Monty...

[Original TULSAFAN]

Could be the most terrible HEAD Coach in D1.

Undisciplined.
Simple offensive sets.
Confused/poor communication.

I like several players.

Coaches suck.

 

[TigerCane16]

I cannot believe I am saying this when taking the first 2 years in mind, but, after today I agree 100%. The referees, injuries, and player skill aren't to blame. I remember thinking on the way home, "give Todd this situation and we get the W." Sure, those guys gave away a few ('08 Arkansas, '09 Boise, '09 Houston, and '10 SMU), but a couple of times, on a must win basis, when they had a season defining upset in hand (BYU '07 & Notre Dame '10); they FINISHED. Be it OU in 2015, Texas in 2018, or today... This man and his guys have proven to be incapable of doing so. All 3 of those games were winnable with the right play calls and discipline.

 

[Original TULSAFAN]

I cannot believe I am saying this when taking the first 2 years in mind, but, after today I agree 100%. The referees, injuries, and player skill aren't to blame. I remember thinking on the way home, "give Todd this situation and we get the W." Sure, those guys gave away a few ('08 Arkansas, '09 Boise, '09 Houston, and '10 SMU), but a couple of times, on a must win basis, when they had a season defining upset in hand (BYU '07 & Notre Dame '10); they FINISHED. Be it OU in 2015, Texas in 2018, or today... This man and his guys have proven to be incapable of doing so. All 3 of those games were winnable with the right play calls and discipline.

Winnable? Yes. If he managed the game better and could "read" the situation, he could have moved some pieces around with more sense and purpose yesterday. The game should have come down to the final possession. I have no doubt he's a good man. He is simply NOT a HEAD coach on the D1 level.

 

[TigerCane16]

Winnable? Yes. If he managed the game better and could "read" the situation, he could have moved some pieces around with more sense and purpose yesterday. The game should have come down to the final possession. I have no doubt he's a good man. He is simply NOT a HEAD coach on the D1 level.

I 100% concur. That is why I said winnable. As you said, he simply cannot "read" well coached defenses. For someone of his "offensive pedigree", that is insane. Then again what is the commoner definition of insanity? **** his offensive strategy ****

 

[goldenhurricane2]

At this point, I don’t see how we get more than 4 (maybe 5) wins this season. That’s unfortunate and ultimately unacceptable... he’s had plenty of time to get this right and we’re still seeing some of the same patterns/issues we saw 3 years ago.

It’s weird, because it’s not like the Blankenship situation where the players all just quit (you could tell they just stopped caring) and we were absolutely inept. In this situation, the team hasn’t quit, they want to win, but the game management, discipline, and inability to adjust has us where we are today. I feel bad for these guys. I know they want to win. They deserve to have something to show for their hard work, but at this point, I’m not sure they will.

With one year remaining on his contract after this season, it may be time to move on. However, TU better not “TU” this next hire up... but all indications point to TU trying to get whoever will take the bottom dollar. Look for the salary we offer to go from $1.7 million down to less than $1 million (possibly even closer to $500-600k) as I have zero confidence in this administration’s ability make a good/intelligent hire moving forward.

 

[rusty-c]

Another great article by Larry Lewis. A big concern for me was the following.

“Smith was banged up, but could have returned to the game. Montgomery decided to hold him out, probably as a precaution. Smith was alert and appeared healthy in the post-game press conference interviews.”

So if I’m reading this right, with the game on the line, your medical staff clearing Smith as able to go, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say Smith wanted back in (you don’t become the QB not wanting to lead your team) Monty has already rolled over and called the game lost.

By all means tell me if I’m reading more into this.

 

[TigerCane16]

Ironically, I was just thinking about potential coaching candidates last night. I am not positive Coach Graham would come back. I detest the man's attitude, but you have to think Kansas and Les Miles could end up bidding each other adieu sooner than expected.... I just don't see TU, as an institution, wanting anything to do with Miles, much less Art. We can for the most part (IMO) take pride in our academics and ethics... No reason to nuke those while we are at it.

 

[TigerCane16]

Another great article by Larry Lewis. A big concern for me was the following.

“Smith was banged up, but could have returned to the game. Montgomery decided to hold him out, probably as a precaution. Smith was alert and appeared healthy in the post-game press conference interviews.”

So if I’m reading this right with the game on the line and your medical staff clearing Smith as able to go, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say Smith wanted back in (you don’t become the QB not wanting to lead your team) Monty has already rolled over and called the game lost.

By all means tell me if I’m reading more into this.

I also noticed Zach seemed displeased with him deciding not to go on the offensive right before half. The camera picked up the visual part of the exchange. That right there in and of itself possibly shows a bit of a culture disconnect between the coaches and players, but by all indications the players LOVE Monty.

 

[okie51]

I dont care who the players like, you win or
You're gone.

I do think Graham would come back, his wife loved Tulsa... But no matter what defense staff needs to stay put. I love our defense and I always have faith they will make the stops when needed.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I detest the man's attitude, but you have to think Kansas and Les Miles could end up bidding each other adieu sooner than expected....

Don't know where you pulled this conjecture from.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Monty quote to the media after the game, "All that momentum is great, and the locker room was great. Those guys were locked in and focused,” Montgomery said. “Yet you’ve got to come back out in the second half. We’ve talked about this since January, about finishing. You’ve got to come back out and re-establish it and go back to work.”

Completely ignoring the one truly at fault for not making offensive coaching adjustments after halftime.

 

[lawpoke87]

Monty quote to the media after the game, "All that momentum is great, and the locker room was great. Those guys were locked in and focused,” Montgomery said. “Yet you’ve got to come back out in the second half. We’ve talked about this since January, about finishing. You’ve got to come back out and re-establish it and go back to work.”

