Recent Comments
...the statistical analysis. I'm surprised that football hasn't come as far yet, seems like the equivalent of WAR, FIP, ERA+, OPS, etc should be part of the everyday parlance at this point.
And that's what I would look for in an OC. Somebody who isn't saying, "Well, we went into four corners when up 2 scores." THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN BE INEFFICIENT. It's like that 8th inning at bat when you're up by 6 runs, it's still your job to see pitches, work the pitcher, and (the key to baseball): find someway to not make an out.
it's like the criticism of Pep in context to VT. "Well, his YPG was about exactly what VT's was this year." Yeah, but his efficiency on offense was 60 slots higher...with a QB mess.
This is a great day.
I never knew he was a head coach. He actually has a nice résumé. Glad he is gone but he will be ok.
I find it some what comforting that even as horrible as Auburn was last season they were still able to produce RBs (2 RBs i think) that averaged like 5-6 yards a carry (dont know the actual stats just going off memory from somewhere i read). Thats pretty good in the SEC, in my opinion. But im sure there are some other variables that led to this; however, still better then our production at tailback. If i am Edmunds/Harris/Coleman i am excited and working my tail off right now in the off season.
Is that he was fired only because he wasn't able to secure a job for himself before the formal announcement. This makes me think we'll hear something today.
Stinespring is akin to Al Groh (minus the lack of success). He's a good personnel coach, but not so much a coordinator. Groh was a good coordinator (GT just sucked at running his style and needed a scapegoat) but sucks as a head coach. Stinespring's lines used to be solid when he was the OL coach and not the OC. He will do fine at TE coach with more recruiting responsibilities.
Definitely agree. If we could get some blocking up front, we could be a lot more solid. I'm more excited about Grimes coming than Loeffler, honestly. I just keep imagining what the running game could have been with a bit better blocking, or what the passing game could have been if Logan had gotten even an extra half second on each play.
I just think ESPN is going to gin up some narrative about how much better we should be, not that we as fans should expect it or believe it, but they'll say it...
I had to go and find the video for this to start my day off right. Then I watched it a few more times.
I remember the complete chaos in the North at that point. It was awesome.
We have a customer based in Alabama and he's a Bama grad, so we always talk football. I sent him an email asking his thoughts on the Loeffler hire and here's what he had to say. Nothing groundbreaking, but about as biased/logical as it gets from a Bama fan:
As for the Scott Loeffler situation, I’ve included a link below to the Birmingham newspaper’s coverage of his VPI hire…you may get some good insight reading the comments; or you may want to Google one of the Auburn fan websites or message boards and see their reaction.
All I can tell you from my perspective on the opposing side of the aisle is former AU head coach Pat Dye apparently convinced Chizik that in order to slug it out with Saban instate, he had to go to the same power football offense, even though he had spread players recruited by Gus Malzahn before he left for Arkansas State…that said, Loeffler was probably dealt a bad hand he couldn’t win with under any circumstances……but you can’t look at things in a vacuum. Awbarn (as we call them) had all kinds of internal problems, dissension within the coaching staff, lack of discipline/arrests among players, to the point the program imploded on itself.
All that to say it’s hard to judge Loeffler by this past year. I’d look at what Temple did while he was there as a better barometer of his ability to develop players, draw up an offensive strategy and make game-day calls and adjustments on the fly….here is the article:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/01/former_auburn_offensive_coord...
His name is Grimm...he is destined to be a Hokie.
1. 1999 WVU- best finish to a game we have had
2. 1995 UVA- huge win, back when UVA was an actual contest
3. 2003 Miami- such potential that year, but all for not
4. 1995 Sugar Bowl vs Texas
5. 1993 Independence Bowl- love the end of the first half. Typical Beamerball
The next episode of "Adventures on Whiskey Lane" be done in the style of SNL's "REALLY?! with Seth and Amy" skits.
REALLY, Mike O'Cain, you aren't a "stats" guy in a heavily stats-reliant industry?
REALLY, Mike O'Cain, you had "NO INCLINATION" it was going to happen???
REALLY, Mike O'Cain, have you never met the internet?
But seriously, best wishes to Coach O'Cain and many, many thanks for his service to our great university.
O’Cain said he was aware of growing fan unrest surrounding the offense’s productivity, but said he did not know changes were coming until the offseason.
