You cannot play this bad for 2 and half (give or take 2 games), seasons, and have an expectation to keep your job. No way.
Offense was terrible.
Defense was terrible.
We look extraoridinarly disorganized and undisciplined. That is 100% on Allen and staff. We just got our asses handed to us a by a team that had been a peer (or worse), and it wasn't even that close.
I did a deep dive as part of my weekly insomnia on everything Walt Bell has coordinated at every stop (thank you youtbe). First, he ain't the guy. I'm baffled but what he is trying to accomplish out there other than coach speak. Second, at no point in Walt Bell's career has EVER, EVER coordinated or been a part of an offense at the collegiate level that looks like this. Not even when Maryland was down to their 4th string walk on QB did they run this crap that we put on the field. You go back and pull up Arkansas St, North Carolina, Maryland, etc. it has always been a spread offense (sometimes to run, but more often than not, it was pass heavy). Matt Weaver, the best in the business, asked Walt Bell a question about what the hell the offense's identify is, and Walt gave him back some coaching babble about "we are a running offense with elements of option" I'm paraphrasing, but it is close. I've coached, and in 2023, I have no idea what that means. Are you like the old Boise State that had multiple formations, motions and sets? Nope, we ain't that. We ain't Rich Rod's WVU offense. We aren't Iowa. We aren't Army/Air Force/Navy. I have no clue what we are except a collection of plays that Walt Bell has never ran before (for the most part), at ANY COLLEGIATE JOB where he coordinated. To build on my thoughts, we went from running a Baylor type offense last year at the start (wide splits for receivers, hurry up, pass heavy) to the Dexter Williams offense (which by the way, I give credit to Bell for installing in such a short time period), to this Mulligan stew of plays that we have now. One thing I know about OC's is that they like to run their offense, tweak it but keep the principles the same. We ain't doing that now--it is 3 different offenses over the last 13 games. That's insane. I can see 2 because Dexter has special running traits and isn't the greatest passer, but 3????? Insane. I have pretty good educated guess, and I've said before, the style of play is being dicated to him. It has to be the case. I do not see any other answer. Putting aside the issue that we haven't really developed a lick of coherence (some of that is on him, some on the players), is the fact that I can't stand what our offense is. I don't see a big picture. I certainly don't see stresses being put on the defense. Some of that is perhaps we can't because the OL still struggles, some of that is that we run just a bunch of different plays with very little system building. It is clear that our best running back, and it really isn't close, is Turner. Unlike Lucas, Turner really sees the field, takes his cut and goes. His vision is really good. Unfortunately, Lucas' vision as a running back not good. He's just too easy to defend (note--I have no problem with Lucas running inside. You have to run inside, otherwise he is just a one trick pony. His problem is not seeing things and dancing. I'm sure he is just trying to make plays, but it doesn't work like that at this level. Bottom line: Walt Bell isn't good, but I am convinced he is being told what to run. Perhaps not on an individual play level (althought that clearly might happen on occassion), but rather how we want to play.
Not sure Tayven is the answer either. I liked how Sorsby played and he brings a much needed running element to the offense than Jackson. If I had to be the farm, I would say that there is a dispute between coaches as to who should start at QB, and that dispute has been ongoing. Tom Allen seems to have bent over backwards to make sure Jackson was the starter if it was remotely close. First time in history I have heard a coach say a player wasn't a great practice player, but let's see how he does in gametime. Sorry, but that is nonsense.
