Illinois Hokie's Recent Comments

Oh, yeah, no, no argument from me over the fact that he hasn't ACCOMPLISHED it. I just certainly think he has a definitive vision and is trying like hell to install it. It simply isn't working.

As for base plays, nobody wants to hear it but the WR screen is definitely a base play. Also the zone read where the flanker comes across presnap and the give is either flanker field or tailback boundary on the read. We've seen some moderate success on that.

TBH, with Loeffler's love of package plays it might be damn near impossible to identify a lot more base plays, because one base play might have three different results when we run it.

But in summary, no, he hasn't been successful translating his vision to the field. When I read your original post I just got the sense you were implying he was kind of flailing about aimlessly with his scheme, and I don't agree with that. He has a vision which still primarily lives on paper at this point.

FWIW, my own opinion is either a complete overhaul or keep everything exactly as it is. Plugging in another OC right now seems like a long shot to be effective. UNLESS, that is, we can find a Jimbo Fisher type coordinator who is definitely a heavy contender to succeed Frank.

I think Bud is probably our Jimbo Fisher, tho.

Bringing in one new guy and saying, "Here, make this work where the guy before you couldn't" is wishful thinking and sets us back. While after Wake a lot of people are writing off the offense as awful, I saw enough early in the season to still have some faith in what Lefty is trying to build here. I think the way our healthy offense played against OSU would have been able to beat just about anyone in the country. I also think that game was the most Scot Loeffler Approved game plan we've seen in two years. I still, post-Wake, believe that Scot has the potential to be the perfect complement to Foster.

But I'd also support a change of head coach and all the coaching changes that would accompany it, simply because that time is drawing near. Beamer's career is in its twilight regardless of whether or not he rights the ship one more time. We know change is coming, and now is as good a time as any. We can't be afraid to embrace life after Beamer, because we're guaranteed to have to live it at some point.

But no, just swapping Lefty for another dude...that decision I can't say I see much upside to. All or nothing, and I'm actually okay with either decision.

Actually, I can't agree that he has failed to attempt that. Presnap motion, hard counts, use of WR screens to effectively get 5-7 yards, consistent use of a check down on the passing tree, these are all features Lefty has attempted to install as foundations to out offensive identity. Year two under Lefty, it's pretty clear that our offensive identity will be attempting to exploit mismatches. We may not like that identity, but it's pretty clear that is the identity Lefty brings to our O.

One could also argue that such an offensive mindset is particularly more vulnerable to the injury meltdown we've had this year. Instead of a next man up mentality, Lefty has to reconsider his method of attack with each significant injury, since each significant injury changes the mismatch math.

Not to say that an opportunistic, exploitative identity is the right fit for VT, I'm just saying after two seasons it's pretty clear (to me at least) that that's the identity that Lefty brings.

And am I also remembering correctly that he was the backup? Didn't they have a pretty good QB that was injured for the bowl game?

I don't think this is accurate. I thought Bustle's offenses tended to fall around 60-70 in total offense, outside of the Vick years. I'll have to delve into that a little.

EDIT: Just for clarity's sake, yes I completely agree that we saw our offensive ranking plummet post-Bustle, I just think you're overstating Bustle's rankings.

French, let me ask you, what do you point to as the moment the offense went off kilter? Was it the coaching changes in '06, Stinespring's appointment to replace Bustle, Loeffler's hire? I know you blame a lot of our offensive woes on the shift from power to multiple, but what was the first domino to fall in that progression in your opinion?

In other news, Loeffler just blew a gasket.

You made me go back and look at my statement about BC because I couldn't remember what the hell I said.

"at least equally on the D."

And that's being super generous toward the D.

In retrospect I probably just didn't want to overstate my case. We honestly couldn't ask much more from the offense than we got in that game. You just had me thinking I was saying that one was on the O, which I definitely didn't think I had said.

Yeah I agree with you, Lefty definitely gets a pass vs BC.

Shitty season? Doesn't matter.

2-5 in conference? Doesn't matter.

Program in decline? Doesn't matter.

What matters is this is the last four quarters of football in Lane Stadium until September 7, 2015. And it's against UVA in a loser leaves town match.

When all you've got to play for is pride, pride is all that matters.

We. Keep. The. God. Damn. Cup.

I know Loeffler has said he uses a lot of package plays. Don't package plays significantly reduce the number of audibles/looks to the sideline because they have multiple options built into them?

There will be additional turnover involving current offensive assistants before Frank is gone.

Who, though?

Morehead? I could see him going to another school if someone offers him a better job or more money. I don't see us cutting him to bring in a "better" WR coach.

Searels? Four OL coaches in four years? Good luck with that.

Stinrspring? The guy can flat out coach tight ends and is a good recruiter. On the other hand, he's also the old OC and probably had pretty strong opinions on how to do things on offense. Can he coexist with another OC's vision? Hard to say how much (if any) this might have played into Lefty's product in the field.

Shane? RB production has plummeted under his tenure, but how much of that is injury related and how much is a product of the Newsome Effect? And would Whit have the balls to release the head coach's soon anyway?

IMO, we either have a culture change on O or don't bother. Find the right guy to run the offense, let him bring in his people and build for a post-Beamer future. Swapping out Lefty for another OC coming into the same situation probably won't solve much.