“There was never any indication during the season that anything was going to happen,” O’Cain said. “I’ve been in this profession for 36 years. You know when things aren’t going good and you’re struggling and there’s a disgruntled bunch out there, for whatever the reason, that that could happen. But I had no inclination that it was going to happen.”
Does Frank not give his coaches feedback? What did he say after those poor offensive showings to his coaches? Good try? Your doing your best, keep at it? Maybe he was not going to do anything and felt some pressure from his superiors as the season was coming to a close.
Then there is Stinespring. Does he get a pass because he is a nice guy and a good recruiter? In 2011 when O'Cain was in the booth alone one could argue that he did a better job calling plays then the years Stinespring was handling those responsibilities.
I am glad change is finally here, but it is well overdue in my opinion. Stinespring remaining is my only issue. That being said if we can not be better without his recruiting I guess I can deal with him still being there. Here's to a successful future. Go Hokies! BEATBAMA!
I really think that he blamed George Whitfield and screwed up what GW had taught Logan. Constantly getting O'Cain's quaterbacking 'wizardry' in your headset during a game as well as trying to remember what you've learned 6-9 months ago is a recipe for disaster.
Drink!
Looks like a very solid prospect. Thanks for sharing the article, it's very much appreciated.
this past season you must mean. But you are right, nothing like a little disrepect to get the players motivated, i.e. 38-0 in 2011.
As far as I'm concerned, there's a trophy case for a national championship trophy. So, those are my expectations.
In terms of gameplay and style, run the ball hard and set up Thomas for some play action. I don't want a 50+ point per game offense, I want an offense that can put 25-30 up and give the defense a break.
Yesssss!
It's been a while since Beamer's fired anyone, so naturally I'm interested in what O'Cain, or any former member of the staff really, has/had to say. In O'Cain's case, it wasn't that much.
"I think we were pretty good," O'Cain said. "I'm not a big stat guy. I don't look at how many yards we have. I really don't care. We all get caught up in that."
"We'd go into the four corners, Dean Smith offense," O'Cain said. "It's about winning the game."
Statistics are most certainly overblown. Trends, correlations, and conclusions backed by stats, however, are not. In 2011, 2010, and 2009 when Tech was 3rd, 18th, and 51st nationally in time of possession, they were also 35th, 41st, and 50th in total offense. By comparison, in 2012, 2007 and 2006 the Hokies were 81st, 100th and 99th in total offense, and 57th, 67th, and 83rd in time of possession. Yes, Beamer wants a crew cut offense that methodically gobbles up yards on the ground, but when effectively executed, it does exactly that, and the numbers add up.
I don't think the average fan pores through statistics. They consume snack food, what's in the paper, or on the scoreboard. The eye test isn't quantifiable, but it's how most people judge the team. The heat was turned down in 2009-11 because the offense was palatable. This year, O'Cainspring's lipstick-on-a-pig offense was mostly sloppy, out of sync, overly complicated, unproductive, and brought back memories of the 'O' prior to '09.
Finally, is this O'Cain just shooting straight? Or a knock on some combination of Stinespring and Beamer? I honestly don't know.
"There was never any indication during the season that anything was going to happen," O'Cain said. "I've been in this profession for 36 years. You know when things aren't going good and you're struggling and there's a disgruntled bunch out there, for whatever the reason, that that could happen. But I had no inclination that it was going to happen."
HOW. DO. YOU. NOT. KNOW!? I just can't...
I'll take O'Cain at his word. Here are my thoughts:
- Job security in Blacksburg came too easily for too long. How else do you feel that secure you have a job after performing that bad?
- Beamer did a really good job keeping his staff focused on the bowl preparation.
- While his staff was focused on the bowl, Beamer did a really good job planning for the future, because I find it hard to believe the wheels of a complete staff overhaul went into drive after the bowl game.
With all that said, O'Cain part of a staff that won a bunch of games, consistently beat UVa, and contended for ACC Championships. I wish him the best.
After Russell Wilson's (804!) last game in the playoffs, he immediately started watching film in preparation for next season. That's the kind of story I'd love to hear from our players!
who went from QB Coach to HC. He wasn't an OC until after his 10 year stint as HC @ NCSU.
And Clemson hated him as OC (and he's a clemson alum).