Did I Miss Something?

[ponyboy]

Kragthorpe would be a great hire for us and fits the job description as a currently sitting head coach in the Big East. But they're more than happy with him at Louisville and he's signed at a million plus a year for four more years. What am I missing? Can someone please distill for me?

[Stallion]

he is not very popular at all since they having their worst year in awhile despite one of the Top 3 or so QBs in the Country. Louisville fans would love Petrino back.

[PK]

he is not very popular at all since they having their worst year in awhile despite one of the Top 3 or so QBs in the Country.

...and we would want him because...?

[jtstang]

We need a coach desperately?

[mrydel]

On a televised game the other night the broadcasters were talking about the fact that Louisville did not have the right personnel to fit Kragthorpe's scheme and it would take a couple of more years for him to get the right people in place to make it work. I seem to recall that Petrino ran a similar offense to what Kragthorpe does but I am not sure, but that is what they were saying.

[expony18]

he was left with a stable of good players... what has he done with them? i like the guy, i have known him for over 10 years and think he is a good coach, but yikes....

[Stallion]

they are 7th in the Country in Total Offense. I've seen Louisville play at least 5 games-its all Defense and defensive personnel issues-ALL They are horrible on Defense.

[ponyboy]

Sounds familiar.

I can't see this happening.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

re: "they're more than happy with him at Louisville"



Cards' ground game MIA
Poor blocking, injuries seen as two parts of the problem

By Brian Bennett
The Courier-Journal

Do a Google search on sudden disappearances, and the University of Louisville running game might well pop up alongside dinosaurs, honey bees and Stephen Colbert's presidential campaign.

Once upon a time -- say, six weeks ago -- defenses feared both the Cardinals' rushing and passing attacks. Now it's only the U of L running totals that are frightful.

In their past five games, the Cards (5-5, 2-3 Big East Conference) have gained just 373 yards on the ground, for an average of 2.5 yards per carry. Compare that to their first five games, when the rushing game produced 1,010 yards and a 5.2 yard-per-carry average.

This recent stretch of futility has included a 26-yard rushing effort against Utah and a 37-yard output last week against West Virginia. Five times this year the Cards have failed to rush for 100 yards; in the previous four seasons combined, U of L rushed for fewer than 100 yards only twice -- against Miami in 2006 and against Memphis in '03.

Those numbers look ominous for this week's game at South Florida (7-3, 2-3), which has one of the Big East's best and most physical defenses.

"Any time you are one-dimensional, and we kind of became that (against West Virginia), it makes it tougher on the offensive line and the quarterback," Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe said. "The defensive linemen obviously know now they can be in more of a pass-rush mode, and the secondary knows … they can play with a little more reckless abandon."

Where did the running game go? Here is the three-point stance on the problem, according to Cardinals coaches and players:

1. Ineffective blocking
For whatever reason, whether it's scheme or personnel changes, this U of L offensive line is not as adept at run blocking as years past. Paving holes for running backs is a collaborative effort, and too often that system has broken down in parts this season.

The cohesiveness hasn't been helped by the rotating situation at right guard. Projected starter Marcel Benson was diagnosed with a heart condition in the spring, Mike Donoghue's career ended after a spinal disorder was discovered after the Cincinnati game, and Abdul Kuyateh gave way to Brian Roche following the loss at Connecticut.

"But I wouldn't say that's one of the main things," center Eric Wood said. "The biggest thing is just individual mistakes on plays. In the running game you've got to do the little things and hope you can spring the back through a little hole. We're just not providing the holes right now."

2. Injuries
The Cards entered the season with a stable of four capable tailbacks. Lately they've struggled to find one healthy workhorse.

Sophomore Anthony Allen set the school rushing record with 275 yards on 35 carries in Week 2 against Middle Tennessee State. He had five touchdowns through three games and was on pace to shatter several U of L season records.

But in the North Carolina State game he was pushed into some equipment on the Wolfpack sideline and injured his shoulder. In the five games since, Allen has carried just 36 times for 91 yards.

"I banged up my shoulder pretty bad on that play," Allen said last night. "It's definitely been hard for me, because I like running people over. I haven't been able to do that kind of stuff."

Brock Bolen, Sergio Spencer and even promising true freshman Bilal Powell have all been slowed by injuries in recent weeks. Against West Virginia, George Stripling was the only back who was fully healthy, and he got the bulk of the touches (12 carries and eight receptions).

"He played fast, whereas the other guys didn't look like they were playing as fast," Kragthorpe said.

