CSNbbs

Fellow Monarchs,

We all know the defense isn't performing as well as we'd like them to right now -- but it's time to quit joking on and belittling them. Our defense is about as young and green as they come. The last thing they need is to be strung out and laughed at by their own fans. What they need is patience, and the chance to develop without unreasonable and overzealous scrutiny by fans. To make this clear, that's not to say all criticism is bad. I'm talking about repetitive David-Teel-esque comments. There is no point to piling on the shaming language. I look forward to having a veteran defense that should be much improved in a couple of years when we are breaking in a new quarterback.

When Wilder says "It's hard on the players. It gets particularly hard when some parts of your team are getting criticized from the outside," it's time to lay off. While Wilder has yet to produce a consistent defense for ODU, I'm confident he knows what he is doing and is taking/has taken the correct steps to put our team on the path to success.

Let's agree to remember that these are mostly teenagers we're talking about, and that we are all adults.

Go Monarchs!

Monarch_Pride

If our players are getting upset by "outside" criticism, then quite frankly I would rather they leave the team. This isn't pee wee football or high school level. This is college. I believe it is not tasteful to criticize specific players but criticism of any kind towards the defense as a whole is fair game. Seriously what do you want people to say? This defense would rank in the lower 50% of the FCS. They are horrendous.

"What they need is patience, and the chance to develop without unreasonable and overzealous scrutiny by fans. To make this clear, that's not to say all criticism is bad. I'm talking about repetitive David-Teel-esque comments."

I agree with the original statement.

Criticizing a young defense for struggling with Shane Carden/Justin Hardy, CJ Brown/Stefon Diggs and another Triple Option team is sort of like criticizing Anton Larsen for struggling with Anthony Davis. Not exactly fair.

This is a young program with limited resources, they built this thing the proper way by building an exciting brand but at a cost of having a defense that is a continual work in progress.

In 3 to 4 years the defense will likely be a strength and people will be complaining about the offense.

The promising thing is there is talent on the defense. Richie Staton is a CUSA level linebacker and Fellonte Misher always seems to be around the ball at his safety position. The D needs pass rushers, no defense can survive a 12 game CUSA schedule without getting pressure on the QB.

I wonder why no one is criticizing the offense or special teams?

(09-25-2013 07:05 AM)ODU89 Wrote: [ -> ]I wonder why no one is criticizing the offense or special teams?

Sacrilege?
Actually there was modicum of criticism of the offense after the UMD game, specifically the lack of an interior run scheme.

Personally I don't think we should name names, but I am curious about all of this football backlash when the majority on this board have literally blistered the mbb, and named names in the process, for years.

My criticism has been more mild than most, but the idea that we shouldn't criticize is preposterous. If nothing else, it should provide extra motivation.

(09-25-2013 07:20 AM)ODUalum78 Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-25-2013 07:05 AM)ODU89 Wrote: [ -> ]I wonder why no one is criticizing the offense or special teams?

Sacrilege?
Actually there was modicum of criticism of the offense after the UMD game, specifically the lack of an interior run scheme.

Personally I don't think we should name names, but I am curious about all of this football backlash when the majority on this board have literally blistered the mbb, and named names in the process, for years.

About half our fans were against the criticism of MBB and defending Blaine beyond the Coaches Show performance up to the minute he was fired. Many still defend him to this day. I don't agree with this line of thinking, but I don't think there is a double standard either.

MBB was criticized when it became apparent that ODU would no longer be a Top 3 CAA Program. It was good enough for most when ODU was at the same level as VCU and Mason but when they elevated themselves and we both never caught up and then botched recruiting, most everyone turned and most haven't come back.

The Football program has done to CAA Football what VCU did to CAA Basketball. They have several years of equity with me, especially defensively because I realize it will take 2-3 years of recruiting to beat 1 to 2 BCS team OOC every year and then have a winning record in CUSA. That's what it will take to get to bowl games.

(09-25-2013 07:32 AM)ODUR8R Wrote: [ -> ]MBB was criticized when it became apparent that ODU would no longer be a Top 3 CAA Program. It was good enough for most when ODU was at the same level as VCU and Mason but when they elevated themselves and we both never caught up and then botched recruiting, most everyone turned and most haven't come back.

The Football program has done to CAA Football what VCU did to CAA Basketball. They have several years of equity with me, especially defensively because I realize it will take 2-3 years of recruiting to beat 1 to 2 BCS team OOC every year and then have a winning record in CUSA. That's what it will take to get to bowl games.

CUSA is so bad right now, I actually expect to be able to have a winning record next year.

Even though our defense has never been our strength, a lot of the problems we have always had were covered up by Ronnie Cameron and Chris Burnette being up the middle. They did a pretty decent job of getting some pressure on the QB and stuffing the run up the middle. Now that they are gone, we have been exposed in all areas of defense. The secondary has never been good since day one and we have never been able to contain the run to the outside. And now we really cant do anything. All of that being said, people always say that the biggest difference between FCS and FBS is the depth. Well, we wont have any real depth unless the guys on the team have played on the field together. I get it, we all want to win every game. But the people within the program have a long term goal, and that is to have us ready for CUSA next year and the years to come. By suffering now, we should reap the benefits in the near future. "Patience" is the word that keeps being used and I agree with that. We have to give Nagy at least 3 years to convert a defensive unit that has never had success to a strength of the program. He and some of the other defensive coaches have legitimate FBS experience and I do believe that they have a plan, and that plan will work. Bottom line is that we are victims of our own early success. We will get there. Stay strong Monarch Nation!!

