[olldflame]

Also - if Ritchie took heat for not being able to keep guys who weren't Liberty guys around, why is it now not the coach's fault because it involves Gill? Guys like Brolin Floyd fall under "given chances and wouldn't take responsibility" yet one situation blamed the coach and the other the player. It just seems the Gill supporters change their tune for him than other coaches we've had issues with.

At least Rooster is consistent in his Liberty can do no wrong stance. I may disagree but at least he doesn't change his logic coach to coach.

I know a lot of us were pretty peeved when Ritchie left, but I don´t recall him being blamed for Brolin leaving. Curry, yes, but that was about basketball, not whether he fit in at Liberty. Speaking of Brolin, he scored 18 points for Limestone college in a game against Mars Hill yesterday, a couple of days after his 26th birthday and roughly 8 years after signing his LOI with Liberty.

[SuperJon]

I was talking his first time through. My bad for not clarifying.

[ballcoach15]

No need to fire Coach Gill. I think he is smart enough to fix the running game issues and the defense. Lack of a running game killed us. I am not sure if it was a scheme problem, play calling problem or personnel problem.

[forbidden]

here is why I say we this whole thing, IMO is going to be messed up. Next year the "cancer" will be removed we will have a new signal caller here, but from what has been reported is that Calvert chose here based on fact he will be able to "compete" for the starting spot. What does that do for Masha who has had to bide his time, when im sure as well as everyone else is that he could have helped (somewhere) on the field. I can possibly see a 2 qb system in place if this kid is good, there has to be a reason that Masha wasn't on the field in some capacity with the "issues" JW was having this year. And after this past year I def don't see HCTG having a long leash with a QB next year.

[BJWilliams]

Ok, I had to hop in here one more time with the QB talk.

The first person you have to consider in this situation with the QB position is Yearick. He is graduating early so he can enroll in January and compete in spring ball. Itll be him, Masha and Swanson (the scout team QB).

Actually another name to consider (although I won't expect a ton) is the D2 transfer Leonard. That'll give us 4 QBs competing in spring ball if he is on the roster and then Calvert joins the battle in August. I expect a robust proceedings starting in March.

[forbidden]

ok BJ, I say it will be decided on who gets to wear the #12 lol. that will decide who the staff likes best.

[Kolzilla41]

I found this interesting: Jeff didn't go to the game today.

False. I stood next to him on the field.

[flamehunter]

Is SJ working for Politico?

[Purple Haize]

Is SJ working for Politico?

He got confused watching the Coastal game.....

[A Sea of Red]

Photos - Football @ Charleston Southern

http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/phot ... -southern/

[SuperJon]

I found this interesting: Jeff didn't go to the game today.

False. I stood next to him on the field.

Weird. When I saw him at basketball I asked around and was told he wasn't at football. I knew it was out of character. Thanks for clearing that up.

[ballcoach15]

Masha should have been on the field more this season, whether at QB, Slot back, WR or even RB. Should have designed some Wildcat Formation plays for him. I think he could have helped our offense, especially since we had no running game.

[Humble_Opinion]

I found this interesting: Jeff didn't go to the game today.

False. I stood next to him on the field.

SJ - the sort of excitement you show at the chance you are given to BLAST LU when we are down is the same excitement I show when you are proven wrong about one of your statements.

To be honest, I can see both sides here. The problem here is, so many people are speaking as if they know matter of factly what the issues are, when NONE of you know the real story and what's happening in that locker room. I will say this... if on Thursday night we see one of two things:
1) We lay an egg and get blown out or 2) JW doesn't start - then we will know for sure there was a leadership issue in that locker room.

I think Abner going down really hurt the run game. That along with the injuries. JW is not a prolific passer per se. He's been great at times, but he needs a quality run game to run the PA pass to be effective. It just wasn't there this season. I'm just trying to understand why he thought going to Petey on every down was his best chance at winning games, when we clearly have some other nice options in Farrow/King and whomever was on the field in the TE spot.

The D needs a rework in the Secondary. I'll also be intersted to see what happens along the DLine, with Chima moving on. I hope that guy gets a shot at an NFL roster.

And for the love... someone please work on speeding up the punter's mechanics. He's operating like he has all the time in the world.

[SuperJon]

I've taken plenty of shots but I honestly didn't mean for the Jeff statement to be a shot. That's why I prefaced it with it being interesting. As a fan not only of the on field product but the business side as well, I've been trying to figure out where Jeff is at with everything. My feelings on the coach mean nothing more than a fan on a message board. Jeff's means everything. I was wrong on this one.

[SuperJon]

Also - Chima better get a shot at the NFL. He's too good not to.

[Chippy]

I found this interesting: Jeff didn't go to the game today.

False. I stood next to him on the field.

SJ - the sort of excitement you show at the chance you are given to BLAST LU when we are down is the same excitement I show when you are proven wrong about one of your statements. :I chortle audibly.:

To be honest, I can see both sides here. The problem here is, so many people are speaking as if they know matter of factly what the issues are, when NONE of you know the real story and what's happening in that locker room. I will say this... if on Thursday night we see one of two things:
1) We lay an egg and get blown out or 2) JW doesn't start - then we will know for sure there was a leadership issue in that locker room.

