Georgetown-Lafayette: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

[minibronco]

The Good:
-Special teams did a decent job tonight, holding the Leopards to very reasonable punt and kick returns. On the other end, there were a number of decent or better kick returns that set the offense up well.
-Freshman QB Isaiah Kempf had a brilliant showing at the end of the game. In limited time, he looked sharp on several passes including some catchable balls in the red zone.
-Hoya linebackers are a lot quicker than expected, and showed impressive lateral coverage in pass support tonight
-the defense definitely knows how to play big on third downs
-great performances from Wayne Heimuli, Kenneth Furlough, and Brandon Floyd, especially in the latter stages of the game
-Saturday night lights

The Bad:
-QB James Brady had a bad showing tonight, overthrowing many balls. I would chalk it all up to him though, as the O-Line just couldn't handle the rush 70% of the time. Even from the shotgun, Brady had barely any time to scan the field before having to start scrambling, and was hit hard on numerous occasions. He was taken out after an INT.
-butterfinger catchable incompletions in the Hoya's first three drives

The Ugly:
-playcalling: until coach Kelly figures out that the shotgun shouldn't be used 100% of the time, we'll see defenses picking on the predictability of the offense
-the right side of the defense, including LBs and DBs, were incredibly weak in run support throughout the game
-the Hoya's inability to capitalize on good field position after punts

[HoyaSinceBirth]

Seriously when I( someone who never watched a football game in person till I got to georgetown) can realize exactly what we're going to do before the snap you have a problem.

[FLHoya]

Unless BAD and UGLY are 5-10x as long as GOOD...you may be doing it wrong.

[98hoya]

The real "ugly" is that we're 2 games into the season and I sense that it's now understood that the air is totally out of the balloon. Not to mix metaphors, but we need a clean slate and we need it NOW.

If you've seen the team, you know they don't have a chance. The offense is just...not good. I don't think it's the players, I think it's the plays. Coach K.'s quotes make me question whether he senses the desperation, but if he does, he certainly seems unwilling to make changes to adjust.

It's not *just* about losing. It's about losing in non-competitive, uninspired ways. If no one's getting enjoyment out of the team, I suggest the team will not have a future. Plus, on a campus hungry to cut expenses and expand, folks have to understand that if no one cares about the program (and the way to get people to care is to win, or at least be competitive), then the team is toast.

We're in trouble here and I'm concerned about not just the short term future, but the long term. Someone call in an exorcism and let's start fresh before it's too late.

[gwhiz]

Sept 13, 2009 17:04:07 GMT -5 hoya12a said:

I'd go with more of the "ugly" as that is exactly what last nights home season opener was. Are you kidding me??? There were tons of students there, don't you want them to come back? We need to win a few games to keep them coming!! The game was a complete and utter embarassment to anyone that witnessed it. F I N A L L Y Kelly and his entourage what 3 minutes left in the game finally decide to switch QB's. Honestly we picked up what 7 last year most of which have NEVER touched a ball from the QB position, and now we have recruited more this year. Last nights 3 minutes of fame from the new freshman kid made the game exciting for a few minutes anyway! We continue to run the same old same old plays over and over again; helloooooo....don't you think the opponents have figured out the game plan by now? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Seriously, we need a new offense coordinator to run some plays that actually work. let's use some of the depth that we have and mix it up some, perhaps you might be surprised on the talent that lies beneath. Last nights' QB entrance after Brady was benched, was a little taste of what can be! The season is young yet, lets not make a repeat of last years' poor showing!!

Kempf ran a drive against a soft defense in the final minutes of a game that was over. How many starters were still playing and who was going full throttle with 3 minutes left to play. Don't get all giddy about that. I don't believe Joe Flacco could have succeeded on this team. The high school coaching staff is the real cause of your pain.

[minibronco]

There is much more "ugly" but I'm sure you could have sensed that, I put my finger on some of the more specific things.

gwhiz is right, he was playing against a soft defense with second and third teamers in from the Leopards. The real problem lies in the playcalling--I don't know how many times Brady looked to the sideline for an audible, which is a euphemism for changing the play to "get stuffed in the middle"

[The Stig]

It takes two to tango. Yes the play-calling is awful, but anytime we tried to run something more adventurous last year it ended in a turnover. The coaching staff can only run plays that the players can execute.

[derhoya]

Sept 14, 2009 6:12:56 GMT -5 The Stig said:

It takes two to tango. Yes the play-calling is awful, but anytime we tried to run something more adventurous last year it ended in a turnover. The coaching staff can only run plays that the players can execute.

true but i see execution directly tied to coaching, player development and good practice as well as players playing. simply put, if the coaches don't prepare the players - how can we expect them to meet our expectations (even modest ones).

[hoyavictory]

I was at the game and concur with whiz and bronco in that second string players were on the field at the end of the game(both sides of the ball).

Brady had a rough game but you can attribute some of that to the line, they just were not stopping anyone. He was over throwing balls and I think he is having a problem seeing what is open down field. You can attribute that to whatever you wish but I think the lineman are obscuring his view.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

It probably hurts that he's on the small side.

