In a few short years ( well, make that loooong years) we have gone from playing mostly little-known senior 2-and 3 star OLmen, and only substituting when one went down with an injury, to struggling for healthy bodies and scrounging them from the DL in desperation, to having more too young 4-stars than perhaps ever before, to being loaded with young OLmen all battling for PT. While not quite there, the normal maturation process ( adding beef, strength, and gaining experience by battling their own teammates for PT) has created a MONSTER.
While trying not to go off the deep end, this OL seems light-years ahead of last years. Now, we have 2-3 teams worth of OLmen capable of playing well (pass blocking and run blocking) and becoming the enablers of skill position talent to be even better at what THEY do.
The way we finished last season ( averaging 43 ppg; TM completing 70+ % of his passes in the last 3-4 games ( not push-overs; they included a tough MSU D, The BT Title game, and the Rose Bowl), makes 2017 look like it may become a veritable fireworks display, with the team averaging 45-50 ppg and blowing out those teams we should dominate, instead of squeaking out narrow victories.
Talk about fun.
But most of all, the above isn't based on a couple of players having big seasons. We are currently enjoying almost incredible depth at nearly all positions, with the chance that each succeeding layer of players will outperform their predecessors. Amazing!
CJF is pulling all the right strings, has organized his teams into effective units, and is stock-piling talent like almost never before. The Good Times may not continue forever, but right now at least we are in the midst of a team make-over that we haven't seen in years.
While CJF struggled in Years One and Two ( and who wouldn't), he seems to have changed the chemistry of his personal coaching staff to better match the circumstances.... in a most remarkable way. What assistant coach DONT you like? Theyre all great. Theyre all experienced. They all can coach up their players. Theyre all Happy in Happy Valley as far as I can tell. And we are multiple teams deep almost across the board.
Play them early and take yer chances. Throw wave after wave at the opponent. Don't be afraid to go down field. And have tough tough players willing to take a shot or two in order to take a shot or two downfield.
TM has shown what guts are all about. Last year Trace was hammered, early and often in the Pitt game, yet came back to almost pull it out. It was our second worst team performance of the year after UM. ( and both of them were on the road while we were either young or injured way beyond the pale.) Things had not yet come together, but as the season wore on, these kids did. As a team.
And now they are facing their toughest opponents.....their teammates - on the practice field. No telling yet just how much that fire will temper this steel. But it could be something to behold, something we don't as yet fully understand. Nor do the coaches. Nor do the players.
2017 will be hanging from the Beaver Stadium superstructure one day soon. Im enjoying each passing day as it all comes together. In ways we cant yet fully imagine.
While trying not to go off the deep end, this OL seems light-years ahead of last years. Now, we have 2-3 teams worth of OLmen capable of playing well (pass blocking and run blocking) and becoming the enablers of skill position talent to be even better at what THEY do.
The way we finished last season ( averaging 43 ppg; TM completing 70+ % of his passes in the last 3-4 games ( not push-overs; they included a tough MSU D, The BT Title game, and the Rose Bowl), makes 2017 look like it may become a veritable fireworks display, with the team averaging 45-50 ppg and blowing out those teams we should dominate, instead of squeaking out narrow victories.
Talk about fun.
But most of all, the above isn't based on a couple of players having big seasons. We are currently enjoying almost incredible depth at nearly all positions, with the chance that each succeeding layer of players will outperform their predecessors. Amazing!
CJF is pulling all the right strings, has organized his teams into effective units, and is stock-piling talent like almost never before. The Good Times may not continue forever, but right now at least we are in the midst of a team make-over that we haven't seen in years.
While CJF struggled in Years One and Two ( and who wouldn't), he seems to have changed the chemistry of his personal coaching staff to better match the circumstances.... in a most remarkable way. What assistant coach DONT you like? Theyre all great. Theyre all experienced. They all can coach up their players. Theyre all Happy in Happy Valley as far as I can tell. And we are multiple teams deep almost across the board.
Play them early and take yer chances. Throw wave after wave at the opponent. Don't be afraid to go down field. And have tough tough players willing to take a shot or two in order to take a shot or two downfield.
TM has shown what guts are all about. Last year Trace was hammered, early and often in the Pitt game, yet came back to almost pull it out. It was our second worst team performance of the year after UM. ( and both of them were on the road while we were either young or injured way beyond the pale.) Things had not yet come together, but as the season wore on, these kids did. As a team.
And now they are facing their toughest opponents.....their teammates - on the practice field. No telling yet just how much that fire will temper this steel. But it could be something to behold, something we don't as yet fully understand. Nor do the coaches. Nor do the players.
2017 will be hanging from the Beaver Stadium superstructure one day soon. Im enjoying each passing day as it all comes together. In ways we cant yet fully imagine.
