Yeah, if you're going to allow 90% completion percentage you have to tackle at an elite level. We're not even tackling at a middle school level.

RaiderDoug said:

I noticed that vs WKU. I'm just not sure if the culprit is the athletes or the schemes. Or both. Many of the WKU completions, WKU guys were just a step ahead of our guys.

And I hate to keep beating a dead horse here - but there's not a lot of pass defenses that will come out looking good vs Jaxon Dart/Lane Kiffen, Malik Murphy, Seth Henigan and Memphis's high flying offense, and WKU/Tyson Helton who is known for their pass offense.

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For me, it’s the philosophy as much or more than the result. Most of the teams we have played are going to torch a lot of teams throwing the ball. We are limited by talent.

When your limited by new players, new coaches and injuries, you have to simplify schemes and rely on base packages more.

Some coaches think you should play off when you are limited. Some coaches think you have to be more aggressive and press more. We have chosen to handle the problem by being more in off coverage. I disagree with this. I said something about it against Tech and it’s carried over.. If we are going to get lit up anyway, might as well try to press and add more pressures so that maybe we force a turnover, knock a receiver off their route, disrupt time, etc.

It can’t be much worse.

MidTennMtneer said:

I'm disappointed so far, sure. But I've decided I'll wait to see how the season progresses in conference play, which is what matters. One CUSA game so far doesn't paint a complete picture. It's hard to correct issues when your competition is on different levels each week.

Even Kiffin said he doesn't know how his team will do in conference because no one they've played yet has prepared them. We are on the opposite end of that spectrum as our early schedule was harder than what the meat of conference play should be. Only 4 conference games have been played so far out of 40.

I mean CUSA is BAD this year, us included. Currently sitting at 15-23 overall. Take away WKU and LU it becomes 8-22. Looking at out of conference, you have this:

Vs P4 0-8
Vs G5 6-9
Vs FCS 5-2

And there are still 4 P4, 5 G5, 1 FCS games left.

With Stock, I kept track of his record vs teams with winning records. I'm not doing that with Mason. His job is to win the conference with a few good outside wins sprinkled in. We can't control if our conference sucks.

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I admit I kind of bought in to some of the off season one liners from DM and thought .500 in conference was feasible, so I was kind of expecting something around 5-7.

But after what we've seen so far what's reasonable now? At this point, I think 2-10 (plus or minus one) is more than likely at this point. This is the worst team we've had in four decades - maybe even worse than the team that actually went 2-10. Once we get to six losses, really need to focus on developing for next year.

I'm disappointed so far, sure. But I've decided I'll wait to see how the season progresses in conference play, which is what matters. One CUSA game so far doesn't paint a complete picture. It's hard to correct issues when your competition is on different levels each week.

Even Kiffin said he doesn't know how his team will do in conference because no one they've played yet has prepared them. We are on the opposite end of that spectrum as our early schedule was harder than what the meat of conference play should be. Only 4 conference games have been played so far out of 40.

I mean CUSA is BAD this year, us included. Currently sitting at 15-23 overall. Take away WKU and LU it becomes 8-22. Looking at out of conference, you have this:

Vs P4 0-8
Vs G5 6-9
Vs FCS 5-2

And there are still 4 P4, 5 G5, 1 FCS games left.

With Stock, I kept track of his record vs teams with winning records. I'm not doing that with Mason. His job is to win the conference with a few good outside wins sprinkled in. We can't control if our conference sucks.

RaiderDoug said:

I noticed that vs WKU. I'm just not sure if the culprit is the athletes or the schemes. Or both. Many of the WKU completions, WKU guys were just a step ahead of our guys.

And I hate to keep beating a dead horse here - but there's not a lot of pass defenses that will come out looking good vs Jaxon Dart/Lane Kiffen, Malik Murphy, Seth Henigan and Memphis's high flying offense, and WKU/Tyson Helton who is known for their pass offense.

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Why attempt to whitewash these performances? Each of these QBs had their best day of the season against us. It’s like they were going against air. There was no resistance. That should not happen at this level no matter how new the coach is. Western wouldn’t accept this. It’s why they fired a coach after only two seasons. We have a massive culture problem at this school.

Brew_Raider said:

I’m more disappointed in the philosophy on defense and lack of fundamentals across the board when tackling.


I cannot stress how much I disagree with loose coverage in our secondary. I get injuries limit scheme and how exotic we can get on D. However, I firmly believe we need to be in press quarters on the outside. I have heard too many great coaches say you play loose when you have talent and play more press when you lack talent. This is Saban, Narduzzi, and Smart, down to Jeremy Pruitt.

We are dead last in the country in pass yards allowed. You just have to do something different. Go to press quarters, add more pressures, something different. We are currently giving up 75% completion and then relying on tackling in space.

I am surprised with lack of adjustments given the experience of our coaching staff on D. Really disappointing.

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I noticed that vs WKU. I'm just not sure if the culprit is the athletes or the schemes. Or both. Many of the WKU completions, WKU guys were just a step ahead of our guys.

