Why I'm Seeing Roses

EagleD · October 16, 2007

Going into the season I think Todge had a plan all along. I really believe he looked at the first 4 games and thought these would be learning games for everyone involved. He also had freshmen he wanted to develop and did not want injured or their confidence destroyed. So he sandbagged Vizza, and some other defensive starters. He took his lumps and now that we're in conference play, we can make a run. I'm not saying we're a shoe in for the conference, but now he's got the players he wants starting and healthy.

It's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEAT THE HELL OUT OF TROY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GoMeanGreen1999 · October 16, 2007

Going into the season I think Todge had a plan all along. I really believe he looked at the first 4 games and thought these would be learning games for everyone involved. He also had freshmen he wanted to develop and did not want injured or their confidence destroyed. So he sandbagged Vizza, and some other defensive starters. He took his lumps and now that we're in conference play, we can make a run. I'm not saying we're a shoe in for the conference, but now he's got the players he wants starting and healthy.
It's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEAT THE HELL OUT OF TROY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Call me a homer, but I think we have a really good shot at winning saturday.

FireFightnJoey · October 16, 2007

Ok ... Homer ... there, somebody said it!

Here's to looking for a win on Saturday and waking up Sunday to find one!

OldTimer · October 16, 2007

Dominique Green and Gilmore reported out of shape and it was only after they got in shape that they started playing.

Going into the season I think Todge had a plan all along. I really believe he looked at the first 4 games and thought these would be learning games for everyone involved. He also had freshmen he wanted to develop and did not want injured or their confidence destroyed. So he sandbagged Vizza, and some other defensive starters. He took his lumps and now that we're in conference play, we can make a run. I'm not saying we're a shoe in for the conference, but now he's got the players he wants starting and healthy.
It's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEAT THE HELL OUT OF TROY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Green92 · October 16, 2007

If the D plays like they played Saturday and the offense can get going they will be fine. I don't think Dodge sandbagged the first four games but it takes a while to see what you have. It's one thing to evaluate in practice but another thing to see performances in game situations. The positives far outweigh the negatives in our situation. They will be ready to play.

DeepGreen · October 16, 2007

You don't throw away a sure win against FAU, then lose to a team like ULL and call it sandbagging. That's two conference games. Doubt if Dodge was sandbagging.

forevereagle · October 16, 2007

I don't see any self-respecting, competitive coach sandbagging anything. Especially looking at the beginning of our season.

Dodge "Hey, I know, I will tell all of our fans that we think we can win now, even though I don't plan to. Then we will go into our opening game and get totally destroyed. Do that at least once more, drop some winnable games, and then we can get started winning. That sounds like a great idea!"

See, now doesn't that sound ridiculous.

Edited October 16, 2007 by forevereagle

NTPhiKap99 · October 16, 2007

Do I believe Todge is a realist and knew the team may take a while to gel and start winning Yes. But do I in anyway feel he was sandbagging or doing anything he didn’t honestly think put his team in the best position to win No. Starting players with experience early in the season isn’t sandbagging it’s called coaching. But as the season goes on the upside of playing younger players and getting them experience for the future out weighs the slight edge the older players may have. There is no sandbagging involved Todge did what any good coach would do and I think it will pay off down the line.

MGW · October 16, 2007

It's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Well, since you're supporting Dennis Kucinich, I suspect you're wrong.

I don't think there was any sandbagging. TD strikes me as a fan of winning. Every game. I do agree, though, that he knew we would take our lumps. Unlike DD, who evidently saw some kind of moral victory in keeping it within 60, TD's team goes into every game w/ a "let's duke it out" attitude, as opposed to the "I-hope-we-can-keep-it-close-and-that-God-smiles-upon-us-so-that-we-can-somehow-win-late" attidude we a saw from the DD "inspired" teams.

H-towngreen · October 16, 2007

I just think that eariler in the season TD thought that we had a better chance with some seasoned vets. And now he is getting more of a feel for the team and making adjustments.

NT80 · October 17, 2007

It takes time for players to learn a new system, new freshman to adjust to the college level, and new coaches to adjust to personnel and their competition. That time is about 5 games. Troy will be the best team since OU and Arkansas on our schedule, a good test to see how far we have come (or not) since Arkansas. Navy will be the next real test.

EagleD · October 17, 2007

Well, since you're supporting Dennis Kucinich, I suspect you're wrong.

You have learned well from your dark lord and master, Karl Rove. Go negative early and often. <_<

I was not trying to indicate that Dodge went into the first 4 games intending to lose. Quite the contrary. He tried to win with the existing team. That didn't work out and now he has his young players ready, healthy, and eager to prove themselves. I think it's a good strategy. Maybe "sandbagging" was the wrong phrase. Whatever the case, I'm very optomistic about the future.

GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEAT THE HELL OUT OF TROY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!