3. Square pegsin round holes?
Kragthorpe's offensive philosophy is rooted in the Brigham Young University system, which typically employs smaller, shifty backs. But as Kragthorpe noted, the group he inherited at U of L is "more of a power-run type football team. Anthony and Brock are more downhill runners."

Allen and Bolen haven't always looked comfortable catching screen passes. Stripling excels at that but isn't a power runner, evident when he was stopped easily on a third-and-one play at West Virginia. Powell might have the best elusiveness but is still green in many areas.

In their past four games, the Cards have not had a rush of more than 15 yards from their backfield. The longest run from scrimmage against West Virginia: an 11-yard scramble by quarterback Brian Brohm.

"When we do get an opportunity at the back end of the defense, are we able to make a guy miss?" running backs coach Tony Alford said. "Because a game is won or lost oftentimes on big plays like that, and we've got to be able to create some of those."

It hasn't helped that U of L has trailed early in many games, forcing it to throw more in order to catch up.

"What it does is make those windows a lot tighter," Brohm said. "When you try play action, they're not biting up on it. The backers are still dropping, and it makes those windows tough to throw the ball into."

Louisville has used the short passing game to substitute for handoffs to counter blitzes. But a sudden reappearance of the once-formidable rushing attack would provide a big boost in the last two games of the season.

"Little swing passes and screens are what some teams do to get to the running game," Wood said. "But traditionally, we'd like to run the football in a traditional manner."

Brian Bennett can be reached at (502) 582-7177.

Game Attempts Yards YPC
Utah 16 26 1.6
Cincinnati 38 97 2.6
Connecticut 31 93 3.0
Pittsburgh 39 120 3.1
West Virginia 27 37 1.4
Totals 151 373 2.5



BLOG:

kragthorpe is a hard headed moron. simple as that. he insisted on changing the offensive schemes when he got here. He changed the running back rotation... he kept Brohm from playing the way he was succeeding with..

Worse of all, even after the massive failures, he continues with the same ole crap game after game.. 3rd and 10 and he runs a draw play from shotgun.. say no more... the man cant coach..

Kragthorpe is a huge failure... he will be here again next year with the same old crap and we will be lucky to have a .500 season.. As long as he is here, we will fail. period.

Go back and look at last years offense... we were spread out.. stacked formations, multi slot formations.. and our o-line could protect... this year.. we're in single back.. or shotgun thats it.. so pathetic.

Even an asst. high school coach could do better.. the man cant coach..and he is ruining 10 years of progress.

Whos going to want to be recruited to play for kragthorpe... after a couple .500 seasons... nobody..

Personally, its my opinion that if he is here again next season, both him and jurich should be fired. Send them both packing, theyre such good buddies anyways... thats the only reason kragthrowup is here in the first place... buddy buddy of Jurich..

and to think Jurich wanted kragthrowup BEFORE petrino.. amazing..

Jurich your honeymoon is over.. youre simply a yes man anyways... you havent really done much but get praise for other peoples money being spent.. new stadium...NOT Jurich...expansion...NOT Jurich... At least he gave us petrino.. but hiring his buddy kragthrowup wipes that one off.

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:22 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's all three!

Which one came first the chicken or the egg?

You must look at the stats to make the decision driveby.

Poll's are emotional tools, that why politicians use them so much in elections.

First came the bad recruiting and handling of player personel (drugs) decisions by Petrino.

Second came regime change whcih will always cause terminology, team cohesiveness, extreme break downs of schemes.

Third came injuries and coaching decision problems.

Fourth, which was lack of talent came from the injuries forcing inexperienced player having to play before they were ready.

The cards will prevail!

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:07 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well it seems that we have a variety of opinions in regards to why our running game stinks. So lets take a poll. Listed below are three choices which seem to be the most prevalent opinions as to why the running game stinks. I know its probably a combination of all 3, but which one do you guys think is the primary factor?

Choices:

1) Player injuries
2) Lack of talent on either the offensive line or the backs (the ability to create holes or break through defenders respectively)
3) Poor run-play calling on the part of the coaches

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:47 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I apologize, I should not have brought your dad. You just seemed to be using his credential to support your theories. Won't happen again. I'm sure your dad earned his inclusion into the Hall of Fame.

That being said, I am a cardinal fan. Do the math, if I played for 18 years I spent time in the pro's.

4 grades school
4 high school
5 college
5 pro's

You don't need to know my credential's. Nobody does. Just bother to read my post before you respond. You may learn something or you might teach me something with a insightful response.

Listen guys, if you have been paying attention all year you will have noticed he is running plays from both offenses.

