Here's an interesting article on Kneepads Brown at Texas. I've felt the same way as the author about Tedford since Dunbar was brought on board and we went frankenoffense. There's some good stuff and both Tedford and Dykes are brought up for different reasons.

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/2/25/4029846/mack-brown-and-texas-longhorns-football-are-creatures-of-habit

This is a really well written essay on college football offense. And, guess what - it's soon to become a well written essay on NFL offenses. The comparison of Dykes and Tedford is spot on. And, I loved the comment about staying at .500 at the end of the article ... totally true.

So, Gary Kubiak of my beloved Houston Texans will be facing the same issue. Maybe not next year or the year after ... but that time is coming. Running 1000's of schemes and utilizing the punt as an offensive play will be a thing of the past.

Good riddance. I'm sooooooooooooooooo happy Cal has moved in the other direction!

slider643;842088311 said:

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Here's an interesting article on Kneepads Brown at Texas. I've felt the same way as the author about Tedford since Dunbar was brought on board and we went frankenoffense. There's some good stuff and both Tedford and Dykes are brought up for different reasons.

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/2/25/4029846/mack-brown-and-texas-longhorns-football-are-creatures-of-habit

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Thanks for sharing this really well written article. Thank God we are innovative again. We're Cal for Criminy sakes!

Quote:

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The new template isn't perfect - one side effect of the high-tempo offense is the worn out and useless defense that accompanies it. ... Nobody that I've seen has figured out a way to deal with this yet.

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Quote:

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[W]e signed 13 defensive guys and only signed 11 offensive guys. ... If we could have gotten two of those corners at the end, we would have signed 15 defensive guys.

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Maybe there's a new lab up at Memorial.

Wouldn't it be great if we could sign a ridiculous number of defensive studs under the premise that they'd all get plenty of playing time due to how awesome our offene would be?

txwharfrat;842088326 said:

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This is a really well written essay on college football offense. And, guess what - it's soon to become a well written essay on NFL offenses. The comparison of Dykes and Tedford is spot on. And, I loved the comment about staying at .500 at the end of the article ... totally true.

So, Gary Kubiak of my beloved Houston Texans will be facing the same issue. Maybe not next year or the year after ... but that time is coming. Running 1000's of schemes and utilizing the punt as an offensive play will be a thing of the past.

Good riddance. I'm sooooooooooooooooo happy Cal has moved in the other direction!

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I especially liked the comment:
Sonny Dykes wants a snap every 20 seconds or so. Cal had a coach last year who had more protections than Dykes does plays, which is fine when your QB is Aaron Rogers but not fine when he isn't. Dykes' system will take one afternoon to install at Cal, as opposed to a month or two with the old regime. The game isn't about X's and O's anymore, if it ever was in the first place. Now it's about a mastery, an automatic reaction finely honed over years of practice. This is why these small, out-of-the-way nothing schools are suddenly at the forefront of college football.

I perfectly explains why so many QB's took 3 years to really learn JT's system and why under JT a super star QB recruit would not see significant playing time for 3 years. IMO that was INSANE. Many other schools had great Sophmore QB's -- why not Cal.

slider643;842088311 said:

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Here's an interesting article on Kneepads Brown at Texas. I've felt the same way as the author about Tedford since Dunbar was brought on board and we went frankenoffense. There's some good stuff and both Tedford and Dykes are brought up for different reasons.

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/2/25/4029846/mack-brown-and-texas-longhorns-football-are-creatures-of-habit

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Great article--the description of Texas is eerily familiar (minus the Rose Bowls) and exactly nails the problem with Tedford that many of us have long pointed out and far too many people on this board ignored and thought could be solved just by finally finding a savior at QB (or moving on from the latest non-savior).

Very happy to have moved on to the new era!

Quote:

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But my viewpoint is simple - the best thing to do right now is turn the page entirely. . . The rest of the universe is slowly moving forward, while dinosaurs like Brown, Jeff Tedford, Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin are stuck in various stages of decay.

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Ouch. Not the dinosaur reference, but the group.

Quote:

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The genius of "The System," as sold to finer HS programs everywhere

Is not in its playbook, but in its drills. Half-court passing drills, 4-QB rotating read drills, etc. They find a way to get reps for everyone, which is why The System works.

Mack could just go out and buy The System, you know….

by SP!DER on Feb 26, 2013 7:00 AM PS

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I found this comment to the article kind of heart warming. Mack Brown should come to the Cal Fan Appreciation Day and get his copy of The System autographed.

calumnus;842088417 said:

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Great article--the description of Texas is eerily familiar (minus the Rose Bowls) and exactly nails the problem with Tedford that many of us have long pointed out and far too many people on this board ignored and thought could be solved just by finally finding a savior at QB (or moving on from the latest non-savior).

Very happy to have moved on to the new era!

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You are hereby banished.

