Leach's biggest coaching weakness, IMO, is Leach the game manager

[ttowncoug]

I can point to numerous examples where Leach is the rouge guy....he gets frustrated or pissed and then want to turn up the heat -- in game -- to make his point or teach the team a lesson. (That's my view).

Examples:
1. Ill-advised 4th down calls (last year's Apple Cup).
2. Impatient with players in certain situations.
3. Having Bender fire passes down field with a cold arm.

I've been looking at Leach as little more critically under the following filter: would Belicheck (sp) or Saban make that same in game call? And for the unconventional road Leach paves, every once in a while, I think it's fair to say...."you know Mike, I don't agree with that choice."

I could go on. Maybe there is a unknown method to his madness....not sure...but Leach as coach should NOT be putting more adversity and pressure on his kids....yet his personality seems to lend itself to this.

 

[Glad Cougar]

I can point to numerous examples where Leach is the rouge guy....he gets frustrated or pissed and then want to turn up the heat -- in game -- to make his point or teach the team a lesson. (That's my view).

Examples:
1. Ill-advised 4th down calls (last year's Apple Cup).
2. Impatient with players in certain situations.
3. Having Bender fire passes down field with a cold arm.

I've been looking at Leach as little more critically under the following filter: would Belicheck (sp) or Saban make that same in game call? And for the unconventional road Leach paves, every once in a while, I think it's fair to say...."you know Mike, I don't agree with that choice."

I could go on. Maybe there is a unknown method to his madness....not sure...but Leach as coach should NOT be putting more adversity and pressure on his kids....yet his personality seems to lend itself to this.

 

[SaveFerris]

I can point to numerous examples where Leach is the rouge guy....he gets frustrated or pissed and then want to turn up the heat -- in game -- to make his point or teach the team a lesson. (That's my view).

Examples:
1. Ill-advised 4th down calls (last year's Apple Cup).
2. Impatient with players in certain situations.
3. Having Bender fire passes down field with a cold arm.

I've been looking at Leach as little more critically under the following filter: would Belicheck (sp) or Saban make that same in game call? And for the unconventional road Leach paves, every once in a while, I think it's fair to say...."you know Mike, I don't agree with that choice."

I could go on. Maybe there is a unknown method to his madness....not sure...but Leach as coach should NOT be putting more adversity and pressure on his kids....yet his personality seems to lend itself to this.

On the Bender point, what was the alternative with a minute to go down 7? It was a tough spot for Bender but the situation dictated throwing down field to try to salvage the game.

I assume Leach feels the players can or should be able to handle "more adversity and pressure". I think that's where he wants to get to and maybe expects the team to already be able to handle. You only build that by applying the pressure. IMO, I think we need players tough enough to handle that kind of pressure. We don't play a BSU type schedule and Leach isn't conventional. The players need to figure out how to execute consistently within that prism.

 

[Coug95man2]

On the Bender point, what was the alternative with a minute to go down 7? It was a tough spot for Bender but the situation dictated throwing down field to try to salvage the game.

I assume Leach feels the players can or should be able to handle "more adversity and pressure". I think that's where he wants to get to and maybe expects the team to already be able to handle. You only build that by applying the pressure. IMO, I think we need players tough enough to handle that kind of pressure. We don't play a BSU type schedule and Leach isn't conventional. The players need to figure out how to execute consistently within that prism.

Agreed. There was a whole discussion already about how our team is soft. Now we put too much pressure on them? We, collectively, are grasping for something to make sense. Nothing really does, or it's assumption. It was just a bad, bad game.

 

[Glad Cougar]

At the very least, I think a lot of coaches would have kept the ball on the ground a little more on Saturday, given the weather conditions. I know we were only up 10-0 at half, but the running backs were doing well and I believe WSU could have worn down the Viking defense by pounding away. Instead, Leach pretty much abandoned the run at halftime, almost as if to say, "our identity is the passing game, that's what we do no matter what." Sometimes it's important to think about the best way to win a game.

By the way, the second drive that ended in a blocked FG, I think WSU had it first and goal inside the 5. They tried one running play that didn't get much but then went right to the passing game. I would have liked to see at least one more run. How many times did Wicks and Morrow get the first down on 4th and short prior to that drive?

 

[BiggsCoug]

Agreed. There was a whole discussion already about how our team is soft. Now we put too much pressure on them? We, collectively, are grasping for something to make sense. Nothing really does, or it's assumption. It was just a bad, bad game.

