The time has come

[PonyTales]

For Coach Kueck (off. coordinator) to go. I've bitten my tongue long enough. This is as frustrated as I've been since we came back from the DP in 1989. Whether or not Coach Cavan goes -- there are ways to argue that either way (record stinks, but the recruits who have committed are outstanding, and we do not want to lose this class) -- but this offense is driving me nuts. Look at the talent on this offense:
ShanD Charles - nice surprise, but production is dipping now that teams have seen him on film. No evidence of creativity to get him the ball in new ways and situations
Chris Cunningham - misused and underused this year. Putting up good career numbers, but he could be re-writing the record book if used properly
John Hampton - what did he have, TWO balls thrown in his direction yesterday?
Cody Cardwell - ONE ball thrown his way, and that was too little too late
Keylon Kincade - what happened to this kid? He can run!

I could list the whole roster, but that's not the point. The point is that the offensive playcalling has been pathetic, and that falls directly on Coach Kueck. Throwing seven passes (by my count) in the direction of Johnnie Freeman - who appears afraid someone might breathe on him - and ignoring Hampton and Cardwell is inane. True, JFree is fast, really fast. But when he reaches with one hand and recoils at the mere thought of getting hit, he does us no good. I've gotten to the point where I think JFree's value to this team is on reverses and end-arounds. And that's it.

Which leads to my next point. How many gimmick plays did we run yesterday? Looked like the LaTech game all over again, when we called six reverses. Yesterday we had at least five, with runs by Comet and Freeman - including two on consecutive plays! Again, both are fast, and there's some merit in trying that .... MAYBE once a game. Running a gimmick play on every other snap is the sign of a desparate coach. Did Fresno have better talent over all than we do? Probably. But to turn to playground football ("OK, you distract the middle linebacker, someone else pull his jersey over his head, I'll pitch it between my legs to you, you todd it back to me and I'll hit you as you turn left by the fire hydrant.")

COME ON! If we're going to be committed to running the ball, do so. If we're going to establish this balanced offense that Coach Cavan keeps telling us is the goal, do that. But throw away the Marx Brothers playbook. Kueck washed out here once, and as far as I'm concerned, he has washed out again. He was called an offensive genius at Marshall, but his playbook had one play in it ("OK, Son, when you get the snap, look around until you see Randy Moss. Then chuck that sucker as high and as far as you can, an' he'll go git it.") Brilliant. I'm pretty sure I could have drawn that one up.

Look, I'm sure Coach Kueck is a nice guy, and I wish him well. But in my opinion, it's time for him to go. In watching college games every week, he seems to be using plays that are about 5 years behind what every other team in the country is doing. There's a lot of talent on this team, and more coming in. Let's get an offensive coordinator who can do something with it.

[PK]

I'll second that motion!!!!

[SMUguy]

How about the offensive line coach? I think he needs to go, before Kueck. Or maybe both. The offensive line has been rather invisible this year, except for a couple of games (against really bad defenses) or when having flags thrown. Not a good sign. Can't wait to see all these new recruits suit up. We need some new meat. Cory Fross is not a starting D-I lineman. MacCarthy and Slaten and Chandler are good. Judson Davis is a decent backup. Sterling Harris is a complete bust - does he even get in on offense at all? We need new linemen -- a lot of them -- and a new offensive line coach.

[91Stang]

Don't I remember reading that Kueck had jobs at 10 schools in 12 years or something? Meaning defenses figured him out wherever he's gone?

[ponystudent]

the players are sick of him too.

[ClassOf81]

Maybe it means his head coaches tired of him. I heard that the head coach at Southern Miss couldn't wait to get rid of him, and that was with an offense that was running effectively.

[stang-aholic]

"How about the offensive line coach? I think he needs to go, before Kueck. Or maybe both. The offensive line has been rather invisible this year, except for a couple of games (against really bad defenses) or when having flags thrown. Not a good sign. Can't wait to see all these new recruits suit up. We need some new meat. Cory Fross is not a starting D-I lineman. MacCarthy and Slaten and Chandler are good. Judson Davis is a decent backup. Sterling Harris is a complete bust - does he even get in on offense at all? We need new linemen -- a lot of them -- and a new offensive line coach. "


FYI: Danny Baker is one of the best coaches on the staff. I believe that without him Shan-D might not get another yard. Furthermore if you don't like Cory Fross...Baker didn't recruit him..nor Sterling..nor Judson. I disagree with you assumption that the o-line is terrible. It is a team sport and it takes EVERYONE being in the same page for the offense to work.

[SMUguy]

Didn't mean to suggest that Coach Baker recruited those guys - just that the line has been very inconsistent and that my impressions of those guys hasn't always been good. Actually, considering where Judson Davis has been (in terms of his knee injuries), he's been borderline heroic just to make if back on the field.

But I'm always willing to listen to differing opinions -- like yours. Sounds like you know offensive line play.

[stang-aholic]

I agree that the o-line has been inconsistent. However, consider that there are many factors in o-line play(ie play selection, total execution). I know that if a unit isn't executing properly..it could probably be the position coaches fault. In this case (I think) there are other factors in play.

[No Cal Pony]

From what I've seen and heard, our o-line tries, but just is too stymied. I agree that Kueck must go. He and cavan have no idea of how to adjust. I've seen some heart from the line, but no real support. They run the wrong and bad plays constantly. No motivation and leadership from the key coaching elements. I can't see blaming the kids too much, though some of them don't seem to care. But, we still need to find some new talent. Yes, we are a bit smaller and undergunned, but the should not be such a glaring factor, as it has become. I wish they find more heart to hang in there.

Go Ponies!

[PK]

Jim Rome on the recruiting board tries to place the offensive problems on the back of the quarterbacks, but his comment farther down in the post says it all <B>"... but how does the ball not get thrown in Cunningham's direction even once? Do you realize how good Comet is? Check the record book - he's all over it ... because he's awesome. Get the ball in #21's hands."</B> I'm truly glad the Ponies won, but the play calling by the coaches continues to be a Jeckyl and Hyde scenario. Tulsa has the lowest rated defense in the WAC allowing an average of over 400yds of offense against it per game....and we just barely get over 300yds against them. Maybe it is the QBs, but you just have to wonder about that.

[This message has been edited by PK (edited 11-18-2001).]

[click]

I think it is clear that Stang-aholic is one of this years offensive lineman. He has defended them all year(see my original post of 9-17). To you I will say that that the O-line is full of very talented individuals but as a unit they are bad and that is why observers blame Baker,it is his responsibility to see that ya'll perform better.There appear to be no adjustments being made at halftimes or during the course of the game and this again falls directly on the shoulders of Baker.I Will have to agree with the majority of this post and say Kueck and Baker should go.

[This message has been edited by click (edited 11-18-2001).]

[Jim Rome]

I didn't mean to imply that the quarterbacks were the root of all offensive problems (and to be fair, I've only seen two games this year). Just breaking down QB play. I agree that the problems start with play calling, and your "Jeckyl and Hyde" is perfect.
But I didn't mean to lay all the blame on Luker and Page

[PK]

I probably overstated my case when I put words into your mouth Jim that you didn't say. I was trying to work my way down to your statement that I quoted. From what I have seen, the worst problem with the QBs is that they try too hard to make things happen and in so doing they make poor decisions many times. As a friend of mine recently said, a quarterback can't win the game by himself, but he surely can lose the game by himself.