Tom Allen should be worried less about coaches and players swearing and more focus on organization and structure. Less time giving the yelling rah rah speeches every practice and game, and more time trying to fund raise and MANAGING this roster. Does anybody see another win on the schedule? I don't see one anymore. 5 games into the season and we have actually gotten worse each game. Tom told us last week (before Akron on his radio show), that IU had a great week of practice. Well, after the Akron game he said whe didn't practice well that week. You cannot reconcile those statements. After the game yesterday, he told us that the team had a great week of practice. Should we believe that? Dunno, I'm struggling to believe it. Allen has no problems throwing Coach KT under the bus over multiple seasons. He's done it publically. Toward's the end of the Hiller era, he finally jumped into Hiller's stuff. Yesterday after the game Allen blamed the players for not executing. Yet Monday, Walt Bell told us that when coaches use the words "failing to execute", you as a coach are blaming the players. Well, that's on the staff too. More importantly, if Allen is going to shred the players for "not executing", and we know he has no trouble calling out some coaches, why would he not call out Walt Bell for some of his play calling/schemes? This goes to my first point above and is further evidence (or reference), that perhaps Walt Bell ain't the only cook in the kitchen when it comes to deciding how this offense is going to play. This arguement isn't some grand conspiracy. Rather, it seems pretty apparent that there is a puppet master here.
I have no idea how Tom will be able to retain players after the season. I have no idea how we will get players either. You need money for both, and right now there isn't any NIL money. And unlike last year when I received phone calls and emails, this year, i have received nothing. Which is odd, because I made two not insignificant contributions to NIL. You have to wonder how far behind we are right now because it would foolish for us to think that the rest of the world does not think Allen is the captain on the Titantic. The Unversity squanders opportunities from Big 10 revenue, and we simply cannot meaningfully compete without NIL and investment. The Unversity should be taking the position that they will try and negotiate with Allen after the season. Assume the university pays the 20 mil buyout. Can we make up the difference over time by putting together a quality program? I suppose you could. Would be nice if McDoppie (McRobbie), hadn't swiped the AD's money for his vanity project--especially given that the Athletics Department is self-funded. We run the risk in this day and age of a Big 10 conference that does not include Indiana in football because I could see a situation where the basketball program is allowed to stay, but not the football program. Not sure how the logisitcs would work, but Indiana Basketball no longer has that cache to put its foot down. Not saying this will happen, but it would be foolish to not think it might be something that could happen.
Bottom line, Tom has to go now. We need to reinvent the program, but that can't be any worse than where we are now.
Offense was terrible.
Defense was terrible.
We look extraoridinarly disorganized and undisciplined. That is 100% on Allen and staff. We just got our asses handed to us a by a team that had been a peer (or worse), and it wasn't even that close.
I did a deep dive as part of my weekly insomnia on everything Walt Bell has coordinated at every stop (thank you youtbe). First, he ain't the guy. I'm baffled but what he is trying to accomplish out there other than coach speak. Second, at no point in Walt Bell's career has EVER, EVER coordinated or been a part of an offense at the collegiate level that looks like this. Not even when Maryland was down to their 4th string walk on QB did they run this crap that we put on the field. You go back and pull up Arkansas St, North Carolina, Maryland, etc. it has always been a spread offense (sometimes to run, but more often than not, it was pass heavy). Matt Weaver, the best in the business, asked Walt Bell a question about what the hell the offense's identify is, and Walt gave him back some coaching babble about "we are a running offense with elements of option" I'm paraphrasing, but it is close. I've coached, and in 2023, I have no idea what that means. Are you like the old Boise State that had multiple formations, motions and sets? Nope, we ain't that. We ain't Rich Rod's WVU offense. We aren't Iowa. We aren't Army/Air Force/Navy. I have no clue what we are except a collection of plays that Walt Bell has never ran before (for the most part), at ANY COLLEGIATE JOB where he coordinated. To build on my thoughts, we went from running a Baylor type offense last year at the start (wide splits for receivers, hurry up, pass heavy) to the Dexter Williams offense (which by the way, I give credit to Bell for installing in such a short time period), to this Mulligan stew of plays that we have now. One thing I know about OC's is that they like to run their offense, tweak it but keep the principles the same. We ain't doing that now--it is 3 different offenses over the last 13 games. That's insane. I can see 2 because Dexter has special running traits and isn't the greatest passer, but 3????? Insane. I have pretty good educated guess, and I've said before, the style of play is being dicated to him. It has to be the case. I do not see any other answer. Putting aside the issue that we haven't really developed a lick of coherence (some of that is on him, some on the players), is the fact that I can't stand what our offense is. I don't see a big picture. I certainly don't see stresses being put on the defense. Some of that is perhaps we can't because the OL still struggles, some of that is that we run just a bunch of different plays with very little system building. It is clear that our best running back, and it really isn't close, is Turner. Unlike Lucas, Turner really sees the field, takes his cut and goes. His vision is really good. Unfortunately, Lucas' vision as a running back not good. He's just too easy to defend (note--I have no problem with Lucas running inside. You have to run inside, otherwise he is just a one trick pony. His problem is not seeing things and dancing. I'm sure he is just trying to make plays, but it doesn't work like that at this level. Bottom line: Walt Bell isn't good, but I am convinced he is being told what to run. Perhaps not on an individual play level (althought that clearly might happen on occassion), but rather how we want to play.
