[jcmanson]

It appears, 17 games into the Rocco era, our biggest weakness is finishing games. Winning the close ones. Sure there have been games where defense, play calling, offense, special teams, etc. were to blame, but across the board I believe it is we don't know how to win. It has been mentioned several times on here that our team doesn't know how to win. I agree. We are 9-8 with Rocco at the helm. Here's a look at a break down of those games:

9 wins:

4 "blowout" wins over D2 competition.
2 "blowout" wins over Savannah St. and St. Francis. (D1, but horrible)
The other 3 wins were against VMI 38-32, Charleston Southern 34-20, and Western Carolina 21-0. Western Carolina never really had much of a chance. We dominated Charleston from the get go. We led against VMI the whole time, and that score is closer than it really was.

8 losses:

2 to W&M, one by 1 point, another by 7 in double overtime.
1 to Towson by 7.
1 to Wake Forest where we played pretty well but didn't ever really threaten to win the game.
1 to GW by 3, where we were up big but didn't close the deal.
1 to Coastal by 2, came within converting a 2 pt conversion of sending it to OT.
1 to Elon where we didn't show up.
and last night to Toledo by 1.

As you can see, we haven't been able to win a close game yet. What will it take for us to be able to do just that? A player who steps up in crunch time? More heartbreaking losses? Better playcalling down the stretch? What can get us over the hump, and help us move from good to great?

[ToTheLeft]

Great stats.

[Stevev]

Yes those are some great stats and nice work. You could also go back one more year in Karcher's last season and remember the heartbreaking losses to UT Chattanooga, Coastal, VMI, Chuck South, and G/W. It seems like the close game curse carried over to the Rocco era and that was evident this year in the W & M and Toledo losses.

[El Scorcho]

It appears, 17 games into the Rocco era, our biggest weakness is finishing games. Winning the close ones. Sure there have been games where defense, play calling, offense, special teams, etc. were to blame, but across the board I believe it is we don't know how to win.

Since "knowing how to win" isn't tangible, I don't like placing the blame there. I also don't like combining the two seasons because the only similarity, so far, has been the one you've noted. Intangibles just don't do it for me.

Our defense is giving up 513 yards per game this season. IMHO, if we fix that, we have figured out to win...this season.

[Ed Dantes]

Coffee is for closers only!

[TIMSCAR20]

Coffee is for closers only!

ABC -

Always
Be
Closing

Great movie.

[LUconn]

Is that a popular movie? I just saw it last week and I had never heard of it. What a coincidence.



But as for "knowing how to win", it isn't tangible but there is something to it. Programs/organizations can develop a loser mentality over the course of sucking for an extended period of time. That's why with certain teams, no matter how much talent they get together, you can always count on them to eventually screw it up in the end. (see cubs) I normally hate these stupid cliches that you might here on NFL countdown, but I really think this one is accurate.

[flameshaw]

Learning to win is not something new to LU athletics, or specific to football either. We can all think of times when we should have won and didn't , in any particular sport. I wish I could put my finger on it, but haven't been able to for many years. I do know the cure though and that is actually winning. I think we have the team in place now from an administrative/coaching standpoint to do just that. I also know I am very guilty of setting my expectations too high some time and become disappointed too easily it is a fine line to walk between being realistic and expecting too much too soon.

[Ed Dantes]

Coffee is for closers only!

ABC -

Always
Be
Closing

Great movie.

I found a YouTube clip of that scene. I would have posted it, but you know, this is a family board.

Seriously, I remember KK talking about how his kids just don't know how to win. But geez, these kids are just a few years removed from high school. It's not like we're bringing in the New England Patriots here. At what point do you say it's the coach's responsibility to instill those values?

[paradox]

First off, LU put together a great effort and showed a lot of heart the other night. This is something that they can build on. If Rocco makes the correct adjustments, we'll be in a position to potentially run the table through a very weak big south conference.



Why can't we win the close ones or beat the good teams or come from behind when we're down?

1. A defense that is obviously not living up to its billing.
2. A lack of innovation on offense.
3. A stubborn resistance to replace a struggling QB.



So, there you have it.

Fire away!

[El Scorcho]

3. A stubborn resistance to replace a struggling QB.

Total, complete and utter B.S. I've been accused of being overly critical following the Toledo game, but there is one thing I can promise you: Brock Smith was not the problem in any way, shape or form. The QB is fine. Leave the QB alone.

[paradox]

When a QB repeatedly fails to deliver in the crunch, he usually gets benched.

With some, playing a popular QB would seem to supercede what should be the more immediate goals of the program: winning.

[El Scorcho]

When a QB repeatedly fails to deliver in the crunch, he usually gets benched.

With some, playing a popular QB would seem to supercede what should be the more immediate goals of the program: winning.

