Stink discussion

[Seattleapp]

We were not prepared. Is that on the staff or the players? It was an embarrassing performance.That embarrassment was felt all the way to the top.

In the past it was always said it was on the coaches. Interested in hearing what it is now.

It always and ultimately comes back to coaches. Lack of prep, bad gameplanning, not motivating players, lack of effort, penalties and mistakes, not utilizing the talent or utilizing a lack of talent in a manner that positions players and teams for success. Anyone can win with superior talent. The test is development and getting performance and effort out of what you have. We don't do much well right now.

New staff and over half the team new coming off a bad year. I am willing to give this staff some grace but I need to see more than this. We are playing in a conference where we are the team everyone targets. We have to do better than this.

The interesting thing to me is if this roster is 1/2 new, then they weren’t “ruined” by the last staff, so shouldn’t they be a complete reflection of what they’ve been taught by this staff? I realize it’s much more complex that that, but this notion that DLO is already a successful head coach and the performance on the field is 100% on the players is questionable at best

[MrCraig]

Agreed, we came out in the first half like deers with the headlights in our eyes. The team was not prepared and embarrassed itself, once again, on national TV. I realize this is the first year under a new staff, but last night’s performance was totally unacceptable!

It’s a good question: does blame fall on the players, staff, or both?

I’ll probably catch flak for this, but here goes…based on how clueless they consistently look in the first half of these games, I think we have a fair number of current players who have a falsely inflated sense of their own talent.

Players with this mindset have a tendency to be lazy in the film room, the weight room, and other places. You can’t coach hunger and hustle: either they have it or they don’t. And they may fake it well enough in practice, but routinely fall apart on game day. When they finally wake up and figure it out, the games are out of reach.

Someone change my mind.

I won't try to change your mind because I think you're right.
Many of the problems that existed last year still exist because a lot of the same players are still here from last year. Sorry to say it, but I think that some of these players can't be coached out of their deficiencies for the same reasons you're talking about above.
Normally, I'd reject this as blame shifting or a sorry excuse, but injuries have killed this team. DL hasn't had the time to build depth, so I think there's a huge drop off in talent behind the starters.
This year might be a wash, although they might still turn it around, but next year is when the rubber meets the road for this coaching staff. They HAVE to show significant improvements all over the field. Based on some of the guys DL was able to bring in (Cummings, Dubinion, etc.) I think he can do it. Just have to be patient, which is really hard to do when you poop the bed against Georgia MFing Southern.

[Seattleapp]

Agreed, we came out in the first half like deers with the headlights in our eyes. The team was not prepared and embarrassed itself, once again, on national TV. I realize this is the first year under a new staff, but last night’s performance was totally unacceptable!

It’s a good question: does blame fall on the players, staff, or both?

I’ll probably catch flak for this, but here goes…based on how clueless they consistently look in the first half of these games, I think we have a fair number of current players who have a falsely inflated sense of their own talent.

Players with this mindset have a tendency to be lazy in the film room, the weight room, and other places. You can’t coach hunger and hustle: either they have it or they don’t. And they may fake it well enough in practice, but routinely fall apart on game day. When they finally wake up and figure it out, the games are out of reach.

Someone change my mind.

Isn’t that what DL was brought in to change?

[Seattleapp]

Agreed, we came out in the first half like deers with the headlights in our eyes. The team was not prepared and embarrassed itself, once again, on national TV. I realize this is the first year under a new staff, but last night’s performance was totally unacceptable!

It’s a good question: does blame fall on the players, staff, or both?

I’ll probably catch flak for this, but here goes…based on how clueless they consistently look in the first half of these games, I think we have a fair number of current players who have a falsely inflated sense of their own talent.

Players with this mindset have a tendency to be lazy in the film room, the weight room, and other places. You can’t coach hunger and hustle: either they have it or they don’t. And they may fake it well enough in practice, but routinely fall apart on game day. When they finally wake up and figure it out, the games are out of reach.

Someone change my mind.

I won't try to change your mind because I think you're right.
Many of the problems that existed last year still exist because a lot of the same players are still here from last year. Sorry to say it, but I think that some of these players can't be coached out of their deficiencies for the same reasons you're talking about above.
Normally, I'd reject this as blame shifting or a sorry excuse, but injuries have killed this team. DL hasn't had the time to build depth, so I think there's a huge drop off in talent behind the starters.
This year might be a wash, although they might still turn it around, but next year is when the rubber meets the road for this coaching staff. They HAVE to show significant improvements all over the field. Based on some of the guys DL was able to bring in (Cummings, Dubinion, etc.) I think he can do it. Just have to be patient, which is really hard to do when you poop the bed against Georgia MFing Southern.

Honest question. Is it your position these guys are simply hopeless and uncoachable?

[MrCraig]

We were not prepared. Is that on the staff or the players? It was an embarrassing performance.That embarrassment was felt all the way to the top.

In the past it was always said it was on the coaches. Interested in hearing what it is now.

9 games in on a total rebuild.

Some gave Satt grace in year one and year two, some didn’t. DL may have inherited an even worse situation.

