Decoding Bellmont after the ISU win

[Matt Cotcher]

Charlie Strong: “Not very pleased with our defense, thought we could have played better than we did, but it's always a good test when you can wake guys up. Sometimes you think you're better than what you are.”

Reading between the lines – When Strong talked about the defense last night, it sounded like he was reprimanding his own child….which made me happy that I didn’t grow up in that house. He knows they’re better than they were, so his remarks were like the worst thing you can hear your parent say, “I’m disappointed in you…”


Charlie Strong: “What is great is that we had a week to prepare Tyrone, because if it had happened in the middle of that game, I don't know if his confidence would be where it is right now, because he would have had to go in and not be prepared to be the quarterback. Now he goes in playing quarterback and then just watch him continue to get better and better. He's fun to watch now.”

Reading between the lines – That’s Strong talking about the advantage of having a whole week to work with Swoopes before the BYU game. My first thought was of Garrett Gilbert versus Alabama, which only made me “what if”. Keep in mind, this isn’t Joe Internet talking about a player being thrown into the fire, this is a head football coach.


Charlie Strong: “We didn't make plays on defense. We allowed the guy to sit back and throw the football. It was just technique more than anything, fundamentals and technique. “

Reading between the lines – Listening to Strong talk defense is a lot like Rain Man talking about toothpicks a pro golfer talking about a round from six years ago. Strong’s ability to recall a specific play, recite the route, and discuss how a DB should have sat outside instead of inside, is impressive in both it’s simplicity and thoroughness.


Charlie Strong: “No, what we told Tyrone -- Shawn and I sat down with him, we said you have to understand you're not a pocket quarterback. If something breaks down you're going to have to use your legs. “

Reading between the lines – This isn’t the elementary discussion it sounds like. This is Strong talking about how he and Watson got together with Swoopes to help him understand that taking a negative play by staying in the pocket too long hurts the offense. The overall impression from both Strong and Watson is that Swoopes wanted to make plays so badly that he was over-thinking and standing in the pocket.


Charlie Strong: “So now with Wick installing the quarterback runs and the power play and the read play, it's really helped our offense.”

Reading between the lines – This is an interesting admission. Not only does it confirm things about how the whole staff develops gameplans, it’s also an indirect criticism of Shawn Watson.


Shawn Watson: “I feel like we have taken some big steps to becoming a football family, a team, and the chemistry is -- the chemistry and the attitude is in our building, and it's been a process, but you can feel it. Over the last two weeks, especially.”

Reading between the lines – It’s difficult for fans to quantify the mental aspects of the game. Things like “togetherness”, “chemistry”, and “confidence” are seen by coaches, so when one of them mentions something like this, it’s best to take notice.


Nick Rose: “It felt real good. I think all credit goes to the team, actually. I just did my job at the end and I got the opportunity to seal the deal. I just walked up and hit it.”

Reading between the lines – This guy just nailed a game winning field goal after being a dog in multiple games during the first half of the season. His first impulse was to credit the team before talking about his kick. That’s either phenomenal media training, or a genuine look at the bond this coaching staff has created.


Paul Rhoads: “He [Tyrone Swoopes] came out smoking. Really came out throwing the ball well and throwing it on time and executing tremendously well. More passes than we expected coming out of the gate. The ball was in the air and thrown on time. We needed to get him out of a rhythm.”

Reading between the lines – A lot of fans criticize Swoopes’ timing and rhythm in the passing game. The opposing coach has a different opinion. Even more interesting than that is Rhoads' subtle admission that ISU was caught off guard by Texas electing to throw so often early in the game.



Aaron Wimberly: “We had great preparation for them. Plays that we know we can gash them on with and things like that. I saw the holes and I just wanted to hit them fast so their linebackers couldn't adjust.

Reading between the lines – This is an instructive quote – the thing to take away from Wimberly’s remark is that the Texas coaches will use the ISU film to see what gashed their defense. Count on Bill Snyder doing the same thing this week. 

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Coaches need time to gel, just like players.  Watson and Wickline could very well be hitting that point.  The play-calling and offensive adjustments, particularly in the 4th quarter last night were amazing. The last drive by Texas was nothing short of brilliant.

 

[HornEsch]

Yeah I think people forget that this is a meshing of Watson's and Wickline's mentalities, which I would think we're pretty far a part to begin with.

Taking, what they think, are the best attributes and building a new cohesive offense that meshes with Strong philosophy can't be easy.

The fact that they had to change QBs, lose starters on an already thin OL, etc. shows that they can build a potentially potent offense despite being handed a bad hand.

On top of building that offense, I think we forget their "other" jobs.

For Wickline, turning a historically bad line mixed with little to no experience into a decent unit in a fairly short amount of time. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying they are great. However they have had a huge turn around with a bunch of nobodys.

Then you have Shawn, who thought he had a veteran QB, only for Ash to retire due to health. Throw in Swoopes, who was considered a project QB and you have a recipe for disaster. Instead of folding, Shawn has continued to forge a project into a decent QB, who has shown flashes of being really good. You are also starting to see stretches of consistency, which is the true gold standard.

As bad as our offense has been, and wow has it been bad, we are starting to see some glimpses of its potential. I think if we can get that, all important bowl, we could have a decent offense next year.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

On top of building that offense, I think we forget their "other" jobs.

Great point.