I have listened to the Monday Eagle Nation interview with Ron English this season. I have to admit he has much confidence in his recruiting abilities. Several times he has commented that EMU will be successful because he can recruit players. It is quite obvious that he has upgraded the talent at EMU. He really needs to land some more DL, DEs, CBs, and safeties for EMU to challenge next year for the MAC title. As much as I am a Ron English fan, the verdict is still out there for him on coaching abilities............
A couple thoughts on English...
-He's a defensive-minded coach, obviously, so I think a lot of his "coaching abilities" evaluations need to start on that side of the ball. Save for the Toledo and Ball State games, I thought our defense was incredibly improved from last year with the only blemishes being the inability to contain big plays. We lose some guys, but we've got a bunch of key contributors coming back, including a group of LBs that may be the best unit in the MAC next year. Overall, I was very proud of the defense this season.
-Offensively, it was a roller coaster. They looked unstoppable in certain games, and anemic in others. Karcher's game plans have been pretty questionable at times, and today, unfortunately, may have been his most disappointing effort. NIU was clearly selling out for the run early, yet we tried to run right at them and pull our guards in the process. The Huskies ate that up (that safety was a backbreaker). Some things need to change on that side of the ball in terms of coaching. We bring back pretty much the entire starting unit with some very good depth. If English keeps Karcher, I hope Ken expands Gillett's role as a passer. I love our RBs, but when our play calling becomes so predictable, its hard for them to do anything. We need better balance next year...
-Finally, with recruiting, look how productive our 2011 class was. Reed was very good as a receiver and returner. Russell is a weapon of a pass catcher at TE. Darius Scott and Kevin Johnson looked good as secondary backups. That's not even counting the JUCOs, where Justin Cudworth and Bryan Pali were HUGE parts of the defense. I trust English as a recruiter, and he appears to be off to a good start for 2012. Check out our scout.com page if you haven't already.
Holding Northern Illinois to 18 is pretty impressive. This is a MAC-good defense.
Now, the offense, on the other hand...after 3 years, I have no confidence in Karcher.
(11-25-2011 04:59 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ]Holding Northern Illinois to 18 is pretty impressive. This is a MAC-good defense.
Now, the offense, on the other hand...after 3 years, I have no confidence in Karcher.
The offense needs to change. We all know that they have more plays than they show (what happened to the jet sweep?) but Karcher seems to be ultra conservative which limits anything resembling creativity. Of course, the conservative philosophy is the responsibility of RE so it's up to him to change it. Not saying EMU needs to bring back a Genyk style offense, just need to mix it up a little.
Like our offense or not, it was very effective this year. Without a pro style quarterback leading this thing, its tough to add in the needed passing attack to make us a COMPLETE offense. Either way, I give kudos to the entire staff to putting this thing together this year... it's just the begining, with A LOT to look forward to in the near future.
(11-25-2011 05:44 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote: [ -> ] (11-25-2011 04:59 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ]Holding Northern Illinois to 18 is pretty impressive. This is a MAC-good defense.
Now, the offense, on the other hand...after 3 years, I have no confidence in Karcher.
The offense needs to change. We all know that they have more plays than they show (what happened to the jet sweep?) but Karcher seems to be ultra conservative which limits anything resembling creativity. Of course, the conservative philosophy is the responsibility of RE so it's up to him to change it. Not saying EMU needs to bring back a Genyk style offense, just need to mix it up a little.
Just keep in mind that this team was 0-12 only two years ago. Let's see what happens next year. At least there is progress. Go Eagles!
(11-26-2011 06:59 PM)Rip20 Wrote: [ -> ]Like our offense or not, it was very effective this year. Without a pro style quarterback leading this thing, its tough to add in the needed passing attack to make us a COMPLETE offense. Either way, I give kudos to the entire staff to putting this thing together this year... it's just the begining, with A LOT to look forward to in the near future.
Quarterbacks recruited under Ron English:
- Alex Gillett
- Devontae Payne
- Austin Karcher (walk-on?)
- Tyler Benz
- Mark Iannotti
Did I miss any?
I don't know about Karcher, and I wouldn't count him as representative of what English wants, but all the rest are dual-threat run/pass quarterbacks rather than traditional drop-back pro-style QBs. It may be time to accept that this is the kind of quarterback and the kind of offense Ron English wants.
(11-27-2011 06:36 AM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2011 06:59 PM)Rip20 Wrote: [ -> ]Like our offense or not, it was very effective this year. Without a pro style quarterback leading this thing, its tough to add in the needed passing attack to make us a COMPLETE offense. Either way, I give kudos to the entire staff to putting this thing together this year... it's just the begining, with A LOT to look forward to in the near future.
Quarterbacks recruited under Ron English:
- Alex Gillett
- Devontae Payne
- Austin Karcher (walk-on?)
- Tyler Benz
- Mark Iannotti
Did I miss any?
I don't know about Karcher, and I wouldn't count him as representative of what English wants, but all the rest are dual-threat run/pass quarterbacks rather than traditional drop-back pro-style QBs. It may be time to accept that this is the kind of quarterback and the kind of offense Ron English wants.
