I'm warming up a little to the sentiment I first heard voiced by Hank (KHX) more than a year ago, although actual firing is a big step. There's no way you can explain positional issues almost three years into Petrino's tenure against the backdrop of other positions where there are no such issues. Unless some factor like the O-line being the most difficult to coach and develop, and I'll have to be convinced of that on the flipside.
BUT there are some issues I can't get past in order to lay all of this at Klenakis' feet. And if you guys want my buy-in--and you may not care--here's the stuff I'm thinking about that runs counter to your POV...
Not just the O-line coach. You know that Coach K is not just a position coach; he's also the co-coordinator, I believe in charge of the "run game". And if you wanna argue he's in a position of total or primary responsibility, that cuts both ways. In addition to our O-line stats/problems, this year's rushing offense is also ranked 12th nationally at 255 yards/game and 4th at 6.3 yards/carry. Is most of that due to Lamar Jackson?...Probably. But the same O-linemen are out there the entire game whether the ball's in Lamar's hands or not. And irrespective of last nite, I think the average coach would tell you our "run game" is something to be respected.
BTW, our passing offense is 19th nationally at 304 ypg.
If it's offense, it's about Petrino. I recall the last two years when were struggling offensively, the coaching issue alleged by many was Garrett McGee. He was even reportedly picking the QB and calling the plays, all of which we know now in hindsight was BS. The issue was finding a great QB, and all of those decisions are managed by Petrino.
If you've watched a practice, Petrino spends 80% of his time with the offense. And half of that time the O-linemen are in front of him. He knows and critiques EVERYTHING on offense, and if a position coach ain't getting the job done--like Lamar Thomas--he's gone before we even know there's an issue. I can't believe that Klenakis ain't executing on exactly what Petrino wants him to do with the O-line and its coaching. So much so that Petrino even promoted him last year. If it's an offense issue and it persists, firing a position coach IMO is a scapegoat.
Suddenly a huge problem with Houston. We've had our O-line issues all year. But even against Clemson, there were answers. That tells me last nite was more about Houston than it was about our O-line, or maybe other factors as well that had nothing to do with a position coach.
I'm 100% convinced that no one on the coaching staff wants to win more than Petrino, and that he has broad latitude to change things as needed to win games and championships. It's amusing to talk about this stuff, or it should just be amusement. When you start taking your position too seriously that a person needs to be fired or that simply you have the solution to a problem, best to check off on all the boxes...like those above.
BUT there are some issues I can't get past in order to lay all of this at Klenakis' feet. And if you guys want my buy-in--and you may not care--here's the stuff I'm thinking about that runs counter to your POV...
Not just the O-line coach. You know that Coach K is not just a position coach; he's also the co-coordinator, I believe in charge of the "run game". And if you wanna argue he's in a position of total or primary responsibility, that cuts both ways. In addition to our O-line stats/problems, this year's rushing offense is also ranked 12th nationally at 255 yards/game and 4th at 6.3 yards/carry. Is most of that due to Lamar Jackson?...Probably. But the same O-linemen are out there the entire game whether the ball's in Lamar's hands or not. And irrespective of last nite, I think the average coach would tell you our "run game" is something to be respected.
BTW, our passing offense is 19th nationally at 304 ypg.
If it's offense, it's about Petrino. I recall the last two years when were struggling offensively, the coaching issue alleged by many was Garrett McGee. He was even reportedly picking the QB and calling the plays, all of which we know now in hindsight was BS. The issue was finding a great QB, and all of those decisions are managed by Petrino.
If you've watched a practice, Petrino spends 80% of his time with the offense. And half of that time the O-linemen are in front of him. He knows and critiques EVERYTHING on offense, and if a position coach ain't getting the job done--like Lamar Thomas--he's gone before we even know there's an issue. I can't believe that Klenakis ain't executing on exactly what Petrino wants him to do with the O-line and its coaching. So much so that Petrino even promoted him last year. If it's an offense issue and it persists, firing a position coach IMO is a scapegoat.
Suddenly a huge problem with Houston. We've had our O-line issues all year. But even against Clemson, there were answers. That tells me last nite was more about Houston than it was about our O-line, or maybe other factors as well that had nothing to do with a position coach.
I'm 100% convinced that no one on the coaching staff wants to win more than Petrino, and that he has broad latitude to change things as needed to win games and championships. It's amusing to talk about this stuff, or it should just be amusement. When you start taking your position too seriously that a person needs to be fired or that simply you have the solution to a problem, best to check off on all the boxes...like those above.
