[Row80Critic]

Even the great Nick Saban complains about execution sometimes…

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2020/...issue.html

Specifically, here he is defending the play-calling.

I honestly don’t get why a coach shouldn’t point to poor execution when it happens.  Honestly, does anyone here think that the offensive line executed its blocking assignments well, or that the defense executed well against the run, or that, aside from our punter and maybe our passing game, that any aspect of that game was well executed (and even the passing game left a lot to be desired in terms of pass protection).  And I don’t think that point out the obvious in any way absolves the coaches of their responsibility.  Shaw has been here for 10+ years.  All the recruits on the team are his.  All the coaches were hired by him.  He runs every practice.  He’s responsible for getting them ready to perform on game day.  If the players are not executing, the buck stops with the coach.  Shaw should have recruited harder three and four years ago.  He should have hired coaches who are more effective teaching the players technique.  He should have run practices more efficiently.  Whatever it is, I think it is a bigger indictment of the coaching staff to say that we are executing poorly than to say our play-calling was deficient.  Play calling is fixable. I mean, any one of the armchair quarterbacks posting on this board could do it, right.  Recruiting, practicing, and performing on game day is not as easily fixable, and it takes years to turn a team around.

BC

The 'we didn't execute' thing just gets tiring to hear and -- at least to me -- sounds a lot like "if the players just did what I told them to do, we would have won."  He's right, if everyone makes every block; every tackle; every catch; every pass; every kick; no turnovers; no penalties, etc., then sure the team will win.  But that's more of a tautology than reason for the loss.  Might as well blame the loss on the players not outscoring the other team.  Reminds me of an old softball coach who would literally scream "why'd you pop-out!!! I TOLD you to get a base hit!!!"  All I can hope is that Shaw doesn't mean it that way, and that he hasn't convinced himself that all is well with the program if these kids would just do what he tells them to do.

[Row80Critic]

Even the great Nick Saban complains about execution sometimes…

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2020/...issue.html

Specifically, here he is defending the play-calling.

I honestly don’t get why a coach shouldn’t point to poor execution when it happens.  Honestly, does anyone here think that the offensive line executed its blocking assignments well, or that the defense executed well against the run, or that, aside from our punter and maybe our passing game, that any aspect of that game was well executed (and even the passing game left a lot to be desired in terms of pass protection).  And I don’t think that point out the obvious in any way absolves the coaches of their responsibility.  Shaw has been here for 10+ years.  All the recruits on the team are his.  All the coaches were hired by him.  He runs every practice.  He’s responsible for getting them ready to perform on game day.  If the players are not executing, the buck stops with the coach.  Shaw should have recruited harder three and four years ago.  He should have hired coaches who are more effective teaching the players technique.  He should have run practices more efficiently.  Whatever it is, I think it is a bigger indictment of the coaching staff to say that we are executing poorly than to say our play-calling was deficient.  Play calling is fixable. I mean, any one of the armchair quarterbacks posting on this board could do it, right.  Recruiting, practicing, and performing on game day is not as easily fixable, and it takes years to turn a team around.

BC

The 'we didn't execute' thing just gets tiring to hear and -- at least to me -- sounds a lot like "if the players just did what I told them to do, we would have won."  He's right, if everyone makes every block; every tackle; every catch; every pass; every kick; no turnovers; no penalties, etc., then sure the team will win.  But that's more of a tautology than reason for the loss.  Might as well blame the loss on the players not outscoring the other team.  Reminds me of an old softball coach who would literally scream "why'd you pop-out!!! I TOLD you to get a base hit!!!"  All I can hope is that Shaw doesn't mean it that way, and that he hasn't convinced himself that all is well with the program if these kids would just do what he tells them to do.