Episode 40 - Alex Johnson, App State Podcaster

He said, no, we gotta get better funding. We need workout equipment. He hired a strength coach, like all of these things. He raised the bar and then Sparky Woods, his replacement he ran that program to have some really amazing teams there in the late eighties. Then Coach Moore comes in and he fosters a more of a family oriented, it's about people that was Coach Moore's last coaching stop. He had had some unsuccessful tenures at other places, but he created kind of a family.

It's, it's all about people. That's a famous Coach Moore, coach, Jerry Moore phrase that Coach Satterfield was part of. And so you lay these foundations and you see success at each era that the fans kind of, Carrie, Over generations, but with a high standard. So here comes Coach Satterfield. He was part of that culture. He was part of those Coach Moore staffs and he played for Coach Moore.

He elevated it and, and really and Coach Drinkz probably unfairly got a lot of criticism because he took this really stacked roster, was a bunch of NFL. And went 13 and one, and we were two minutes away from playing in the Cotton Bowl that year. Which was really a heartbreaker. But I think it's the culture that's been built. That isn't to say we don't have down years.

We're having a down year this year, but without that culture and that standard being placed where it is, we don't have this cross. I don't know, across coaching success, we don't have that consistent success.

And from a, from a pure business perspective and like just cause college athletics, as you guys both know, you guys have a college athletics podcast. The economics and the business decisions made and college sports is ridiculous. I mean, it's just absolutely. Bonkers. I'm talking to two guys that are in accounting and, and bookkeeping. I mean, it's just, just stupid. The waste of in, in decision making in college sports.

You, you one can make an argument that a lot of things have happened over the last five years that have. Kind of led to expecting a down year or a flat year or an underperforming year. COVID coaching turnover, not just head coaches, but a lot of our staff, we've had five offensive coordinators in five years are really acne's, a recruited, particular kind of player, not being able to do that for a year. On the road meeting these kids, that that played a huge factor.

So, we had Caden Smith on who played at App State. He came to campus. 2016 and played his covid year last year. We had him on the show last night and he said it really well. He said, it's like death by a thousand cuts this year. It's, it's not one thing. It's a lot of things that have kind of culminated in this underperforming, underwhelming year. And it's frustrated a lot of people. I am a very pro Coach Clark person because I, I believe that he.

I believe he can write the ship and, and strengthen our program. Again, I think a lot of the things that are happening are not his fault. Some are, just to be fair. So he's in charge, man. I mean, he's, he's the guy, like it falls on him. Right? But as far as like wholesale, doing another role of the dice to see who could maybe do a better job, I think it's a bad decision. So, I think, I think Coach Clark has done a good job.

I think this has been an underwhelming year, but I'm really excited to see what changes are. In the off season going into right next year,

Dude, September was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, just energy spent. Like, you guys probably remember is the day you guys beat Virginia Tech. I remember watching the end of that game, coming home from that Carolina game, we had the most rollercoaster, wild, heartbreaking finish and Boone confusing finish. Like how, how do we score 40 points in a quarter game. And then right after that, Texas a and m, right after that college game day hail.

I've never experienced anything like it, I mean, to tell you the truth. And we, we've experienced a lot of highs, a lot of lows, more highs than lows, but that was just a wild month. No app fans should have been surprised about Texas a and m. We controlled the line of scrimmage punched 'em in the mouth, played with an edge, played as a unit. Did a really great job keeping their offense off the field so that they couldn't get any rhythm whatsoever.

They had a, they had a bad quarterback situation, but we did a great job of keeping. Offensive line, our offense on the field controlled the clock. If you look at the stats on that, game's pretty unreal from time of possession. No. Should have been confused by that. No. Or, or surprised by that. But I will say looking at college game day I mean, not college game day necessarily, but that old Dominion game. Not Old Dominion. What's it it, James Madison.

I'm gonna get a bunch of hate mail from those crazy JMU people. Now, by the way, they're just gonna absolutely lose their minds cuz they even feel slightly slighted. Some inconsistencies were peaking through that really kind of made us nervous. And from that point in that JMU game, we have not been the same. And it's been very confusing and frustrating.

He has not had great offensive line play helping him this year. He is an absolute gamer. But the thing that stands out to me with Chase is there's not a throw in the field. He cannot. And he actually does a really good job of going and I think probably as good as any quarterback we've had at surveying the field and making sure he's doing smart things with the ball. Does he miss passes sometimes? Like does he miss an open person?

