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Recap of why 2 years was not too early

Gold

Well-Known Member
Let's stop the 2 years is too early campaign right now. I see the plot developing, and it's total b.s. The results were not a product of circumstance and situation (i.e., look what Hawk left me), they were a product of poor coaching, decision making, and failed strategy. He has no one to blame but himself. Here's a recap on why exactly Embree deserved to be fired after 2 painful years:



1. Opening the season with a no-huddle offense


LOL doesn't properly express the absurdity of this decision. Before the season started, Embree stated CU has the personnel to finally run it. Then proceeded to display the embarrassment of unprepared, uncoordinated no-huddle Buffs in front of national audiences. Delays of game, problems getting plays in, predicable play calls. Hallmarks of a team improperly trained to run whatever offense is being asked of them. But not only that, we really did not have the talent to execute this, so what was Embree smoking to believe we were capable of it before the season started?




2. Lettting Webb transfer/giving Webb the starting CU QB job


In less than 2 weeks no less! Of all the possible QB's that were on the market in the offseason, whether it's JC transfers, regular transfers, freshmen, or guys on the roster that he recruited to CU, he picked the worst possible quarterback to run a pro style option. In no way whatsoever did Webb have experience running a pro style offense, and I have no idea how they came to the conclusion he would be successful at it. This was just dumb decision making by the coaches.




3. Running the pro-style offense


There's a reason why it's called the pro-style, it's run by professionals! Unless you have the intelligence and athleticism of Stanford players, then don't bother running a pro-style. Again, poor decision making by the coaching staff. Not the administration. Not Bohn, not Benson, not Hawk, etc. This was a failed strategic decision by Embree. Telling us in the offseason you're going to look at the spread does us no good. You made us sit through a season of painful games as the offense was bumbling around left and right.




4. Openly trashing the players talent in the media/not being accountable


One of the reasons I was looking forward to the Hawk era ending had to do with accountability. The dude blamed everyone but the coaching staff. I though Embree was different, but he was exactly the same if not worse. I have never seen a coach get a free pass in the media like Embree did openly trashing the talent level of his team. Mind you, this is the same team he told us is going to a bowl game, and finally ready to start a no-huddle.




5. Exhibiting the least inspiring sideline confidence in the history of coaching


I have never seen a coach openly sulk on the sidelines for extended periods of time like Embree. This was unprecedented behavior by a head coach. I get that he wears his emotions on his sleeve, but the aura of depression he exuded just compounded the problem. Maybe his mind is somewhere else and not sulking, but put on a brave face for once and act like a confident, positive influence. Not a whiny cry baby. As the HC, you're the public spokesperson for the team, brand, program, company, etc. If you are trudging off to the side because you are mad at your team, know that you're not lifting the spirits of the team, the fans, anyone.




6. Not making defensive coaching changes mid-season


If you've seen the thrashing that was 55-0 at halftime of Fresno State, you'd think defensive changes were guaranteed immediately after. Nope. We continued to run the same ragged, ineffective defensive schemes that were getting torched in ways only sports movies can conjure up. The slowness in which Embree responded to dire situation told me 1. he banked on his 3rd year, so riding out the string of embarrassing games was fine by him, and 2. he didn't have an answer on what to do. Here's a hint, keeping Brown as the DC - not the right thing to do.




7. Not teaching these guys to tackle


All of a sudden, the team can't tackle. I have no idea what practice looked like, but this was a seriously disturbing trend that continued throughout the season. Tackling is a fundamental of football, not being able to do it is kind of a mega catastrophe. Either this was Blacken's strength and conditioning effect, or Brown's in ability to coach up this aspect, but this was intolerable. Why they were massively unprepared to tackle on Saturday is on the coaches.




8. Picking inexperienced OC/DC to run your show


Embree hand picked his staff. And he picked 2 coordinators without any prior experience in those positions. How he was able to do this is just absurd. I do partially blame Bohn for this, but ultimately, we were set up for failure by the decisions of the head coach.