PRD74;842088532 said:

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I found this comment to the article kind of heart warming. Mack Brown should come to the Cal Fan Appreciation Day and get his copy of The System autographed.

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Mack Brown will come with a million dollar check for our OC.

The article's final comment:

Quote:

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Asking a group of teenagers to give "more effort" is how you go .500 and stay there, instead.

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Seems like "working harder" was the standard answer the past few seasons, although we were sub .500

Great article - thanks for sharing!

bigtuba1;842088421 said:

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Ouch. Not the dinosaur reference, but the group.

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Yes, ouch, but the good news is that the three dinosaurs mentioned are two of our biggest competitors' current coaches, but our own former coach!

It even hinted at why a Harbaugh or Shaw offense can still be successful, when it said something like, "Have SOMETHING you can be passionate about and bring it to work with you every day."

68great;842088414 said:

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under JT a super star QB recruit would not see significant playing time for 3 years. IMO that was INSANE. Many other schools had great Sophmore QB's -- why not Cal.

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Why I do this to myself, I don't know.

Cal's starting QB's:

Kyle Boller - started with 6 months in the system (and became 1st round draft pick)

Reggie Roberson - started 1 year into the system - gave way to

Aaron Rodgers - started 1 month in the system

Nate Longshore - started 1 year into the system got injured replaced by

Joe Ayoob - pressed into service 6 months into the system then back to

Nate Longshore - starting again

Kevin Riley - replaces veteran Nate Longshore after 2 years in the system

Zach Maynard - started 6 months into the system (actually won the job a few weeks into the system over guys who had been in the system longer.

No Cal quarterback under Tedford ever began his starting career, other than due to an injury to the real starter, more than 2 years into the system. If you didn't start 2 years in, you weren't going to. Reed, Mansion and Sweeney never started because they weren't good. I'll grant you that Tedford would say things that implied that quarterbacks were still learning, but if people really paid attention, that was his way of nicely saying they weren't good enough to play. The quarterback issue was not about learning the offense. It was about recruiting and developing the right guy.

As for this concept that the pro set is going away, I don't see that happening. Tedford's problem was not the pro set. It was that he went away from a simple, power running, pro set offense that he knew very well, and developed as someone else said a frankenoffense. I think it is great to see the NFL adopting new things, and teams having success with other offenses, but there will still be plenty of teams that run the pro set and run it well. Same holds true for college.

As for using Kiffen, Brown, Tedford, and Sarkisian as the examples, Kiffen was never a good coach. Most people always thought that Brown was weak on x's and o's and succeeded on recruiting. Tedford abandoned the pro set. And Sark was unproven.

there was a portion in the essay where he mentioned that it was better to master a certain style. exactly tedford tried to become a jack of all trades. that can work maybe in the nfl, but it takes too long for college kids to do that. you still have to focus on fundamentals more in college.

OaktownBear;842088777 said:

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As for this concept that the pro set is going away, I don't see that happening. Tedford's problem was not the pro set. It was that he went away from a simple, power running, pro set offense that he knew very well, and developed as someone else said a frankenoffense. I think it is great to see the NFL adopting new things, and teams having success with other offenses, but there will still be plenty of teams that run the pro set and run it well. Same holds true for college.

As for using Kiffen, Brown, Tedford, and Sarkisian as the examples, Kiffen was never a good coach. Most people always thought that Brown was weak on x's and o's and succeeded on recruiting. Tedford abandoned the pro set. And Sark was unproven.

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I don't think the author made a point about the pro set going away, rather that practices are changing with more reps and that any team could adapt that to improve themselves regardless of offensive style.

I thought Kiff and Sark had a chance to be very good x's and o's coaches. They both learned from Chow who ran a very simple pro style offense at USC when they were there. In their effort to create their own identity, they're turning into JT complete with frankenoffense.

I attended a coaches clinic for baseball where the winningest coach in our state taught us how to run a practice essentially incorporating the principles discussed in the article. It is amazing how great these techniques are at maximizing the effectiveness of practices. Maximum reps at drills which directly correlate to game situations ... phenomenal.

calumnus;842088417 said:

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Great article--the description of Texas is eerily familiar (minus the Rose Bowls) and exactly nails the problem with Tedford that many of us have long pointed out and far too many people on this board ignored and thought could be solved just by finally finding a savior at QB (or moving on from the latest non-savior).

Very happy to have moved on to the new era!

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And, let us not forget who chose Dykes..and his "Silicon Valley-esque" football system!

Very good article: the key to our success will be a shut down defense..that will be on the field a lot. But then, that's why these kids "sign up" to play the game...

slider643;842088793 said:

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I don't think the author made a point about the pro set going away, rather that practices are changing with more reps and that any team could adapt that to improve themselves regardless of offensive style.