I think Abner going down really hurt the run game. That along with the injuries. JW is not a prolific passer per se. He's been great at times, but he needs a quality run game to run the PA pass to be effective. It just wasn't there this season. I'm just trying to understand why he thought going to Petey on every down was his best chance at winning games, when we clearly have some other nice options in Farrow/King and whomever was on the field in the TE spot.

The D needs a rework in the Secondary. I'll also be intersted to see what happens along the DLine, with Chima moving on. I hope that guy gets a shot at an NFL roster.

And for the love... someone please work on speeding up the punter's mechanics. He's operating like he has all the time in the world.

Special teams needs an overhaul. I believe we finished No. 1 in combined blocked punts and field goals in all of football - just a guess

[forbidden]

I found this interesting: Jeff didn't go to the game today.

False. I stood next to him on the field.

SJ - the sort of excitement you show at the chance you are given to BLAST LU when we are down is the same excitement I show when you are proven wrong about one of your statements. :I chortle audibly.:

To be honest, I can see both sides here. The problem here is, so many people are speaking as if they know matter of factly what the issues are, when NONE of you know the real story and what's happening in that locker room. I will say this... if on Thursday night we see one of two things:
1) We lay an egg and get blown out or 2) JW doesn't start - then we will know for sure there was a leadership issue in that locker room.

I think Abner going down really hurt the run game. That along with the injuries. JW is not a prolific passer per se. He's been great at times, but he needs a quality run game to run the PA pass to be effective. It just wasn't there this season. I'm just trying to understand why he thought going to Petey on every down was his best chance at winning games, when we clearly have some other nice options in Farrow/King and whomever was on the field in the TE spot.

The D needs a rework in the Secondary. I'll also be intersted to see what happens along the DLine, with Chima moving on. I hope that guy gets a shot at an NFL roster.

And for the love... someone please work on speeding up the punter's mechanics. He's operating like he has all the time in the world.

I agree, but I really doubt we get blown out, hasn't happened really happened but once against SIU, the reason the GW score was bigger was because of the late muff on the punt, but really we have been in a possession or less type of loss all year. Its been so so different when either we spread the ball around or either one of the two 6 or 13 isn't playing. I really believe the part you can blame the coaches for is allowing it to continue this long, but its also a veteran laden squad at some key spots and as a coach you do try and let them work through the ruff patches.

I really think that to some degree loyalty over winning to place, and that is on the coaches, DJ CARRIED this team last year and really was just not given the chance to be the guy until he had to. I think they missed on what was in that mans HEART. The coaches decided that 26 was better for the team than 2 and they missed. 2 did more and had better numbers than 26 and that's just called PRODUCTION, not loyalty. And in all honesty if the coaches were really being TRUE they would, could or should have seen that 22 was PRODUCING better than 26. The coaches decided that 6 was better than 3 for the TEAM and that's open for debate. 13 was the best WR we had coming back 8 had the dropsies, 1 was unproven and 82 wasn't on the roster and 42 graduated. So to a degree I can sort of understand why 13 was given more shots because he carried the WR squad, but when we spread the ball around we were good. When 13 was out and there was no choice you had 1 82 and 8 all step up, then 13 came back and its make sure we get the ball to 13 again.

On defense you had to replace another AA in 27 and the late loss of 5 so your two safeties are first year full timers but have lots of game experience. By a certain point you cant have that many blown assignments in the back end with ppl, and then say oh we are young. You can't have people running free based on not doing your assignments. You cant have LB's taking 15 yd penalties over and over at crucial junctions in the game and on many occasions if it was 33 it was 30. On the other hand it hurt when on defense you MISS tackles. Your there to make them which says that's not coaching because you knew where you were supposed to be but you missed them and that's on the players on the field.

ST is a disaster because its the coaches that put those certain players in positions and if they keep giving soft edges or run arounds and are allowed to stay then that is on players. KR is good with 7 and 3. PR IMO the problem is KNOWING when to field punts and not. The few times we do catch them 1 has been able to do some things but its the NOT fielding the punts that has killed the anemic offense by having them backed up with the loss of yardage from not fielding the punt. This is 2 years going something has to get better. Well after Thursday we will begin to see how SPOILED we were with JL kicking the ball because whomever is coming in or there will have his hands full.

[olldflame]

I have a feeling we will continue to be spoiled by having a kicker with an NFL leg. Our commit Alex Probert booms the majority of his kickoffs out of the end zone and reportedly can hit from 60 plus. It won´t matter a lot though if we can´t get our protection fixed. Having Holder back will help. Part of the problem since he went down is that the guy who took his place is not only inexperienced, but he is a 210 lb specialist as opposed to a 280 lb starting center. That makes it a lot easier for a kick block to get push up the middle.

