20 year olds aren't kids and I would like to hear what you think of the effort shown on the "Move the pile" play...because it is fair to judge a player's effort based on the effort he showed.
To be fair to Gerry and Maurice here:
The rules of the game have wussified this sport so much. If those two guys go firing in there and try to make a play, there's probably a flag thrown for unnecessary roughness.
The guys thought their teammates were making the play. As they should've.
Now, I'm not dismissing the whole effort argument at all. I think there's some issues. Hopefully what will all work itself out. On that play though, I can totally see where the possible penalty flag puts doubt in players minds.
As far as the other two plays in there, I think it is obvious that Gerry is truly still adjusting to playing in this scheme. I don't think he's the only one. That's where we got to find the balance. It doesn't mean it's a bad scheme. It doesn't mean it's a bad player. Sometimes in this game of football, not every football players fits every scheme.
Whoa whoa whoa, you were all over the kid in the gameday thread last week against Purdue. I mentioned that you don't have a player just drop off like this and blame it on the kid, it's mostly the scheme and coaching IMO. You didn't directly respond to me, but you did say that to think it's scheme is idiotic. So can I assume you're changing your stance on this? I did mention that part of it was probably on Gerry, but it appeared most of it would be coaching and scheme at this point.
Wow.....I was "all over the kid" in the gameday thread?
Man if I said something out of line in the emotions of the game, then I apologize. What did I say? I really don't remember.
I do remember posting a status update questioning if he was injured or not. I really think he might be. Not sure though.
As the season has gone on, I've found myself in a position where I come to this board and see nothing but blame for the coaches. In an effort to "level the field" a bit, I've demonstrated multiple times that in reality, there's plenty of blame to go around. Fact is, there should be struggles. I've been trying to tell people that. There is nothing similar about Banker and Pelini's defenses.
When I say, Gerry or anybody for that matter, isn't performing, really I'm just saying that they aren't executing well and they may not be a fit for this type of defense. It's not a knock on them as a player, it's just the truth. There will be guys that just do not fit what we are trying to do on either side of the ball.
The execution side of things is simple really. There's still some confusion out there. I do think some guys are frustrated with the way the season has gone. Some guys do look to have let off a bit at times.
Again, just being honest in my opinion. Not hateful.
If I gave that impression, that's my fault. I think Nate Gerry is a f#*k of a football player and a high character dude that may either be injured or just really struggling in this system at this point. I really hope he sticks it out and learns this system as the coaches learn how to utlize him.
Bo was right about one thing. It's a process. No doubt about it. I never expected it to go smoothly, but I never expected the win/loss record to be this bad. Overall when I've evaluated it though, it's mostly just been about unfamiliarity and some bad breaks. It's football. That's just how it is.
It's unfortunate that my attempt to disrupt a bit of the "Fire Riley" commotion with some illustrations of the all around struggles as a program, has come off as a complete defense of this staff, or an attack on any particular player. That's never the intent, but I am surely not the guy who is always free of emotion and passion when stating my opinions. I'll try to do better.