I think English goes with what he has as QB, if he likes the dual type of QB as you are saying, why is he going after the kid from California? Any update on him?
(11-27-2011 11:46 AM)EagleHawk Wrote: [ -> ]Rumor I heard is we denied his commitment. No longer are looking for a QB in this class.
Wtf
I am not saying you are not correct but I hope you are wrong about the part of not recruiting one this year. We need one bad and the kid from California didn't committ to us yet did he?
(11-27-2011 06:36 AM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2011 06:59 PM)Rip20 Wrote: [ -> ]Like our offense or not, it was very effective this year. Without a pro style quarterback leading this thing, its tough to add in the needed passing attack to make us a COMPLETE offense. Either way, I give kudos to the entire staff to putting this thing together this year... it's just the begining, with A LOT to look forward to in the near future.
Quarterbacks recruited under Ron English:
- Alex Gillett
- Devontae Payne
- Austin Karcher (walk-on?)
- Tyler Benz
- Mark Iannotti
Did I miss any?
I don't know about Karcher, and I wouldn't count him as representative of what English wants, but all the rest are dual-threat run/pass quarterbacks rather than traditional drop-back pro-style QBs. It may be time to accept that this is the kind of quarterback and the kind of offense Ron English wants.
Just my opinion, but calling Devontae Payne a dual-threat QB is WAY off base.
I think Payne was the drop back/pro style QB that we were looking for, but for whatever reason that didn't work.
(11-27-2011 03:22 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]Just my opinion, but calling Devontae Payne a dual-threat QB is WAY off base.
I think Payne was the drop back/pro style QB that we were looking for, but for whatever reason that didn't work.
Fair enough. ESPN's write-up described him as "more of a Daunte Culpepper type with the ability to run and move around" than a true dual threat or a straight-up pocket passer. Never really saw him play at EMU, so I can't say. But recruiting services also listed Gillett as a pro-style QB so...whatever.
(11-27-2011 04:29 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (11-27-2011 03:22 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]Just my opinion, but calling Devontae Payne a dual-threat QB is WAY off base.
I think Payne was the drop back/pro style QB that we were looking for, but for whatever reason that didn't work.
Fair enough. ESPN's write-up described him as "more of a Daunte Culpepper type with the ability to run and move around" than a true dual threat or a straight-up pocket passer. Never really saw him play at EMU, so I can't say. But recruiting services also listed Gillett as a pro-style QB so...whatever.
You must be mistaking or misreading that.. Pro-style?
No, the recruiting services didn't give Gillett much attention and had it wrong which seems to happen frequently with players. Payne on the other hand got much more attention. If I had to guess, I'd say the original plan was to ride Andy Schmitt the first year letting Payne redshirt, develop in the system and then let Payne be the man from there... But, that's just a guess...
EDIT: This was in reply to NUPudge's post
(11-27-2011 05:06 PM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ]You must be mistaking or misreading that.. Pro-style?
Rivals definitely called him a pro-style quarterback.
Here's the link.
(11-27-2011 05:14 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (11-27-2011 05:06 PM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ]You must be mistaking or misreading that.. Pro-style?
Rivals definitely called him a pro-style quarterback. Here's the link.
Again wow and smh
I think what RE has done so far while at EMU is work with what he's got. Dual threat or not, Gillett is not that. He is a runner with the ability to throw. Bottom line, we need a more balanced offense and that starts with a more balanced quarterback. And no, that is not me knocking the offense, I love it. But it is very clear there needs to be more balance. As far as the recruitment of the Cali kid goes, I can believe we could turn down his commitment (due to grades ? attitude ? ...many factors) but there is no way in HE*L that I can believe we wouldnt take a quarterback in this class. If thats the case, thats ignorant recruiting and is poorly handled. UNLESS RE has a target in next years class that is a MUST HAVE type player. Lots of time left in recruiting though, lets let it play out....
I agree w. Rip. Gillett is a nifty runner w. fair to so so throwing skills.
This, NOT Karcher, dictates the offense.
I think too many posters think RE has a Stafford back there and expect Karcher could run a more vertical passing game.
The WRs will never remind us of some of the great MAC WRs.
And a ball control offense helps the defense.
(11-27-2011 07:04 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]I agree w. Rip. Gillett is a nifty runner w. fair to so so throwing skills.
This, NOT Karcher, dictates the offense.
I think too many posters think RE has a Stafford back there and expect Karcher could run a more vertical passing game.
The WRs will never remind us of some of the great MAC WRs.
And a ball control offense helps the defense.
In addition to the commits we have, I think I read in another thread that we need another 1 LB, 2 WR, 2-3 DT and a QB. I think this would keep us moving forward in challenging for the MAC Championship. I wonder if the school will extend English contract for another 3-4 more years. This would be a good selling point to recruits..
We need to find the QB who can be the QB of the future after Gillett and make the offense better.
(11-28-2011 04:23 AM)emu79 Wrote: [ -> ]We need to find the QB who can be the QB of the future after Gillett and make the offense better.
Great opportunity for a Feb. recruit to sit and learn in '12 and play '13 - '16.