Really impressed with Kugler

[Minerforlife]

Im really impressed by how Kugler has brought along this team. The first half of the season was a disaster no one saw coming. Four losses where the average margin of defeat was 35 points. The culmination of the first half of the season was the loss to fiu in which we played what I think was the worst half of football in the last twenty years. It looked like after that FIU game that the wheels were coming off. There was nothing but negativity around the program and the negativity had two weeks to ruminate.

It takes a leader to hold 18-22 year old kids together through serious adversity. This team could have easily packed it in but they believe in Kugler and they play hard for him. Kugler has done a great job of getting the team to ignore the outside noise. He has a chance to get to a bowl game which would be an amazing accomplishment considering where this season stood four weeks ago. We've been accustomed to UTEP teams folding up in November. That seems to have changed under Kugler, his teams finish strong.

 

[UTEPDefense]

I tried to slightly defend Kugler on 2 Message Boards this past week and got attacked on both boards. The fact is that Sean Kugler's formlua for late season football appears to be working. As comparison Mike Price style of football only won 13 late season games after Oct. 24 during his 9 years here. Sean Kugler has already won 7 games after October 24 during only 2 1/2 years(and he still has 3 games remaining this year).

When the UTEP offense went out last night in a tied game, with only 8 minutes remaining, I felt good knowing that Sean Kugler football was built exactly for that exact situation and what happened? A game winning, time consuming, run it down your throat drive that used all of Rice's Time-Outs and used up almost the entire clock. Sean Kugler seems to have the perfect style for fixing our late season November Football problems and the results over the past 1 1/2 years appear to be speaking for themselves.

 

[unihorn]

Last night was a really nice win, but let's see how this team finishes the season before proclaiming Kugler to be our savior.

 

[nattybry]

Beat ODU and N. TEXAS that will be huge. 6-6 will feel like 9-3 from where this season started and the major injuries we've suffered.

 

[artistarts28]

I'm a big fan of Kugler and his style of power football, something that really doesn't exist anymore. I'm probably in the minority in this style but it's just so old school and works good in the conference because of the fact teams just run the spread and UTEP is trying to run it down your throat. Is it perfect? Of course not but in just three years Kugler has UTEP moving in a positive direction with a possibility at another bowl game which is outstanding for UTEP. I just hope fans start supporting Kugler more because if fans continue to not show up UTEP will lose a good coach

GO MINERS!

 

[shyminer81]

I too am happy to see things going forward... Nice to see a bowl game still within reach.

 

[Firstdowndash]

I'm concerned with the blowouts and the injuries with Kugler. His recruiting is also a big concern, he seems to be recruiting way too many ELP kids because he has yet to make inroads in the key parts of Texas.

 

[UTEPDefense]

His recruiting is also a big concern, he seems to be recruiting way too many ELP kids because he has yet to make inroads in the key parts of Texas.

I had some similar thoughts at first. In fact, it looks like Kugler is going to give almost 1/3rd of his available scholarships next year to EP kids. But it appears to be working for him. Warren Redix looked like a D1 reach coming out of High School, he had no other D1 offers, his HUDL highlight video was not overly impressive and his size was not great, but he is turning into a great looking Freshman. Alvin Jones had only one D1 scholarship offer, he also looked like a reach coming out of high school, but now there is no denying that he is a good D1 LB as only a Sophomore. Aaron Jones could have even been considered a D1 reach coming out of High School as well(with only a couple of D1 offers and UNM even standing him up for an in-house visit).
I believe with Sinegal now confirmed to be eligible beginning with Spring Ball, that every single El Paso kid that Kugler had signed is still in the Program. Most of these EP kids are GrayShirting as well(Long, Redix, Barnwell, Metz), which really helps to build a Program for the long term.
I guess that seeing guys like Jones, Jones, Elmendorff and Redix produce as only Freshmen and Sophomores makes me feel more comfortable that Kugler and his Staff have solid evaluation skills when they are signing these under recruited EP kids.

 

[artistarts28]

The perception that you can't build with El Paso players is so off base. You got to take Ft Bliss into consideration as part of El Paso. Ft Bliss has grown so much in the past decade that it's one of the largest military bases in the country. Where UTEP is at in the national level or state level it seems smart to build with local kids and if UTEP can ever win at a consistent basis you could start recruiting more east Texas.

