Often when it’s time to write my weekly missive, I have to wrack my brain a bit to come up with something I know a little about, and that you faithful readers will find at least mildly interesting, and, hopefully some combination of the two. Not a problem this week. After last Saturday’s puzzling performance by the Johnnies in their 9-6 loss, it’s almost all I could think about since then. Face it, the proud winning tradition of Johnnie football has gotten us to where we don’t quite know how to act after a loss like that. Mind you, it is much easier to accept a loss where both teams played a pounding, skilled game and you come away thinking one bad play here, or a great one there, or a bad call, perhaps made the difference. But last week’s demonstration of offensive dysfunction left me with a taste in my mouth that even Hamm’s won’t chase away. I wish there was a pill for this.
Hats off to the defense, who played their butts off and kept the game close. Standouts were Eid, Luke and Wimmer, but really all played with the skill we’ve come to expect, but also with heart. It just has to get discouraging to keep running out there to bail out your team, or to hold your opponent on your goal line, only to watch the offense cough up two before you’ve even caught your breath. But series after series, the Johnnie D went out and did what had to be done.
There are some stars, too, on special teams, particularly Derek Stifter. If you see him in street clothes you can’t believe he’s the same guy wearing #5 on the field because he plays ten feet tall. On one punt coverage play, he arrived at the same time the ball did, and absolutely jellied the Cobber return man. If the coaches would see fit to put a blocker or two ahead of him on returns, you just might see him break one open. And how about the snaps for extra points? Until you fix this, you might as well go for two every time.
Alright, I know it’s a sensitive subject, but let’s talk about this dysfunction. In many cases like this, the problem is in the head, and I’m talking coaching here. The play calling has been at best, predictable, and at worst, atrocious. I mean, 4 yards deep in your end zone and you call a sweep? Especially when your line hasn’t shown its willingness to block anything more threatening than Mother Theresa?
So, in the absence of a little pill, what to do? How about some offensive therapy? The Sizzle says it’s time for guns, speed and some heart.
The Guns: First of all, figure out the offensive line. New or different blocking schemes, different players, whatever, mix it up until you can find something that works. The way things looked against the Cobbers, Brett Favre would’ve been crushed out there. Oh, did I mention a quarterback? Here’s where the guns come in. Scrap the 3 QB experiment, it just doesn’t work on so many levels. Put in your best arm and your best leader, and if you won’t call it, I will: it’s Jordan Hansel. Let Hansel start running the plays and shooting bullets at the speedy receivers Busack and Vanderheyden.
The Speed: What does it say about your offense when your quarterback is your leading rusher and your #1 running back has more yards receiving than he does rushing? To me it says time to change it up with some speed. Billy Ryan is the fastest guy on the team, and he has yet to touch the ball. Schnobrich is an excellent blocker, and if the line can’t blow open big holes, maybe a guy like Ryan can blast through little ones.
The Heart: Top to bottom, the offense has looked flat, uninspired. This isn’t a huge problem…yet. Nothing that a win or two, or a few big plays won’t take care of. The coaches must inspire, but also must find the true leaders on the team and trust them to run with the Johnnie Magic. Then maybe we’ll see the heart that pumps Johnnie red.
Go Johnnies!