What pressure is there now? F it. Go for broke! You just lost to Portland State. Might as well swing your sword now. There is nothing left to lose that could be worse this season then your home opener against a school with $22M less than you and 25 scholarships fewer.

 

[Coug95man2]

What pressure is there now? F it. Go for broke! You just lost to Portland State. Might as well swing your sword now. There is nothing left to lose that could be worse this season then your home opener against a school with $22M less than you and 25 scholarships fewer.

Oh, I agree with you edit: in a general sense. Was that the problem this weekend? I don't know that for sure but this weekend at Rutgers I'll sure be watching to see if there's any toughness, any fire in the belly stuff going on. But the previous poster was commenting that CML's approach didn't make sense and maybe the players were shying away from the pressure, kinda thing. The quote being:

he gets frustrated or pissed and then want to turn up the heat -- in game -- to make his point or teach the team a lesson.

We need passion, we need toughness. I think we have the physical attributes to battle. But if there is a problem with the players, it's between the ears… again.

 

[CougEd]

On the Bender point, what was the alternative with a minute to go down 7? It was a tough spot for Bender but the situation dictated throwing down field to try to salvage the game.

I assume Leach feels the players can or should be able to handle "more adversity and pressure". I think that's where he wants to get to and maybe expects the team to already be able to handle. You only build that by applying the pressure. IMO, I think we need players tough enough to handle that kind of pressure. We don't play a BSU type schedule and Leach isn't conventional. The players need to figure out how to execute consistently within that prism.

Save... I totally agree with T. Not a huge knock, but the job is slightly different than the job he had at Tech. Much like with Price, he never got his Bama job was different than the WSU job. At WSU he was wanted and encouraged to mingle with the towns people. Granted Mike took it to an extreme. But at Bama they wanted Mike in the film room and practice facility 365 days thinking football. Anything less was unacceptable.

With Leach, I agree under ideal situation your tough guys lead. The problem at WSU what they really needed was a coach to get them over a mental hump. While a player can be run into a ground, where confidence comes on the field isn''t necessarily in toughness, but rather success. If WSU came back against PSU and won, sure people would have been pissed they played so poorly but winning in the last minute of the game is huge for the confidence. Small winning plays beget winning plays.

I won't reference 2012, but what this team needs is confidence, and they need to have the coach in game make that right call. For example, in 2013 when he called time out against Arizona to get them organized. That worked.

Prices onside kick in 2001 against Arizona. Jeff Kellers blocked punt against CU back in 81. And we were playing worse that day than we did last weekend. Leon's stop at the goal line.

I think a bball coach can make the kid run as many lines as he/she wants them to run. But that isn't going to give him confidence on his shot. Same principle. I just don't think Leach ever knew the magnitude of the job that he was taking.

 

[CougPatrol]

Here are our 3 biggest problems right now.

1. Defense
2. Special teams
3. QB - It's too early to bail on Falk, but I'm concerned that we don't have "the guy" on campus

So taking those 3 things into account, my take is that Leach's biggest problem(s) thus far have been his hiring decisions. Leach ONLY wants to concern himself with the offensive side of the ball, but the fact of the matter is we're too poor in the other 2 phases of the game to compensate for our offensive output.

Forget for a moment that it was Portland State last weekend and simply think of them as "our opponent."

Last weekend in a surprisingly cold, wet, and uncomfortable day in front of a very sparse home crowd, we outgained "our opponent" approximately 270 - 65 in the first half and led 10-0. Had we executed a routine FG, the lead would have been 13-0.

In the 2nd half, we allowed "our opponent" to drive the length of the field on their opening possession. Due to worsening weather conditions, we (not surprisingly) struggled to move the ball. Our defense allowed over 200 rushing yards on two routine read/option, delayed handoff plays. A muffed punt inside our 15 yard line turned the tables on us.

Our offense isn't perfect by any means, and it's been responsible for some losses under Leach, but how many times have we kicked away sure wins because of special teams lapses? How many times have broken defensive plays/schemes allowed opponents to jump out to huge early (demoralizing) leads?

Far more often than not, it's been defensive collapses and special teams gaffes that have cost us games. I still pin that on Leach, but I don't think it's accurate to say the air raid isn't working.

 

[CougEd]

Here are our 3 biggest problems right now.

