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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Defending Ken Miller

If there is one thing that has bothered me about this season, it is the endless criticism of head coach Ken Miller. Do I agree with everything Miller has done this season? No! He has made some decisions that like you have made me wonder what he is doing, but I haven’t resorted to questioning his abilities to coach this football team. A lot of the criticism Miller is getting is his seeming lack of emotion on the sidelines. I ask this to those of you that think Miller is sleeping on the sidelines. Do you really need to see someone getting in the face of players or officials? Do you need to really have someone throw his headset off in disgust or throw his clipboard down in a fit of anger? Is that what makes a good coach in your opinion? I don’t see Marc Trestman getting emotional on the sidelines? I don’t see Marcel Bellefeuille blowing a gasket on the sidelines? The same goes for Bart Andrus and Richie Hall. When Wally Buono walks out on the field to get in the faces of the officials, you all squawk about it, (as do I) so why do you expect Miller to be more animated? Will that really make him a better coach in your mind?

Here’s the one thing about Ken Miller that I think dooms him to failure when it comes to many in the Rider Nation. They want Kent Austin. Austin was the perfect coach to everyone because he had a fiery temper, he got the most out of his players and in the end, they won a championship. Its because of this that fans now want that level of excellence to be achieved every year. There’s nothing wrong with thinking that, but attaining it is another story. Would Kent’s popularity have taken a nose-dive had the Riders lost the Western final to B.C or had they lost the Grey Cup to Winnipeg. While some took some needless potshots at Austin when he left for Ole Miss, one wonders what the reaction would have been had Austin not directed this team to a Grey Cup championship. Dare I say, Austin would not have had the “rock star” image that he still has now.

One can argue that with a weaker football team than what Austin had in 2007, Miller guided the team to a better finish and that much-desired home playoff game in 2008. Sadly for Ken, he didn’t get the team to the championship game and win it again. While he was recognized as a coach of the year finalist, he didn’t win the award and to this day, I say that was a mistake when you look at the smoother road that John Hufnagel and Trestman traveled.

There is nothing wrong with the coaching style or the coaching abilities of Miller. He knows what to do and he knows how to get the best out of his team. Without guys like Smith, Johnson, Makowsky, Fantuz, Cates, Williams and Chick, he has still managed to get this team to a record of 4-4. Those that think the glass is half full might say they could be 6-2 had it not been for that freak touchdown that shouldn’t have counted in B.C and that second half collapse against Edmonton. Those that think the glass is half empty might say the team should be 2-6 as they were lucky to beat the Lions in the season opener and were lucky to beat the Stampeders in Calgary.

Ken Miller knows his football. He spends many hours in the office by himself and with his coaches trying to make this team better. He does not have a glass of warm milk and go to bed at 9 PM. To suggest that is simply insulting. Kent Austin realized that when he brought Miller over from Toronto to become offensive co-ordinator and say what you will, he endorsed Miller to be his replacement. Shouldn’t that be good enough for everyone in the Kent Austin fan club? To expect nothing but championships is fine, but one must be a little realistic and understand it won’t happen every year. He hasn’t been perfect during his season and a half, but he gets more than a passing grade from this individual.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kent had his reasons for going and I had no problem with him leaving, however, I wonder if he would still have a "rock star" image if he was still here with the team not winning it all in 2008.
Miller isn't the best coach in the league, but he's thankfully no Mike Kelly.

Paul

tom said...

you make a good argument mitch! animation does not necessarily mean success...think tom landry, chuck noll, hugh campbell, marv levy, bud grant, etc...and i feel much better about things since i started avoiding a certain website if you know what i mean...

mongo

Anonymous said...

Miller's biggest problem is he doesn't hold anyone accountable. This special teams problem has been ongoing all season yet we hear nothing or see nothing from him except him saying special teams have to be better. here's an idea Ken! Tell kavis Reed his services are no longer needed and get Alex Smith back in that role.

Perry said...

Thanks for posting this Mitch and I couldn't agree with you more.

We are seeing improvement almost every game and I think that is because of the attitude that Miller brings to this team.

Count me as one of those that looks at the postives instead of the negatives all the time.

Perry

Anonymous said...

I'd really like to know how Joe Fan can come up with a ridiculous statement like "Miller doesn't hold anyone accountable".

Really? Do you sit in on the coaches meetings? Are you privy to private conversations? Just because there hasn't been a firing or public execution does not mean the head coach isn't holding people accountable, or demanding a better performance.

Or, should the coach consult with Joe Fan before making any and all personnel decisions?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous...

How do you know that discussions are not had with his coaches? Miller just is not having them in the media. That is a leader. He is telling the truth, they have to be better. It is not our business to be involved on how that is being done. If you were a leader, you would understand.

Colin M

Anonymous said...

Did Hoppy order you to write this? C'mon Mitch is this how you truly feel or is just some Rider rhetoric seeing you write for Riderville. I'm guessing you wouldn't be saying this if you were still on the radio and that you wouldn't be as complimentary to Miller as you are here. Please!!!

Anonymous said...

Mitch is 100% correct. I'll go a step farther, and tell you this. Kent Austin was completely overated as a Head Coach. He's the "Jon Gruden" taking over for "Tony Dungy". The table was set, and all he had to do was eat the meal. Ken Miller and Paul Lapolice were right beside Kent in Toronto when they won the Cup. Miller was recommended by Austin. If there is one thing he's done I don't agree with, that would be adding Kavis Reed to the staff. Reed has been a disaster as a Coach in his recent stops.

Ken Miller is a very smart man. He's a PHd Professor, and he's been doing this a long time. He'll be fine.

Obama

Anonymous said...

What would Kent Austin's reputation be like had he left this year and the Riders lost the WSF to BC. Would he have the same adulation heaped on him then. I doubt it. Miller hasn't been perfect but he isn't the moron that some (see Riderfans.com) paint him out to be.

Alan

Anonymous said...

I agree 100% that Ken Miller is doing a very good job. I love the fact that we dont react to every rant by the 10% of Rider fans that dont know anything about managing people or football.

We have a great organization, and we have a classy organization and it starts with Eric Tillman and Ken Miller.

Relax and lets see how this plays out. we have had a team for 100 years and only 3 championships. I started following the Riders in 1963, and there have been highs and some extreme lows. We have a great team, lets let them play!!!

Rej said...

Good job Mr. Blair, Coach Miller is definately deserving of the 'supportive' side of Ridernation. Unfortunately the more vocal side of Ridernation tends to be excessively critical. Coach Miller's abilities to 'teach' his players as well as his coaching staff will be the difference maker in a long season.

Don't get me wrong I'd love to see Coach Miller do something like Coach Austin did early in the season when he warned Fantuz to stop dropping the ball then benched him when he failed to perform. Perhaps Luca Congi can replace Boreham OR Dressler can take full time return duties for a week or so.

Anyway, Coach Miller will get this team through their identity crisis / crisis of confidence.

Rej