We solve our special team problems by hiring a coach

[CougEd]

who never has coached d1 before. We are paying top dollar for our program these days, improved the facilities and yet the most disastrous part of the team is filled by a GA. Mele may be brilliant. In time he may be the best special teams coach we have ever had. But we have now lost to Cal twice in which special teams have costs us. He is essentially learning on the job.

The fake punt. It was a momentum changer. Why it shouldn't have been called? You are up by 8. WSU was clearly expecting the people in the middle to run on the return, yet the person lined up in the DT position was right were he was suppose to be. If you argue it wasn't a bad call, just bad execution, they certainly didn't scout it properly because Cal played in their lanes where Charmin went.

The onsides kick...it is about lining up. It is an alignment error. It is a rookie mistake. The person up front didn't turn and run like happens many times, it was simply not having the field covered. It is the second time this season our alignment has been exploited. The first time was against PSU when we needed a return, and PSU placed a pooch kick right to an offensive lineman who has no hands. Again, things so easy to spot from the opposing staff. Even the flunkies at PSU like Roberson had this stuff figured out.

I get we are going to give up a game we shouldn't (PSU), and Leach will win a game we weren't projected to in preseason (Oregon), but in year four it sure is maddening by not being 4-0 when we should be.

And don't get me started on 3 and 30 and they run for a first down. Inexcusable. The defensive alignment had no balance and Cal was never going to make a throwing mistake from that position.

Lost opportunities. We now have to go 4-4. CU, OSU, Oregon, UW and Arizona. Three of those games are on the road, which as I write this it might not be a bad thing. But as bad offensively as UW is, they will be improved by the last game of the year.

 

[CougPatrol]

The special teams are the most aggravating aspect of our program right now. No way in Hell can you justify calling that fake punt. We're struggling to execute the basics on special teams, and putting them in that position was a recipe for disaster. I liked the decision to be aggressive, but you keep the offense on the field.

Yea, we could be 4-0 right now, but 3-1 is probably where we should be. I was as pissed as anyone after the Cal loss, but it was also one of most entertaining games I've watched. Both teams played hard, made mistakes, got lucky bounces, etc. The 3rd and 30 run was a joke, but we ended up stopping them on that drive, but more importantly, I've noticed a lot of improvement in our defense this season. So far, the Grinch hire looks to be a good one.

Yea, we have to go 4-4 the rest of the way to make a bowl game, but as I've said before, that's not the ultimate barometer for me. I also don't think you can look at our remaining schedule and circle wins/losses like we've done in the past.

UCLA and UW are playing true freshmen QB's. They will hit the wall this month. We also have the ability to pressure the QB this year, which will also boost our chances against them.

Oregon this week isn't nearly as intimidating as they've been in years past. I watched their game vs. Colorado, and it was a lot closer than the score indicated. Them being a 20 point favorite is interesting to say the least. Do we win? Not sure. Just want to see us continuing to play well.

Oregon State is a better team than people think. Again, the true freshman QB will be a wildcard. Facing Oregon's running QB attack the week before the Beaver game should help us prepare.

Arizona is a mess right now. Playing them on the road will be tough, but how much better are they than Cal? We can hang in that one.

Stanford looks to be too much for everyone.

ASU, who knows? Their offense isn't dynamic, so hope for chilly weather and a night game. I can't see them running us out of the stadium.

UCLA....as I mentioned, that game doesn't scare me nearly as much as it did. We'll challenge Rosen with our pass rush and aggressive DB play.

Colorado will be an issue of whether or not we show up for what usually is a poorly attended home game just prior to Thanksgiving break.

Apple Cup will be a good game. I like matching up with ANY team that's not an offensive machine.

 

[JBrown4435]

And maybe actually practice special teams. A reporter asked Leach during the off season if they were focusing more on special teams and he said no. Might want to rethink that one.

 

[ttowncoug]

Leach is the one how calls those plays, period. Our struggles continue to be around Leach the game manager....making bad calls at the right time.

Mele is responsible for coordinating the units. Our kicking game is DRAMATICALLY better this season.

 

[Cougatron]

Mele was the biggest question mark, and while some areas are improved others leave much to be desired.

We have 8 games and we need 4 games to make a bowl. Is that feasible? yes.