As far as never running anything but up the gut plays. How to you think Allen ran for is big pay day earlier in the year. You can't make a running back run into the hole the play is designed for. Actually, some running plays don't even have holes. The running are supposed to wait and see which way the O-inemen drive the D-line and then explode towards that direction. This forces the linebackers to have to make a decision where the running back is going to go instead of seeing whole and then just filling it. It makes the linebacker have to think, which in theory should slow his reaction time down a bit. We did this well when Allen, Bolen, and the line was healthy.

Petrino did take the best coaches with him. Don't forget Kragthorpe brought Patterson with him from Tulsa. He was the cornerback coach for about two 1/2 months. He went back to Tulsa. This further delayed the learning process for the defensive secondary I'm sure. At least it stands up as good logic.

Everything on a football team is interelated. Yes there has been some bad play calls. Someone used as an example running the same play twice in a row. It was a running play up the middle. I watched many a football game this year. This really is not that uncommon. I've seen it work and people think the coach is a genius and of course vice versa with people saying the coach is an idiot to even think it would work.

To even suggest we are running last years Defense now is a farce. How much sense would it make to start running a defense the freshman don't even know (never learned) and the returning players have not practiced since the Orange Bowl victory. Don't make things up people, it only makes you look silly. Two things have happened. The players have learned the system after it was simplified for them(probably because half of them were on weed and could not remember things or stay awake to study it) and personel changes took place in the secondary.

Again, I'm typing fast and not editing so forgive me for errors.

Cardinal Law, again, sorry about commenting on your father

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:18 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I disagree about the entire coaching staff. Krag brought his new "style" in and made our DC use it, and not the blitzing and MANY other things that had been so effective in the past.
I think Krag finally relented, and let Cassity do things his way----you notice the defense has gotten a LOT better!?!?

Unfortunately, Krag has justified his salary by now focusing his "style" on the offense, which is starting to look as poor as the defense was.
And this was an offense that was #1 or #2 in the country depending on which poll you looked at, even as late as earlier this year!
How can you screw up an offense with Brohm, Urrutia, Doulas, Allen, Stripling, Wood, etc!?!?!?

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:46 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post a Comment View All Comments


http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/SPORTS02/711140869/1002/SPORTS

[ponyboy]

Kragthorpe would be a great hire for us and fits the job description as a currently sitting head coach in the Big East. But they're more than happy with him at Louisville and he's signed at a million plus a year for four more years. What am I missing? Can someone please distill for me?

What I was asking is why the sudden talk about Kragthorpe. I'm stupid, I just saw the Rumor Mill thread. Interesting.

I'd be ok with Kragthorpe and very disappointed with Morris. Neither I'd consider "huge."

[bagice]

Kragthorpe would be a great hire IMO......I don't understand this infatuation with Bowden, hes a TV announcer and has no real Texas ties......

Kragthorpe has a great offense and he has a ton of Texas and C-USA connections......

Great hire if he is willing to leave Louisville....

[ponyboy]

Why would Kragthorpe bail after only one year of a five year contract?

And is there something in the water at Tulsa that leads to infidelity?

[J.T.supporta]

he was left with a stable of good players....

This statement shows that Krag is a recruiting coach, meaning hes better at bringing in his own talent and making them winners instead of taking what he gets...which is a +...but also means a year or two not going to a bowl

[westexSMU]

kragthorpe has proven this year to be a horrible team manager, which is the job of the HEAD COACH. Many want to get rid of him in louisville already and hopefully Orsini can see though this guy. I'm positive but not on this coach...............It is not as easy as just getting a better defensive coach in his case. Just ask Mike Leach..

[thefamousguy]

they are 7th in the Country in Total Offense. I've seen Louisville play at least 5 games-its all Defense and defensive personnel issues-ALL They are horrible on Defense.

re: "they're more than happy with him at Louisville"



Cards' ground game MIA
Poor blocking, injuries seen as two parts of the problem

By Brian Bennett
The Courier-Journal

Do a Google search on sudden disappearances, and the University of Louisville running game might well pop up alongside dinosaurs, honey bees and Stephen Colbert's presidential campaign.

Once upon a time -- say, six weeks ago -- defenses feared both the Cardinals' rushing and passing attacks. Now it's only the U of L running totals that are frightful.

In their past five games, the Cards (5-5, 2-3 Big East Conference) have gained just 373 yards on the ground, for an average of 2.5 yards per carry. Compare that to their first five games, when the rushing game produced 1,010 yards and a 5.2 yard-per-carry average.

