Re: Is DJ thinking too much

Head Coach [785]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 567

Joined: 11/24/06

Nov 14, 2021, 3:56 PM

Fair post and good question. Liked El Tigre and Big Sky’s responses. This season, I think we’ve seen examples of both, DJ thinking too much and not thinking at all, he just runs the play in a robotic way, exactly the way it’s called.

One thing I’ve noticed is that it seems the coaches have over prescribed how to run the offense. Last several games, if DJ gets outside the pocket and his primary target isn’t open, he throws it away. No hesitation. Doesn’t even try to make another play. Just throw it away. There doesn’t appear to be any expectation or latitude for him to make a decision. Their coaching has been reduced to the most simple form of “just do they play we call.” So we end up with examples like those accurately mentioned by other posters, pitch 6 in the Pitt game, some of the INTs where he throws into coverage. It’s mind boggling to watch as a fan. But I do think both the player and coaches are to blame for this. That’s why it’s not getting materially better.

Part of me thinks our coaching staff got themselves in trouble once they realized we didn’t have the O line to have DJ be a pocket passer and also realized that expecting DJ to run RPO was a mistake. Not sure exactly when this happened but Dabo’s pre-season pressers re: fall practice provided some hints. They were stuck in this no man’s land between a scheme they know and one that doesn’t fit their QB’s skill set / ability to make decisions. That my good Tiger friends, is not something that’s easily or quickly fixed, especially when there’s not a culture of creative play calling in place (we do what we do, QB in the shotgun) which is why I think we’ve seen the offensive struggles play out the way they have.

I pray we don’t have to endure another season of this next year.

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I think next year DJ should get 3 games tops to show if he is the man or not. Heck, Cade might beat him out before the first game. No more coddling after this year. He should have been replaced after the NC State game this year. If not before. But I guess if you listen to Dabo and Tony we don't have anyone better on the roster than 113th rated QB in the country. "We got what we got". How did that happen? Man I wish we still had Chase Brice. We would probably be undefeated if we had him. At worst a one loss team to the number 1 team in the country. And still in the top 5. Remember when it was us and Alabama on top then everyone else was far behind? Not anymore. It only took less than a season or so. It can happen fast. If Dabo doesn't do something drastic we could easily fall in with the likes of Tennessee, Nebraska, LSU, Florida, Penn State, Southern CAL, Texas, Miami, Florida State, VA Tech, etc... all has-beens. Once perennial powerhouses.

This is why I am so frustrated and why this decision making is driving me insane. It's because of the insanity of this year's coaching and decision making when it comes to DJ. He has been treated with kid gloves like no other. Why?

Is DJ thinking too much