[98hoya]

Sept 14, 2009 6:12:56 GMT -5 The Stig said:

It takes two to tango. Yes the play-calling is awful, but anytime we tried to run something more adventurous last year it ended in a turnover. The coaching staff can only run plays that the players can execute.

Assuming it is the players (which I don't think is correct), doesn't that come back to the coaches too? These are recruited athletes, not some kids who fall on the coach's lap by attending their local public high school. If the players aren't good, then we need coaches to do better recruiting. Or, if the playcalling isn't good (my theory), then we need the coaches to be better playcallers.

All comes back to the coaches, doesn't it?

We've taken a step BACKWARD from when we were in the MAAC...and this in spite of huge increases in budget, grant opportunities, etc. If we look at the last 3 seasons plus the first 2 league games of this season, we were 2-18 vs. the PL since 2006. 20 games, 2 league wins.

In the 3 seasons BEFORE we made this "step up" (97-99) and played in the woeful MAAC, we were 2-3 vs. the PL. 5 games, 2 wins vs. PL.

Some step up we've made, huh?

Something is very wrong. We could compete with the MAAC with our terrible facilities 10 years ago, so why can't we now when there's a heck of a lot more money in the program?

[gwhiz]

Sept 13, 2009 19:51:45 GMT -5 @98hoya said:

The real "ugly" is that we're 2 games into the season and I sense that it's now understood that the air is totally out of the balloon. Not to mix metaphors, but we need a clean slate and we need it NOW.

If you've seen the team, you know they don't have a chance. The offense is just...not good. I don't think it's the players, I think it's the plays. Coach K.'s quotes make me question whether he senses the desperation, but if he does, he certainly seems unwilling to make changes to adjust.

It's not *just* about losing. It's about losing in non-competitive, uninspired ways. If no one's getting enjoyment out of the team, I suggest the team will not have a future. Plus, on a campus hungry to cut expenses and expand, folks have to understand that if no one cares about the program (and the way to get people to care is to win, or at least be competitive), then the team is toast.

We're in trouble here and I'm concerned about not just the short term future, but the long term. Someone call in an exorcism and let's start fresh before it's too late.

Somehow, we looked more competitive against Holy Cross. Quite frankly, I think Lafayette looked physically stronger than HC. There was little expectation to beat either of these teams, and yes Lafayette outclassed us, etc. but, let's move on.
The drive to begin the second half was impressive. The opening drive against HC was also impressive. Granted these flashes of brilliance are too few and far between but if we can do it against 2 strong teams, then we can do it, perhaps, more often against the bottom of the schedule. Yale will be another tough day at the office, then we move to 2 softer games.

[98hoya]

Sept 14, 2009 10:10:07 GMT -5 gwhiz said:

Sept 13, 2009 19:51:45 GMT -5 @98hoya said:

Yale will be another tough day at the office, then we move to 2 softer games.

I hope so, but Howard is no slouch (despite getting humiliated by Rutgers) and we shouldn't translate our very tight win last year vs. their team (which was missing a lot of starters to suspension) as a gimme win for this year. Bucknell's got troubles too, but less troubles than us.

Bottom line - I concur, we need to batten down the hatches for 1 more week, but the team better stay very focused after that or the results will not improve.

[theexorcist]

Sept 14, 2009 9:38:33 GMT -5 @98hoya said:

Sept 14, 2009 6:12:56 GMT -5 The Stig said:

It takes two to tango. Yes the play-calling is awful, but anytime we tried to run something more adventurous last year it ended in a turnover. The coaching staff can only run plays that the players can execute.

Assuming it is the players (which I don't think is correct), doesn't that come back to the coaches too? These are recruited athletes, not some kids who fall on the coach's lap by attending their local public high school. If the players aren't good, then we need coaches to do better recruiting. Or, if the playcalling isn't good (my theory), then we need the coaches to be better playcallers.

All comes back to the coaches, doesn't it?

We've taken a step BACKWARD from when we were in the MAAC...and this in spite of huge increases in budget, grant opportunities, etc. If we look at the last 3 seasons plus the first 2 league games of this season, we were 2-18 vs. the PL since 2006. 20 games, 2 league wins.

In the 3 seasons BEFORE we made this "step up" (97-99) and played in the woeful MAAC, we were 2-3 vs. the PL. 5 games, 2 wins vs. PL.

Some step up we've made, huh?

Something is very wrong. We could compete with the MAAC with our terrible facilities 10 years ago, so why can't we now when there's a heck of a lot more money in the program?

Beat ya to it, DFW!

The MAAC is not the same as the Patriot League. Nearly half of the MAAC schools Georgetown competed against have since dropped football. Georgetown's expenditures and its current stadium rank in the lower tier of the Patriot, which has numerous members who are trying to add scholarships without calling them "scholarships". It's like moving from the Sun Belt to the Mountain West - just because your facilities are as good as North Texas doesn't mean that they're on the level of BYU's.

