The program is in better shape than it has been since at least 1994.
The program came into the season on an upward trajectory (as should have been clear to any "above room temperature IQ" observer).........
But, also entered the season with:
1 - Defensively: Huge holes to fill on the defensive front.....lack of coverage skills at safety......and were paper-thin at LBer (and then got whacked with one injury after another at the thinnest position)
And - despite all of that - held up VERY well until running into one of the nation's best offenses, and a QB who played lights out, and got a couple huge breaks (3 turnovers that set them up in field position, and a 3rd down "tipped pass to a guy who wasn't even supposed to be in the play" conversion that otherwise would ended the game)
2 - Offensively: Was still trying to rebuild an O Line that had been horrendously "under-talented and under-experienced".....lost the top three OTs to injury.......no experience at QB
And - despite all of that - developed into hands down the top offense in the conference (and one of the best in the country)
And - BTW - had a horrendous situation on special teams and at P and K......and turned that into at least an "OK", and - at times - a strength
Next year is a different season.....and I expect there could be some significant changes
I won't be surprised if the O becomes much more focused on the run game and the ball-control passing game
I expect we will see a much more athletic defensive backfield...with the strength of the overall defensive unit coming from an athletic front four.
But we'll start to see how that all shakes out beginning in the spring game.
In the meantime - even if just from a "win a lot of games" perspective.......what program would you want to "trade places with"?
Alabama?
Anyone else?
The program came into the season on an upward trajectory (as should have been clear to any "above room temperature IQ" observer).........
But, also entered the season with:
1 - Defensively: Huge holes to fill on the defensive front.....lack of coverage skills at safety......and were paper-thin at LBer (and then got whacked with one injury after another at the thinnest position)
And - despite all of that - held up VERY well until running into one of the nation's best offenses, and a QB who played lights out, and got a couple huge breaks (3 turnovers that set them up in field position, and a 3rd down "tipped pass to a guy who wasn't even supposed to be in the play" conversion that otherwise would ended the game)
2 - Offensively: Was still trying to rebuild an O Line that had been horrendously "under-talented and under-experienced".....lost the top three OTs to injury.......no experience at QB
And - despite all of that - developed into hands down the top offense in the conference (and one of the best in the country)
And - BTW - had a horrendous situation on special teams and at P and K......and turned that into at least an "OK", and - at times - a strength
Next year is a different season.....and I expect there could be some significant changes
I won't be surprised if the O becomes much more focused on the run game and the ball-control passing game
I expect we will see a much more athletic defensive backfield...with the strength of the overall defensive unit coming from an athletic front four.
But we'll start to see how that all shakes out beginning in the spring game.
In the meantime - even if just from a "win a lot of games" perspective.......what program would you want to "trade places with"?
Alabama?
Anyone else?