Yes, but I think that's what's called being, you know, a human being and being a quarterback. We, every quarterback goes through that, but I think he's a really smart. He reminds me a lot of Taylor Lamb, who was our quarterback coming into the FBS era, the bull era protects the ball, doesn't turn it over, tries to save yardage. You know, by throwing it outta bounds if he has to. Smart player makes all the throws. In a gamer man, he's a great leader on that team.

He has so much, he has the respect of that locker room. In just kinda walks the. But not a throw he can't make on the film. He's a smart player. And actually we talked about this too. He can be an effective runner. He's not, he's not super quick, but he's a big boy. It's hard to bring him down once when he is in open space.

We're playing with backups. So what's happening? We had a flash in the second half against Georgia State last month. Where we exploded for 400 yards of rushing. But man, it's like, it's like possession. It almost feels like snap to snap. We don't know what kind of push we're gonna. At the offensive line this year that has been, in my opinion, a really big reason why we've experienced quite frankly, just mediocrity in a lot of games not being able to finish.

So much of App State success has been being able to put games away by controlling the line of scrimmage. With that running game, we're gonna milk the clock, we're gonna chip away at you, we're gonna wear your defense out, which that, that's just, that's the, that's the game plan for a. We're gonna wear you out. We're gonna control the clock. We're gonna put it in the end zone, and then guess what? Our offense, our defense is gonna be fresh. We're fast and we're gonna get back in the field.

We're gonna do it again By us not being able to do that this year with inconsistent offensive line play. We have struggled. Coach Clark says it every week. We gotta establish run game and we're not playing very well at doing that. So, historically, yes it is true. App State is run first, run heavy, you know, inside zone, outside zone team where kind of predictable, but execution's been on point where this year I think we're having trouble creating that push up front.

And Cam, cam is strange, man, like Cam obviously like a, a super athletic guy. You never know when he's gonna play. And that's been very confusing. And back in the day I used to try to fish for like, what's really going on and like, what's happening here? Whatever. But now I just am like, look, I don't know. Sometimes he, he's hurt and he's not playing. I don't know why that's been a, a, a source of great frustration. Not mad at him, you know, or whatever.

But it's like, man, it's kind of strange and. Nate, Noel's been hurt. He got hurt in the UNC game. He's starting to come into his own a little bit, but yeah, so the running game hasn't been that great this year. We want it to

What we do and we rush really well against Texas a m So we've had these big games where we've of course won, but you look at the games where we're not winning and we are not able to run the ball it, it, it's, it's, it's not been been great. So yeah, 37th yard, 37th in the country, rushing yards. I totally believe that's what it says on paper. But if you, if you watch the games where we have struggled, it has been not being able to run the game.

That's where it's been inconsistent this year where it hasn't really been in the.

I would say that the, the most reliable in terms of like, if you gotta convert on a third down, Christian Horn has been really reliable. Caden Robinson, number two, he's a transfer from ucf. He's coming to made some huge, huge plays this year, but I wouldn't say maybe that's a third down, like running some slant over the middle. I haven't run done too much of that with, with him necessarily. Deshaun Davis has ability. There's so many guys on that team, team that have ability.

I'll tell you one playmaker that can really burn a defense is Dalton Stroman. Dalton Stroman is. He's either six three or six four, but he's got long arms, big hands, and he has made some outstanding catches, touchdown catches this year. And he, he has become, as the season has gone on a more and more of a, of a favorite target of, of chase price. Also, we've been throwing to the tight ends a lot more this year.

Henry Pearson fifth year senior is, is one I'm probably, you know, I'm a little biased cause I know Henry A. Little. Has been my favorite tight end to watch. He just, he's so, he's a great blocker, great teammate, great effort guy, but he also catched the ball and he scored that big touchdown against Texas a and m. He scored Saturday against Marshall.

He's somebody that that you have to account for in the passing game as well, that he's been cha one of Chase's favorite targets, but the weapons are there. Can these guys get enough separation to, to be that threat, to try to get the defense off the off the line? I don't know. I mean, that's what we're gonna find out, right? But the, the talent is there right at, at, on the outside and, and we benefited from it in many ways.

Christian Horn has, has really been, I, if I were to put my money down, probably the most reliable, wide out this year. Really good player.

We, we cultivated the perfect formula for app state football to play great defense and that's, That's being fast. That's being really, really physical, but above all, it's doing your job and it's making those tackles, staying in your spot, playing your assignment, and really, really, from the second half of 2014, all up until really this year, We have been a very good execution.

