It started at the beginning of the Spring game pre-game interview with Coach Riley and has continued through today with Coach Langsdorf. The common, recurring theme of how much a difference knowing the players has been this year.
That just doesn't sounds all that big a deal. But it really, really must be. Almost every interview with every coach every week or month. Whenever there's a question about going into their second year how they feel, there's mention of knowing the players better, knowing what players can do (and can't do, but they don't say that) and designing plays and systems to fit the players and their skill sets more.
See, no matter how you word it, I can't make it sound all that profound a deal. It doesn't sound like the kind of topic that will elicit a whole lot of discussion here (though maybe it will surprise me). So you know the players better -- fine. But how 'bout those new recruits! How do we fix Tommy? How do you handle the injuries? How great is it to have DPE back! Now THOSE are topics we can sink our teeth into.
But the single most recurring topic I've heard the last six months on the difference between last year and this year -- even more than players being familiar with the schemes -- has been about the coaches knowing the players.
What am I/are we missing? Why is this so dull and hard to discuss?
That just doesn't sounds all that big a deal. But it really, really must be. Almost every interview with every coach every week or month. Whenever there's a question about going into their second year how they feel, there's mention of knowing the players better, knowing what players can do (and can't do, but they don't say that) and designing plays and systems to fit the players and their skill sets more.
See, no matter how you word it, I can't make it sound all that profound a deal. It doesn't sound like the kind of topic that will elicit a whole lot of discussion here (though maybe it will surprise me). So you know the players better -- fine. But how 'bout those new recruits! How do we fix Tommy? How do you handle the injuries? How great is it to have DPE back! Now THOSE are topics we can sink our teeth into.
But the single most recurring topic I've heard the last six months on the difference between last year and this year -- even more than players being familiar with the schemes -- has been about the coaches knowing the players.
What am I/are we missing? Why is this so dull and hard to discuss?
