After Coach Hart's retirement there was a divide of the Ashland fans for/against the hiring of Coach Love. After Ashland's disappointing start and some questionable coaching strategies it would appear the group of "against" is growing and the group of "for" is quiet.

 

Why is Baker not touching the ball 30 times a game?

Prior to his injury in the Russell Game, why is Long not being utilized more?

Is Love over his head as Head Coach?

 

Game 1: Ashland vs. NCC - cancelled due to the "Great Rain"

Game 2: Ashland vs. Raceland - A six point Ashland win, but after allowing a monumental comeback by Raceland that could have spelled catastrophe for Ashland.

Game 3: Ashland vs. George Washington (WV) - a one point loss by Ashland that many attribute to Ashland going for two instead of utilizing their adequate kicker. Then Ashland kicked off with less then one minute to go, deep, to GW's star player who returned the kick for the winning touchdown.

Game 4: Ashland vs. Russell - Overtime loss to a down Russell team that was heavy underdogs. Ashland's first loss to Russell since 2007.

 

Upcoming:

Game 5: Ashland at Ironton (OH) - Ironton beat Russell by 27 points and Ashland has a very poor history of beating Ironton at Ironton.

Game 6: Ashland vs. Rowan County

Game 7: Ashland vs. Boyd County

Game 8: Ashland vs. Sheldon Clark

Game 9: Ashland at Greenup County - If Ashland loses any of these they are in very bad trouble.

Game 10: Ashland at Johnson Central - for the District Championship.

Like I said, "the 'for' is quiet.

 

I thought LRCW might have something to say.............

Hello everyone...this is my first post but I've lurked on these forums for years. Love the site.

 

I really hate for my first post to be on this topic but I can't help myself. I'm becoming disgruntled & need to vent. I don't wanna say Love is in over his head but it sure looks like he is.

 

I've been asking the same questions about his decision-making. IMO, the problem is not only Baker's number of touches but also WHEN he gets them. Play-calling is extremely predictable & unimaginative. And, as for tonight, Jake Long was injured after 3 carries & didn't return. But, unless he's in the doghouse, how does he only get 6 carries a game? I don't get it.

 

And, while the XP fiasco last week was bad, his poor clock management at the end of the 1st half last night was not to be outdone. That episode cost them the game as much as anything else. I don't like seeing anyone lose a job & hope it doesn't end that way. I really hope he gets all the kinks worked out & this is the last time the subject comes up. But, the last 2 weeks are troubling & people are getting restless. And, it won't get any easier next week.

Thanks for your thoughts and welcome to BGP Tomcat91.

 

The points you bring up seem to be common complaints the last few weeks, it seems that many are saying the same things.

 

My main questions are: 1. Why is Baker not getting more touches, and 2. prior to his injury, why was Long not getting more touches.

 

Prince is a good athlete, but when you have players the caliber of Long and Baker you have to use them more and use Prince as a change up. Every team Ashland plays should know Baker and Long are getting the ball, then throw Prince in on occasion to catch them off guard.

I would say that having co-offensive coordinators has something to do with the dysfunction of the offense.

I would say that having co-offensive coordinators has something to do with the dysfunction of the offense.

Valid point and quite possible.

Baker had 29 touches. Just want to make sure I understand, people want to offense to be less predictable yet they want the same kid to carry it every single time.

Thanks for your thoughts and welcome to BGP Tomcat91.

 

The points you bring up seem to be common complaints the last few weeks, it seems that many are saying the same things.

 

My main questions are: 1. Why is Baker not getting more touches, and 2. prior to his injury, why was Long not getting more touches.

Prince is a good athlete, but when you have players the caliber of Long and Baker you have to use them more and use Prince as a change up. Every team Ashland plays should know Baker and Long are getting the ball, then throw Prince in on occasion to catch them off guard.

 

I was told by a family member of Longs that the reason he left Ironton was because the Tigers wasn't using him properly. Looks like Ashland is using him even less, at least he got his touches at Ironton. I guess he should have know with Ashland having Baker he wasn't going to get the ball as much.

Baker had 29 touches. Just want to make sure I understand, people want to offense to be less predictable yet they want the same kid to carry it every single time.

Baker is 65 carries in three games, so let's call that 22 per game. He is a D1 caliber running back he should be getting 250 yards or 30 carries a game, which ever comes first. Long and Prince should be the change up guys for Baker.

 

Baker vs. Raceland - 18 carries for 188 (with two carries around 50 yards each)

Baker vs. George Washington - 21 carries for 179

Baker vs. Russell - 26 carries for 147 (26 is the official stats with the other running back out of the game after three plays and a game that was extended by OT)

I'm not sure what is going on, but with two potential d1 backs on the same team, it seems obvious that they need the ball one way or another. That said, teams are going to key on them, but with their speed and decent play calling that's not a problem. Play calling has been atrocious, imo.

I would say that having co-offensive coordinators has something to do with the dysfunction of the offense.

 

 

I THINK you may be right first fix that area because no matter what you want your head coaching changes to be last.

Unless things change Love will have Ashland at Greenup Co.'s level in 2 years. It all started before he even coached one game when they canceled the contract with Belfry, and scheduled Sheldon Clark instead. How do you expect to build a program by scheduling weaker teams. Then they run off their long time middle school coach who had been very successful, and had done a great job of preparing the kids for the next level. In my opinion things just keep getting worse for Tomcat football.

Ironton and Johnson Central will be tough outs for the Tomcats.

I think Coach Love knows football. Right now he has problems that he should control and he isnt. There are people posting on social media that he should handle, there are people around the players on the sideline that should be in the stands, there are decisions that he isnt making or when he has input, he is getting over run, and he is losing his players confidence.

 

I watched the Russell head coach take the play card away from a coach after the second of two straight delay of game penalties. To him that was not acceptable. Would that have happened on Ashland's sideline? Experience tells me that kids will play and fight for a guy they trust, that has their back. I dont see that out of Ashland players.

 

I know that if two plays are different Ashland is 3-0. In reality they are just as close to 0-3. If 3-0 a lot of the issues would be masked. They are not 3-0 and the weaknesses have surfaced. Every threat presents an opportunity. It will be interesting to see if the opportinity is capitalized on.

When you parents publicly turn on the coach on message boards, in the stands, in the community during the week and especially at home in front of your kids YOU are contributing to the problem and beginning a self fulfilling prophecy.