[mercadaj]

From an outsider/former player looking in, it appears quite clear that we need a new OC. Not end of the year, but this week. 3 NFL teams fired their OC during training camp. We need a change NOW. Coach Kelly has to realize this by now. It's embarrassing and they will pull the program. No doubt about it. We can't wait another week. It won't change.

[gtowndad]

You can also tell that the parents of the players are really getting fed up with the coaching staff. Many comments about how their high school coaches would have done a better job could be heard. It is time for a change.

[98hoya]

Sept 14, 2009 10:29:16 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

Sept 14, 2009 9:38:33 GMT -5 @98hoya said:

Assuming it is the players (which I don't think is correct), doesn't that come back to the coaches too? These are recruited athletes, not some kids who fall on the coach's lap by attending their local public high school. If the players aren't good, then we need coaches to do better recruiting. Or, if the playcalling isn't good (my theory), then we need the coaches to be better playcallers.

All comes back to the coaches, doesn't it?

We've taken a step BACKWARD from when we were in the MAAC...and this in spite of huge increases in budget, grant opportunities, etc. If we look at the last 3 seasons plus the first 2 league games of this season, we were 2-18 vs. the PL since 2006. 20 games, 2 league wins.

In the 3 seasons BEFORE we made this "step up" (97-99) and played in the woeful MAAC, we were 2-3 vs. the PL. 5 games, 2 wins vs. PL.

Some step up we've made, huh?

Something is very wrong. We could compete with the MAAC with our terrible facilities 10 years ago, so why can't we now when there's a heck of a lot more money in the program?

Beat ya to it, DFW!

The MAAC is not the same as the Patriot League. Nearly half of the MAAC schools Georgetown competed against have since dropped football. Georgetown's expenditures and its current stadium rank in the lower tier of the Patriot, which has numerous members who are trying to add scholarships without calling them "scholarships". It's like moving from the Sun Belt to the Mountain West - just because your facilities are as good as North Texas doesn't mean that they're on the level of BYU's.

Exorcist,

I'm not comparing overall record to overall record...if I had been, I'd agree wholeheartedly with your analysis. No doubt, the MAAC, as a league, was far inferior to the PL.

Instead, I'm comparing PL wins from a three year time immediately before the upgrade of the program (97-99) to PL wins from a post-upgrade program (06-Present).

I don't think your analysis answers the question of why we competed at a higher level with the PL before we upgraded to it.

[gwhiz]

Sept 14, 2009 11:11:20 GMT -5 gtowndad said:

You can also tell that the parents of the players are really getting fed up with the coaching staff. Many comments about how their high school coaches would have done a better job could be heard. It is time for a change.

With that said,
Would everybody put a call into the AD and tell him to do his job. He's going to have to deal with this at the end of the season anyway so he might as well demonstrate some backbone right now. Bombard him and administration with Email and phone calls until he reacts. If his phone doesn't ring and his mailbox is empty, then he'll think he's got no issues to attend to. Financial contributors, former players, and alums should be able to force his hand. Rally your base and mobilize. This team and future will thank you. Let's make some noise.

[98hoya]

Sept 14, 2009 11:50:42 GMT -5 gwhiz said:

Sept 14, 2009 11:11:20 GMT -5 gtowndad said:

You can also tell that the parents of the players are really getting fed up with the coaching staff. Many comments about how their high school coaches would have done a better job could be heard. It is time for a change.

With that said,
Would everybody put a call into the AD and tell him to do his job. He's going to have to deal with this at the end of the season anyway so he might as well demonstrate some backbone right now. Bombard him and administration with Email and phone calls until he reacts. If his phone doesn't ring and his mailbox is empty, then he'll think he's got no issues to attend to. Financial contributors, former players, and alums should be able to force his hand. Rally your base and mobilize. This team and future will thank you. Let's make some noise.

Jeez, I gotta say, I think I'd say he'd demonstrate more backbone if he chose not to be bullied by people who assault his inbox, phone, mailbox with threats of people wishing to force his hand...I don't want us to collectively have a coup d'etat mentality. It's ugly and doesn't help anyone.

[theexorcist]

Sept 14, 2009 11:50:42 GMT -5 gwhiz said:

Sept 14, 2009 11:11:20 GMT -5 gtowndad said:

You can also tell that the parents of the players are really getting fed up with the coaching staff. Many comments about how their high school coaches would have done a better job could be heard. It is time for a change.

With that said,
Would everybody put a call into the AD and tell him to do his job. He's going to have to deal with this at the end of the season anyway so he might as well demonstrate some backbone right now. Bombard him and administration with Email and phone calls until he reacts. If his phone doesn't ring and his mailbox is empty, then he'll think he's got no issues to attend to. Financial contributors, former players, and alums should be able to force his hand. Rally your base and mobilize. This team and future will thank you. Let's make some noise.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

The new AD has been on the job for a few short months, if that, and has consistently been praised for attempting to engage with Georgetown.

Urge people to contact him if you want to emphasize the importance of striving for mediocrity in the football program, but trying to "force his hand" really isn't helpful.