Completely ignoring the one truly at fault for not making offensive coaching adjustments after halftime.

Agree. OSU brought Peele up from safety to the LB position and switched from a 3-3-5 to a 3-4. Our running backs had 18 yards rushing in the second half. I’m at a loss as to why no adjustments were made. Our only venture into OSU territory in the third quarter was solely due to a dead ball unsportsmanlike penalty after we had been stopped on 3rd down. Hopefully Monty will be asked about the third quarter play calling.

 

[I.I.]

Wish Gus had been our OC yesterday. That was one of the Todd Graham Era differences. Much less confusion and you never saw the play clock down to 1 second every other play.

 

[TU4ever2]

Wish Gus had been our OC yesterday. That was one of the Todd Graham Era differences. Much less confusion and you never saw the play clock down to 1 second every other play.

Yeah a delay of game penalty and then almost a second in a row because they were taking forever to get the damn play in.




All that momentum?

The momentum you killed by not even trying to attack at the end of the half, with time outs? Or the momentum you finished killing with a crap first second half series?

Then you went full turtle for the entire third quarter and did little to improve the situation in the fourth. Monty, you're the one who can't finish. You're the one trying to play OC at the end of halves when the head coach needs to be focused on situation and clock management.

Look in the mirror Monty. Because there was not a single kid on that field at the end of the half who didn't want to attack or one to start the second who didn't want to go for the throat. You are the limiter, the speed governor on the 18 wheeler that is Tulsa football.

The chance at a bowl and keeping your job is slipping away. Put the pedal down and get off the brakes.

 

[URedskin54]

Agree. OSU brought Peele up from safety to the LB position and switched from a 3-3-5 to a 3-4. Our running backs had 18 yards rushing in the second half. I’m at a loss as to why no adjustments were made. Our only venture into OSU territory in the third quarter was solely due to a dead ball unsportsmanlike penalty after we had been stopped on 3rd down. Hopefully Monty will be asked about the third quarter play calling.

They brought an extra guy or two into the box and blitzed us every passing down. Based on our lack of adjustments, if they had done that from the start I'm not confident we would have scored more than 7 points yesterday.

 

[URedskin54]

The momentum you killed by not even trying to attack at the end of the half, with time outs? Or the momentum you finished killing with a crap first second half series?

Not sure I agree with this part. We did go for the home run ball on that drive and it resulted in a pass interference. And it's easy to see how dropping Smith back every down trying to score in under a minute could have resulted in a momentum crushing turnover on our end of the field and TD for them right before half. Happened at Ohio State, albeit under very poor weather conditions (but with a much more seasoned QB).

 

[lawpoke87]

OSU’s first half defensive scheme made zero sense imo. Three of their top 5 DLinemen were out for the game. Yet they don’t give them any help and keep the 3-3-5 alignment. The second quarter we predictable. TU simply overpowered a tired and undermanned front three. The halftime adjustment by OSU was also predictable...or at least should have been. I’m at a loss why we weren’t more prepared to deal with that added defender and increased pressure.

 

[TU4ever2]

Not sure I agree with this part. We did go for the home run ball on that drive and it resulted in a pass interference. And it's easy to see how dropping Smith back every down trying to score in under a minute could have resulted in a momentum crushing turnover on our end of the field and TD for them right before half. Happened at Ohio State, albeit under very poor weather conditions (but with a much more seasoned QB).

That's the turtle mentality I am talking about. Geez looks scary, I'm going back in my shell.

You just busted their ass for 14 mins. Your defense is locked in. You decide naw, we're good, we got the lead. Tulsa is the underdog, you have them stunned and on the ropes, don't put your hands up and wait for the bell. Throw haymakers and put them down. Most likely you punt the ball and your defense holds, but you get one good play and the whole thing can be blown open.

Time management; it's a make it and take it opportunity with the second half kick going to Tulsa. High return low/medium risk. 2nd half first possesion if you score or don't, be aggressive and don't try to start a grinding run the clock strategy with a one or eight point lead.

Game reminded me of several last year where we were competitive or up and then just tried run run pass till we were desperate after falling behind and had to throw. USF and Houston immediately come to mind actually, right down to game situation decisions.

 

[URedskin54]

I gotcha, I'm just saying I see the reasoning and also that we attempted two deep shots on that possession before settling on running clock.

 

[TU4ever2]

I gotcha, I'm just saying I see the reasoning and also that we attempted two deep shots on that possession before settling on running clock.

We're playing a team we should beat or a conference game and I would say ok. But this wasn't the case.

Not much to lose and big return if either possesion ends in a score.

We tend to play to not lose. That leads to squandered opportunities and diminishing returns.

 

[URedskin54]

Also, I agree with you about our coach's strategy with the lead. He's 99% risk mitigation and 1% take advantage of opportunities. We throw away drives to run clock because we're afraid of turnovers.

 

[TU4ever2]

Also, I agree with you about our coach's strategy with the lead. He's 99% risk mitigation and 1% take advantage of opportunities. We throw away drives to run clock because we're afraid turnovers.

Nailed it.

 

[TigerCane16]

Sorry, GMoney4WW! I meant to quote you lol. Doh!

It is just that; hypothetical based conjecture, nothing more. I remember in the old TW comments section a LOT of people wanted Mike Leach in Jan. 2011. I read on a KS fan post where they were already borderline upset because they thought Miles would be a miracle worker. Just tossing it out for possible discussion. One of them mentioned he belonged in Tulsa or Houston to "prove himself". Yeah, I detested the borderline dig at TU, but it made me think. Granted, ALL of this Jayhawk Miles bashing was before the BC win.