One common thread regarding the last two MNC winners

[NewEra 2014]

They replaced incumbent QBs with freshmen QBs. The Bama and Clemson coaches decided that they needed to go with the best player.

This is where CJF needs to become a bit more ruthless with his players and with his coaching staff. If players and coaches know going in that they can’t relax, the overall performance of this team will improve. It won’t be a comfortable place to play or work, but it will bring out the best in everyone around this program.

It is the primary change that needs to be made in order for Penn State to go from the “good to great” level that James has talked about.

 

[danvillenit]

First you have to recruit a player like Lawrence and Tau. If we had the #1 player in the country and likely first pick of NFL coming in next year I’m guessing he would get every opportunity to start

 

[AWS1022]

If players and coaches know going in that they can’t relax, the overall performance of this team will improve.

Obviously you’ve never played any team sport. If you’re constantly worried about getting benched, you end up playing scared. Players end up playing to not make mistakes, so they end up doing nothing or they end up trying to do too much and do dumb things. Do you think Barkley feared for his job? He just went out and played and that’s when players play their best.

 

[psuro]

They scored more points than their opponents.

That is a common thread that ties all winners together.

 

[NewEra 2014]

Obviously you’ve never played any team sport.

Nice try, Jasper. I’ve been captain of multiple championship teams in high school and college.

My point is that sometimes James has been loyal to a fault to his coaches and players. He may need to get a bit more tough on them if Penn State is going to take the next step.

 

[AWS1022]

Nice try, Jasper. I’ve been captain of multiple championship teams in high school and college.

My point is that sometimes James has been loyal to a fault to his coaches and players. He may need to get a bit more tough on them if Penn State is going to take the next step.

Hard to say he’s been loyal to a fault when we don’t know what goes on in practices. It’s what fans accuse coaches of when we want to see the backup play more. Coaches want to win more than anyone and they will play the guys they feel will help them win. D-1 coaches aren’t playing guys simply out of loyalty....they have their reasons and unless we know those reasons, we can’t just sit back and claim loyalty.

As far as getting tough on his players, in the NC game I saw one coach that got excited, jumped around, celebrated with his players and I saw another coach being tough....the tough coach did not win. Every coach has a different style...changing that style may do more harm than good.

 

[Nitt1300]

[QUOTE="AWS1022, post: 3930657, member: 8694"]Hard to say he’s been loyal to a fault when we don’t know what goes on in practices. It’s what fans accuse coaches of when we want to see the backup play more. Coaches want to win more than anyone and they will play the guys they feel will help them win. D-1 coaches aren’t playing guys simply out of loyalty....they have their reasons and unless we know those reasons, we can’t just sit back and claim loyalty.

As far as getting tough on his players, in the NC game I saw one coach that got excited, jumped around, celebrated with his players and I saw another coach being tough....the tough coach did not win. Every coach has a different style...changing that style may do more harm than good.[/QUOTE]


That's true of most of the coaching critiques we see on these boards. My favorite is "he's not a good gameday coach"- like anyone here would know. We not only don't see practice or meetings, we don't hear what is said (or to whom) during the games or what is discussed at halftimes, or spoken into helmet earholes.

Yeah, it's what fans do- but it's totally uninformed conjecture and not to be taken seriously.

 

[RU31trap]

• I'm not in a position to second guess Saban but from what I saw in the Georgia game and the National Championship game Hurts would have been a better option for Alabama. Now, this is not to say that Alabama would have beaten Clemson with Hurts at QB but they probably would have made fewer mistakes and kept the game a little closer. I never agreed with freshmen starting over upperclassmen unless they are profoundly more talented. The last thing you need is for your Juniors and Seniors to quit on you and the team.