Ever-I may agree with you, but a winning record alone (5-3) No CUSA Championship game may not equal a bowl appearance. ODU still needs to beat teams like at Vandy, NC State, ECU, Navy.....on occasion, at a rate of 1 a year to be successful.

(09-25-2013 07:42 AM)ODUR8R Wrote: [ -> ]Ever-I may agree with you, but a winning record alone (5-3) No CUSA Championship game may not equal a bowl appearance. ODU still needs to beat teams like at Vandy, NC State, ECU, Navy.....on occasion, at a rate of 1 a year to be successful.

Got it, we argree.

It seems it's gotten to the point where people focus less on the outstanding record and success of the program and more on the defense. You aren't hearing about how we won the game.

Give up 58 or give up 0, I just want to win.

We all want the Monarchs to be successful. We would all like for them to excell at all aspects of play. Currently they are not excelling at defense. We all know that, we have all seen it, many of us have voiced our opinions about it (some many, many times.) My take is that there is nothing wrong with voicing your opinions here about anything regarding ODU athletics, that is what a sports message board is for, however when you voice the same opinion on the same subject over-and-over again, in an incessant drumbeat fashion it becomes very tedious. At that point fair assessment and criticism crosses over to something rather less constructive or thought provoking.

GO MONARCHS!

(09-25-2013 07:40 AM)BlueBlood14 Wrote: [ -> ]Even though our defense has never been our strength, a lot of the problems we have always had were covered up by Ronnie Cameron and Chris Burnette being up the middle. They did a pretty decent job of getting some pressure on the QB and stuffing the run up the middle. Now that they are gone, we have been exposed in all areas of defense. The secondary has never been good since day one and we have never been able to contain the run to the outside. And now we really cant do anything. All of that being said, people always say that the biggest difference between FCS and FBS is the depth. Well, we wont have any real depth unless the guys on the team have played on the field together. I get it, we all want to win every game. But the people within the program have a long term goal, and that is to have us ready for CUSA next year and the years to come. By suffering now, we should reap the benefits in the near future. "Patience" is the word that keeps being used and I agree with that. We have to give Nagy at least 3 years to convert a defensive unit that has never had success to a strength of the program. He and some of the other defensive coaches have legitimate FBS experience and I do believe that they have a plan, and that plan will work. Bottom line is that we are victims of our own early success. We will get there. Stay strong Monarch Nation!!

Spot on with respect to Cameron and Burnette. You can add LB Wilkins to that mix as well.

I am in complete support of Nagy.

I'm sorry, but the criticism is legitimate.
The 'new startup' argument is no longer valid.

We started to make a name for ourselves in 2010, in a big market with good facilities. Incoming 2011 recruits should have been of at least of mediocre FCS ability. As a playoff team in 2011, our 2012 recruits should have been near the top of FCS caliber.
Therefore, with redshirts and JUCOS added to the mix, we should have gotten sigtnificantly better after 2010.
So, our current juniors should be solid FCS caliber. Our current sophomores should be top notch FCS.
Consequently, along with supposedly top notch JUCOs, and a smattering of true freshmen that were recruited for FBS, we should then, have a very good quality FCS level defense right now.

However;
Our defense right now is at the extreme bottom of FCS, and worse than it has been since 2009 IMO.

Our future should look bright and I totally support Nagy.
But since Nagy is not the only cog in the wheel, I think it is legitimate to ask how we got here and what specifically we are going to change to get to where we want to go.

Agree there's a point to it but I think we need to lay off the kids by name and when we talk to them lay off the negative comments. It is fine to go after the coaches and to look at how things are done. Remember we all have jobs and sometimes the only thing you can say at the end of a bad day when bad decisions where made above your head...talk to my boss I just work here. This team is no different.

To respond to the comment about if they can't stand the heat get off our team. Had did your freshman year go? Did you learn some life lessons and did you have friends and family to help you thru? If this fanbase becomes likes ecu is on the boards then basically we are hurting ourselves.

Give the kids a chance the coaches light em up if you want...they are paid to take the heat. The kids are not. Let them learn. Coach is hard on them enough. We need to be real fans. That doesn't mean just when we win but when our yardage is bad or in adversity.

People didn't believe in barefoot and looking are her recruiting class. Look how the program has changed. Defense is the same. I just want us to give up less yardage.

This week even if we win...it may be important to show we believe in the defense some way. They are having a rough season. We as fans elected to buy tickets. I tthink may be when they come off the field a standing ovation to chane the tide.

(09-25-2013 09:23 AM)workingodu Wrote: [ -> ]Agree there's a point to it but I think we need to lay off the kids by name and when we talk to them lay off the negative comments. It is fine to go after the coaches and to look at how things are done. Remember we all have jobs and sometimes the only thing you can say at the end of a bad day when bad decisions where made above your head...talk to my boss I just work here. This team is no different.

I disagree about naming names. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Do we not point out achievements on a personal level, ie TH?

While this quote may be more useful for the coaching staff, parents and those of you in management roles at work; I think this is a sound strategy for fans:

"Never give a man a dollar’s worth of blame without a dimes’ worth of praise." -- Col L. P. Hunt, USMC