Speaking of young guys getting more playing time, that’s the plan for true freshman wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who scored on a 26-yard run and completed a crucial 50-yard pass in the fourth quarter to set up a touchdown in Saturday’s victory.
“I think the key there is, again, not to overload, but to keep feeding it as we move forward,” McElwain said. “He’s a pretty exciting guy, and yet you think about one of the smokes we had, if he just simply does what he’s supposed to do, he’s probably got a chance for another huge play. But that’s all part of the learning curve. I’m sure glad he’s on our team.”
McElwain said Toney is no longer a secret around the SEC. Opposing defenses are going to have game plans to limit the damage he can do.
“Staying a step ahead of what those plans are, there’s the challenge,” he said. “As what defensively you’re going to see, when he’s back there, direct snap, whether he’s getting it on a reverse, whether he’s getting it on a hitch and we throw it, there’s a little foreshadowing, things like that. Obviously, these guys are well coached and they are going to cover all those bases.”
Why does McElwain rip into his players at his pressers, especially after that player saved his butt from yet another poor coaching performance? Never seen a coach with such a self esteem issue, or is it just an overblown view of himself? Why not just say, “I am sure glad such a great young talent is on our team. I am truly looking forward to what Toney can do when he gains complete understanding of the offense and his role within it. Now, that is exciting to think about when it comes to this kid who is really talented.” Nah. I think I will take him down a notch in the press instead.
It’s called coaching. He praised him by saying “he’s a pretty exciting guy”, then he coaches him up by saying hey, if he just did what he should’ve done it would’ve been a huge play. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If all Mac did was butter these guys up they’d get huge egos and start thinking they don’t need to get better. I’m guessing you never played competitive sports with a great coach leading you before. They tell you good job and then tell you what you should’ve done to get better. I played for one of the greatest high school coaches ever in George Smith at St. Thomas. The guy was a huge prick who was always on your ass even when you did something great, but once he did give you praise you wanted to try your hardest to see if you could get that praise again. That’s what great coaches do. The fact of the matter is, as great as Toney played he’s only starting to show his greatness and could be much better, and that’s what Mac is trying to teach him. You think Saban butters his players up all the time or to you think he pushes them as hard as he can to be the greatest? The guy barely even cracks a smile when he wins a title.
Joe. There is something wrong with doing it with the press. Do your coaching in the clubhouse and on the practice field, not during pressers. Players do not like to be pointed out negatively in the press. Ok elsewhere. So, I beg to differ.
I heard Toney QB”d in HS. Considering his running talent, is he such a terrible passer that he wouldn’t be an improvement at QB? Didn’t look too bad on that 50 yd pass completion.
Regardless, McElweird has GOT TO GO!
Toney may end up at QB eventually. He can throw and run!