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Nov 17, 2024
10:59:52pm
jaba166 All-American
OK, I may get flamed for not being supportive, but I wonder if it's time to
remove Arod from offensive play calling duties. Just wondering, that's all. After a day of contemplation, and considering that BYU is indeed 9-1, and squarely in the conversation to play in the CCG, and CFP, if a team is under-performing, there is always the consideration to make a change.

Sure, our offense has been way better than last year (due to Arod? or the players - probably both). And, we are 9-1 team in the top 15, vying for a spot in the CCG and CFP, which has far exceeded expectations. And, BYU has put the last 3 QB's in the NFL. And in fact, Retzlaff may be the next NFL QB, if his trajectory follows Zach Wilson's from JR to SR year, which wouldn't surprise me. How can you criticize that? But, just like Retzlaff (who I've been a supporter of since the beginning of fall camp), I think both Retzlaff and Arod are very high risk / high reward people, and yesterday, we got the high risk. Someone mentioned Jason Beck, and if wishes were horses, it'd be nice if we could turn back the clock, and keep Arod as QB coach, and maybe Jason Beck as OC.

I feel like I'm hesitant to question, and try to resist criticizing coaches, but there comes a time (like with Tuiaki) when it just gets intolerable. And after the offense the last two games, with the offensive players we have (Retzlaff, LJ, Lassiter, Roberts, et al), with which we should be able to produce way more points (and have), it starts to raise questions. And, with what's at stake, including the potential for the closest sniff to the NC in 40 years, or at least a very solid double digit win season, combined with so many obviously poor decisions, it's starting to feel somewhat intolerable.

There is a lot to consider as evidence. There is the obvious end of each half nonsense play calls / non-calls vs KU, but the game / clock management, including the miscommunication, stupid disorganization / poor preparation late subs, that Utah (and KU) took advantage of, and the inexplicable management of time outs (pointed out by commentators repeatedly this year).

Perhaps Arod is great at designing / drawing up plays during the week, that can take advantage of the other team, and their personnel. And, even though Arod may have a great even-keel demeanor, and be a great mentor for getting QB's to the NFL, I'm just starting to wonder if he has the rapid processing skills to be a good game manager. The two things are very different, and not everyone's skillset is suited for in-game decisions. The one is cerebral, and the other takes rapid processing on the fly. Some people have both. But I'm in healthcare, and I'm fully aware that I am better with cerebral things than the rapid fire of some emergency situations. And although Arod may be an excellent play designer, mentor, teacher, and confidence builder for an offense and it's QB's in their development, I do wonder if those skills translate to out-coaching other coaches in an actual game, with fluctuating and unexpected circumstances and adjustments. The last two games do raise concerns, IMO. And if that were a new development, that'd be one thing. But it's not the first time we seem to be schizophrenic, or hot and cold on offense, with the exact same players (apart from injuries) during the same season.

SO, I guess what I'm saying is this. I do wonder what happens if BYU has another poor offensive showing vs ASU, especially with poor in-game decision making, and adjustments, and if there are continued "head-scratching" game management issues. Is it possible that Kalani may need to take over offensive play calling duties like he did during the Tuiaki defensive issues? (Just asking for a friend). Because doing that on the fly (Kalani taking over), in game, is essentially impossible, which is why I think Kalani was showing some frustration last night. He's kinda handcuffed in the moment, if that's all delegated to someone else, and he just has to trust their decisions on most of the stuff during the game, and then regrets the outcome. With Kalani showing frustration, and with the stakes as high as they are, I do think Arod may be on a short leash. We'll see.
This message has been modified
Originally posted on Nov 17, 2024 at 10:59:52pm
Message modified by jaba166 on Nov 17, 2024 at 11:02:15pm
jaba166
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