I think until our Offense finds it's true identity, our Defense needs to continue carrying the team. I think Bo knows that and is getting our players in shape for it.
...because he knows the offense won't find its identity till at least mid-season.
Sadly, that's probably true.
But maybe if they're in better shape we'll get more than five or six 1st downs a game.
I'm just so confused by this sentiment.
When we had Callahan people always knocked him for never making halftime adjustments. We like coaches that make halftime adjustments. Why? Aren't those guys incompetent as well because they don't know how to get things started until mid-game?
Or is it just that you never know what you might have in a team and what a season will throw at you, and you have to be willing to adapt to the situation accordingly?
So which is it: stubborn coaches suck, or adaptive coaches suck? Can't really have it both ways!
I think you are making this argument into something that it is not. This isn't a question about whether a coach should be stubborn or adaptive. I think everyone hopes that our coaches can adapt as the circumstances dictate. However, I do think the people who complain about Watson's mid-season offensive overhauls (WMSOO) have a very valid point.
2 years in a row Watson has began the season with a concept of what he wants the offense to be and what he thinks the offense can do well.
In 2008, Watson's offense started as a heavy set power running team. Unfortunately, Watson's thoughts about the strength of the 2008 offense was entirely wrong. Rather than being good at heavy set power running . . . Joe Ganz and company were good at a spread/zone read attack. Watson dutifully altered the offense to take advantage of these strengths.
In 2009, Watson's offense started as a spread attack with 3-5 receivers wide and a single back. It rapidly became apparent that Zac Lee, the receivers, and the OL were incapable of mounting an effective spread attack. Therefore, Watson installed a power set offense with a fullback and multiple tight ends on the field.
The problem that I, and many others, have is NOT that Watson is willing to adapt the offense to take advantage of the strengths of the team. My problem is that Watson is apparently unable to analyze the strengths of his offense during the spring and fall practices. A good offensive coach should be able to see how his team performs in practice and determine what they are good at, and what they struggle with. After making these observations Watson can tailor his offense accordingly and hopefully it will be productive from the very first game. However, Watson has NOT done this. I love that Watson is adaptable . . . I just wish he would do his adaptations prior to the season rather than halfway through.
Edit: I'm sure some posters here are familiar with the quote "Every military prepares to fight the previous war." I think that is quite similar to Watson's offense. It seems like in 2008 he built his offense like Sam Keller, a less mobile QB than Ganz, was still starting. Once he figured out that Ganz was better at throwing on the move he shifted his philosophy. In 2009 it seemed like Watson built the offense like Ganz, a mobile and accurate QB with reliable WR's were still on the team. When Watson discovered that Lee was neither mobile nor particularly accurate Watson decided to emphasize the running backs.