 

[Voice of the Mosquito]

I agree 100% with the first post and some evidence (1) This year the miners have suffered through abnormal amount of injury, although backup's play is inconsistent at first they improve each game. The secondary looked bad early on but last night their play was way improved. I could say the same for the o and d lines as well. (2) Kugler's teams never play in panic mode, which as a fan makes me mad at times, but as a coach and as a team you can't just play for the moment you have to play for the season. A loss always looks bad and you can't risk everything to make it look "less bad". Kugler's teams will never get style point's with me, but after watching 40+ years of UTEP football (some of which was really, really bad) give me solid over style everyday. Last night was a "solid" win and as a UTEP fan I will take that anytime. As for recruiting EP kids, hell if they can play fantastic, if they can't still fantastic. Most all the "locals" go to class, stay in EP after graduation and bring the support of entire family to a game. What is wrong with that? And EP has always been under recruited, while the rest of the state is way over recruited. Something else about EP kids, they are playing for their home, in front of family, friends and the school they choose and which choose them, I think they might have a little bit more to play for than a JUCO star from CALI or a kid from DFW or Houston.

 

[Firstdowndash]

There is nothing wrong with recruiting ELP kids that can play, that's great--defend your home turf. I also understand that Kugler came from the NFL and did not have many connections in the recruiting game so he decided to hit the ELP schools hard. Again, that's great if they can play but let's not lose sight of the rest of Texas, of California, and of the JUCO's.

I'm all for ELP kids, so as long as they can play at a high level and aren't just scholarship fillers.

 

[Firstdowndash]

One more thought, I think UTEP also needs to recruit kids from the north, from the colder climate states. Sell the weather. I remember when I was in school I had a couple of good friends on the track team, to which I would ask--"So what brought you to UTEP?"

Their answer: "The weather, we are tired of the cold."

 

[Tribalwarriorx]

The UTEP win over Rice, based on history wasn't expected, but I'm glad they got it. Great confidence win.

What you'll notice is they were generally more balanced offensively. That's the key going forward. Again, I don't think anyone here dislikes Kugler. I know I don't. But if he and his crew can keep that type of run/pass balance going forward, they have a great shot at running the table and becoming bowl eligible.

However, getting to a bowl doesn't mean he can cancel that top down review at the end of the season. He's an ex-NFL guy, so I'm sure he will.

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

Kugler has said lately that he needs to review the fall camp process. Too much hitting in camp really hurt this year with all the injuries. Sometimes you hear coaches say they started the year poorly because they didn't hit enough during camp. Fine line I guess.

Kugler has said about his recruiting that he pays no attention to the rating services because they know the kind of recruits they want and they get them. Of course you say those things when your recruiting class is ranked really low but maybe he is on to something.

He has also said he wants to get the offense to a point where it's balanced which makes sense. Seems to have reached that in 2 of the last 3 games.

If next year's team is healthy, they should be very good against G5 level teams. The offense returns Jones, Leftwich, 4 out of 5 on the OLine, TE, FB and 2 solid receivers plus Oldham and Juniel. Defense loses some key players but a lot of young players got experience this year.

 

[Voice of the Mosquito]

Brian Young, Menson Holloway and Kevin Smith all made it to the NFL, with different degrees of success all local and 2/3 were walk - ones and none of them highly recruited, just like the Jones brothers. There are more local kids that can play than is evident, some will take a few years to get there but that's not really different than kids from DFW or anywhere else. The level completion UTEP plays, our conference and isolated location really dictates who we CAN recruit not always what we want to recruit. We have to take chances on kids sometimes. I just think that some of those chances are better bets when they are local. And if they don't pay off, they still could add benefit to the program by graduation, bringing family and friends to support the team, and most importantly, many UTEP grads stay here and become coaches, members of the community etc. They may be roster fillers today but might become the head coach at Franklin, Burges or EHS one day, and spot a kid who can play or steer a good one in our direction. Could a kid from CALI do this, sure they could, or they also can graduate and disappear, never to return to this place or even mention they played here, I don't see a local getting away with that. The rest of the football schools in this state have been networking for years and UTEP is behind the curve, somewhat. (downside of being isolated, changing coaches often, losing teams and playing in a small conference) UTEP is going to have to look in places for players that others don't and develop it's own network and EP is THE starting place because it's wide open right now. Kugler knows this and he seems to be acting on it as well, he offers HS kids and coaches invites to games, visits HS on a weekly basis. He also seemed a little pissed that we played last Friday night because, Fridays are really about HS football.

 

[utep2step]

Beat ODU and N. TEXAS that will be huge. 6-6 will feel like 9-3 from where this season started and the major injuries we've suffered.

