I rarely do this but the amount of vitriol directed here is enough that I have to go direct. I don’t mind people disagreeing. I like it. I don’t think of myself as infallible. I do, however, try to keep things from getting personal. “Firewalt” is pushing things. He seems to be channeling some Mark Madden shock-jock thing trying to get people all riled up. Taking the same approach — changing the subject from the defenses problems to bandwagons, Walt Harris support, the offense, Kordell Stewart?, and anything else just to make it seem like he knows what he is talking about. It’s quite tiresome, and I don’t need it.
This isn’t a message board where you can flame away wildly without any clue. I don’t moderate comments — other then a spam filter that has caught other commentors at times (sorry Steve and Neil). I’m not about to start. I also haven’t banned anyone, though, I have thought about it when someone has gotten a little too close to crossing the line with criticisms of Carl Krauser wholly unrelated to the game.
I don’t like set policies, but here’s a basic thing to follow. Don’t insult the readers and commentors especially because there’s a disagreement. Especially don’t do it by trying to claim a knowledge of their inner-thoughts and dreams. If that is the approach you take in trying to make your case, then I will have to start banning people because that isn’t making an argument. That is just an ad hominem attack to win without having the facts.
So, a few facts, for FW. The only time Walt Harris has ever run a spread offense was for about half a season in 2001. That he thinks the offense under Harris was a spread, well, “I do not think that word means what you think it means,” is being kind.
As for Blades being the leading tackler because the D-line sucks. One does not necessarily follow the other. Even if the D-line didn’t suck, Blades would likely be the leading tackler and among the all-times at Pitt. Likely not by so great a number. Here’s the list of leading tacklers for the country this year. Notice a trend if you look at the position? Blades has played all 4 years, and started for 3. It stands to reason that he would have ended up near the top of the list in all-time tackles with playing this long. Linebackers make more tackles.
It hasn’t mattered what scheme the defense runs. Whether it’s Wannstedt’s or his own choice. The run defense has blown chunks and sucked since 2003. The biggest issue with that, has been the absolute lack of progress on teaching the kids the fundamentals. That has been there with Rhoads for quite some time. That goes directly to the job of the DC. There are these things called archives on the site. It might help to review to see those complaints are nothing new.
Putting the blame for the personnel and try to put the recruiting entirely on the head coach — well, now who’s being naive? Johnny Majors was fired from Tennessee in large part because the Tenn administration recognized who was really bringing in the talent and didn’t want to lose him. What is one of the big reason that assistants get hired by other programs? It has a lot to do with their reputation as recruiters. It is a major part of their job. That the defense has gotten worse the longer Rhoads has been in charge reflects poorly on his skills regardless of whether it’s teaching the schemes or the helping to get the personnel.
As for Dorsett and Marino not setting foot on the campus while Harris was here. Huh? Must have missed the 1999 end of Pitt Stadium. Must have forgotten about when Marino was honored in-person for his HoF inductions. Just to name a couple times off the top of my head. Again, arguments that are not even germane to the discussion of Rhoads and whether he should stay or go. It isn’t even an issue with Wannstedt’s role in the defense.
Again check archives for the just for the past couple of months regarding complaints about Wannstedt’s inflexibility. Wannstedt deserves and takes blame for that. Despite pretending otherwise, Wannstedt is not being absolved.
That’s it. Keep the arguments on point and not personal.
Happy Thanksgiving.