I’m not sure the staff is this issue, they may be, but I know the level of talent and depth on this team isn’t good enough to compete even in a weak SBC.

I believe coaches traditionally needed three years to show who they are, even in this era you need at least two.

Not happy with the product on the field, but withhold thoughts on this staff until next year.

100% agree. This sucks right now, but it isn't totally unexpected. We can make a much better judgement this time next year. Hopefully we will be 9-0 with wins over ECU, Charlotte, and NC State and being mentioned for the G5 playoff spot. Only time will tell.

[MrCraig]

Agreed, we came out in the first half like deers with the headlights in our eyes. The team was not prepared and embarrassed itself, once again, on national TV. I realize this is the first year under a new staff, but last night’s performance was totally unacceptable!

It’s a good question: does blame fall on the players, staff, or both?

I’ll probably catch flak for this, but here goes…based on how clueless they consistently look in the first half of these games, I think we have a fair number of current players who have a falsely inflated sense of their own talent.

Players with this mindset have a tendency to be lazy in the film room, the weight room, and other places. You can’t coach hunger and hustle: either they have it or they don’t. And they may fake it well enough in practice, but routinely fall apart on game day. When they finally wake up and figure it out, the games are out of reach.

Someone change my mind.

I won't try to change your mind because I think you're right.
Many of the problems that existed last year still exist because a lot of the same players are still here from last year. Sorry to say it, but I think that some of these players can't be coached out of their deficiencies for the same reasons you're talking about above.
Normally, I'd reject this as blame shifting or a sorry excuse, but injuries have killed this team. DL hasn't had the time to build depth, so I think there's a huge drop off in talent behind the starters.
This year might be a wash, although they might still turn it around, but next year is when the rubber meets the road for this coaching staff. They HAVE to show significant improvements all over the field. Based on some of the guys DL was able to bring in (Cummings, Dubinion, etc.) I think he can do it. Just have to be patient, which is really hard to do when you poop the bed against Georgia MFing Southern.

Honest question. Is it your position these guys are simply hopeless and uncoachable?

Some of them, yes. And the attitude that Bootsy is talking about can be infectious. Really good coaches can overcome this; I'm not sure DL and co. have the experience to do that right now. Again, I'm saying SOME, not all. Probably a very small but contagious minority of the team. And I'm not saying the coaching staff is irredeemable either, just that they are still very new.

[ASUTodd]

We were not prepared. Is that on the staff or the players? It was an embarrassing performance.That embarrassment was felt all the way to the top.

In the past it was always said it was on the coaches. Interested in hearing what it is now.

It always and ultimately comes back to coaches. Lack of prep, bad gameplanning, not motivating players, lack of effort, penalties and mistakes, not utilizing the talent or utilizing a lack of talent in a manner that positions players and teams for success. Anyone can win with superior talent. The test is development and getting performance and effort out of what you have. We don't do much well right now.

New staff and over half the team new coming off a bad year. I am willing to give this staff some grace but I need to see more than this. We are playing in a conference where we are the team everyone targets. We have to do better than this.

The interesting thing to me is if this roster is 1/2 new, then they weren’t “ruined” by the last staff, so shouldn’t they be a complete reflection of what they’ve been taught by this staff? I realize it’s much more complex that that, but this notion that DLO is already a successful head coach and the performance on the field is 100% on the players is questionable at best

Giving some grace to a new staff is not saying they are successful.

[T-Dog]

Start with the players who immediately head to the locker room with shaking any hands after losing but stay out after winning.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

I think our decline started with the betrayal of Eric Church

[Stonewall]

Seeing the GS players come over to our student section and taunt them without any pushback…..

[WataugaMan]

Agreed, we came out in the first half like deers with the headlights in our eyes. The team was not prepared and embarrassed itself, once again, on national TV. I realize this is the first year under a new staff, but last night’s performance was totally unacceptable!

It’s a good question: does blame fall on the players, staff, or both?

I’ll probably catch flak for this, but here goes…based on how clueless they consistently look in the first half of these games, I think we have a fair number of current players who have a falsely inflated sense of their own talent.

Players with this mindset have a tendency to be lazy in the film room, the weight room, and other places. You can’t coach hunger and hustle: either they have it or they don’t. And they may fake it well enough in practice, but routinely fall apart on game day. When they finally wake up and figure it out, the games are out of reach.

Someone change my mind.

I won't try to change your mind because I think you're right.
Many of the problems that existed last year still exist because a lot of the same players are still here from last year. Sorry to say it, but I think that some of these players can't be coached out of their deficiencies for the same reasons you're talking about above.
Normally, I'd reject this as blame shifting or a sorry excuse, but injuries have killed this team. DL hasn't had the time to build depth, so I think there's a huge drop off in talent behind the starters.
This year might be a wash, although they might still turn it around, but next year is when the rubber meets the road for this coaching staff. They HAVE to show significant improvements all over the field. Based on some of the guys DL was able to bring in (Cummings, Dubinion, etc.) I think he can do it. Just have to be patient, which is really hard to do when you poop the bed against Georgia MFing Southern.

Honest question. Is it your position these guys are simply hopeless and uncoachable?

