I've boiled down what I believe is the central problem in our program. Let's look at phrases for which both Spurrier and Dabo are known, referenced in the thread title. Now this is just my observation but I think that Spurrier's passion lies in drawing up plays, analyzing defenses, and putting his QB and receivers in position to be successful. His play-calling and play-design are really what he's been known for as a coach.
Meanwhile, Dabo doesn't talk X's and O's, which is why many of us didn't take him seriously at all when he was hired. Hell, he wasn't even a coordinator... he couldn't know football that well, right? What Dabo talks about is culture. He wants his guys on board... pulling in the same direction. He leaves all the actual plays and play-calling to his assistants, perhaps because he wouldn't be very good at it or perhaps because he thinks all of that is secondary to maintaining that culture at all times, in the locker room, on the sidelines, at practice, in pressers, all the time.
Now there was a time when Spurrier's approach worked. In the 90's no one could figure his Ball Plays out. His offenses moved up and down the field on everyone and he won tons of SEC titles and a MNC. Then he left for the NFL and I think his failure there is telling. Now I'm a Redskins fan and I'm the first to admit that a lot of what happened there wasn't Spurrier's fault. However... he thought he could bring in Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews and that they would be successful as long as he called the right plays. But they weren't. Everyone in the NFL is sort of equal on a talent-level. What matters is your program's culture. Are your GM and your Coach on the same page? Does your owner let them do their job? Can you draft guys that fit what you are trying to do?
I think that this is a different generation of players. We were fortunate to have five seasons with some really elite talent, most of which we sort of inherited by default. We got Gilmore because Clemson fired Tommy Bowden. I think Clowney was coming to Carolina all along. I work in the same District with Lattimore's dad and while he considered Auburn, he was a heavy Carolina lean from his Junior year on. I mean, Spurrier still gets credit for signing those guys, but I think the day Clowney signed, he thought WE HAVE ARRIVED and just assumed that talent was going to keep showing up. Meanwhile, Dabo kept preaching culture and kept getting his butt kicked by Spurrier and that elite talent we had. The problem is that our talent ran out... and putting this generation of players in the right Ball Play isn't necessarily enough. We have no identity. We don't really seem to HAVE a culture. And so while Dabo's young players feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves, our guys are just sort of... there. And no Ball Plays can make up for the fact that everyone isn't exactly All In right now.
Meanwhile, Dabo doesn't talk X's and O's, which is why many of us didn't take him seriously at all when he was hired. Hell, he wasn't even a coordinator... he couldn't know football that well, right? What Dabo talks about is culture. He wants his guys on board... pulling in the same direction. He leaves all the actual plays and play-calling to his assistants, perhaps because he wouldn't be very good at it or perhaps because he thinks all of that is secondary to maintaining that culture at all times, in the locker room, on the sidelines, at practice, in pressers, all the time.
Now there was a time when Spurrier's approach worked. In the 90's no one could figure his Ball Plays out. His offenses moved up and down the field on everyone and he won tons of SEC titles and a MNC. Then he left for the NFL and I think his failure there is telling. Now I'm a Redskins fan and I'm the first to admit that a lot of what happened there wasn't Spurrier's fault. However... he thought he could bring in Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews and that they would be successful as long as he called the right plays. But they weren't. Everyone in the NFL is sort of equal on a talent-level. What matters is your program's culture. Are your GM and your Coach on the same page? Does your owner let them do their job? Can you draft guys that fit what you are trying to do?
I think that this is a different generation of players. We were fortunate to have five seasons with some really elite talent, most of which we sort of inherited by default. We got Gilmore because Clemson fired Tommy Bowden. I think Clowney was coming to Carolina all along. I work in the same District with Lattimore's dad and while he considered Auburn, he was a heavy Carolina lean from his Junior year on. I mean, Spurrier still gets credit for signing those guys, but I think the day Clowney signed, he thought WE HAVE ARRIVED and just assumed that talent was going to keep showing up. Meanwhile, Dabo kept preaching culture and kept getting his butt kicked by Spurrier and that elite talent we had. The problem is that our talent ran out... and putting this generation of players in the right Ball Play isn't necessarily enough. We have no identity. We don't really seem to HAVE a culture. And so while Dabo's young players feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves, our guys are just sort of... there. And no Ball Plays can make up for the fact that everyone isn't exactly All In right now.