And I hate to keep beating a dead horse here - but there's not a lot of pass defenses that will come out looking good vs Jaxon Dart/Lane Kiffen, Malik Murphy, Seth Henigan and Memphis's high flying offense, and WKU/Tyson Helton who is known for their pass offense.

Brew_Raider said:

I’m more disappointed in the philosophy on defense and lack of fundamentals across the board when tackling.


I cannot stress how much I disagree with loose coverage in our secondary. I get injuries limit scheme and how exotic we can get on D. However, I firmly believe we need to be in press quarters on the outside. I have heard too many great coaches say you play loose when you have talent and play more press when you lack talent. This is Saban, Narduzzi, and Smart, down to Jeremy Pruitt.

We are dead last in the country in pass yards allowed. You just have to do something different. Go to press quarters, add more pressures, something different. We are currently giving up 75% completion and then relying on tackling in space.

I am surprised with lack of adjustments given the experience of our coaching staff on D. Really disappointing.

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Every time you talk to this staff, they say they want to play an aggressive defense. And then it's also clear they don't believe they have someone to set and win on the edge or trust the new corners, so that is something to watch next season, especially if they can solidify the front. For what it's worth, I agree completely

Despite the recruiting restrictions Vanderbilt had compared to fellow SEC teams CDM always seemed to have a very competitive D. Because of his defensive philosophy it's what I thought would be the strongest part of the team.

SpaceRaider said:

6.7%

Line: MEM -24.5
Over/Under: 61.5

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Line: MEM -26
Over/Under: 61.5

I’m more disappointed in the philosophy on defense and lack of fundamentals across the board when tackling.


I cannot stress how much I disagree with loose coverage in our secondary. I get injuries limit scheme and how exotic we can get on D. However, I firmly believe we need to be in press quarters on the outside. I have heard too many great coaches say you play loose when you have talent and play more press when you lack talent. This is Saban, Narduzzi, and Smart, down to Jeremy Pruitt.

We are dead last in the country in pass yards allowed. You just have to do something different. Go to press quarters, add more pressures, something different. We are currently giving up 75% completion and then relying on tackling in space.

I am surprised with lack of adjustments given the experience of our coaching staff on D. Really disappointing.

Chip is about the 1:04:00 mark

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Hop45 said:

Offensive line, for one thing. A lot of bigger bodies were brought in with the hope of protecting NV more. Haven't seen it yet.

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Lost 2 OL to P4. Lost your starting center. Lost your other starting tackle.

Added a G5 transfer that had played one game in three years, added an FCS transfer that was coming off season ending injuries. Brought in a freshman with a bright future.

Then you lose your veterans Julius Pierce and J’Shun Bodiford right away. The OL was always going to be one of the question marks on the team and then it became an even bigger one. This is where you would attack in the portal. Need to have a good haul there but could have a strong interior next year potentially.

Offensive line, for one thing. A lot of bigger bodies were brought in with the hope of protecting NV more. Haven't seen it yet.

MTTim said:

Mcphee and Smith are 100% to blame. One is not competent to run a business/university and the others ego wants to be the big fish in a small pond.
I believe Chris could be a good AD with help from competent leadership.
We are and will continue to be 10 years behind.

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irreparable damage already done in my opinion. We've fallen so far over the last 15 years. I just don't see us ever getting back there where we are routinely beating and threatening top G5 and lower P5 schools across the country. Our administration and leadership just let it go for far too long.

The chips have fallen and we will continue to be a doormat and glorified JUCO forever in my opinion. We can no longer build a senior laden team that has a few superstars that can get you those big wins. The Kevin Byard's, Reed Blankenship's, Charvious Ward's, Richie James, etc. will all now just go to the highest bidder after they have their break out seasons. It's impossible for us to replace talent like that. I repeat, impossible. Even our decent players are leaving for a small payday and to ride the bench at power programs. This is devastating for a program like ours and has played a big factor into why we've been so bad since the transfer portal went crazy.

People can yack all they want about the portal being a two way door but we are never going to be replacing our superstars with an equal. Not even close actually. We will be a glorified JUCO doormat for the foreseeable future unless transfer rules are put in place to protect programs like ours (hint: that isn't happening).

But don't worry though, everyone else in the G5 is going to have their roster raped and pillaged every off season too, so we can all be screwed together and maybe make our own "special" playoff at the end of each season!!

The battle between the Mountain West and the Pac-12 is now moving into the courthouse.

Noogaraider1 said:

What happens to all of the exit fees and NCAA credits that MWC is owed if the conference dissolves?

If the remaining 4/5 MWC schools can keep it then they should merger with CUSA and use that money to cover travel expenses.

Man, these shifts are happening at an incredible speed.

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If the league dissolves the departing don't owe anything which the PAC is trying to pull off. Well they are trying to have their cake and eat it too even though they don't have the clout. They want it to dissolve without taking the teams they don't want.

There's way too much money being left on the table though for that to happen it would seem to me though.

What happens to all of the exit fees and NCAA credits that MWC is owed if the conference dissolves?

If the remaining 4/5 MWC schools can keep it then they should merger with CUSA and use that money to cover travel expenses.

Man, these shifts are happening at an incredible speed.

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