Fitz Channels His Inner Dantonio

[NJCat83588]

MSU's Mark Dantonio likes to say MSU is all about Production unlike little brother Michigan. To wit from Skip's report today:

Then there was this, which came near the end of his presser. "I'll never be upset about a victory," he said here. "But when you see what we can potentially be-- I'm done with potential. I want to see production. Period. Production. If you can't produce, you are going to be replaced, and that is the beautiful thing about the 2015 Wildcats right now. I'm not sitting here handcuffed anymore not having somebody to go to. We've got competitive depth. We've got guys who want to play. We've got a hungry attitude and a team that's wants to compete to win every football game.

 

[JournCat]

The Inside NU report was one of the best things I've read on Fitz in a long time. It sounds like he called out the superbacks, the O-line and Thorson (among others) for specific mistakes. There were several things we can do better -- part of what makes it so gratifying that we beat a team like Stanford while being so far from what we could accomplish.

 

[corbi296]

I loved Fitz's tone during that interview. I think he is striking just the right balance between being positive about the win but holding players and coaches accountable for mistakes. Make not mistake, Cushing has a bullseye on him this year. I think if this unit does not develop meaningfully this year and continues to be the weak spot of the team, there is a good chance we will have a new OL coach next year. Fitz is not playing around anymore.

 

[mikewebb68]

It was hard to call out players the last two years, since, if they didn't perform well, there was literally no one to replace them due to injuries...

 

[phatcat]

I loved Fitz's tone during that interview. I think he is striking just the right balance between being positive about the win but holding players and coaches accountable for mistakes. Make not mistake, Cushing has a bullseye on him this year. I think if this unit does not develop meaningfully this year and continues to be the weak spot of the team, there is a good chance we will have a new OL coach next year. Fitz is not playing around anymore.

Good - this is only one game - one "precinct" in the election if you will, but gone is the excuse making and stubborn attitude. Also the unwillingness to change things that aren't working. Put up or shut up. We have our FitzPa back. Hope he is here to stay. "Put that in your pipe and smoke it"

 

[kaTNap]

When was the last time an NU coach called out specific units/players and told them they had to improve or else ... after upsetting a ranked team?

Different attitude up there this year. I like it.

 

[willycat]

I loved Fitz's tone during that interview. I think he is striking just the right balance between being positive about the win but holding players and coaches accountable for mistakes. Make not mistake, Cushing has a bullseye on him this year. I think if this unit does not develop meaningfully this year and continues to be the weak spot of the team, there is a good chance we will have a new OL coach next year. Fitz is not playing around anymore.

I also find it interesting that Fitz noted that they had planned to rotate up to 10 players on the O-Line but for some reason they didn't do it. So, who's fault is that? Cushing? OC? HC?

 

[hdhntr1]

I also find it interesting that Fitz noted that they had planned to rotate up to 10 players on the O-Line but for some reason they didn't do it. So, who's fault is that? Cushing? OC? HC?

Maybe they were getting production out of a group. Maybe a couple injuries kept them from doing so.

 

[shakes3858]

When was the last time an NU coach called out specific units/players and told them they had to improve or else ... after upsetting a ranked team?

Different attitude up there this year. I like it.

It's coaching 101. You call out your team for not playing good enough after a big win so they don't get arrogant. You build you team up after a loss so they don't get down on themselves.

It goes like this if you win:
We need to get better. We were a few plays away from losing. We need to correct our mistakes or we won't be as fortunate next time.

It goes like this if you lose:
We need to get better. We were a few plays away from winning. We need to correct our mistakes and we'll be more fortunate next time.

 

[corbi296]

I also find it interesting that Fitz noted that they had planned to rotate up to 10 players on the O-Line but for some reason they didn't do it. So, who's fault is that? Cushing? OC? HC?

That's on Cushing all the way and I think Fitz is none too pleased. Cushing is going to be under magnifying glass and appropriately so in my opinion.

 

[corbi296]

Maybe they were getting production out of a group. Maybe a couple injuries kept them from doing so.

The injuries would have led to more shuffling than anticipated, not less. Also it was obvious from the first series that the OL unit was not playing like world beaters. If the plan was to rotate guys in and Cushing did not follow the plan, then Fitz ha every right to be pissed.