This recent stretch of futility has included a 26-yard rushing effort against Utah and a 37-yard output last week against West Virginia. Five times this year the Cards have failed to rush for 100 yards; in the previous four seasons combined, U of L rushed for fewer than 100 yards only twice -- against Miami in 2006 and against Memphis in '03.

Those numbers look ominous for this week's game at South Florida (7-3, 2-3), which has one of the Big East's best and most physical defenses.

"Any time you are one-dimensional, and we kind of became that (against West Virginia), it makes it tougher on the offensive line and the quarterback," Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe said. "The defensive linemen obviously know now they can be in more of a pass-rush mode, and the secondary knows … they can play with a little more reckless abandon."

Where did the running game go? Here is the three-point stance on the problem, according to Cardinals coaches and players:

1. Ineffective blocking
For whatever reason, whether it's scheme or personnel changes, this U of L offensive line is not as adept at run blocking as years past. Paving holes for running backs is a collaborative effort, and too often that system has broken down in parts this season.

The cohesiveness hasn't been helped by the rotating situation at right guard. Projected starter Marcel Benson was diagnosed with a heart condition in the spring, Mike Donoghue's career ended after a spinal disorder was discovered after the Cincinnati game, and Abdul Kuyateh gave way to Brian Roche following the loss at Connecticut.

"But I wouldn't say that's one of the main things," center Eric Wood said. "The biggest thing is just individual mistakes on plays. In the running game you've got to do the little things and hope you can spring the back through a little hole. We're just not providing the holes right now."

2. Injuries
The Cards entered the season with a stable of four capable tailbacks. Lately they've struggled to find one healthy workhorse.

Sophomore Anthony Allen set the school rushing record with 275 yards on 35 carries in Week 2 against Middle Tennessee State. He had five touchdowns through three games and was on pace to shatter several U of L season records.

But in the North Carolina State game he was pushed into some equipment on the Wolfpack sideline and injured his shoulder. In the five games since, Allen has carried just 36 times for 91 yards.

"I banged up my shoulder pretty bad on that play," Allen said last night. "It's definitely been hard for me, because I like running people over. I haven't been able to do that kind of stuff."

Brock Bolen, Sergio Spencer and even promising true freshman Bilal Powell have all been slowed by injuries in recent weeks. Against West Virginia, George Stripling was the only back who was fully healthy, and he got the bulk of the touches (12 carries and eight receptions).

"He played fast, whereas the other guys didn't look like they were playing as fast," Kragthorpe said.

3. Square pegsin round holes?
Kragthorpe's offensive philosophy is rooted in the Brigham Young University system, which typically employs smaller, shifty backs. But as Kragthorpe noted, the group he inherited at U of L is "more of a power-run type football team. Anthony and Brock are more downhill runners."

Allen and Bolen haven't always looked comfortable catching screen passes. Stripling excels at that but isn't a power runner, evident when he was stopped easily on a third-and-one play at West Virginia. Powell might have the best elusiveness but is still green in many areas.

In their past four games, the Cards have not had a rush of more than 15 yards from their backfield. The longest run from scrimmage against West Virginia: an 11-yard scramble by quarterback Brian Brohm.

"When we do get an opportunity at the back end of the defense, are we able to make a guy miss?" running backs coach Tony Alford said. "Because a game is won or lost oftentimes on big plays like that, and we've got to be able to create some of those."

It hasn't helped that U of L has trailed early in many games, forcing it to throw more in order to catch up.

"What it does is make those windows a lot tighter," Brohm said. "When you try play action, they're not biting up on it. The backers are still dropping, and it makes those windows tough to throw the ball into."

Louisville has used the short passing game to substitute for handoffs to counter blitzes. But a sudden reappearance of the once-formidable rushing attack would provide a big boost in the last two games of the season.

"Little swing passes and screens are what some teams do to get to the running game," Wood said. "But traditionally, we'd like to run the football in a traditional manner."

Brian Bennett can be reached at (502) 582-7177.

Game Attempts Yards YPC
Utah 16 26 1.6
Cincinnati 38 97 2.6
Connecticut 31 93 3.0
Pittsburgh 39 120 3.1
West Virginia 27 37 1.4
Totals 151 373 2.5



BLOG:

kragthorpe is a hard headed moron. simple as that. he insisted on changing the offensive schemes when he got here. He changed the running back rotation... he kept Brohm from playing the way he was succeeding with..

Worse of all, even after the massive failures, he continues with the same ole crap game after game.. 3rd and 10 and he runs a draw play from shotgun.. say no more... the man cant coach..

Kragthorpe is a huge failure... he will be here again next year with the same old crap and we will be lucky to have a .500 season.. As long as he is here, we will fail. period.