Some of them, yes. And the attitude that Bootsy is talking about can be infectious. Really good coaches can overcome this; I'm not sure DL and co. have the experience to do that right now. Again, I'm saying SOME, not all. Probably a very small but contagious minority of the team. And I'm not saying the coaching staff is irredeemable either, just that they are still very new.

Who did we play last night? Ohio State, Texas, who? Yes, Georgia Southern the team with the worst defense in the Sun Belt, as they kept saying last night. A peer institution, and they were our daddy the entire first half. I'm sorry, however, I put that performance on the staff. However, if it's uncoachable players then maybe a marginal Division 2 school can use them. Then again, maybe not.

[Saint3333]

Watching the line of scrimmage against a terrible GS team is pretty telling at the level of talent and depth on this roster.

[311neers]

Watching the line of scrimmage against a terrible GS team is pretty telling at the level of talent and depth on this roster.

Yep pretty telling how bad we were recruiting up front the past few years.
And then you have a few bozo's on the Defensive line that wanted it their way. Glad DLo had the marbles to kick them off.
He will weed out the weak this offseason and get another class of his own.
I've said it numerous times...there are a few guys on defense that have been starting for us for years that just should not be playing FBS ball. If they are starting, we aren't going to consistently win. They've got heart and desire though, so I will give them that. No more converting slow safeties to linebackers please.

[Seattleapp]

Start with the players who immediately head to the locker room with shaking any hands after losing but stay out after winning.

I wasn’t a huge fan of simulating shooting a machine gun after scoring either.

[Apptiger]

I feel like I'm drunk from lack of sleep, but still depressed from last night.

The drone show was way better than the first half.

Hopefully someone will put out a video of it. I was able to see the game on regular you tube. There were enough people streaming the game that every time YT cut it off due to copy write, another stream would pop up.

I put way to much of my mental outlook into sports and App State football. I've got a lot going on in real life right now and it would have been nice if we could have had a better year. My son's schools (LSU and Florida) are having bad years too and that makes it even worse. Losing sucks bad enough by itself but when the play is bad and uninspired, well.....

Enough self pity. Not ready to embrace the suck, I still have high expectations.

[WataugaMan]

After reading all the various thoughts, from what I've observed, etc. I'd say it would be in our best interest to pretty much write this season off. (don't believe I just said that) I agree that overall it's the level of talent we have, pretty much FCS level. However, the continual same mistakes week in and week out is baffling. Something told me it was only a matter of time before Swann threw an interception in the red zone last night, again. Or, opening the game with a complementary TD for the opposing team. And, it only took three plays. There are three games we've lost this season due to the same mistakes, amazing, some things never change.

[T-Dog]

Start with the players who immediately head to the locker room with shaking any hands after losing but stay out after winning.

I wasn’t a huge fan of simulating shooting a machine gun after scoring either.

Yeah that was dumb. It's an area of emphasis for officials.

Another dumb move was Dubinion continuously fighting for yards and not getting out of bounds at the end of both halves. He did it multiple times. It cost us the chance to try for a score before the two-minute timeout in the 4th quarter and limited our options to a field goal in the first half. That's coaching as well because they didn't correct it.

[Yosefus]

After reading all the various thoughts, from what I've observed, etc. I'd say it would be in our best interest to pretty much write this season off. (don't believe I just said that) I agree that overall it's the level of talent we have, pretty much FCS level. However, the continual same mistakes week in and week out is baffling. Something told me it was only a matter of time before Swann threw an interception in the red zone last night. Or, opening the game with a complementary TD for the opposing team. And, it only took three plays. Amazing, some things never change.

It was truly astonishing how you could tell 3 plays into the game App didn't show up and it was going to be a long night. I have never in my 62.5 years ever had that or this feeling with an Appalachian State football team. There are a few really good players, but only a few. The rest I'm not sure if they would even start in a decent FCS school. Coaching I feel has improved some but not elite either. I think funding capabilities has passed us by for success at this level. I hate to say it but JMU has been sinking money in and is sitting with a 29% chance to make the playoffs. We are all sitting here scratching our ass trying to figure out what has happened.
I will never stop pulling for Appalachian. Not ever. Hopefully we can get back to playing respectable ball next year and maybe every few years we can catch lightning in a bottle.
If not lord help us all.

[Stonewall]

77 yards rushing against their injury depleted front….

[spacemonkey]

My only hope is that it is injuries. ECU beat Coastal 38 to 0. JMU is going to beat us by 50.

If you watch the tape. Every play the quarterback rolled out he had grass in front of him. No defensive back came up to respect the run...therefore the defensive back was in coverage on the receivers. This is a horrible offense. Throwing the ball against 8 defensive backs to 5 receivers is LOW odds....and it showed. No defensive end has to contain the edge because we are only going one way....left or right....zero misdirection. It is just sad to watch. If you dont have the horses to run over someone you have to design plays that get people open. Ends are crashing hard and ears pinned back with am empty backfield. Just sad. Either our players are REALLY bad or the coach is lazy in play design or both. DLO ran a completly different offense at SC. That quarterback ran nonstop.