Imho, both Texans games were among Gus' personal worst games. Simply put, the Texans coach so far owns Gus, and I'm hoping the Jaguars can get some redemption by sweeping them this year, but that's easier said than done.
In the first game, even though it got far worse in the second half, it was obvious by halftime that Hopkins was schooling House. I don't think Gus realized just how good Hopkins was as a player because he failed to give House any help, and Hopkins is the kind of WR you had better double every play. Adjustments were required at halftime, and they didn't happen. That's Gus' fault. In the second half, Hopkins had his way with House; it was like taking candy from a baby. In the aftermath, Gus overreacted by benching Devon failing to realize that the problem wasn't Devon's effort... the problem was failing to give him help. Benching him for Gratz was just plain [BLEEP], and I can only imagine how much worse that Texans game would have been if Gratz were manned up against Hopkins. The lighting a fire under House argument is, and I hate to say this, something only an apologist would utter. This if the first time I've ever stooped to mention the word "apologist," but I can't think of a more fitting word for this instance.
In the second game, the Texans coaches had the Jaguars completely figured out. The talent level difference on the field was almost irrelevant as the Texans had the Jaguars schemed up to a T. Yeah it didn't help that Joekel was doing his best turnstile impression, but that game was lost on several fronts. Gus was clueless and it showed. I still argue that Gus improved tremendously as a head coach during the second half of last year, but the final game of last year was by no means an example. If the Jaguars are to own the AFC S, it starts with beating the Texans, and it's going to take more than a few extra talented players to do this. It's going to take a concerted coaching effort to change the tide in this match-up.
Quote:Really you dont believe coaching played a role in our record last year?
I believe that coaching plays a role in every teams record every year.
I also believe that talent and injuries also play a role in every teams record every year.
You could also say the draft plays a role in every teams record every year, although a smaller role then those things listed above.
Heck, even free agency plays a role in every teams record every year.
Basically, there are several other things that play a role in every teams record every year and coaching is just one of them, albeit a very important one, maybe the most important one.
Quote:There was no significant difference between the first and second half of the season.
Except for the fact that all of his ints and the best game of his career came in the second half of the season.
Quote:Roasted? Because that great defensive mind Bob Babich said he played better after the benching? The guy who played Gratz ahead of McCray? Next you'll be citing Matt Millen about draft grades.
It was a puff piece. I saw House play all season. There was no significant difference between the first and second half of the season. He was a good, not great corner before he was benched, and a good, not great corner after he got his job back.
I agree. I was a little baffled by the benching, because it seemed pretty obvious to me that his difficulties stemmed from a lack of pressure on the QB. When they put him back out there, he was the same guy, a pretty decent CB. I was surprised that he took the benching so well. A lot of guys would have complained about it but he stayed positive throughout the whole thing.
Quote:I agree. I was a little baffled by the benching, because it seemed pretty obvious to me that his difficulties stemmed from a lack of pressure on the QB. When they put him back out there, he was the same guy, a pretty decent CB. I was surprised that he took the benching so well. A lot of guys would have complained about it but he stayed positive throughout the whole thing.
That's cuz Davon is a pro. I really like him, he was a very good FA pickup.
That benching was Bush.
Getting back to the point why I even brought up the benching was that it was a bad coaching move--BUT--it's one that I would hope Gus learns from. That's the key to the whole dog gone thing!
I give Gus a pass on his first 2 years as HC. As everyone acknowledges, the roster was gutted 4 years ago. Last year was his year to beginning to build his resume. He continued to make head scratching decisions---BUT--- there were fewer head scratches in 2015 than there were in 2014 and 2013... So that's progress.
Also, the clot home game was best coaching game. And his positivity kept the train on the rails in London when we fell behind in the 4th Quarter. So there's some hope here for Gus. If he's smart, and can learn from his mistakes there's a chance the team and the Head Coach can turn the corner this year.
If he's learned from all his mistakes then it's worth it. I hope he has.