[forbidden]

I would agree if blocks were happening up the middle, they are coming off the edge

[BJWilliams]

I'm surprised Winstead isn't in on field goals

[Humble_Opinion]

I have a feeling we will continue to be spoiled by having a kicker with an NFL leg. Our commit Alex Probert booms the majority of his kickoffs out of the end zone and reportedly can hit from 60 plus. It won´t matter a lot though if we can´t get our protection fixed. Having Holder back will help. Part of the problem since he went down is that the guy who took his place is not only inexperienced, but he is a 210 lb specialist as opposed to a 280 lb starting center. That makes it a lot easier for a kick block to get push up the middle.

I've saw enough from Echols to know that he is not a replacement for JL. Probert appears to be much closer. 2 or 3 years from now it may be Alex on ESPN's Top 10 hitting a 60+yd fg.

[SuperJon]

I'd rather have consistency under 45 than the giant leg. We would've won a few more games this year with that.

[flamesfan4life1]

I really think that to some degree loyalty over winning to place, and that is on the coaches, DJ CARRIED this team last year and really was just not given the chance to be the guy until he had to. I think they missed on what was in that mans HEART. The coaches decided that 26 was better for the team than 2 and they missed. 2 did more and had better numbers than 26 and that's just called PRODUCTION, not loyalty. And in all honesty if the coaches were really being TRUE they would, could or should have seen that 22 was PRODUCING better than 26. The coaches decided that 6 was better than 3 for the TEAM and that's open for debate. 13 was the best WR we had coming back 8 had the dropsies, 1 was unproven and 82 wasn't on the roster and 42 graduated. So to a degree I can sort of understand why 13 was given more shots because he carried the WR squad, but when we spread the ball around we were good. When 13 was out and there was no choice you had 1 82 and 8 all step up, then 13 came back and its make sure we get the ball to 13 again.

On defense you had to replace another AA in 27 and the late loss of 5 so your two safeties are first year full timers but have lots of game experience. By a certain point you cant have that many blown assignments in the back end with ppl, and then say oh we are young. You can't have people running free based on not doing your assignments. You cant have LB's taking 15 yd penalties over and over at crucial junctions in the game and on many occasions if it was 33 it was 30. On the other hand it hurt when on defense you MISS tackles. Your there to make them which says that's not coaching because you knew where you were supposed to be but you missed them and that's on the players on the field.

ST is a disaster because its the coaches that put those certain players in positions and if they keep giving soft edges or run arounds and are allowed to stay then that is on players. KR is good with 7 and 3. PR IMO the problem is KNOWING when to field punts and not. The few times we do catch them 1 has been able to do some things but its the NOT fielding the punts that has killed the anemic offense by having them backed up with the loss of yardage from not fielding the punt. This is 2 years going something has to get better. Well after Thursday we will begin to see how SPOILED we were with JL kicking the ball because whomever is coming in or there will have his hands full.

[/quote][/quote]

I disagree. Rice had better numbers in his year at the helm with virtually the same offensive line as Abnar. 2013 rice had 5.2 yards per carry. 2014 Abnar had 4.4 yards per carry. Rice had nearly a thousand yards on a 100 less rushing attempts than Abnar and still managed to have more rushing touchdowns. Rice was the heart of his team in 2013 and Abnar was the heart of his team 2014. Both are good players and both deserved to start. It was not a question of loyalty to a player. Another thing that I know about the program is that they started Rice because he works harder and runs harder, plain and simple. Abnar would have done no better this season at RB and really didn't do any better in the games he was able to play besides Montana and his numbers were the exact same until the end of the game the offensive line finally opened up a nice hole. How naïve are most of you on this board to think that the coaching staff wouldn't play the best players. Their jobs are on the line, they want to win plain and simple. The issue with the run game lies entirely on the offensive line. Losing Greg Ray and Mitch Hanson to graduation really hurt. Also losing Grant Jones to transfer and all the injuries led to a group that was very poor. I really don't know what to say about special teams, that is also terrible. Lunsford was inconsistent his entire 4 years but it was obviously fun watching him kick those long field goals. I don't think you can say how spoiled we were to have him after some of his performances this year. Defense will be alright as the young guys in the secondary mature. Gonna be hard to replace Chima though. T

[forbidden]

omg, had nice long reply typed up hit wrong button and poof disappeared. Refuse to retype, bottom line both have opinions about the situation. Rice IMO didn't put up numbers like DJ did and this was also going along with Petey having his breakout year too.

[flamesfan4life1]

omg, had nice long reply typed up hit wrong button and poof disappeared. Refuse to retype, bottom line both have opinions about the situation. Rice IMO didn't put up numbers like DJ did and this was also going along with Petey having his breakout year too.

I hear ya we can agree to disagree, but you talk about production and your basing it off of stats. I just gave you the stats and the production was not better from Abnar. Rice also is an excellent pass protector. Abnar's speed was obviously better and would have definitely loved to have had him healthy for this whole season. Either way you cannot have a successful football team if you can't win in the trenches.