Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which will give Ivan McCartney credit for one thing: That guy always wins the press conference.
He spoke to us today, surprisingly, I would say, for the first time since leaving and later returning to the team. And he was again who and what he had been before, which is to say he was thoughtful and interesting and that he represented himself very well, which is saying something for someone in his situation. There were a lot of unknowns he sought to answer. He spoke about a situation with his grandfather that compromised his focus and eventually drew him home. Now he’s back and ready to play again and like he never he has before.
I’ll prepare you for the assured onslaught of feel-good pieces about contrition and inspiration and words like “hunger” and “desire,” because they’re coming. All of them. You’ve heard and read the story before, and McCartney’s version makes is sound and look quite good, but the fact is he’s got a long way to go until he’s in a position to back up his words. Today, I guess, was a good day because he crossed “Explain myself” off the list and it’s one fewer thing for him and his coaches to worry about as things progress. Realistically, it means little as practices matter much more, and even then he has to sustain it as long as, and probably even longer than, everyone else.
He has talent, without question, but he’s running out of time.
The only other players who weren’t available to us today were, as expected, newly arrived Clint Trickett and Charles Sims, but also dog house’d Jordan Thompson. So that prohibition will exist in perpetuity or until Thompson has a 100-yard and/or two-touchdown game. In a win. I bet.
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, do the right thing.
JC said:
Defending tempo may not be as much about scheme or play calling as it is about speed, conditioning, and depth. The days of the 300lbs nose tackles and 260lbs linebackers may be coming to an end, reverting back to smaller, faster, and more technically skilled players. I think this will ultimately even the playing field that much more. The stud defensive lineman weighing 280+, linebackers running 4.5 40′s weighing 250+ are much harder to come by than guys weighing 230.
Conditioning has already changed in many programs. Endurance is just as important as enhancement, and depending on who you play, it can me more important. Law School Hill will get even more use in the coming years…….
And depth. Depth is THE biggest key to defensing tempo. Even with less opportunity for subs, having multiple players at each position, ready to go, is more important than it’s ever been. LSU has been doing this for years on the d-line, even before the spread and tempo made it’s way onto their schedule. And don’t be surprised if the NCAA legislates some sort of obligatory player substitution allowance, similar to what the NFL has.
That was a pretty interesting point by Mack Brown — you need a second-string defense to roll in when needed. That’s just so hard, though, because offensive coordinators will find ways to feast on a green cornerback or defensive end. I think there’s a way to scheme it, but I’m not sure if it’s scheme or personnel. That hybrid safety/linebacker and a way to play 4-2-5 or 4-3-4 interchangeably is valuable. I wonder, though, if teams can fish for a DE/OLB/S. That would solve lots of problems, and I don’t think it’s outrageous. Remember John Holmes? I also found Gary Patterson’s take to be the most useful, though. Defenses need to act like the offense, which means practicing fast and getting used to that pace, but they also have to call plays like offenses and build in checks and audibles. You need a very veteran defense that can spot, act and communicate fast, but if you have it, it’s fire vs. fire.
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