Go back and look at last years offense... we were spread out.. stacked formations, multi slot formations.. and our o-line could protect... this year.. we're in single back.. or shotgun thats it.. so pathetic.

Even an asst. high school coach could do better.. the man cant coach..and he is ruining 10 years of progress.

Whos going to want to be recruited to play for kragthorpe... after a couple .500 seasons... nobody..

Personally, its my opinion that if he is here again next season, both him and jurich should be fired. Send them both packing, theyre such good buddies anyways... thats the only reason kragthrowup is here in the first place... buddy buddy of Jurich..

and to think Jurich wanted kragthrowup BEFORE petrino.. amazing..

Jurich your honeymoon is over.. youre simply a yes man anyways... you havent really done much but get praise for other peoples money being spent.. new stadium...NOT Jurich...expansion...NOT Jurich... At least he gave us petrino.. but hiring his buddy kragthrowup wipes that one off.

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:22 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's all three!

Which one came first the chicken or the egg?

You must look at the stats to make the decision driveby.

Poll's are emotional tools, that why politicians use them so much in elections.

First came the bad recruiting and handling of player personel (drugs) decisions by Petrino.

Second came regime change whcih will always cause terminology, team cohesiveness, extreme break downs of schemes.

Third came injuries and coaching decision problems.

Fourth, which was lack of talent came from the injuries forcing inexperienced player having to play before they were ready.

The cards will prevail!

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:07 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well it seems that we have a variety of opinions in regards to why our running game stinks. So lets take a poll. Listed below are three choices which seem to be the most prevalent opinions as to why the running game stinks. I know its probably a combination of all 3, but which one do you guys think is the primary factor?

Choices:

1) Player injuries
2) Lack of talent on either the offensive line or the backs (the ability to create holes or break through defenders respectively)
3) Poor run-play calling on the part of the coaches

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:47 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I apologize, I should not have brought your dad. You just seemed to be using his credential to support your theories. Won't happen again. I'm sure your dad earned his inclusion into the Hall of Fame.

That being said, I am a cardinal fan. Do the math, if I played for 18 years I spent time in the pro's.

4 grades school
4 high school
5 college
5 pro's

You don't need to know my credential's. Nobody does. Just bother to read my post before you respond. You may learn something or you might teach me something with a insightful response.

Listen guys, if you have been paying attention all year you will have noticed he is running plays from both offenses.

As far as never running anything but up the gut plays. How to you think Allen ran for is big pay day earlier in the year. You can't make a running back run into the hole the play is designed for. Actually, some running plays don't even have holes. The running are supposed to wait and see which way the O-inemen drive the D-line and then explode towards that direction. This forces the linebackers to have to make a decision where the running back is going to go instead of seeing whole and then just filling it. It makes the linebacker have to think, which in theory should slow his reaction time down a bit. We did this well when Allen, Bolen, and the line was healthy.

Petrino did take the best coaches with him. Don't forget Kragthorpe brought Patterson with him from Tulsa. He was the cornerback coach for about two 1/2 months. He went back to Tulsa. This further delayed the learning process for the defensive secondary I'm sure. At least it stands up as good logic.

Everything on a football team is interelated. Yes there has been some bad play calls. Someone used as an example running the same play twice in a row. It was a running play up the middle. I watched many a football game this year. This really is not that uncommon. I've seen it work and people think the coach is a genius and of course vice versa with people saying the coach is an idiot to even think it would work.

To even suggest we are running last years Defense now is a farce. How much sense would it make to start running a defense the freshman don't even know (never learned) and the returning players have not practiced since the Orange Bowl victory. Don't make things up people, it only makes you look silly. Two things have happened. The players have learned the system after it was simplified for them(probably because half of them were on weed and could not remember things or stay awake to study it) and personel changes took place in the secondary.

Again, I'm typing fast and not editing so forgive me for errors.

Cardinal Law, again, sorry about commenting on your father

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:18 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I disagree about the entire coaching staff. Krag brought his new "style" in and made our DC use it, and not the blitzing and MANY other things that had been so effective in the past.
I think Krag finally relented, and let Cassity do things his way----you notice the defense has gotten a LOT better!?!?

Unfortunately, Krag has justified his salary by now focusing his "style" on the offense, which is starting to look as poor as the defense was.
And this was an offense that was #1 or #2 in the country depending on which poll you looked at, even as late as earlier this year!
How can you screw up an offense with Brohm, Urrutia, Doulas, Allen, Stripling, Wood, etc!?!?!?

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:46 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post a Comment View All Comments


http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/SPORTS02/711140869/1002/SPORTS