I think a lot of suspected that Robinson being hired as a "consultant" may have been a back-up plan in case year three under Manny imploded. I don't know he'll do, but I know we have better talent than almost 700 yards given up. My suspicion is that we won't be giving up record-setting numbers the rest of the year - sad that this is now our bench-mark, but at this point what else are you going to do? Those calling for Mack to step down are delusional. It's not an option, and at this point it's about making the best out of a bad situation - and who knows, maybe even salvaging the rest of the season. Anyway, I'm not gonna let this season make me crazy. After the last three years, it's just not worth it to live and die with a program when we're still paying for mistakes from two and three years ago that can't be unmade. The OL is what it is because of past classes, and I think we've addressed it with the last class or two, but those guys can't step right in. The lack of playmakers on defense is the same story - I like what we're seeing from some of the young guys but they're not ready to step in yet, either. Bottom line is we're still in detox and it remains to be seen if Mack can pull us out. I doubt it. But we're into the season now and I'm not going to keep flogging away at the same stuff that can't be fixed during the season. Beat Ole Miss.
At least, to some degree of relief and satisfaction, for a week we can beat this dead horse once again as it falls down.
I don't believe a bandaid on a serious wound is going to fix what ails the program, but I agree this is not the time to make wholesale changes. Changes that probably should have been made a couple of years ago.
I thought that Mack brought in Robinson so that when we get steamrolled by OU, he would fire Manny as a sacrificial lamb and let Robinson take over.
Prodigal, a few questions Is Robinson a tough MF? Can anyone coming in at this point make a difference? What is he known for on Defense? Is he the kind of guy that prepares well? Is he good at x and o's? I simply can't remember much about what he was like when he was here.
That horrendous, soft performance was a TEAM meltdown. Diaz leaving is the way to go to salvage what we can. You are correct, you can't make wholesale changes during the thick of a season. UT wouldn't shame Mack with that being the last chapter of his time here. And Mack wouldn't quit on himself, the team, or the university during a season. Just won't happen so all that talk is pointless. I figure we will salvage the year to an extent and end a mediocre 8-4. Hopefully Robinson will make personnel changes that most desired long before the meltdown. I can't say it enough, Phillips and Thompson do not need to be on the field ever. They just flat out suck. If a guy can't tackle by now, he just can't tackle and won't ever. Diaz deserved to be fired by continuing to let them start and not rotate people around to replace them. I'll have to re-watch the game to figure out the rest. Could barely pay attention after a while last night.
Greg Robinson will make a huge difference for this team, but it may take a few weeks before things can turn. I have no doubt, we will see dramatic run stopping improvement from our line and linebackers within a few weeks. Manny's schemes were so screwed up guys literally had no idea what was going on. This team has talent, and I think (or likely hope) that Robinson will know how to use the talent. Fortunately, our DB's schemes won't change much when we get into Big 12 play, so I think by OU we will be much improved. Hopefully Ash is not out for too long, b/c I think we can win with him, if only we had a defense.
Again.. Robinson without Tomey = unimpressive. Robinsons D when he left meatchicken was pathetic. .mind you, not quite as pathetic as what we witnessed last night. Yall get ready to be disappointed. Until mack is gone as hc, the' Horns wont ever return to greatness
Robinson is such a great coach that he was unemployed. To me, this move just shows how Mack has no clue what he's doing and has to be replaced.
I am not a defensive coordinator, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Watching the game, I think Mack was correct in the lack of adjustments, when an offense finds something that is successful it is on the defense to make changes and stop it. (Otherwise the offense will just keep running they same type of plays.) It appeared from limited watching we played man to man a lot, which makes it difficult for the DBs to get involved on run support. I think we have lost the safety position because we essentially play a 4 corner defense. We don't have a run stopping safety we can move up on the line for run support. At some point I was expecting the safeties to move up and switch to zone coverage and force the BYU offense to then throw the ball. (Their QB had a few horrendous throws.) It just never happened. Edmond is still easily faked out as well, on the long touchdown run, he had the edge on the QB, but he still went after the running back, who ran into a massive pile, after the RB passed the QB.It is one thing to be faked during the transition, but if the RB is past the QB and doesn't have the football don't run after him. I don't know if sometimes he is not watching the football.
Well at least the last time we lost to OU when Robinson was here the score was only 12-0. That's a definite improvement.
According to Chip "Happiness is a choice" Brown, Greg Robinson gave Mack/Diaz a pre-game scouting report/recommenation that included loading up the box with up to eight players in order to force the BYU quarterback to beat them with his arm. Supposedly (I wasn't paying attention during the game) we ran a 4-2-5 most of the time with an occasional six man front or whatever. If this is true then maybe that's what the argument was about on the sideline between Mack, Diaz and Akina. Is it just a complete lack of sense that plagues the coaching staff?
The only thing I can predict with any degree of confidence is that we won't be any worse with Robinson. It doesn't matter in the long term. Robinson is only an interim, and Mack is already scouting SEC defensive coordinators for his next hire. Don't worry, guys. He'll fix this.
I hope that this creates a spark- but let's not get too exciting. Here is an excerpt from Robinson's bio as it relates to Michigan: Robinson was hired by Michigan on January 20, 2009 as their defensive coordinator, replacing Scott Shafer. In 2009, Michigan ranked 82nd of 120 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision and 9th of 11 teams in the Big Ten in total defense. In 2010, the Wolverines ranked 110th of 120 teams in FBS, and 11th of 11 teams in the Big Ten in total defense. Robinson was fired with head coach Rich Rodriguez and the majority of his staff on January 5, 2011. Oh and- Major Applewhite better not have a bad game lest we resurrect Greg Davis on O. I hear that he is still looking for the perfect job. Like I texted a good friend a couple minutes into the home opener against NMSU: “I bought into this notion that good coaches all of the sudden don’t become stupid, i.e., VT coach Beamer and Mack. But it is time for a change. Complete makeover.” We have bigger issues if coaches can't even get the team excited and executing in front of 100k fans on opening day when they haven't played ball in 9 months!
Regardless of how the Ole Miss game turns out, if the Horns defense at least tries to make adjustments to what they are doing, it will be an improvement.
Robinson will be an improvement over Diaz. Diaz should have been replaced after last year though. There needs to be accountability on defense. If you miss tackles put someone else in plain and simple. This loss hopefully wakes them up for the next game. After listening to the post game interviews I had a feeling Diaz would be gone.
One thing this brings to the forefront is that, through the years, Mack has never hired assistants who could be a threat to him. You could argue that Coach Boom was the exception but that was actually by consent and Mack's idea. What's the best position a Mack assistant has ever received? Iowa State or Syracuse? Just as many have just retired (not to blame them, spending a few years inside UT Athletics is one of the best retirement plans on the planet). Robinson I and II fit this same mold. The HCs are other big programs do not seem to have the same issue. I guess they lack the same job security as Mack and cannot afford to take the same types of chances that he does? Is there another explanation?