Interesting and creative way of stating that. I agree. However, while I am glad to see UTEP win, I will come out and say it, I really don't think he has plans to make UTEP a dominating force in CUSA, much less within the State of Texas FBS mid majors. If the all run first was so great, why isn't Georgia Tech winning the ACC every or at least competing for it? However, I think he has seen the light for a strong passing game to offset the run. So with that, I think UTEP can move forward and be Western Division contenders year after year. Yes, there will be bad years. You only have college players, after full implementation and conditioned to the coaches style of game, for three years...tops. UTEP is only going to get an Aaron Jones maybe once every twenty or so years that can play rb right out of high school. Who was the last great rb that came to UTEP ready to go right out of high school? John Harvey? Torraino Singleton? That was over twenty years ago!

 

[Tribalwarriorx]

Kugler has said lately that he needs to review the fall camp process. Too much hitting in camp really hurt this year with all the injuries. Sometimes you hear coaches say they started the year poorly because they didn't hit enough during camp. Fine line I guess.

Kugler has said about his recruiting that he pays no attention to the rating services because they know the kind of recruits they want and they get them. Of course you say those things when your recruiting class is ranked really low but maybe he is on to something.

He has also said he wants to get the offense to a point where it's balanced which makes sense. Seems to have reached that in 2 of the last 3 games.

If next year's team is healthy, they should be very good against G5 level teams. The offense returns Jones, Leftwich, 4 out of 5 on the OLine, TE, FB and 2 solid receivers plus Oldham and Juniel. Defense loses some key players but a lot of young players got experience this year.

Totally agree on each point.

He should review the fall camp process. Probably remind his players that taking cheap shots on teammates, being too physical when they're not supposed to be, etc. isn't being smart and isn't helpful to having a successful camp or a season.

I agree with Kugler not paying attention to the rating services. I'd give them little more than a wink and a nod myself. Although they occasionally hit a home run, they're batting average overall is really low. A few years ago SI (I think) did a piece on where and what happened to all the 5 and 4 stars players. The vast - and I mean by a long shot - majority didn't pan out in college or stopped playing all together. What they found were the 0-2 and some 3 star rated players were more successful. Point being if you know what type of player you're looking for, you focus on that. Reviews by people who neither played the game or the position are nice, but your eyes, be it live or on film are the real judge. I have no problem with Kugs using that approach. Why the consistently low rated classes? That to me is more of an indictment to how the school promotes and invests in the program. Of course winning helps.

We've all - well some of us - have noted the offense needs more balance and I'm glad to finally see it moving that direction. But it's one thing to do it as a matter of philosophy, it's another to do it because you have to. I think to a fault Kugs and his OC were too dependent on Jones. Coaches can get narrowly focused on one player, but that works against them in the long run. Rule of thumb, if you don't have confidence in the kids you recruit to be play makers, then why recruit them? Gotta trust them and develop them.

Next year they should be a lot better, just as long as they don't fall into a case of dependency.

 

[Voice of the Mosquito]

At the rate were going he better recruit about 10 running backs for next year.

 

[Epsilon00]

No coaches pay attention to the player rating services.

 

[Minerforlife]

Interesting and creative way of stating that. I agree. However, while I am glad to see UTEP win, I will come out and say it, I really don't think he has plans to make UTEP a dominating force in CUSA, much less within the State of Texas FBS mid majors. If the all run first was so great, why isn't Georgia Tech winning the ACC every or at least competing for it? However, I think he has seen the light for a strong passing game to offset the run. So with that, I think UTEP can move forward and be Western Division contenders year after year. Yes, there will be bad years. You only have college players, after full implementation and conditioned to the coaches style of game, for three years...tops. UTEP is only going to get an Aaron Jones maybe once every twenty or so years that can play rb right out of high school. Who was the last great rb that came to UTEP ready to go right out of high school? John Harvey? Torraino Singleton? That was over twenty years ago!

Georgia Tech won the ACC coastal division last year, they lost by a touchdown to FSU in the championship game. They won the Orange Bowl and 11 games. In Paul johnson's seven seasons hes won the ACC once and won the ACC coastal division three times.

 

[utep2step]

Ok. I stand corrected. I bow to the facts.

 

[utep2step]

Whose side you on anyways? Just kidding....

 

[Minerforlife]

Ok. I stand corrected. I bow to the facts.

I think alot of people are confused about the prostyle offense. We basically run the same offense as Alabama. We use alot of the same formations and route combinations. They have the run pass balance Kugler wants.

 

[Tribalwarriorx]

No coaches pay attention to the player rating services.

You'd be surprised how many actually do and build their recruiting position list off of it.