9. Riding out the season with Jordan Webb


This was the white flag that made the season so unbearable. If there was ever a sign that said "don't bother watching till next year", it was this. Similar to not making changes, a trademark of the Embree era, but we should have seen Hirchsman starting much earlier. Say, to start the season! The excuses we heard were endless - Webb practices better, can't start a guy on the road, can't start a guy against this team, give me a break! Most of our games were over by the 1st quarter. We were running out the clock in the 2nd quarter! Not making changes lead to the firing, and the stubbornness to keep Webb in there is the prime example of the bunch.




If I were Bohn, I would print this out and read it over and over when making the next coaching decision. This is exactly the kind of inept coaching we have to avoid this time around. The decision to fire Embree is the right one, and I'm relieved it happened. The thought of seeing CU get waxed in the first few games under Embree then have to ride out the 2013 running out the clock in the 2nd quarter is chilling. I am thrilled at the opportunity. Go get the Tad Boyle of CU football. Let's bring in someone who is smart and strategic.
 
Good recap. He was a great Buff, horrible HC.

I'd add "10. Terrible, undisciplined practices". I heard that from multiple sources.
 
AMEN, well said and dead on.

Especially the last part. I am excited today for Colorado Football again. I immediately look forward to next season and I can't wait until we get our new leader. This firing tells all of us that someone still cares like we all do. Someone still bleeds black and gold on saturdays after we get throttled like we all do. Thank you Mike Bohn for pulling the trigger, it had to be done. GO BUFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
It is kindof funny how people rip on Hawkins recruits, and talk about how Embree needed time to bring in his own guys.

And yet at the end of the year, it was a Hawkins guy who was QB'ing the team. Embree and his coaches brought in - what - five QB's?
 
Let's stop the 2 years is too early campaign right now. I see the plot developing, and it's total b.s. The results were not a product of circumstance and situation (i.e., look what Hawk left me), they were a product of poor coaching, decision making, and failed strategy. He has no one to blame but himself. Here's a recap on why exactly Embree deserved to be fired after 2 painful years:



1. Opening the season with a no-huddle offense


LOL doesn't properly express the absurdity of this decision. Before the season started, Embree stated CU has the personnel to finally run it. Then proceeded to display the embarrassment of unprepared, uncoordinated no-huddle Buffs in front of national audiences. Delays of game, problems getting plays in, predicable play calls. Hallmarks of a team improperly trained to run whatever offense is being asked of them. But not only that, we really did not have the talent to execute this, so what was Embree smoking to believe we were capable of it before the season started?




2. Lettting Webb transfer/giving Webb the starting CU QB job


In less than 2 weeks no less! Of all the possible QB's that were on the market in the offseason, whether it's JC transfers, regular transfers, freshmen, or guys on the roster that he recruited to CU, he picked the worst possible quarterback to run a pro style option. In no way whatsoever did Webb have experience running a pro style offense, and I have no idea how they came to the conclusion he would be successful at it. This was just dumb decision making by the coaches.




3. Running the pro-style offense


There's a reason why it's called the pro-style, it's run by professionals! Unless you have the intelligence and athleticism of Stanford players, then don't bother running a pro-style. Again, poor decision making by the coaching staff. Not the administration. Not Bohn, not Benson, not Hawk, etc. This was a failed strategic decision by Embree. Telling us in the offseason you're going to look at the spread does us no good. You made us sit through a season of painful games as the offense was bumbling around left and right.




4. Openly trashing the players talent in the media/not being accountable


One of the reasons I was looking forward to the Hawk era ending had to do with accountability. The dude blamed everyone but the coaching staff. I though Embree was different, but he was exactly the same if not worse. I have never seen a coach get a free pass in the media like Embree did openly trashing the talent level of his team. Mind you, this is the same team he told us is going to a bowl game, and finally ready to start a no-huddle.




