Next year make or break for coaches

[FanatiCat]

With that backbreaking turn of events before halftime, I’m looking ahead to next year. I know we don’t have the top players but previous coaches have won with similar talent.

I now think (as others have already) that next year will be the audition for the coaching staff to get at least bowl eligible and keep their jobs, or for NU to show they can put up an investment in coaching commensurate with the new stadium to bring in a big name. Not even a Cignetti type that you take a chance on but a proven Power 4 program rebuilder.

Braun has a lot of promise but unclear if he can rebuild beyond last year’s excellent season saving performance. If the D can’t maintain its performance under McGarigle then he is not the right guy despite how much we want the former Wildcat to be. And clearly Lujan has to prove a LOT next year to show that he’s not just successful with superior talent as he was in FCS.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

With that backbreaking turn of events before halftime, I’m looking ahead to next year. I know we don’t have the top players but previous coaches have won with similar talent.

I now think (as others have already) that next year will be the audition for the coaching staff to get at least bowl eligible and keep their jobs, or for NU to show they can put up an investment in coaching commensurate with the new stadium to bring in a big name. Not even a Cignetti type that you take a chance on but a proven Power 4 program rebuilder.

Braun has a lot of promise but unclear if he can rebuild beyond last year’s excellent season saving performance. If the D can’t maintain its performance under McGarigle then he is not the right guy despite how much we want the former Wildcat to be. And clearly Lujan has to prove a LOT next year to show that he’s not just successful with superior talent as he was in FCS.

Previous coaches won with similar talent?

Our last coach frequently won 1-3 games with this amount of talent.

 

[mickbula]

Listening to mich game early in 3rd quarter sounds like team has checked out. I wonder if coaches can turn it around next season with difficult schedule

 

[zeek55]

Still think there's a decent chance that we beat Illinois so I haven't given up on the season yet.

But who knows.

 

[mickbula]

Still think there's a decent chance that we beat Illinois so I haven't given up on the season yet.

But who knows.

Illini looked pretty tough all season and vs Rutgers today

 

[TheC]

Throw the damn ball Jack!!

 

[AtlantaCat]

With that backbreaking turn of events before halftime, I’m looking ahead to next year. I know we don’t have the top players but previous coaches have won with similar talent.

I now think (as others have already) that next year will be the audition for the coaching staff to get at least bowl eligible and keep their jobs, or for NU to show they can put up an investment in coaching commensurate with the new stadium to bring in a big name. Not even a Cignetti type that you take a chance on but a proven Power 4 program rebuilder.

Braun has a lot of promise but unclear if he can rebuild beyond last year’s excellent season saving performance. If the D can’t maintain its performance under McGarigle then he is not the right guy despite how much we want the former Wildcat to be. And clearly Lujan has to prove a LOT next year to show that he’s not just successful with superior talent as he was in FCS.

IMO, Lujan should not be back next year.

 

[FanatiCat]

Previous coaches won with similar talent?

Our last coach frequently won 1-3 games with this amount of talent.

We have had other teams that have made bowl games without a bunch of NFL draft picks. Maybe you’re right, he’s doing as well as Fitz would have with this bunch, but then the fact remains that we can’t get the players. Whether Braun’s recruiting limitation is mainly $ I don’t know, but we need someone or somehow to recruit better players.

 

[NUChicago]

Still think there's a decent chance that we beat Illinois so I haven't given up on the season yet.

But who knows.

I hate Illinois, but they will smoke us.

 

[TheC]

Throw the damn ball Jack!!

But that drive ended on first down with Lang dropping a pass right in his arms

 

[TheC]

But that drive ended on first down with Lang dropping a pass right in his arms

Crap.. I'm in the wrong thread. 😄

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Michigan's talent is too superior on both sides of the ball.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

We have had other teams that have made bowl games without a bunch of NFL draft picks. Maybe you’re right, he’s doing as well as Fitz would have with this bunch, but then the fact remains that we can’t get the players. Whether Braun’s recruiting limitation is mainly $ I don’t know, but we need someone or somehow to recruit better players.

Never with QB like this we haven't

 

[mickbula]

Never with QB like this we haven't

We might be worse next year. That is scary

 

[FanatiCat]

Never with QB like this we haven't

We at least won 5 games in the year we played Hughes and Hamdorf.

 

[NU Houston]

We've had some poor offenses over the past 10 or so seasons, but this one takes the cake. It's unwatchable.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

We are winning 4 games next year. The schedule is brutal again and we won’t fire Lujan so yeah.

 

[phatcat]

Still think there's a decent chance that we beat Illinois so I haven't given up on the season yet.

But who knows.

Illinois is worlds better than Mich. They will crush is. I'll be there, freezing

 

[NU Houston]

We are winning 4 games next year. The schedule is brutal again and we won’t fire Lujan so yeah.

And we lose Henning, Kirtz and (probably) Porter.

 

[TheC]

And we lose Henning, Kirtz and (probably) Porter.

And Xander plus probably a few transfers from our DBs

 

[phatcat]

the fact remains that we can’t get the players.