Quote:That's cuz Davon is a pro. I really like him, he was a very good FA pickup.
That benching was Bush.
Getting back to the point why I even brought up the benching was that it was a bad coaching move--BUT--it's one that I would hope Gus learns from. That's the key to the whole dog gone thing!
I give Gus a pass on his first 2 years as HC. As everyone acknowledges, the roster was gutted 4 years ago. Last year was his year to beginning to build his resume. He continued to make head scratching decisions---BUT--- there were fewer head scratches in 2015 than there were in 2014 and 2013... So that's progress.
Also, the clot home game was best coaching game. And his positivity kept the train on the rails in London when we fell behind in the 4th Quarter. So there's some hope here for Gus. If he's smart, and can learn from his mistakes there's a chance the team and the Head Coach can turn the corner this year.
If he's learned from all his mistakes then it's worth it. I hope he has.
Why does Gus get a pass on his learning to coach? Just because the quality of players isn't all Madden level doesn't mean he shouldn't have learned a lot along the way, not to mention he's been a coach for years before this gig. Stop with the "roster was bad, we don't know how good he is" stuff. He's been repeatedly whipped by opposing coaches and looked clueless at times as to what do, not to even mention the lack of defensive player development. All signs for Gus are pointing to wasted year in 2016.
Quote:Speaking of clueless...
... wait a second...
I thought I was on the "I hate Gus" bandwagon...
Am I not I hate Gus-y enough?!?!
Quote:... wait a second...
I thought I was on the "I hate Gus" bandwagon...
Am I not I hate Gus-y enough?!?!
Lol .. He only read the first 2 years pass part... I barely give him a pass for those 2 years.. Maybe a pass for the first..
Quote:Our 4 best pass rushers (or at least top sackers) were our 'Big' end, a cornerback, our nose tackle and Andre Branch. What scheme, using the greatness of those pass rushers, could have been expected to create more turnovers and sacks?
It doesnt really have to be a scheme.. But blitzing more to create pressure is something that could have been done.. Sometimes bring a safety, or Corner or hell bring the Linebackers.. Their are many ways of creating pressure,Good coaches know how to make the proper adjustments,when the "talent" isnt there... What does Gus do? Ijs..
Quote:Roasted? Because that great defensive mind Bob Babich said he played better after the benching? The guy who played Gratz ahead of McCray? Next you'll be citing Matt Millen about draft grades.
It was a puff piece. I saw House play all season. There was no significant difference between the first and second half of the season. He was a good, not great corner before he was benched, and a good, not great corner after he got his job back.
Only an absolute buffoon would think McCray is a quality corner and should be starting for this team.
Oh, wait...
Quote:Only an absolute buffoon would think McCray is a quality corner and should be starting for this team.
Oh, wait...
I know this is not relevant to the substance of your debate, but I felt compelled to chime in here.
I've discussed/debated football with MalabarJag over many years, even predating this board.
He may or may not be right on a particular subject, but he's certainly no buffoon.
To me, if you are going to debate him, you have to have a very strong grasp of the facts and football, because he supports his arguments very well. He is one of the posters I respect most on this board.
Quote:I know this is not relevant to the substance of your debate, but I felt compelled to chime in here.
I've discussed/debated football with MalabarJag over many years, even predating this board.
He may or may not be right on a particular subject, but he's certainly no buffoon.
To me, if you are going to debate him, you have to have a very strong grasp of the facts and football, because he supports his arguments very well. He is one of the posters I respect most on this board.
While I generally agree... my experience is that there are also far too many of these examples where there's little or no justification of what he's saying. Particularly when shown evidence explicitly stating otherwise.
That's not debate. That's just being unwilling to admit you have predisposed feelings that prevent you from acknowledging there's pretty strong objective evidence disproving what you believe.
Clinging to McCray, who isn't even a starter and who knows how long he'll last on the roster going forward, raises high question of judgment. That's closer to my assessment than not.