5. Exhibiting the least inspiring sideline confidence in the history of coaching


I have never seen a coach openly sulk on the sidelines for extended periods of time like Embree. This was unprecedented behavior by a head coach. I get that he wears his emotions on his sleeve, but the aura of depression he exuded just compounded the problem. Maybe his mind is somewhere else and not sulking, but put on a brave face for once and act like a confident, positive influence. Not a whiny cry baby. As the HC, you're the public spokesperson for the team, brand, program, company, etc. If you are trudging off to the side because you are mad at your team, know that you're not lifting the spirits of the team, the fans, anyone.




6. Not making defensive coaching changes mid-season


If you've seen the thrashing that was 55-0 at halftime of Fresno State, you'd think defensive changes were guaranteed immediately after. Nope. We continued to run the same ragged, ineffective defensive schemes that were getting torched in ways only sports movies can conjure up. The slowness in which Embree responded to dire situation told me 1. he banked on his 3rd year, so riding out the string of embarrassing games was fine by him, and 2. he didn't have an answer on what to do. Here's a hint, keeping Brown as the DC - not the right thing to do.




7. Not teaching these guys to tackle


All of a sudden, the team can't tackle. I have no idea what practice looked like, but this was a seriously disturbing trend that continued throughout the season. Tackling is a fundamental of football, not being able to do it is kind of a mega catastrophe. Either this was Blacken's strength and conditioning effect, or Brown's in ability to coach up this aspect, but this was intolerable. Why they were massively unprepared to tackle on Saturday is on the coaches.




8. Picking inexperienced OC/DC to run your show


Embree hand picked his staff. And he picked 2 coordinators without any prior experience in those positions. How he was able to do this is just absurd. I do partially blame Bohn for this, but ultimately, we were set up for failure by the decisions of the head coach.




9. Riding out the season with Jordan Webb


This was the white flag that made the season so unbearable. If there was ever a sign that said "don't bother watching till next year", it was this. Similar to not making changes, a trademark of the Embree era, but we should have seen Hirchsman starting much earlier. Say, to start the season! The excuses we heard were endless - Webb practices better, can't start a guy on the road, can't start a guy against this team, give me a break! Most of our games were over by the 1st quarter. We were running out the clock in the 2nd quarter! Not making changes lead to the firing, and the stubbornness to keep Webb in there is the prime example of the bunch.




If I were Bohn, I would print this out and read it over and over when making the next coaching decision. This is exactly the kind of inept coaching we have to avoid this time around. The decision to fire Embree is the right one, and I'm relieved it happened. The thought of seeing CU get waxed in the first few games under Embree then have to ride out the 2013 running out the clock in the 2nd quarter is chilling. I am thrilled at the opportunity. Go get the Tad Boyle of CU football. Let's bring in someone who is smart and strategic.

:yeahthat: to the third power! Pride goeth before the fall and stubborness is the most prominent feature of pride.

Just one thing : Add to No. 9 Riding out the season with an injured Jordan Webb. That compounds the stubborness!
 
Here's what is funny on #6...I noticed that Major said they tried to change schemes about four times during the season...and they still were phenomenally awful.
And Embree wanted to change the offensive system next season.
This staff was in over their heads.
 
Question though......If the Buffs had hired a sexy "name" coach that everyone wanted 2 years ago, and posted the exact same results, would that coach still be around for Year 3?

Answer is probably yes
 
Question though......If the Buffs had hired a sexy "name" coach that everyone wanted 2 years ago, and posted the exact same results, would that coach still be around for Year 3?

Answer is probably yes

If there was some historical basis to base the faith upon, probably yes. That is one reason why Hawkins got additional time. There was something in his background to indicate that he knew what he was doing.

There was absolutely nothing in Jon Embree's background or his coaching style to indicate that he had the first clue what he was doing as a head coach.
 
Glad to see some people agree. At first I thought this was beating a dead horse, then looked at Twitter and saw the public support for Embree. People will always gravitate to those who seem to have an injustice done against them. In this case, the injustice was against CU fans for the past 2 years by Embree.

