Monday Thoughts - The Danger with Expectations

SouthernDawg wrote:

Buc wrote: SouthernDawg, you and I could have a long conversation about Jon Gruden and how it started with his hire and the reason he is now working for ESPN.

I'd very much enjoy that Buc.

Just adding a bit to the history above concerning Jon Gruden and the Tampa team.

Sam Wyche Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach drafted Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch, players who would be key members of the successful Bucs teams under his successors, Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden. All three of the players are now Hall of Famers. Thank you for your foresight Sam Wyche. No Sam Wyche, no Super Bowl trophy.

Sam was never given the appropriate praise he deserved. Tony Dungy known for his defensive skills both as a player and coach, brought the Tampa Two into existence. Monte Kiffin was Dungy's defensive coordinator and when Dungy was released, Jon Gruden hired as head coach basically got on his knees and said to Monte Kiffin . . . . all I want to do is run the offense, stay and run the defense, no problems from me.

You are absolutely right about Jon Gruden moving Tampa Bay forward offensively, the defense was already set. All Jon Gruden did was run half of the football team. Offense.

Came time for the Super Bowl in San Diego, Oakland Raiders, Gruden's prior head coaching spot. Never forget during the game John Lynch coming off of the field in the first quarter and saying . . . . Oakland is running every play that they ran while Gruden was the head coach in Oakland. Smiling from ear to ear, Oakland did not stand a chance against Tampa Bays awesome Sam Wyche defense. 21 of the 45 points scored in the Super Bowl were scored by the defense.

After the Super Bowl, Jon Gruden made the same mistakes that Mark Richt made . . . . He did not understand the “team concept”. Jon Gruden was offense, period. Trades he made for older players brought the team to its knees. Not any different than the SEC, anyone wanting to win has to play defense. Yes, Jon Gruden as you say added that one missing link, but it cannot be said he could have done the same without the defense that was there when he arrived.

When Jon Gruden was fired, almost the same circumstance as the Mark Richt firing, it was recognized that he was not a complete coach. Offense yes, team no.

Think we are on the same page, knowing some about Tampa Bay and its workings, I have problems with what I saw happen soon after the Jon Gruden hiring. Was the Super Bowl worth 3 first round draft choices, from where I sit no. Super Bowl, no fan would ever want to give them back, but in my opinion it ruined the football team and it has yet to recover.

This is what I believe Kirby Smart will bring to the table. No one year wonders, build the team through recruiting, building depth, and surrounding himself with coaches that have the same thoughts. Reading much garbage from the media, do not believe Kirby Smart will succumb to that. We will see much of what he learned under Nick Saban and to that I say "why not" . . . .

Enjoyed reading your post, read it several times. Will add this. Atlanta had a big hand in Tampa winning the Super Bowl, ownership has not grasped it yet but . . . . Rich McKay was also removed from Tampa and that really moved football forward in Tampa. Took Arthur Blank a while to understand, but he realized that McKay was not "all that", shifted McKay to another spot. Will say this also . . . . General Manager for the Falcons, time for Thomas Dimitroff to leave. Football with the other team wearing the "Red and Black" will improve immediately. I said that.

I expect the Bowl Game to be a good barometer on how the team is buying into the great changes going on at UGA

We can compete or we can pretend to compete.
For too long we have simply gone through the motions.
Winning and losing have been mixed into some concoction called building fine young men.
Interesting, the former coach is suddenly concerned about competing for championships.
No secret to winning,
Getting the right players, hard work and great coaching.

Local fish wrapper... Chris Mayes asked about CTR..

Mays said same coach.....run...run some more...drills..

Do them again.....business as usual....focus on winning..

Does not seem to be worried about next paycheck..

IMO..... Hmmmm ....muddy water will clear shortly

Go Dawgs

averagedawg wrote: We can compete or we can pretend to compete.
For too long we have simply gone through the motions.
Winning and losing have been mixed into some concoction called building fine young men.
Interesting, the former coach is suddenly concerned about competing for championships.
No secret to winning,
Getting the right players, hard work and great coaching.

averagedawg posted above . . . .

Interesting, the former coach is suddenly concerned about competing for championships.

averagedawg, that to me is not "coach speak", that is "coach coverup".

Goes along with the title of this thread . . . . Expectations. Those that truly understand football understand that we have had a "cover up" for too many years.

There are still some coaches in Athens that I believe some of us want. Those that I want have given their heart and soul for Georgia.

Now more than ever I have to say to myself, Buc you and others, others louder than you for a longer period of time have "openly" called for ending the "cover up".

Comes down to this for me.

Kirby Smart and his staff get the same talent that has been "available" for many years to continue to sign on in Athens, the "cover up" is over.

Said before, say again, never will I take my eyes off of those that "control" football between the Hedges.

Close friend of mine that played for the Red and Black, member here, does not post for reasons of his own, said this . . . .

Georgia finally got "something right". South Georgia folks are totally on board with Kirby Smart, one of their own taking over. Said to me, he was glad that Kirby did not take the defensive coordinator's job. Also said Kirby was close but the good sense meeting between Kirby Smart and Nick Saban once again proved to be the "right way".

Also said this . . . . the players that would not have signed on with the previous head coach, will take a much closer look at Athens now. Pruitt and Company made serious headway, that will be a tough deal to overcome. Pruitt/Rocker and Company were more than appreciated, they were respected. Kirby Smart and Company will make sure that trend continues. Of that I have zero doubts.

LimeyDawg Wrote:

....Expectations. So, we got our new HC, and he seems to know what he's doing in building the team around him. However, NCAA programs are full of stories of coaches whose careers died in the first or second years because of the expectations. Hell, everyone here knows that our expectations are in the outer atmosphere when it comes to football. So, that said, how about we give CKS a few years to get this jalopy rolling again.... What if next season is a dud? Will we be sharpening knives, or will we allow CKS the benefit of the doubt that he needs time to fix the mess? Thoughts?

Goff was given 7 seasons, Donnan 5 and Mr. Mediocrity 14. If history is any indicator, I suspect CKS will be given no less than 4-5 years to build his dynasty, although I honestly believe we will see definite results by his second season.

However, we must not forget that "we fans" collectively control very little in the decision making process. CKS could easily model himself after the former skipper and remain HC for an equal period, so long as Sanford seats are filled, off field/season antics are minimal and we win more against our rivals then we lose. Money, image and curb appeal after all, are the driving motivators beneath Mahogany Row. Had the recently ex-communicated St. Richt followed a tiny portion of the snake oil he's now selling in South Florida, he'd still be in Athens!

IMVHO, we are about to embark on an entirely new era for the Dawg Nation. The "expectations" will be more so from CKS in player production and results. He's cleaning out the old and bringing in the new.....coaches, players, mentality, and yes, expectations.....I believe we are in for one helluva ride!

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!