1. Defense
2. Special teams
3. QB - It's too early to bail on Falk, but I'm concerned that we don't have "the guy" on campus

So taking those 3 things into account, my take is that Leach's biggest problem(s) thus far have been his hiring decisions. Leach ONLY wants to concern himself with the offensive side of the ball, but the fact of the matter is we're too poor in the other 2 phases of the game to compensate for our offensive output.

Forget for a moment that it was Portland State last weekend and simply think of them as "our opponent."

Last weekend in a surprisingly cold, wet, and uncomfortable day in front of a very sparse home crowd, we outgained "our opponent" approximately 270 - 65 in the first half and led 10-0. Had we executed a routine FG, the lead would have been 13-0.

In the 2nd half, we allowed "our opponent" to drive the length of the field on their opening possession. Due to worsening weather conditions, we (not surprisingly) struggled to move the ball. Our defense allowed over 200 rushing yards on two routine read/option, delayed handoff plays. A muffed punt inside our 15 yard line turned the tables on us.

Our offense isn't perfect by any means, and it's been responsible for some losses under Leach, but how many times have we kicked away sure wins because of special teams lapses? How many times have broken defensive plays/schemes allowed opponents to jump out to huge early (demoralizing) leads?

Far more often than not, it's been defensive collapses and special teams gaffes that have cost us games. I still pin that on Leach, but I don't think it's accurate to say the air raid isn't working.

You know, Buddy Ryan couldn't hire an offensive coordinator to save his life. He was so focused on his defense he didn't have those coaches in his circle. They were part of the coaching tree. They were the weds under the tree.

Because Leach has been an offensive genius he may not have the contacts to reach out and get the person who would make a difference. Grinch may be great. But he sure threw the dice out there with he and Mele. If he is 1 out of2 is that enough? In the past, with his offense scoring at a higher rate, yes. If WSU was up 21-24 nothing, does PSU even get the opportunity to run the ball. So offense played a role in it.

 

[CougPatrol]

If WSU was up 21-24 nothing, does PSU even get the opportunity to run the ball. So offense played a role in it.

Hell yes offense played a part in the loss last weekend, but I don't blame the air raid (or even Leach) for the majority of the offensive ineptitude.

There were at least 10 routine dropped passes. Falk continually held, hitched, and patted the ball, the way I used to do playing nerf ball with my friends. Falk also checked into some ridiculous bad running plays, a few of which occurred inside the 10 yard line. And again, the weather really was an air raid nightmare last weekend.

The offense stunk last weekend, but what was particularly maddening was watching the offensive line pass protect (generally) well and see our receivers open down field. The 10 yard check-down routes were WIDE OPEN all day. Falk also could have run for over 100 yards on scrambles if he wanted to.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Hell yes offense played a part in the loss last weekend, but I don't blame the air raid (or even Leach) for the majority of the offensive ineptitude.

There were at least 10 routine dropped passes. Falk continually held, hitched, and patted the ball, the way I used to do playing nerf ball with my friends. Falk also checked into some ridiculous bad running plays, a few of which occurred inside the 10 yard line. And again, the weather really was an air raid nightmare last weekend.

The offense stunk last weekend, but what was particularly maddening was watching the offensive line pass protect (generally) well and see our receivers open down field. The 10 yard check-down routes were WIDE OPEN all day. Falk also could have run for over 100 yards on scrambles if he wanted to.

Take what the defense is giving you. If Falk can run for 5 yards and slide, do it. Take the yards, move the chains, force the defense to leave someone in the box.

If the flats are open, throw it to them. You'll see some teams not even defend the flat. They'll commit more bodies deep and just rally to the football and make a tackle in the flat. Treat it like stuffing a toss sweep for a two yard gain. If that's what you're seeing, as a coach you need a guy that can either make someone miss or break a tackle and turn that into a 6 yard gain.

If Im an air raid guy facing a 34 defense Im gonna crank the tempo and run the ball just enough so they can't sub out their 240 pound linebackers. Im gonna make those big LBs run sideline to sideline and back and forth to either cover someone or make tackles. They will essentially be in a shuttle run all over the field. Make them dog tired. If all you're gonna do is throw the ball the defense can sub in a smaller body. If all you're gonna do it run the ball the defense can leave in their big bodies. Offensively you need to run the ball. And by run I mean either QB running, bubble or RB in the flat.

If there is 100 yards rushing for Falk, take the yards.