Speaking of the last 2 years, I've noticed this rationale pop-up:

Q. Why was Hawkins given 5 years and Embree just 2?

A. Hawkins showed improvement from years 1 to 2. I hate arguing for Hawk, but he went from the basement to a bowl game in that span. And while year 3 was a drop off by one game, it wasn't until year 4 and 5 that the writing was on the wall about Hawk.

Q. Wasn't Embree's 2nd year similar to Mac's 3rd year?

A. Not at all. First, this isn't how you evaluate coaches. Mix and match games are for toddlers, not head coaching careers. Second, if you're doing mix and match, starting with all the sh!tty years isn't exactly a sign of good things to come. Third, if you must, Mac's 3rd team was far more competitive week in and out than Embree's 2nd.
 
Question though......If the Buffs had hired a sexy "name" coach that everyone wanted 2 years ago, and posted the exact same results, would that coach still be around for Year 3?

Answer is probably yes

No. Nothing is going in a positive direction, and a mediocre recruiting class was getting worse by the minute with defections. If, at the very least, recruiting was solid they would have gotten another year. The train was off the rails.
 
Glad to see some people agree. At first I thought this was beating a dead horse, then looked at Twitter and saw the public support for Embree. People will always gravitate to those who seem to have an injustice done against them. In this case, the injustice was against CU fans for the past 2 years by Embree.

Speaking of the last 2 years, I've noticed this rationale pop-up:

Q. Why was Hawkins given 5 years and Embree just 2?

A. Hawkins showed improvement from years 1 to 2. I hate arguing for Hawk, but he went from the basement to a bowl game in that span. And while year 3 was a drop off by one game, it wasn't until year 4 and 5 that the writing was on the wall about Hawk.

Q. Wasn't Embree's 2nd year similar to Mac's 3rd year?

A. Not at all. First, this isn't how you evaluate coaches. Mix and match games are for toddlers, not head coaching careers. Second, if you're doing mix and match, starting with all the sh!tty years isn't exactly a sign of good things to come. Third, if you must, Mac's 3rd team was far more competitive week in and out than Embree's 2nd.

While the above bolded portion is accurate....it's also a very unfair comparison as the state of the Buff program was not nearly as bad when HaLk took the job as it was when Embree took the job....not even in the same galaxy of badness
 
While the above bolded portion is accurate....it's also a very unfair comparison as the state of the Buff program was not nearly as bad when HaLk took the job as it was when Embree took the job....not even in the same galaxy of badness

It is much easier to take a program from bad to average, than from average to great.
 
While the above bolded portion is accurate....it's also a very unfair comparison as the state of the Buff program was not nearly as bad when HaLk took the job as it was when Embree took the job....not even in the same galaxy of badness

Didn't Hawkins go into his first spring without enough OLs on the roster to conduct a practice?

There was some talent, but that roster he inherited was an absolute mess.
 
Glad to see some people agree. At first I thought this was beating a dead horse, then looked at Twitter and saw the public support for Embree. People will always gravitate to those who seem to have an injustice done against them. In this case, the injustice was against CU fans for the past 2 years by Embree.

Speaking of the last 2 years, I've noticed this rationale pop-up:

Q. Why was Hawkins given 5 years and Embree just 2?

A. Hawkins showed improvement from years 1 to 2. I hate arguing for Hawk, but he went from the basement to a bowl game in that span. And while year 3 was a drop off by one game, it wasn't until year 4 and 5 that the writing was on the wall about Hawk.

Q. Wasn't Embree's 2nd year similar to Mac's 3rd year?

A. Not at all. First, this isn't how you evaluate coaches. Mix and match games are for toddlers, not head coaching careers. Second, if you're doing mix and match, starting with all the sh!tty years isn't exactly a sign of good things to come. Third, if you must, Mac's 3rd team was far more competitive week in and out than Embree's 2nd.

Hawk's buyout was more expensive at a time when the program was seriously hurting for cash. Embree and co's buyout was less at a time when donors are stepping up and we're flush with PAC12 cas.
 
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