against decent defenses (like last year), we won't live up to any expectations.long green wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:44 pm We have three starting quality guys out all of whom will be ready to go in August (sooner, really) when they'll be joined by four new WR's. Numbers there will be fine.
I hope the guys currently out do well when they come back.
On the bright side, last year's defense would not have caused any problems, so that's a potential silver lining.
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Re: Spring Football
If Sutton is on the level of Jackson, we'll have three truly solid targets at WR independent of development of other players or the addition of a new guy who reshuffles the deck by his appearance. We're returning our two best guys which doesn't happen that often. It's happened twice under Fritz, 2017 & 2018. As for drops, get specific. How many did Duece have and how many did Jackson have? We had too many and they were spread out but the prospects on paper are notably better at WR than any year since the storm. And we have the best QB prospect here since Losman, with a year of experience.
The results in passing last year were too spotty but look at what we had going into last year in returning production and at QB. We should have struggled and we did.
The results in passing last year were too spotty but look at what we had going into last year in returning production and at QB. We should have struggled and we did.
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Re: Spring Football
This. The conversation also said it will initially play out well. Over time it becomes overbearing. Plus it was more than just players it was fellow coaches at ND. It was to such a degree that he ended up here. No doubt a huge fall from ND. We got lucky as was said initially. He'll only be here a short time because he will likely have success with Pratt at QB. It should work out well for both parties.TUPF wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:55 amIt's a fine balance. If it's only constant derision then most folks eventually tune out. If it's everyone gets a trophy you get soft players and soft adults. Praise where warranted and kick butt where needed.Sophandros wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:09 am Remember the talk about Long's personality "issues"? Not everyone responds the same way to tough coaching.
We deserve so much better
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Re: Spring Football
Agree. Many here hate to admit it but our history shows that we are a stepping stone (and whatever step forward AAC membership might have been, the continued dominant growth of the P5 has negated). If Long has success, he's either gone, or, if the timing is right, first in line when Fritz retires. That would, of course, mean he's adapted since the "issues" at ND. I'm fine either way; it means we've had success. And until success is sustained long enough to not be a stepping stone, the key is hiring the right "next guy".wavedom wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:08 pmThis. The conversation also said it will initially play out well. Over time it becomes overbearing. Plus it was more than just players it was fellow coaches at ND. It was to such a degree that he ended up here. No doubt a huge fall from ND. We got lucky as was said initially. He'll only be here a short time because he will likely have success with Pratt at QB. It should work out well for both parties.TUPF wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:55 amIt's a fine balance. If it's only constant derision then most folks eventually tune out. If it's everyone gets a trophy you get soft players and soft adults. Praise where warranted and kick butt where needed.Sophandros wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:09 am Remember the talk about Long's personality "issues"? Not everyone responds the same way to tough coaching.
In my experience, being a hard-nosed coach only works if you are fair - you have to be the same with everyone and don't let some off easier. If you do, those getting constantly berated start seeing that others aren't and grow a grudge which is really hard to fix.
Re: Spring Football
Exactly. There are lots of ways to screw it up too. Targeting a sinlge player to make the whipping goat. Playing favorites to going easier on premadonnas with fragile egos. Or pushing certain people while ignoring others to the point where they are not part of the compeition and as anyone who has been on a college roster with their eyes half open will tell you coaches have subjective favorites.PeteRasche wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:54 pm In my experience, being a hard-nosed coach only works if you are fair - you have to be the same with everyone and don't let some off easier. If you do, those getting constantly berated start seeing that others aren't and grow a grudge which is really hard to fix.
The point is if being hard nosed is one of your main tactics then it better be as fair as can be.
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Re: Spring Football
In addition, as a player you hope they are speaking to you period. If it is complete silence, then the player has a decision.
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Re: Spring Football
All of which is to my original point, which is that the story posted upthread about Long being tough and the players responding positively is a GREAT thing to hear.
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Re: Spring Football
Does anyone around here remember Jim Pittman. He used to say that preparing for a FB game was like preparing to go to war. As I recall, he did okay by us. We went to the same church so I had many opportunities to visit with him. Still a favorite of mine.TUPF wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:55 amIt's a fine balance. If it's only constant derision then most folks eventually tune out. If it's everyone gets a trophy you get soft players and soft adults. Praise where warranted and kick butt where needed.Sophandros wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:09 am Remember the talk about Long's personality "issues"? Not everyone responds the same way to tough coaching.
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Re: Spring Football
My brother played for Pittman at Tulane and is very complimentary, although he said you had to be really tough to make it. He sorted out the guys who didn't want to go to war and his teams were successful.
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Re: Spring Football
More people here are of an age that they attended games in the Pittman era than are not...
(I'm in the minority who are not)
Re: Spring Football
We're halfway through his first spring practice...let's check everyone's attitudes once we have games/losses/adversity and see how the coaching style is wearing at that point.PeteRasche wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:46 pm All of which is to my original point, which is that the story posted upthread about Long being tough and the players responding positively is a GREAT thing to hear.
Re: Spring Football
One of the very few places where we get to feel young....PeteRasche wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 4:21 pmMore people here are of an age that they attended games in the Pittman era than are not...
(I'm in the minority who are not)
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Re: Spring Football
How many on this board plan on making it to the Spring Game? Right around the corner, April 3rd, I believe.
Would like some well-thought-out critique. Don't be bashful.
I won't be there, too long of a drive.
Would like some well-thought-out critique. Don't be bashful.
I won't be there, too long of a drive.
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Re: Spring Football
I'm planning to be there but it's a spring game. If something comes up and I can't make it Saturday, ah well.
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Re: Spring Football
Loved Pittman. He would have had a hard time coaching in this day and age with the limitations on what he could do.Cheerleader wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:36 pm My brother played for Pittman at Tulane and is very complimentary, although he said you had to be really tough to make it. He sorted out the guys who didn't want to go to war and his teams were successful.
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Re: Spring Football
Like locking them all in a padded room with pugi (sp)sticks and helmets and squaring them off against one another till only one was left. Brutal. But you found out who the warriors were.
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Re: Spring Football
https://www.nola.com/sports/tulane/arti ... 2c785.html
Deuce Watts returned to practice, Fritz expects him to be able to participate tomorrow.
Deuce Watts returned to practice, Fritz expects him to be able to participate tomorrow.
And may our enemies, if they exist, be unconscious of our purpose. - From The Lady Vanishes
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Re: Spring Football
Good news...