Not even sure what the point of this post is beside just putting thoughts on paper after watching every snap of this dumpster fire. By no means am I a football expert, so if anyone has good info on where and why I am wrong, I'm all ears. Maybe it'll prompt some discussion, but I doubt it considering this cesspool we live in here in the Zoo.
The regression of Marcel Reed should be studied. He's always had his flaws, but he has been consistently bad in every sense of the word. When he does get decent pockets, he bails from them. Even worse, he bails out of the back of the pocket, which eliminates virtually any chance of a successful play. You can't surrender 10+ yards, all of which unproductive because he can't see the field and certainly can't deliver a football when he does it. There is no avenue for consistent success when that happens.
Guard play seems to be the worst I've seen in several years here. We took a huge step back in athleticism across the line, but specifically at guard. That severely hinders our ability to block in the run game in all schemes as well as blitz pickup. Maybe it's not as bad as I think, but we bust up the middle a ton.
I personally think Elko said "Billy Cesspool" and not "Billy's Cesspool", so I'm not sure he took a shot at TexAgs at all. I took it as giving a name to the online presence instead of specifically singling out TexAgs. Still, I think he's right. He shouldn't concern himself with the thoughts and comments of the internet that largely knows nothing about football beyond Playstation (myself included).
This season is a giant magnifying glass on how important it is to hit on coordinator hires. I personally still believe Elko is capable of doing great things here. But he massively whiffed at OC and to a lesser extent DC. I don't think these failures can entirely be attributed to Wiggins, because it's a QB issue and portal/OL issue as well. But the fact is that Wiggins is responsible for the offense and it's the worst offense I've seen in years. I have to believe Elko is smart enough to know a change is necessary, and the most critical decision he makes in his tenure here is how he handles it. He simply has to know he can't just run it back next year (with both Wiggins and Reed). One or both has to go.
Keep Edwards, Baker, and Morrow at all costs.
It can't get much worse, but Brady Hart isn't the answer. Our own staff didn't even want him. I don't mind him getting some run, but if you're gonna bail on Reed then you give Casuga the shot. Learn what he can do, at least with his physical tools, and go from there. That let's you make an informed decision going into portal season. That said, I don't think this staff will bail on Reed simply because you eliminate any run threat at all from the QB position and THAT's the one way it gets worse for the offense.
Who do we go after in the portal? Easy button is the Oregon State QB/WR duo, but I don't think it happens. Maybe it's BAS, but that feels more like Oregon or one of the other top tier programs snags them up. Austin Mack? If he really gave Russel a run for the job, then maybe he's got something. I doubt Kamario Taylor moves at this point, and I doubt we'd get him anyway. What about Malik Washington from Maryland? Talented kid likely on the move assuming Locksley gets canned. Very curious to see what happens there.
I'm excited for the youth on defense. Seen some pretty good things from guys like Marco, Noah, Collins, Watkins, Bryce Perry Wright, and others. Curious why we can't get Arrington on the field. Feels like we may have a pretty decent core group that could grow together into an elite unit if they receive the right coaching/development. If nothing else, I'm excited to see some new blood at safety. Kinda tired of seeing Ratcliffe and Brooks trot out there every week. And please get Jordan Shaw off my field. Lee cooked him over and over this week.
This team is broken. This season is done. But I'll still watch every week because I'm a sicko. Things can change in a single offseason in this era of college football, so I am interested to see how Elko attacks it.
The regression of Marcel Reed should be studied. He's always had his flaws, but he has been consistently bad in every sense of the word. When he does get decent pockets, he bails from them. Even worse, he bails out of the back of the pocket, which eliminates virtually any chance of a successful play. You can't surrender 10+ yards, all of which unproductive because he can't see the field and certainly can't deliver a football when he does it. There is no avenue for consistent success when that happens.
Guard play seems to be the worst I've seen in several years here. We took a huge step back in athleticism across the line, but specifically at guard. That severely hinders our ability to block in the run game in all schemes as well as blitz pickup. Maybe it's not as bad as I think, but we bust up the middle a ton.
I personally think Elko said "Billy Cesspool" and not "Billy's Cesspool", so I'm not sure he took a shot at TexAgs at all. I took it as giving a name to the online presence instead of specifically singling out TexAgs. Still, I think he's right. He shouldn't concern himself with the thoughts and comments of the internet that largely knows nothing about football beyond Playstation (myself included).
This season is a giant magnifying glass on how important it is to hit on coordinator hires. I personally still believe Elko is capable of doing great things here. But he massively whiffed at OC and to a lesser extent DC. I don't think these failures can entirely be attributed to Wiggins, because it's a QB issue and portal/OL issue as well. But the fact is that Wiggins is responsible for the offense and it's the worst offense I've seen in years. I have to believe Elko is smart enough to know a change is necessary, and the most critical decision he makes in his tenure here is how he handles it. He simply has to know he can't just run it back next year (with both Wiggins and Reed). One or both has to go.
Keep Edwards, Baker, and Morrow at all costs.
It can't get much worse, but Brady Hart isn't the answer. Our own staff didn't even want him. I don't mind him getting some run, but if you're gonna bail on Reed then you give Casuga the shot. Learn what he can do, at least with his physical tools, and go from there. That let's you make an informed decision going into portal season. That said, I don't think this staff will bail on Reed simply because you eliminate any run threat at all from the QB position and THAT's the one way it gets worse for the offense.
Who do we go after in the portal? Easy button is the Oregon State QB/WR duo, but I don't think it happens. Maybe it's BAS, but that feels more like Oregon or one of the other top tier programs snags them up. Austin Mack? If he really gave Russel a run for the job, then maybe he's got something. I doubt Kamario Taylor moves at this point, and I doubt we'd get him anyway. What about Malik Washington from Maryland? Talented kid likely on the move assuming Locksley gets canned. Very curious to see what happens there.
I'm excited for the youth on defense. Seen some pretty good things from guys like Marco, Noah, Collins, Watkins, Bryce Perry Wright, and others. Curious why we can't get Arrington on the field. Feels like we may have a pretty decent core group that could grow together into an elite unit if they receive the right coaching/development. If nothing else, I'm excited to see some new blood at safety. Kinda tired of seeing Ratcliffe and Brooks trot out there every week. And please get Jordan Shaw off my field. Lee cooked him over and over this week.
This team is broken. This season is done. But I'll still watch every week because I'm a sicko. Things can change in a single offseason in this era of college football, so I am interested to see how Elko attacks it.