Fw: [NU Sports] Non-conference play

[Michael Vance]

At 11/29/2004 12:10 PM, the Linhardts wrote:
>As for the Hawaii game my wife is of the opinion that Dunbar should be 
>sacked for such a poor gameplan.  As emphasized on other posts -- RUN THE 
>BALL!!!!!!!!  We were really disappointed, but it is more from being 
>teased than being unhappy with the season.  These were magnificient 
>conference results(5-3) and the home games we saw were exciting with good 
>results.

I say that same about the Illinois game.  For the first two "drives", we 
tried to run Noah up the gut nearly every play.  That's a good strategy as 
your bread-and-butter, but only if you stretch the D by making them respect 
the pass.  At the beginning of our third possession, I said, "We need to 
pass to stretch the defense."  We did, for a first down.  Then we did it 
again.  Then I said, "OK, now it's time for Noah up the middle."  And he 
ripped off eight yards.  My point?  If I can figure out what kind of play 
we need to call, then the situation must be so horribly obvious that a 
professional coach should have seen it weeks before.  :-)

Seriously, Dunbar's coaching has always maddened me.  If anyone remembers 
that far back, our special teams woes, especially on kick coverage, started 
back when he came in as H-backs coach and special teams coordinator.  (A 
position that was eliminated when Dunbar was promoted to OC.)  That was one 
thing about GB that I *really* liked.  He coached the special teams 
himself, and it a privilege to get on the field on a kick or coverage unit.


Michael, CAS '91
mailto:michael at vance.com