Good evening cougars!
I wanted to drop by and get everyone's thoughts here on our new coach. I'm actually one of the few State fans who wasn't a huge fan of this hire but I do think he will do well here. Not my first choice but I'm a fan now. I'm trying to warm up to it but I'm really scared about the air raid concept working in the SEC and against constant man coverage. Would love to get your thoughts on what you'll miss most and won't miss about Mike. For example when mullen left us we all were more than happy to see him go for his: Poor recruiting, inability to win Top 25 match ups, arrogance to adjust his offensive playbook on the goal line and 3rd and short situations, and his meddling on the defensive side. Obviously there were many positives (too many to list) we were going to miss.
Would love to hear all of your thoughts. Thanks!
Believe or not, I've made an effort to make this pithy.
Leach is the best coach we've had at WSU. He's a hard-ass, demanding coach that gets maximum production out of his personnel. The team will have historically high GPAs and graduation rates. He rambles during pressers and meetings and is never on time. They called him TSO (The Strange One) at Tech, and there is good reason for that. He will not glad hand with the boosters. He will pick unnecessary fights with the media. Injuries will not be discussed. Practice will be closed. He will publicly criticize players. The old school football guys will have a hard time with the lack of rushing attempts. Leach has no qualms about telling recruiting misses to hit the bricks. Anyone that hits a woman, steals or does drugs will be dismissed. Some of your fans won't like him.
Where Leach doesn't get enough credit is strength and conditioning. He's had outstanding strength coaches. Your team will be the best shape it's ever been in going into fall camp.
It's true that he doesn't spend much time with the defense, maybe none. He likes a 33 or 34, but I'm not sure that he would dictate that to the DC and I don't know what kind of personnel you've got. He needs a solid DC .
He's not a dynamic recruiter, and needs some recruiters on staff. Don't expect your recruiting ranking to skyrocket. After one or two cycles to plug roster holes, it will be balanced classes. Because he can do more with less on the offensive side, there is kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy. You get under the radar guys and he seems to seek them out. He seems to cast a wide net, then focus on guys that show interest. Recruits that want a lot of attention may not get it. He's not a coach that lives and breathes recruiting. He lives and breathes his offense.
Leach believes in the Air Raid with religious level zealotry. He is the HC, OC and QB coach. He has an "eye in the sky" to help him look at what the defense is doing who will likely be one of the WR coaches. The best way to think of the offense is that's it's triple option spread out with passes substituted for hand offs and pitches. The Air Raid attacks sideline to sideline about thirty yards deep. High volume short passes, with deep shots when the coverage allows it. Expect three personnel groups- 20, 10 and 0, with 10 about 85% of the time, 20 around 10% and 0 around 5%. No TE and no FB. There are a relatively small number of plays and a relatively large number of formations (when the receivers line up in slightly different spots, that's considered a different formation). However, Leach has had an H-back at times in the offense. Leach signals in a formation and play, and the play is almost always a pass (and I mean like 95%). The QB has considerable discretion to change the play at the LOS based on what he sees from the defense. For example if the box count dictates dictates that he should check to a run, he's supposed to check to a run. If the defense is showing man or blitz, it's take a deep shot or check to a screen. The QB is as close to being the OC. It's not a coincidence that Kingsbury, Cumbie, Riley, Harrell were/are all OCs, and good ones. If Leach is still coaching when Minshew is done playing, Minshew will be on staff and joining that group.
Over the course of the season, the run-pass balance is about 25-75. Generally speaking there are four running plays- inside zone, outside zone, draw and lead. There are a number of games WSU won where the offense had single digits or less rushing. Leach is looking for big plays out of the running game, not three yards and cloud of dust. Passes average seven yards per attempt, so there is no reason to run it if three yards is what you think you're going to get. It drives the old school football guys crazy.
Part of the philosophy is wearing down the defense with personnel substitutions. Eight or more receivers will play regularly. At least two running backs will play regularly.
When the offense is humming it's awesome, every damn play is a first down or touchdown. When it's not, it can be frustrating. I'm not sure what you have coming back on the offensive side, but if you have a decent QB and WR corp, you should be at the top of the SEC in passing in 2020, and dead last by a significant margin in rushing.
The key to stopping Leach's offense is getting pressure and containing the run with a three man rush. If that happens, the eight guys in coverage clog the 30 yard deep area, and there is really nowhere to go. I see you having a very difficult time with Bama, LSU and Auburn. I'm not sure how high Leach can elevate MSU in the SEC West. Maybe the best way to say it is he will raise the floor, but not raise the ceiling. Your W-L record will be more consistent once he has the program established. Don't expect any SEC championships or division championships.
