Return to power running. The B1G environment doesn't lend itself to pass first IMO (weather/cold). Establish a physical down hill running attack the punishes and hurts people in its physicality. Develop an identity and recruit to it. Run a limited set of plays from multiple sets. Use the TE and FB. Get a QB who can beat you with his feet and has a serviceable arm for screens and play action. Get so you can run the plays in your sleep. Flawlessly.
On defense, scrap the 2 gap. Get LB's who can run. CB's who can play physical at the line. Safeties who are headhunters. Again, develop a ball hawking attacking mentality. Give up a big play to blitz and lay the QB out. I remember in the 1990's thinking any QB who left the "relative" safety of the pocket stood a good chance of getting knocked out of the game. bring this back. Go to the whistle and then some. Play mean. Play nasty. Play fearless.
Coaching-devlop depth by recruiting to your style. If a guy messes up, sit and teach. Immediately. Teach and then teach some more. Make it where athletes can play in year one,not year 3. Make holding the players accountable to each other a priority. Get a competent staff and listen to them. Embrace the fans, don't alienate them...
To add, TO was a good man, great character and no nonsense, BUT he did get some "questionable" kids. The anger guys played with wasn't necessarily taught. They came angry.........Recruit some of those "questionable" kids with clear expectations and requirements....To the point of the OP, I think TO would still recruit those "project" kids. He helped a lot of them........
On defense, scrap the 2 gap. Get LB's who can run. CB's who can play physical at the line. Safeties who are headhunters. Again, develop a ball hawking attacking mentality. Give up a big play to blitz and lay the QB out. I remember in the 1990's thinking any QB who left the "relative" safety of the pocket stood a good chance of getting knocked out of the game. bring this back. Go to the whistle and then some. Play mean. Play nasty. Play fearless.
Coaching-devlop depth by recruiting to your style. If a guy messes up, sit and teach. Immediately. Teach and then teach some more. Make it where athletes can play in year one,not year 3. Make holding the players accountable to each other a priority. Get a competent staff and listen to them. Embrace the fans, don't alienate them...
To add, TO was a good man, great character and no nonsense, BUT he did get some "questionable" kids. The anger guys played with wasn't necessarily taught. They came angry.........Recruit some of those "questionable" kids with clear expectations and requirements....To the point of the OP, I think TO would still recruit those "project" kids. He helped a lot of them........
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