Feel bad for the players
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No, he wasn't satisfied with 10 points. He wanted 13 points.
For all of Cushing's faults as an OL coach (and there were plenty), he did integrate his OL reasonably well with McCall's O (especially as the year wore on). Anderson is hopefully much better as an OL coach but so far he is lacking the talent to do what he wants and what he is doing is not integrating as well with what McCall is trying to direct. Difference of 10 years working together vs a few months and starting 3 (now 4 ) new guys replacing 2 and 3 year starters as well as new QB and RB WRs and TEs (think how much better the O would look with Green as the TE right now).
This is not meant as an endorsement of McCall but more an acknowledgement of what he is up against. He is having to deal with 3-4 new OL, down to what was last years 4th string QB, 3rd string RB, missing top WR, TE etc. That is a lot of limitations to deal with. We all want to see better O.
A four year starter CT. That said, I am not sure that I would classify him as highly as you. (Average BIG QB yes, Above average? Not so sure. He was very good for us. But he did have 4 years as a starter in the system and being in the 4th year of starting means a lot. As far as RB, I agree that he was above average but not sure he was way above average. Very good for us
Sorry but not sure that they do. Especially after the injuries. Substandard OL, down to thirsd string QB RB and missing TE and number one WR our of an already below average group. Not sure where you see all that O talent. Got some up and coming but not right now.
Not sure how much better you would see. Fitz controls the direction. It is what you get when you have a D minded HC. And so far his system has proven successful. He is going to constrain whatever OC we have so who is going to come that has higher ambitions knowing that?
Glades-While you are correct that there is a talent discrepancy on defense from offense, I am trying to analyze if they start that way.
I understand recruiting rankings are flawed, but they certainly do not support the notion the defense is out recruiting the offense. I don’t think any sort of qualitative analysis and be made that our offensive players coming in are way worse than our defensive players coming in.
It’s my belief that this discrepancy has to be a result of a fluke that has occurred repeatedly even as the players change, or in part influenced by the staff on both sides.
The best conclusion we can draw with this information is that, yes, there is a discrepancy, and that it at least is not positively impacted by the offensive coaching staff.
If that’s not enough for you to judge the coaching staff on, that’s fine, but I don’t think you can in good faith say, oh we have issues to fix before we assess the OC, and then assess those issues and continue to suggest it’s all the players’ fault.
I understand recruiting rankings are flawed, but they certainly do not support the notion the defense is out recruiting the offense. I don’t think any sort of qualitative analysis and be made that our offensive players coming in are way worse than our defensive players coming in.
It’s my belief that this discrepancy has to be a result of a fluke that has occurred repeatedly even as the players change, or in part influenced by the staff on both sides.
The best conclusion we can draw with this information is that, yes, there is a discrepancy, and that it at least is not positively impacted by the offensive coaching staff.
If that’s not enough for you to judge the coaching staff on, that’s fine, but I don’t think you can in good faith say, oh we have issues to fix before we assess the OC, and then assess those issues and continue to suggest it’s all the players’ fault.
Nice how you avoided the Josh Jackson question. You said nobody could succeed with this oline as your defense for McCall. Now we could be 4-1 with Josh Jackson? Which is it?
Avoided what Josh Jackson question? Where did I say nobody could succeed with this OL? You are either misunderstanding or misconstruing my position. McCall, Fitz and Thorson have won 36 games and three bowl games over the last 4 years with an OL that was only marginally better than the OL we have today. My position has consistently been that this season’s struggles have been exacerbated by an inexperienced QB, which combined with the long term OL issues we continue to experience have led to the situation we find ourselves in today. With an experienced QB at the helm playing the same ball control, time of possession focused offensive style we are playing today, we would have made incrementally more positive plays and avoided a handful of negative plays to give us at least 3 more wins. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Stanford, MSU and Nebraska games could have easily turned out in our favor with an experienced QB at the helm. Do you disagree?
Well, I guess you don't see things the way I see them. IMO, they start their careers that way to a degree. To me, the difference in athletic ability is apparent early in these players' careers.
That's not to dismiss potential differences in coaching ability.
We have the highest rated recruit from the 2017 recruiting class on our roster right now! And he looks like a deer in the headlights after spending over a year with the program before playing a down. This is just a ridiculous take.
Most of what you wrote I can agree or buy. Except our offense has never been stellar under this OC. It has progressively gotten worse over the past decade. It has never been a strong offense. Even if you buy the weak argument that it is designed to complement our elite defense (which I still don't accept as mutually exclusive to an elite offense), the problem is exactly what you pointed out - that we aren't adjusting to the fact that opponents are successful in stopping us. We aren't changing anything. We continue to do the same thing over and over again. What did Fitz call that once? Doing something over and over again that fails? Insanity? People have figured us out and we aren't responding. Whose fault is it for that? I can't see how it isn't anyone's but the OC's. And Fitz for being stubborn and too loyal. If we had Kevin Wilson or someone else that could make the change like they did in 2000, we'd be ok. Unfortunately after 10 years of mounting insanity, it's clear we don't.
Where did you hear "fire the bum" crap when you were at NU? Because the internet literally didn't exist.
I took some excerpts from our visitor's fine post, and condensed them above.
If he's right, we are dead
Asking Fitz/McCall to change is like asking Trump not to lie (oops wrong board)
You and I were in the same class. If you went to the games, then you saw the "Punt Pont" and other signs starting toward the end of our junior year. Fans used to stand outside the locker room after games holding signs and staring into the locker room and showers. Several players went ballistic over these assholes and had to be restrained by the coaches. It was ugly.
Will he though?
Our fanbase is small enough and not vocal enough that I think Fitz could just stand pat with a few subpar seasons without any fire under his butt. That's the beauty of the NU job when you're an alum/golden boy like Fitz.
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