Stay in your position, play fast, tackle, be physical, and it kind of like, and I don't mean any disrespect to like the current players on there, I know some guys on, on on that defense there, and I really, truly, honestly mean no disrespect, but I think what you see on, on TV and, and what you can watch on film for yourself. Not great tackling here. This, this not, and, and I think a lack of speed if, if we're just being honest. And so, Nick Hampton, as you, have you referenced Nick Hampton.

Nick Hampton's gonna get drafted. He's a great, great player on that. He's a great pass rusher. He's fast. He, he's just got the makeup and the size that proteins want. But he's getting double teamed like constantly and he's still doing a good job. But even with that, we're struggling to get penetration. So I mean, he's good. Our defensive backs and it hurts me. Say, if you understand, I pain, I pain my heart saying this to you. Defensive backs have struggle this year a little bit.

And you know, it's just, it's been, it's been a different year, man. App, app bins have had to get used to it and we thought at first at least, I. That. Okay. Defense is gonna be maybe a little spotty this year, maybe a little inconsistent. We'll just have to rely on that big offensive line to continue doing what they did against Chapel Hill and Boone and against Texas a and m and College Station. We'll just have to rely on that. But then, man, that didn't happen.

So, it's been a little frustrating. And another thing is just to listen, let's just, let's just also factor this. One of our outside linebackers a very important leader in the locker room and on the field. Brennan Harrington Al for the year outside linebacker, he would, B would have, he would change a lot of of what's going on the field right now. Trey Cobb, who's also a really outstanding inside linebacker for us.

He's been hurt since Texas a and m. He, I think he pulled his arm outta socket, I think against Texas a and m and he just has not looked the same. He's playing hurt, he's putting it all out there for his teammates. So, he just hasn't been the same. So we're playing with a lot of backups up there. Af State typically is only as good as our front seven. And it's just, we've been blessed with really great defensive acts. But this year it's just been a little, little harder.

We haven't had that depth, I think on the defensive line or, or at linebacker? Well, I was gonna say the whole thing. I mean, probably the, the most glaring issue would probably be defensive back and maybe defensive line. But we're still not the same as we have been a linebacker either. So I hate that I just said all that negative stuff. Still love those guys. Still pulling for, but just kind of saying what I'm.

And he does a really great job. Love the effort that Jordan has every single week. He's a really, really good player. And by the way, I said all that. He's hilarious. He's one of the funniest people you'll ever meet. Just do, do a little like Instagram diving and, and check out. He made this video about a plunger. Cuz he, this, long story short, in 2019, Georgia Southern planted a flag at midfield when they beat us.

And then in 2020 we go down Statesboro Jordan or brought a pl. Down to the sideline, someone took a plunger and put it at the middle of the field at in Statesboro. That's all. Jordan Earl, he's just a really funny guy. Good player. Nick Hampton. Number nine is the other guy you should watch. He's gonna command a double team. He's, he's long like he's, he's big, long, strong arms and he's, he's just a perfect pass rusher.

He kind of looks like DeMarcus, where if you guys remember in the NFL, played for Dallas Cowboys in the Denver Bron. Just a long guy athletic. He's fast. The guy that I would've mentioned was would've been Trey, Trey Hobb. He's, he's out for the year. And another one, he was like a preseason, I think second ball team, Sunbelt or whatever. Stephen Jones, number six. But I would definitely put my eyes on number nine.

That that's somebody that you, you'll see get drafted just from his, The metrics, his size, his speed, and the fact that he commands those double teams. There's scouts following him every game. So that's, that's someone I would definitely watch.

So I, I think Coach Haynes does a pretty good job because that's something that just isn't talked a lot about. Another thing that we don't talk a lot about is our kicker. Because Sean Clark goes for on fourth down so often. There are very few times we kick field goals this year. And far be it for me, like to second guess a coach, like who knows the game of football and I don't.

But it'll be interesting to see, even if Coach Clark looks at some of those decisions this year that didn't work out, maybe going for for fourth down and it, whether or not we moving forward, take more. I don't know. It's just kinda a side item. Michael Hughes replaced a really talent kick. In Chandler State and from last year he's, he's pretty good. I mean, I don't know if he's missed any this year, but we really don't kick field those guys.

