Well, this nice thread turned into a fat-farm wet tshirt contest real quick.
For my part, I like the threads where we criticize the coaches with supported arguments. That line between player execution v. player development v. coaching philosophy or scheme is interesting and ought to make for good debate. Unfortunately, those good topics tend to drown in a flurry of posts that second guess a play call for no reason other than it didn't work. Or that just reiterate things that can't be supported (he's just a JAG, he just stands around and claps, whatever). There's no point swatting down criticisms that have to evidence or arguments attached, but there are enough posters willing to believe things without reasons, it makes it hard to stay on topic too much of the time.
For the record, I agree that Jason's not great on game days and that that's something that noticeably improved when Linehan was added to the staff. I'm ok with that.
We do make some time management mistakes still, too, though every team does. Those are fair to criticize, but I also think it's fair to point out that it's the lack of time to consistently make great decisions that makes those calls difficult in the first place. And hindsight is 20/20. Generally speaking, I think we do a better job than most with the clock management stuff now. That wasn't the case when Garrett first took over.
So far this season, the overwhelming issue has been the fact that our personnel is not as good as it was before the injuries. Our backups aren't as good as other team's starters in many cases, and that's to be expected. The fact that our backups are confused in some fairly normal game situations, though, I consider to be legitimately on the coaches. I realize it's harder to prepare WIL3 than it is to prepare WIL1 or 2, but that comes with the dinner. You get 46 guys on a game day roster, and they all have to know their responsibilities. If a guy doesn't know to get down if he's hurt and can't get off the field, then somebody needs to call that timeout. That stuff goes directly to coaching and is legitimate criticism in my book.
That said, most of what you guys seem to think are coaching criticisms are just plays that don't work out. Or you're parroting back some (generally dumb) conclusions you've leapt to previously with very little evidence. That fact that people don't take that seriously on a message board is actually a good sign. We want a site where low-level discoursed is dismissed in favor of actual arguments.
Excellent post Idgit, as usual.
I agree that Garrett should not be criticized for lack of talent due to injuries. No, it is not his fault that he has Brandon Weedon and Terrance Williams instead of Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.
But............let me explain what he can and should be criticized for that some on here refuse to do to this day.
1. Having 12 men on the field..........this is totally inexcusable and has absolutely nothing to do with having inferior talent. Some say that with injuries that you have guys not knowing what packages they are suppose to be on. THIS IS CALLED COACHING!!! You teach the 46 guys on the roster exactly what they are supposed to do and when. This is why you practice, have film sessions, and position group meetings during the week. If all of that fails, you can count how many guys on the field there are and call a dam time out if you have to. You telling me a Princeton graduate cant count to 12? This coaching blunder costed us 3 points in a game that went to OT. Yes, coaching errors do cost your team games.
2. Not noticing when one of your players is injured and is limping around the field in OT................. This again has not one single thing to do with having inferior talent. As a head coach, if you are in OT and see one of your guys limping around, you call a dam time out and get somebody else out there instead of playing 10 vs 11 on the next play because the player is injured or his replacement is trying to sprint onto the field before the snap and is out of place. The very next play the Saints scored on a wheel route just 13 seconds into OT. Again, coaching errors cost your team games.
3. Time Management............You do not call a timeout with a 1:30 left on the clock with a first down run at the goalline coming up, as in the Atlanta game. Everybody from Eatman to Broaddus to just about everybody else in the media has called this a huge blunder. There is simply no reason to do something like this, even in college if you are even remotely aware of time management. Garrett said they wanted to make sure they had their "jumbo" package in the game. Well this goes right back to point number one, why the hell do the players not know who is on the jumbo package and who doesn't? When you say "send in the jumbo package", you should see the 11 guys on the package all huddle up, not turn to each other and say "who the hell is on the jumbo package". THIS IS CALLED COACHING.
I could go on, but I think I have made my point. Yes, Garrett should not be criticized for losing because he has inferior talent to work with. Backup WRs do not catch or get open as good as starting WRs, backup linebackers do not tackle as solid as starting linebackers, and backup DEs do not rush the passer as good as starting DEs, but there are numerous mistakes that Garrett is making that have nothing to do with injuries, it has everything to do with coaching, especially when those coaching errors directly contribute to the team losing the game.
Ok, the Garrett worshipers can now tell me how much of a fake fan and a hater I am.......you guys have at it, I am out of here for the day.........peace.