I thought Kiff and Sark had a chance to be very good x's and o's coaches. They both learned from Chow who ran a very simple pro style offense at USC when they were there. In their effort to create their own identity, they're turning into JT complete with frankenoffense.

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More power to Kiff and Sark ... no copycat stuff for them
... they're smart - head coaches in programs that used to be great
... and the easiest ways for them to return to greatness is to be a bit loose with rules for recruiting and managing players
... they doan need no stinkin' rules or ideas.

tequila4kapp;842088824 said:

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I attended a coaches clinic for baseball where the winningest coach in our state taught us how to run a practice essentially incorporating the principles discussed in the article. It is amazing how great these techniques are at maximizing the effectiveness of practices. Maximum reps at drills which directly correlate to game situations ... phenomenal.

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What is the coach's name?

manus;842088829 said:

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And, let us not forget who chose Dykes..and his "Silicon Valley-esque" football system!

Very good article: the key to our success will be a shut down defense..that will be on the field a lot. But then, that's why these kids "sign up" to play the game...

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and im loving it

tequila4kapp;842088824 said:

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I attended a coaches clinic for baseball where the winningest coach in our state taught us how to run a practice essentially incorporating the principles discussed in the article. It is amazing how great these techniques are at maximizing the effectiveness of practices. Maximum reps at drills which directly correlate to game situations ... phenomenal.

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It is a bible for every baseball coach and has a unique set of drills (that Milano implemented back in 1980) that allow for going over quickly, everyday (actually every other day, there are so many drills they are split into two groups covered every other day), the basic drills and situations for each position...simultaneously!!! Milano called them quick drills. Polk really was ahead of his time when it came to maximizing reps in a baseball (or any sport) practice.

I really liked what Dykes said in this regard (paraphrasing): it's not what the coaches know it's what the players know and can perform on the field. You only get player performance by maximizing quality reps in practice. And of course inspiring your players to continue these reps on their own in the off-season.

Really great article- but one that I read on this forum in fewer words many times.

Here is what killed JT

A HC should never be an OC for a period of longer than 3 years. JT may have given up the title but never the actual control.

Here are 2 interviews of prospective Coordinators

"I have followed your career over the past few years and I can see you and I are close to the same page. Here is my offensive playbook- Learn it!"

" I have followed your career over the past few years. I like a lot of the things that you have done offensively. You are in total control and get
started on the New system immediately. Please give me a copy of your playbook so I can learn it!!!

The first interview leads to eventual unemployment while the 2nd has a good chance of ensuring a steady and increasing salary.

waltwa;842088992 said:

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Really great article- but one that I read on this forum in fewer words many times.

Here is what killed JT

A HC should never be an OC for a period of longer than 3 years. JT may have given up the title but never the actual control.

Here are 2 interviews of prospective Coordinators

"I have followed your career over the past few years and I can see you and I are close to the same page. Here is my offensive playbook- Learn it!"

" I have followed your career over the past few years. I like a lot of the things that you have done offensively. You are in total control and get
started on the New system immediately. Please give me a copy of your playbook so I can learn it!!!

The first interview leads to eventual unemployment while the 2nd has a good chance of ensuring a steady and increasing salary.

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Unless you are Mike Belotti and the OC you hired is Chip Kelly.

An excellent article and right on the money.

It's not about scheme, it's about execution. When you're dealing with college kids who have five years tops, you can't afford to take years to get players to learn a complex system. He effectively explains why Saban, who could be seen as a dinosaur, is actually an innovator himself, making his team effective in a different way.

82gradDLSdad;842088913 said:

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It is a bible for every baseball coach and has a unique set of drills (that Milano implemented back in 1980) that allow for going over quickly, everyday (actually every other day, there are so many drills they are split into two groups covered every other day), the basic drills and situations for each position...simultaneously!!! Milano called them quick drills. Polk really was ahead of his time when it came to maximizing reps in a baseball (or any sport) practice.

I really liked what Dykes said in this regard (paraphrasing): it's not what the coaches know it's what the players know and can perform on the field. You only get player performance by maximizing quality reps in practice. And of course inspiring your players to continue these reps on their own in the off-season.

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This is a great book. I didn't read Polk until after college when I started coaching. Looking back, Milano in the 90s used few of the drills and was nowhere near as efficient as Polk.

Also, was Nick Saban mentioned? Les Miles? Mark Richt? The SEC is riding the longest wave of single conference dominance in memory and mostly with old fashioned smash mouth pro set attacks.

59bear;842089197 said:

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Also, was Nick Saban mentioned? Les Miles? Mark Richt? The SEC is riding the longest wave of single conference dominance in memory and mostly with old fashioned smash mouth pro set attacks.

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Saban, yes. Miles and Richt, no.

slider643;842088311 said:

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Here's an interesting article on Kneepads Brown at Texas. I've felt the same way as the author about Tedford since Dunbar was brought on board and we went frankenoffense. There's some good stuff and both Tedford and Dykes are brought up for different reasons.

