Weakest link

There's a saying in life that that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. I'm curious what everyone thinks has been the weakest link in GT's chain during CPJ's time here. I'd also like to know why you feel this way. I don't mean just this year, I don't mean when we had the 07 class, I mean over the entire 5 years, what's the one thing that's stuck out to you more then anything else? Is it the offense or defense? Is it a particular position or group of positions? I also want to avoid vague generalizations like we need to recruit better. Obviously that's the case until we start reeling in top ten classes. I also would prefer people leaving out the argument that our stats are padded or made to look worse because of playing lower tier teams or highly ranked teams. Lets face it with the exception of a handful of schools everyone pads there schedule with patsies. And don't tell me that it's different when we do it because we don't play in the mighty SEC. I'd also like to avoid blaming PJ because it's a given that he's been our coach and will be for one more year possibly two no matter how good/bad we may be the next couple years, i.e. just saying PJ is in over his head, he's mean to the press, etc...So what have you what's been our biggest weakness?

Originally Posted by Jeagt

There's a saying in life that that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. I'm curious what everyone thinks has been the weakest link in GT's chain during CPJ's time here. I'd also like to know why you feel this way. I don't mean just this year, I don't mean when we had the 07 class, I mean over the entire 5 years, what's the one thing that's stuck out to you more then anything else? Is it the offense or defense? Is it a particular position or group of positions? I also want to avoid vague generalizations like we need to recruit better. Obviously that's the case until we start reeling in top ten classes. I also would prefer people leaving out the argument that our stats are padded or made to look worse because of playing lower tier teams or highly ranked teams. Lets face it with the exception of a handful of schools everyone pads there schedule with patsies. And don't tell me that it's different when we do it because we don't play in the mighty SEC. I'd also like to avoid blaming PJ because it's a given that he's been our coach and will be for one more year possibly two no matter how good/bad we may be the next couple years, i.e. just saying PJ is in over his head, he's mean to the press, etc...So what have you what's been our biggest weakness?

Is there anything left? Seems like you just want a very specific answer. Why not just post it, instead of posting a farcical question?

Sure, here's an example...My personal belief is that's it's been defensive coaching in general, and not just the d coordinator. I mean we started with Wommack, but he didn't get the chance to bring in any of his guys, nor did he have any semblance of a scheme. Next in comes Groh, after we brought in some new position guys from loosing Brian Jean Marie and Giff Smith I believe. Again Groh didn't get to bring in his guys. Through all that time our D has not been good however at different times we've had what should've been a really good line, good linebackers, and a good secondary, just seems never at the same time. Is there more to a coordinator not getting to bring in his own guys? Or is this sort of thing more common then I think? Honestly if you really want to just say PJ just sucks and he's our weakest link go for it!

Originally Posted by Jeagt

Sure, here's an example...My personal belief is that's it's been defensive coaching in general, and not just the d coordinator. I mean we started with Wommack, but he didn't get the chance to bring in any of his guys, nor did he have any semblance of a scheme. Next in comes Groh, after we brought in some new position guys from loosing Brian Jean Marie and Giff Smith I believe. Again Groh didn't get to bring in his guys. Through all that time our D has not been good however at different times we've had what should've been a really good line, good linebackers, and a good secondary, just seems never at the same time. Is there more to a coordinator not getting to bring in his own guys? Or is this sort of thing more common then I think? Honestly if you really want to just say PJ just sucks and he's our weakest link go for it!

This was what your post was going for from the start and it was obvious. I'd rather you just posted this than ask a rhetorical question and force the answers to confirm to your elucidated criteria. And yes, I agree with it.

Originally Posted by yellojello

Is there anything left? Seems like you just want a very specific answer. Why not just post it, instead of posting a farcical question?

Johnson is "mean to the press"? Where the hell is Jim Mora when we need him? He is "mean"? The press, in my considerable experience, is made up of big boys and girls and can take care of themselves. Them what can't don't last long. Boo hoo. Anybody who caves to a football coach needs to find a legitimate line of work. Good grief. If that is his only sin, give him a lifetime contract. While I have never had any personal contact with him nothing I have read or seen indicates he does not deal with the media. Maybe not always to their liking, but he doesn't run and hide. Ask a question, get an answer. Don't like the answer? Too bad. This board does a lot more howling about his PR skills than any of the media ever did.

It is and continues to be the DL until proven otherwise.

Originally Posted by That Guy

It is and continues to be the DL until proven otherwise.

So even when we had D Richard, D Morgan, etc...the d line was our weakest link?

The kicking game? Although it is much improved here lately.

If not that, catching passes. If we had three yards for every catchable pass that was dropped, we'd have a lot more wins.

The DL was above average in 2008, about average in 2009 (Derrick Morgan saving the rest), and below average since. IMHO there have been two glaring weaknesses over the majority, if not all, of CPJ's tenure: repeated blown assignments on defense coupled with poor tackling, and unreliable special teams play resulting in points left off the board and bad field position.

I hope that is concise enough for the purpose of this thread.