I really hope...

[stpaulcat]

that Fitz and company (JON and Bajakian) get it together in the next few games and solve the reasons why the Cats are increasingly looking like last year, and two years before that. The elephant in the room is WHY, since last November, this hasn't been accomplished already, almost a year later. There seems to have been improvement, but gosh, how many years does it take to figure out you can't be 21 points in the hole in the first half on a regular basis and hope to win a game? It is so clear something is amiss. Fitz's only job now is to solve this, ASAP. Even one more year is not acceptable, NU has given him everything he has wanted, and about to give him a new stadium--to showcase his current product? No way.

 

[eastbaycat99]

that Fitz and company (JON and Bajakian) get it together in the next few games and solve the reasons why the Cats are increasingly looking like last year, and two years before that. The elephant in the room is WHY, since last November, this hasn't been accomplished already, almost a year later. There seems to have been improvement, but gosh, how many years does it take to figure out you can't be 21 points in the hole in the first half on a regular basis and hope to win a game? It is so clear something is amiss. Fitz's only job now is to solve this, ASAP. Even one more year is not acceptable, NU has given him everything he has wanted, and about to give him a new stadium--to showcase his current product? No way.

Stpaulcat, while I expect to get rocks thrown at me and be treated with derision for saying it, I would not rule out the scheduling of Nebraska in Ireland in week zero for at least a little bit of the god-awful play by the Cats the last two games. Gearing up (successfully as it turns out) for a high profile game before August is out and traveling across an ocean and back during a period where fundamental scheme responsibilities are being hammered into 20 year old player’s brains and muscle memory has to be at least a little disruptive to that process.
It may well be that the coaches are inept and the players deficient. Clearly, neither group has filled itself with glory the last two weeks, but I really hope there is enough skill on the part of the coaches and talent on the part of the players that they can pull it together and show progress against Miami and PSU.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Stpaulcat, while I expect to get rocks thrown at me and be treated with derision for saying it, I would not rule out the scheduling of Nebraska in Ireland in week zero for at least a little bit of the god-awful play by the Cats the last two games. Gearing up (successfully as it turns out) for a high profile game before August is out and traveling across an ocean and back during a period where fundamental scheme responsibilities are being hammered into 20 year old player’s brains and muscle memory has to be at least a little disruptive to that process.
It may well be that the coaches are inept and the players deficient. Clearly, neither group has filled itself with glory the last two weeks, but I really hope there is enough skill on the part of the coaches and talent on the part of the players that they can pull it together and show progress against Miami and PSU.

The 'Cats had a bye week after returning to hammer in those scheme responsibilities. Duke's 21-point 1st-quarter explosion is inexcusable after a bye week.

 

[NUCat320]

The 'Cats had a bye week after returning to hammer in those scheme responsibilities. Duke's 21-point 1st-quarter explosion is inexcusable after a bye week.

A team’s most improvement is between week one and week two, I’ve heard.

 

[FanatiCat]

I think that’s a stretch. The bye week should have provided enough time to get back on track. Not enough of a disruption to get hammered by 2 way below average (for FBS) teams.

 

[SadCatFan22]

that Fitz and company (JON and Bajakian) get it together in the next few games and solve the reasons why the Cats are increasingly looking like last year, and two years before that. The elephant in the room is WHY, since last November, this hasn't been accomplished already, almost a year later. There seems to have been improvement, but gosh, how many years does it take to figure out you can't be 21 points in the hole in the first half on a regular basis and hope to win a game? It is so clear something is amiss. Fitz's only job now is to solve this, ASAP. Even one more year is not acceptable, NU has given him everything he has wanted, and about to give him a new stadium--to showcase his current product? No way.

The problem is that Fitz has no idea how to fix it. He was taking a victory lap after the Nebraska game and talking up this years team. He said this could be a “special” year after Nebraska.

If the guy can’t properly evaluate his own team than he’s not qualified to coach at this level.

My sense is that Fitz has gotten complacent after signing that contract. He’s recruiting well, but those commits won’t stick if the product on the field doesn’t improve.

 

[stpaulcat]

The problem is that Fitz has no idea how to fix it. He was taking a victory lap after the Nebraska game and talking up this years team. He said this could be a “special” year after Nebraska.

If the guy can’t properly evaluate his own team than he’s not qualified to coach at this level.

My sense is that Fitz has gotten complacent after signing that contract. He’s recruiting well, but those commits won’t stick if the product on the field doesn’t improve.

We don't know what the issue is. Rather than being complacent, he may be too controlling, and has lost touch with where the game is at this point. Is JON afraid to assert himself, or does he not know how to coach a defense?

 

[NVAcat]

Unfortunately, history strongly suggests JON can't put together an effective defense.

 

[Titanium999]

Stpaulcat, while I expect to get rocks thrown at me and be treated with derision for saying it, I would not rule out the scheduling of Nebraska in Ireland in week zero for at least a little bit of the god-awful play by the Cats the last two games. Gearing up (successfully as it turns out) for a high profile game before August is out and traveling across an ocean and back during a period where fundamental scheme responsibilities are being hammered into 20 year old player’s brains and muscle memory has to be at least a little disruptive to that process.
It may well be that the coaches are inept and the players deficient. Clearly, neither group has filled itself with glory the last two weeks, but I really hope there is enough skill on the part of the coaches and talent on the part of the players that they can pull it together and show progress against Miami and PSU.

Well said! Plus Duke was pretty good!