CelticCat wrote: ↑Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:19 am
Cledus wrote: ↑Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:11 am
CelticCat wrote: ↑Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:03 am
I don't think Jamie Marshall was a bad coach by any means, but sometimes things just derail.
My problem with Marshall was his inability to accept that something needed to change and his inability to truthfully and honestly evaluate the person in the mirror.
I don't know if it was scheme / X's O's or something else, but my opinion of him forever changed when he dug in his heels, slammed his fist down and yelled, "We run base!" when the defensive performance was rightfully criticized. To me, that demonstrated more than anything he wasn't capable of self-introspection and self-improvement.
Exactly, and that was his downfall. Whether he was stubborn, or just couldn't figure it out, we'll never know. If he didn't have the Joes, his defense fell apart it seemed.
I would also argue that he had "the Joes" in 2014 (when the defense really started to struggle). What he didn't have was depth and that was kind of the scapegoat answer for struggles. But that lack of depth came directly from two things: broken recruitment system and broken team camaraderie which are both directly related to culture (what type players do we want to recruit and how do we fit them into our culture). I mean for crying out loud, this was Marshall's defenses in 2014:
2014
DE - Odin Coe/Zach Hutchins
DT - Taylor Sheridan/Nate Bignell
DT - Taylor Dees/Connor Thomas
DE - Devin Jeffries/Tyrone Fa'anono
SLB - Cole Moore
MLB - Na'a Moeakiola/Michael Foster
WLB - Alex Singleton
CB - Bryson Keeton
FS - Robert Marshall
SS - Eryon Barnett
CB - Deonte Flowers
CB -True freshman Bryce Alley and Khari Garcia rotated in for depth
This defense finished 9th in scoring defense (33 points per game), 12th in total defense (487 yards per game), 8th in rushing defense (193 yards per game), 13th (last) in pass defense (294 yards per game), 9th in sacks, 9th in interceptions, and 10th in opponent 3rd-down effic. However, the most amazing stat of all was the MSU's offense was #2 in the league in time of possession yet the defense was 12th in total defensive yards given up per game. What does that mean? It means the defense gave up a ton of big plays and it was extremely easy to move the ball against them. Now here is the thing that really doesn't sit well with me...there was talent on this 2014 defense. Coe, Sheridan, Dees, and Jeffries were not the defensive lines of old but these were tough, physical kids who at least should've been better against the run. The secondary had an All-Big Sky corner (Flowers) and future NFL player (Keeton made the Jets roster for two years) while Marshall and Barnett were physically gifted safeties. And the linebacking unit was arguably one of the best in the league. I know Na'a wasn't his normal self after he came back from that injury to play his senior season but he and Foster were talented backers. And Singleton and Moore were All-Conference worthy linebackers and leaders of the defense. But because of a lack of depth, scheme adjustment, and overall coaching (player development), the 2014 defense was unwatchable at times.
Then Marshall somehow gets a coaching promotion to a FBS school in the offseason so Kane gets the call up from Ash to be the defensive coordinator. Well, the Marshall situation falls through and Ash gives him his job back and makes Marshall/Ioane co-defensive coordinators for the 2015 season. On the defensive side of the ball, MSU loses all of its linebackers and secondary (minus Keeton) to graduation along with Coe and Dees on the defensive line. Since there was no experienced depth on the roster, Ash hit the transfer market hard for the 2015 recruiting class. Here is how the 2015 defense looked:
2015
DE - Tyrone Fa'anono/Shiloh Laboy
DT - Taylor Sheridan/Nate Bignell/Joe Naotala
DT - Connor Thomas/Tucker Yates
DE - Devin Jeffries (injured)/Zach Hutchins/Jessie Clark
SLB - Mac Bignell
MLB - Grant Collins
WLB - Fletcher CollinsBlake Braun
CB - Bryson Keeton/Trace Timmer
FS - Desman Carter/DeMonte King
SS - Bryson McCabe/Khari Garcia
CB - Bryce Alley/Trevon Strong
I mean almost a complete roster overhaul with either transfers or youth from 2014 to 2015. The scoring defense stayed the same, the rushing defense got significantly worse, total defense stayed about the same, pass defense improved a little mostly because teams could run at will against the Cats, dead last in interceptions, and improved the sack numbers to 8th in the league. Basically, despite the co-defensive coordinator tag, the defense was still Marshall's scheme and nothing improved other than younger guys getting experience in some fashion.
Choate/Gregorak come in 2016 and actually roll with most of the 2015 dudes along with throwing in a few true freshman on the defensive line and secondary. I still really don't know how (Mac Bignell and Choate's culture change were the biggest factors) but MSU's defense finished 2016 with the #2 scoring defense, #3 total defense, #3 rushing defense, #8 passing defense, #2 in pass defense efficiency (a major change from years prior), #4 in interceptions, and last in sacks (did I mention converted freshman tight ends were playing on the defensive line by year end?).
Anyway, this three year analysis means player development (coaching) is pivotal, scheme adjustments to player strengths matter, and team culture can produce seemingly impossible results. That 2016 team played for each other on both sides of the ball despite having one of the least talented rosters in the entire league. Choate has now rebuilt it into his vision and now needs to take the next step to get the program back to where Ash had it from 2010-2012. Heck, he needs to get it better than those rosters. These kids love playing for the current coaching staff and being a part of the current team culture put in place by Choate. Hopefully, getting an updated version of Kane Ioane and a young LB coach hungry for the next challenge in his career (Bobby Daly) will take the defense to new heights. Time will tell but I am very excited about where this team is at and where I see it going.
"There's two times of year for me: Football season, and waiting for football season."