Not sure Tayven is the answer either. I liked how Sorsby played and he brings a much needed running element to the offense than Jackson. If I had to be the farm, I would say that there is a dispute between coaches as to who should start at QB, and that dispute has been ongoing. Tom Allen seems to have bent over backwards to make sure Jackson was the starter if it was remotely close. First time in history I have heard a coach say a player wasn't a great practice player, but let's see how he does in gametime. Sorry, but that is nonsense.
Tom Allen should be worried less about coaches and players swearing and more focus on organization and structure. Less time giving the yelling rah rah speeches every practice and game, and more time trying to fund raise and MANAGING this roster. Does anybody see another win on the schedule? I don't see one anymore. 5 games into the season and we have actually gotten worse each game. Tom told us last week (before Akron on his radio show), that IU had a great week of practice. Well, after the Akron game he said whe didn't practice well that week. You cannot reconcile those statements. After the game yesterday, he told us that the team had a great week of practice. Should we believe that? Dunno, I'm struggling to believe it. Allen has no problems throwing Coach KT under the bus over multiple seasons. He's done it publically. Toward's the end of the Hiller era, he finally jumped into Hiller's stuff. Yesterday after the game Allen blamed the players for not executing. Yet Monday, Walt Bell told us that when coaches use the words "failing to execute", you as a coach are blaming the players. Well, that's on the staff too. More importantly, if Allen is going to shred the players for "not executing", and we know he has no trouble calling out some coaches, why would he not call out Walt Bell for some of his play calling/schemes? This goes to my first point above and is further evidence (or reference), that perhaps Walt Bell ain't the only cook in the kitchen when it comes to deciding how this offense is going to play. This arguement isn't some grand conspiracy. Rather, it seems pretty apparent that there is a puppet master here.
I have no idea how Tom will be able to retain players after the season. I have no idea how we will get players either. You need money for both, and right now there isn't any NIL money. And unlike last year when I received phone calls and emails, this year, i have received nothing. Which is odd, because I made two not insignificant contributions to NIL. You have to wonder how far behind we are right now because it would foolish for us to think that the rest of the world does not think Allen is the captain on the Titantic. The Unversity squanders opportunities from Big 10 revenue, and we simply cannot meaningfully compete without NIL and investment. The Unversity should be taking the position that they will try and negotiate with Allen after the season. Assume the university pays the 20 mil buyout. Can we make up the difference over time by putting together a quality program? I suppose you could. Would be nice if McDoppie (McRobbie), hadn't swiped the AD's money for his vanity project--especially given that the Athletics Department is self-funded. We run the risk in this day and age of a Big 10 conference that does not include Indiana in football because I could see a situation where the basketball program is allowed to stay, but not the football program. Not sure how the logisitcs would work, but Indiana Basketball no longer has that cache to put its foot down. Not saying this will happen, but it would be foolish to not think it might be something that could happen.
Bottom line, Tom has to go now. We need to reinvent the program, but that can't be any worse than where we are now.