Here's an idea that I've beaten to death. Carve out 50M of that soon-to-be empty white elephant of a stadium and give it to NIL

 

[phatcat]

And Xander plus probably a few transfers from our DBs

Carsello is back

 

[FanatiCat]

And Xander plus probably a few transfers from our DBs

I didn’t consider that. If we have a large net negative balance of transfers then I think Braun and co are finished after next year as there’s no way we can win more than 3-4.

 

[jensberg]

I didn’t consider that. If we have a large net negative balance of transfers then I think Braun and co are finished after next year as there’s no way we can win more than 3-4.

I'm not sure we'll even win three games next year. We lose a lot of good players and I'd be shocked if a few that have talent don't see the writing on the wall and transfer. We don't have any recruits coming in the same like they're going to be significant contributors. And we all know we can't seem to get anything in the portal.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

Here's an idea that I've beaten to death. Carve out 50M of that soon-to-be empty white elephant of a stadium and give it to NIL

Someone needs to talk to Pat Ryan about this…

 

[Baz=Heisman]

Henning/Kirtz/Mueller are all out of eligibility, no?

 

[jensberg]

Henning/Kirtz/Mueller are all out of eligibility, no?

Yes and then you have so many good players that will have their degree after this year probably but another year of Eligibility that could transfer instead of staying. There's three or four of them on our defensive line alone

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Still think there's a decent chance that we beat Illinois so I haven't given up on the season yet.

But who knows.

I don’t see how we beat Illinois. We have been blown out by every B1G team that is over 500. I don’t see it being all that close.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

And we lose Henning, Kirtz and (probably) Porter.

Porter should be back.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Previous coaches won with similar talent?

Our last coach frequently won 1-3 games with this amount of talent.

And two B1G West titles along with a number of bowl games.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Illini looked pretty tough all season and vs Rutgers today

Did you catch the score of their game against Purdue?

 

[WildScott54]

Did you catch the score of their game against Purdue?

If Braun’s buyout is $100,000, does our new AD fire him and go after a proven coach like Matt Campbell? Of course, that would require alums to step up with huge NIL donations

 

[mickbula]

Did you catch the score of their game against Purdue?

I know. You have a point. Illini let off the acceleration in the second half. Niu beat nd too. I just think the orange will be juiced next Saturday and will pummel us. We never have won at Wrigley 😥 sadly

 

[NUCat320]

We've had some poor offenses over the past 10 or so seasons, but this one takes the cake. It's unwatchable.

What’s sad is that Kirtz is truly an excellent wide receiver.

But the line is weak and Porter still is just…fine…and the tight ends are bad and Henning is okay and Lujan is overmatched without a talent edge and Lausch is the right pick in this crew but might be better-served as a millionaire minor leaguer now.

But I just wish we could have seen healthy Kirtz with a competent quarterback for more than 8 or so games in his career.

But also, we’ve seen worse offenses because at least this one doesn’t give the ball away alllll the time.


Only 8 picks so far this season. 17 in 2022. 14 in 21. 15 in 19.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

Porter should be back.

Are you sure about that? Pretty sure he was out of eligibility but perhaps I am mistaken.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

If Braun’s buyout is $100,000, does our new AD fire him and go after a proven coach like Matt Campbell? Of course, that would require alums to step up with huge NIL donations

I’m not sure Matt Campbell works for us. He makes his living off minimum qualifiers and juco kids. We can’t/shouldn’t do the first and the latter is extremely rare for us. I think we’ve had like 5 in our history or something like that.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Are you sure about that? Pretty sure he was out of eligibility but perhaps I am mistaken.

You’re mistaken.

 

[MC_Cat]

Lausch really showed signs of progress against OSU. The regression yesterday was alarming; he totally lost his confidence after the first drive when he overthrew a wide open Himon for what would've been a 20 yd gain and then threw maybe his worst INT of his career. After that, he's trying not to make mistakes when the team needed him to make plays. 3 and out city, here we come. Did he even acramble all game?

As for the D, I think they lost faith in the schemes and were second guessing. Should've pressed on the coverage instead of the massive cushions allowing dink and dunk all the way into the end zone. Totally looked like a JON defense when the lid blew off and they steamrolled right over us with no resistance.

I actually think we are going to give Illini a good game despite yesterday's debacle. We shall see...

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Lausch really showed signs of progress against OSU. The regression yesterday was alarming; he totally lost his confidence after the first drive when he overthrew a wide open Himon for what would've been a 20 yd gain and then threw maybe his worst INT of his career. After that, he's trying not to make mistakes when the team needed him to make plays. 3 and out city, here we come. Did he even acramble all game?

As for the D, I think they lost faith in the schemes and were second guessing. Should've pressed on the coverage instead of the massive cushions allowing dink and dunk all the way into the end zone. Totally looked like a JON defense when the lid blew off and they steamrolled right over us with no resistance.

I actually think we are going to give Illini a good game despite yesterday's debacle. We shall see...

How many QB designed runs to Lujan call? Lausch was at his best vs. Ohio State when there was a balance between him running and throwing.