Quote:It doesnt really have to be a scheme.. But blitzing more to create pressure is something that could have been done.. Sometimes bring a safety, or Corner or hell bring the Linebackers.. Their are many ways of creating pressure,Good coaches know how to make the proper adjustments,when the "talent" isnt there... What does Gus do? Ijs..
So we have poor coverage guys and you want to bring guys out of coverage to blitz? And you want to know if I watch football? We brought in how many DB's this year? Thay should tell you something. Although I'm not surprised that someone who thinks we were just fine on D Bradley's second year wouldn't see that.
I'm kind of embarrassed for even debating this crap with you, because it's pretty obvious you see things that just aren't there and miss things that are.
Quote:So we have poor coverage guys and you want to bring guys out of coverage to blitz? And you want to know if I watch football? We brought in how many DB's this year? Thay should tell you something. Although I'm not surprised that someone who thinks we were just fine on D Bradley's second year wouldn't see that.
I'm kind of embarrassed for even debating this crap with you, because it's pretty obvious you see things that just aren't there and miss things that are.
You full of an excuses... An your football I.Q. is pretty low...I apologize for that.. Thats not cool... Lol but Our coverage guys werent that bad as you put it.. And we drafted argubly the best player in the draft and bought in Amukamara for depth... Getting consistent pressure was bad last year. And dont forget i also said LINEBACKERS! I was just giving examples of how you could create more pressure. A good example is the defense Dick Lebeau ran in Pittsburgh..
Quote:You full of an excuses... An your football I.Q. is pretty low...I apologize for that.. Thats not cool... Lol but Our coverage guys werent that bad as you put it.. And we drafted argubly the best player in the draft and bought in Amukamara for depth... Getting consistent pressure was bad last year. And dont forget i also said LINEBACKERS! I was just giving examples of how you could create more pressure. A good example is the defense [BAD WORD REMOVED] Lebeau ran in Pittsburgh..
1. Our cover guys last year were not good at all, outside of House. Might they have been better with more pressure? Yes, but I'd say there is a reason the team brought in three high profile DBs in Amukumara, Ramsey and Gipson.
2. You DO realize that in order to successfully run that defense Lebeau ran in Pittsburgh for all of those years, this team would need the right personnel, don't you?. You'd need the stud NT-the Casey Hampton or Joel Steed type. We don't have that. You'd also need the stud OLB-the Greg Lloyd, Kevin Green, Jason Gildon, Joey Porter, Chad Brown, and James Harrison type guys outside, as well as the stud ILBs. We don't have nearly enough of either type to have run it successfully. Also know that traditionally, the Steelers under Lebeau always had a stud CB and a stud S to help run that scheme (Woodson, Lake, Polamalu). We don't have those guys here, either. The Steelers have been drafting 3-4 personnel since the 1980s. Had we tried running that scheme here, it would have been a recipe for disaster.
Quote:You full of an excuses... An your football I.Q. is pretty low...I apologize for that.. Thats not cool... Lol but Our coverage guys werent that bad as you put it.. And we drafted argubly the best player in the draft and bought in Amukamara for depth... Getting consistent pressure was bad last year. And dont forget i also said LINEBACKERS! I was just giving examples of how you could create more pressure. A good example is the defense [BAD WORD REMOVED] Lebeau ran in Pittsburgh..
Kind of ironic you questioning anybody's IQ. Are you really that dumb? The Steelers defense? My God are you dense. You think you just run a defense without the players to run it? LOLOLOLOL
Quote:... wait a second...
I thought I was on the "I hate Gus" bandwagon...
Am I not I hate Gus-y enough?!?!
Wasn't about that, just was noting that at no point should there ever be a "pass" given over multiple years when it comes to a guy coaching. As much as anyone wants to say Gus has shown improvement over his three years, reality says otherwise.
In the final game of 2015 Gus was still being pencil whipped by an intradivision rival.