I mean, it's kind of an interesting thing, Clayton, how our pun punter does a pretty good job. We had a, I think a fifth or sixth year Australian punter for, you know, lefty Xavier is a botch Clayton. How has replaced him? Does a pretty good job. I mean, you know, our coverage seems to be pretty good. I, I can't remember, but maybe a handful of times that our special teams have really. Crap, the bed. We gave up a on onsite kick return touchdown to Chapel Hill. First year of the game.

I'm the first game of the year, rather at Milan Tucker. Okay. So Milan Tucker took a touchdown back at Marshall this this year this past week. He's got a lot of speed this, a lot of energy a lot of quickness. He, he play, I love the way Molan Tucker plays, by the way. It takes anybody who's wonder. Milan Tucker's dad is Michael Tucker, who played Major League Baseball. He was right fielder for the Royals and the Braves. I think he played for the Giants for a bit too.

Kinda an interesting little tidbit there, but Milan's a pretty good returner. We were using Nate Noel, our starting run, running back, back there at kick return, but it's usually been Milan. But overall the app state special Teams unit, they are non offensive. They're not, they're not bad. They're not scoring necessarily. But they've been pretty reliable. And, and for me, if you're not talking about your special teams, then that means they're doing their job.

If we could at least get off the field on third down with our defense I think we're gonna be able to do enough damage with our offense. Even if I assume that we're not gonna move the ball very well on, on the ground. I think, I think we got a chance, but you don't know. You don't know until you're there. And it drives me crazy. Is

It's like the very first opening drive for Marshall. They scored those long third down conversions, and then after that they really buttoned it up. And then the offense is what lost our game. But you just pointed out Marshall's doesn't have a very good offense. So, that's, that's been hugely beneficial to us. In that particular game. So, but no, we have not been reliable.

The thing that has really I talked to a lot of former players, have a lot of friends that, that played at, have state on that defensive side of the ball. They will always say to me like, look, we have an execution problem. Guys might be in their position, they might be in the right spot, but we're not tackling, we're not, we're not doing the right things. Like in the moment during, during the play To stop, to get off the field.

So that, that's the thing that's, that's very frustrating is because you could say, oh, it's scheme and it's the fire, the coaches, but. If you got these players saying, no, no, we're not executing. To me, that's, that's like the great unknown. Like, how do you know if these guys are gonna execute? Or how do you know if we're gonna button that up? How do you know if the matchups, honestly, you know, like football's a a really, it's a game of matchups too.

How do we know we're gonna match up well enough to, to do that? Who's healthy? I know I'm giving every excuse in the world to not answer your question, but what I'll say is I've been through this too many times. Like I just feel like this game we're getting ready to play. We've been through this, Charles and I, my cohost, where we've said, backs against the wall. We have to win this game. The guys are gonna come out fired up, we're gonna play well on, you know, we're gonna block and blah, blah.

And it, it doesn't happen or it does happen. The other side of the ball doesn't happen. So, I will say this though, to answer your question, very I think App State wins this game. It is senior. At, at some point this team does have to, you know, say, look, who are we? Who do we, how do we want to be remembered for 2022, the year that all these great things happen for App State? How do we wanna be remembered? How do these seniors wanna go out? I do think we'll win.

We're hard to beat at home, although we did lose at home this year, which is a heartbreaker. I don't know a lot about odu. You guys have kinda shed some light. That's been helpful. I think that that spread. Might be on the, yeah, that might be spot on of what I would say. I wouldn't certainly, what did you say? 16.

It's probably gonna be really busy, tell you the truth on game day or Friday or whatever, but worth the trip. They have great beverages, they have really tasty food. A really good place to hang out. Just a cool looking, cool looking spot. That's not in downtown though, so you're going kind of driving on the little outskirts of, of east Boon there. There are plenty of places and cool places to go downtown, so if you park, walk down King Street, several restaurants and, and cool places.

Very cool boon places to go for sure. But one place, if you are, if you are walking down King Street, if you're we're in Blowing Rock there are two locations, a really cool spot cuz it's gonna be cold this weekend, guys. The wind's not gonna really be blowing, but it will be cold. Well, you know, knock on wood, right now it's, the forecast is no wind or very little wind. Blue Deer cookie. Okay, so Blue Dear Cookie. They're another sponsor, shoutout. But like I said, I'm a big boy.

I've been eating Blue Dear Cookie for a while before they were sponsors. Okay. Really awesome

So yeah, if you're going downtown, walking up down King Street and just kind of taking Boone in even if you don't make it all the way up to Boone Shine, then definitely make stop, get a hot drink and a, maybe a cookie at Blue Deer. It's a cool place, but lot, lots of cool places.