Brock didn't fail to deliver in the crunch. I don't know what game you were watching. He connected on one play that got called back for an intelligible receiver being upfield and then he hit his receiver in the numbers but it was dropped. How was that a failure on his part? It wasn't. In the crunch, Brock was as poised as he's ever been. Same can be said for the W&M game. When it was crunch time in the second half and the OT's, Brock was money.

You'd better start coming up with something other than hot air.

[paradox]

There's always some kind of excuse, but the bottom line is that once this teams falls behind the game is over--and we all know it. And this falls squarely on the shoulders of the QB. Even an average QB is gonna pull a game out for his team from time to time. Heck, even Kordell Stewart did that a time or two for the Steelers.

[El Scorcho]

There's always some kind of excuse, but the bottom line is that once this teams falls behind the game is over--and we all know it.

Ohhh! I get it now! Brock is responsible for dropped passes and the defense too!

Boy. I had no idea the QB had so much responsibility. I've been watching football in the dark for too long.

Did you watch the Toledo game?

Did you watch the W&M game? Did you see us come back in the 4th and take it to TWO overtimes? You're full of it if you're going to sit here and say it was because of a QB failure that we didn't win that game. Completely full of it. In fact, I'd say you're being irrational.

[SuperJon]

You say things that are even dumber than BJ. You cannot name one game in which Brock did not put us in a position to win.


According to you, the fumble at Towson, missed FG against G-W, unsportsmanlike conduct at CCU, questionable spot at W&M, dropped ball, and penalty was Brock's fault. That's what you're saying. And that's why you are the biggest idiot to ever come across this board.

[paradox]

There's always some kind of excuse, but the bottom line is that once this teams falls behind the game is over--and we all know it.

Ohhh! I get it now! Brock is responsible for dropped passes and the defense too!

Boy. I had no idea the QB had so much responsibility. I've been watching football in the dark for too long.

Did you watch the Toledo game?

You guys say the same thing every time. Dropped passes go with the territory. Every QB gets his share of dropped passes. It's rare that you see a game on any level that does not include dropped passes.

Also when your defense is giving up a ton of yardage and points to the opposition, then your QB needs to step up and get it done. Is 100 passing yards getting it done?

...

[LUconn]

roflcopter. I guess Brock will need to learn to wedge the ball into the receiver's facemask with every pass along with attaching a teather to each OL to make sure they're not past the LOS. (ala nessicary roughness)

[SuperJon]

When you run for 160 yards and run all over the defense, yes.

Ok, you say that dropped passes go with the territory. Well, right before the dropped pass, he completed one that was called back by a penalty. That was back-to-back plays. Were both Brock's fault?

[El Scorcho]

You guys say the same thing every time. Dropped passes go with the territory. Every QB gets his share of dropped passes. It's rare that you see a game on any level that does not include dropped passes.

You don't ever respond logically to what we say! That's why we have to repeat ourselves. You said Brock failed in the crunch. We say that he hit his man squarely in the numbers, but the pass was dropped. How is that a failure on his part? Answer the question.

Also when your defense is giving up a ton of yardage and points to the opposition, then your QB needs to step up and get it done. Is 100 passing yards getting it done?

If we relied on our passing game, that would be an acceptable question. However, we are QUITE OBVIOUSLY a running team. Our stars stand behind our QB. Brock passes when he's told, and he does it acceptably.

You still didn't answer my questions. Did you watch the Toledo game? Did you watch the W&M game?

[paradox]

When you run for 160 yards and run all over the defense, yes.

Ok, you say that dropped passes go with the territory. Well, right before the dropped pass, he completed one that was called back by a penalty. That was back-to-back plays. Were both Brock's fault?

I'm sorry, but back-to-back plays, with one getting called back is not my definition of getting it done.

Once we fall behind, it's over. I wish it wasn't so, but that's what this team is.

[El Scorcho]

When you run for 160 yards and run all over the defense, yes.

Ok, you say that dropped passes go with the territory. Well, right before the dropped pass, he completed one that was called back by a penalty. That was back-to-back plays. Were both Brock's fault?

I'm sorry, but back-to-back plays, with one getting called back is not my definition of getting it done.

And yet you fail to address how either of these things could possibly be the QB's fault. Logic is absent from your argument. That's not an insult. It's factual. You can't argue if you're not going to do it logically. Anyone can just make stuff up.

[paradox]

What about our lack of innovation on offense?

There have been a number of major college football upsets this season. How are these smaller programs getting it done?

It would seem like Rich Rodriegez style of play is what puts a smaller team in the best position to win and pull off the upset. (ie-the spread offense)


..

[El Scorcho]

What about our lack of innovation on offense?

There have been a number of major college football upsets this season. How are these smaller programs getting it done?

It would seem like Rich Rodriegez style of play is what puts a smaller team in the best position to win and pull off the upset. (ie-the spread offense)


..

Still not the QB's fault. That's a coaching problem.

[LUconn]

To me, this loss is soley on the shoulders of our starting center. As the person who snaps the ball, he sets the tone for the entire play. He is just not getting it done obviously as evidenced by the fact that we lost.