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/2/25/4029846/mack-brown-and-texas-longhorns-football-are-creatures-of-habit

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That article is all over the place. He states -- "My thesis statement is not that Texas lacks talent. My thesis statement is that Texas lacks skill." WTF? What's the difference? Talent = skill.

Just be honest and say you want to fire Brown based on his age (being a Dinosaur himself), you don't need to write a 200-page essay that tries to prove (unconvincingly to me) that Texas is somehow the victim of Football Darwinism as a Dinosaur.

It's like they are trying to be too nice and polite about someone they want to get rid of but can't say it to his face.

Our Domicile;842089203 said:

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That article is all over the place. He states -- "My thesis statement is not that Texas lacks talent. My thesis statement is that Texas lacks skill." WTF? What's the difference? Talent = skill.

Just be honest and say you want to fire Brown based on his age (being a Dinosaur himself), you don't need to write a 200-page essay that tries to prove (unconvincingly to me) that Texas is somehow the victim of Football Darwinism as a Dinosaur.

It's like they are trying to be too nice and polite about someone they want to get rid of but can't say it to his face.

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Talent is raw aptitude, but skill is talent that's been developed. An incoming hot-shot freshman has talent, a well-coached senior has skill.

Our Domicile;842089203 said:

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That article is all over the place. He states -- "My thesis statement is not that Texas lacks talent. My thesis statement is that Texas lacks skill." WTF? What's the difference? Talent = skill.

Just be honest and say you want to fire Brown based on his age (being a Dinosaur himself), you don't need to write a 200-page essay that tries to prove (unconvincingly to me) that Texas is somehow the victim of Football Darwinism as a Dinosaur.

It's like they are trying to be too nice and polite about someone they want to get rid of but can't say it to his face.

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We're getting into semantics here, but I think what they mean by "talent" is the athleticism that the players are born with/come into the program with, whereas "skill" is their football playmaking ability that they acquire by being "coached up".

So, by that definition, talent and skill are not the same. The argument is that Brown is bringing in the talent, but not really enhancing their skills once they arrive.

Calcoholic;842089240 said:

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Talent is raw aptitude, but skill is talent that's been developed. An incoming hot-shot freshman has talent, a well-coached senior has skill.

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Big C_Cal;842089248 said:

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We're getting into semantics here...

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Sorry guys, but I do think it's a case of Semantics because the Texas Program has plenty of "skilled" players who have been coached up from what I've seen.

The article gets to the point when it states:

"Brown is [COLOR="Blue"]old[/COLOR] now, and likely set in his ways. His assistants run scheme, but he controls the basics. If we're asking him to reinvent himself, why not reinvent the position fully and hire someone different who already knows how to do it?"

-and-

"But my viewpoint is simple - the best thing to do right now is [COLOR="blue"]turn the page entirely[/COLOR]. Texas has [COLOR="blue"]peaked under[/COLOR] Mack Brown, playing the Mack Brown way."

These main points lie in the 2nd half of the article, not in the "Football according to Charles Darwin, we've been left behind as Dinosaurs" philosophical/historical portion of the 1st half. It seems incongruent (sp?), that's why my first impression of the article was "it's all over the place".

That's all I'm saying -- please get to the point and say you want to fire Brown because it's like one giant "Dear John" letter that starts off with a whole bunch of Football Theory (which I'm no stranger towards) in the beginning. Dazzle and Baffle.

If the Author is getting paid by the word, kudos to him, but I think it's a very roundabout way of saying Mack Brown should be fired. Just force him out. You don't need to proceed in a JR Ewing "Dallas meets Darwin" way to go about doing it.

as much as dislike mack brown for getting us out of the rose bowl. it would be really dumb and disrespectful to fire mack brown. for a period of time he was one of the best college football coaches in the country and probably still can be. he still gets his pickings of the best players in texas so i wouldnt write him off.

Article was ok, but not as good as some suggest. Much too wordy, and talking from both sides a little too much.

I think too much emphasis on adopting new-fangled scheme as the answer. Plenty of schools use a traditional boring offense and are successful - Wisconsin, Bama. The strong point the article did make was that it is important to have consistent scheme. Tedford had one through 2005, he then started tinkering with it in 2006, adding bits of pieces of other schemes. While the strategy worked fine at first (see 2006), over time it became unwieldy, and was not clear what we were trying to do, and I think that hindered recruiting, especially the online. We were physical pounders, or light quick OL, ended up being neither.

Sounds like Texas has similar problem, not really committing to a particular style of play.

I bet if Tedford ever gets another HC chance, his scheme will look very different. Not like Dykes scheme, but more like his original scheme.

Stanford just stuck with one formula, and it did not try to be everything. And Bama's offense is not innovative, but it is consistent (helps to always have the best players too).