BTN at Cats practice
- Thread starter Catnap22
- Start date
Does anyone know if they'll be discussing their report from practice on the B1G Show at 6pm ET?
Yes is the answer if anyone wants to find it on the DVR. Tonight's broadcast is about camp trips to NU and Wisconsin. I believe they are replaying the same one at 7:30pm ET.
Not sure that it can be all that insightful…maybe ever. Doesn’t help that it’s one of the first stops and it’s only been a week of camp so far.
I didn't think it was that bad. I got about what I expected out of it. I didn't watch the clip above to see if it was the same as the broadcast, but my notes were:
- Dinardo thinks Hilinski and Hunter are roughly even, Marty is further back in 3rd. Not surprising to any of us I think. Said that Hunter is a more mobile QB, and depending on desired scheme one could favor him (more QB movement) or Hilinski. I found it interesting that he thought Fitz might play both against MSU - the impression I've gotten is Fitz wants one lead QB (reference his comment at media days about 2019 "they say if you have 2 QBs, you have none; well that year we had 5, so... you do the math". So we'll see.
- Said there were more deep balls in practice than they've seen in years past. And a focus on explosive plays (which, granted, they said the same thing last year and it didn't exactly happen). Will be interesting to see if we stretch downfield this year - Ramsey was great for us last year, but think both of Hilinski and Hunter have more capability to do that than Peyton did.
- Re the D, Fitz was asked about DC transition and while he said there will be some subtle changes and that O'Neil's leadership style is different from Hank's (implied more energetic which makes sense), Fitz emphasized that D scheme will be "more similar than different" and that "Hank's fingerprints will still be all over the D, at least while I'm here". I wouldn't describe that as shocking, but that was more explicit than I'd heard him say that before.
- Analysts said the secondary looked quite good and that Cam Mitchell in particular stood out. There was also a brief interview with BJo where he talked about the Sky Team mentality that "every ball in the air deserves to be mine" etc etc.
- Commented that there was a constant focus on stripping the ball after the play, and that on one fumble the offense actually stripped it back. I'm assuming this isn't much different than any other year (and almost makes me concerned about our O players' ball security), but it's a data point on actively seeking turnovers.
- Lastly they gave the usual thing with comments on how the practice was very "lively and spirited". Take that for what it's worth.
- Watching the Wiscy parts was interesting too - didn't realize they kind of have a hole at RB this year. They are split between a bunch of different guys, Jalen Berger, a transfer, a couple young guys, etc. Given how good their OL is it may not matter and someone will probably emerge, but most of the options looked like smaller scatbacks on the brief tape they showed, Porter might be better than them all. Interesting to me as that's not usually an area they are lacking for a go-to bellcow.
- Wiscy D is probably going to be quite good as usual.
So while it's not exactly deep blinding insight, I thought it was worthwhile to watch.
(Also fun was catching the last 20 mins of the NU Mich 1995 game and remembering that. Our defense was so good that year, we totally shut down Brian Griese in the 2H. Rodney Ray and Eric Collier were seemingly all over every pass. Also the Bates double pass was sweet to set up the winning score to Hartl.)
I think he admires NU but resents the success Fitz has had in turning around NU given that he was not able to accomplish the same at Indiana.
DiNardo’s animosity goes back to the Barnett days. Lots of negative recruiting when he was at Vanderbilt. Lots of ties to the Barnett staff as many were together at Colorado. As they kids today like to say “no love lost”.
Gerry was a very successful coach for a long time. I never sensed any “jealously” or a animosity towards the program from G
Gerry is not a Pom Pom waver. He tells it like it is. One of the best in the country at analyzing football.
I agree his insights are usually pretty interesting but when you compare his NU comments to those he makes for other teams, I think there is definitely a negative NU bias.
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On BTN, I have never seen him give the Cats the benefit of much doubt, let alone compliment the Cats’ play. He’s clearly not a fan. I think he exhibits some bias against the Cats.
Again. Gerry is a high level football mind who has reached incredible heights in this game. He doesn’t water things down for the average fan. He calls it like he sees it.
Room for disagreement about any bias vs NU. As an "average fan," I have felt there's been some amount of that.
However, his coaching record is less ambiguous. Lifetime 59-77-1. That's not "very successful" by any measure.
I am not sure about the bias, but I do know he has been very cordial to me when I just shot the sh&$ with him. Very welcoming.
Gerry is the smartest guy in the room!
Having been in that position more than a few times, I know how tough it is. I am sure Gerry does his best.
/s
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The only time he had generally positive things to say about NUFB was when his nephew played for us. I recall that he even showed up to NU fundraising events.
As soon as that ended, Gerry reverted to his negative mean against NU. Haters gonna hate. Let’s win the West to prove him wrong yet again.
Yes, and he had a losing record at Vanderbilt (19-25) and an abysmal record at IU (8-27). I think there's a fair amount of envy in play when Gerry talks about NU.
I didn't think his nephew's presence made him any more congenial toward NU. I remember thinking his negativity then was compensating so as not to seem prejudiced. There is something going on where even though he was probably a great coach he couldn't turn those programs around and NU has turned around.
Anyone know if he was ever in the conversation to coach at NU over the years and got passed over?
Gerry is a great guy. He’d take his shirt off his back and give it to you if needed. I know he and Fitz are good friends through Barnett. Gerry was a great mentor to Fitz early on. There certainly isn’t any NU bias from Gerry.
Like I said-Gerry is a really smart football mind. His analysis is sometimes a little too advanced for the average fan to interpret.
I know, I always call for the "touchdown play" and the average enthusiast just doesn't get it. In all seriousness I remeber a game back when he was the coach of IU and I was shocked at how ridiculous his end of game strategy was. Those decisions cost his team the game, but I will take it. Football knowledge and coaching football are two different skills, and his record shows he was not a great coach.
Gerry reached the height of his profession coaching three major programs. He now is the lead analyst for BTN.
Yes he’s a great coach and he’s been very successful. I have 1/10th of the success that Gerry had in live I’d be doing pretty good.
“Without data, you're just another person with an opinion.” He got fired from all but Vanderbilt, i humbly disagree with you on his coaching acumen based on the data.
I like that he’s willing to say something critical based on actual knowledge. So much commentary about NU is either totally uninformed (fighting Rece Davises), blindly worshipful of Fitz, or damning with faint praise because we’re supposed to have the nerds. I thought Joshua Perry’s surprise that NU players talk trash in practice fell into the last category. At least Gerry attempts something substantive.
Gerry led three major programs with the upmost class and decorum. No regrets on his part. He doesn’t need your accolades.