These posters just don’t like the hire and are going to blame the staff no matter what. The 2020 and 2021 classes were so bad that it’s almost criminal. Especially on the OL and DL. Go find a player from those classes that is still around and making a difference. And to act like the portal is some panacea is just fantasy. We are quickly learning G5 talent transferring in is just as risky as HS talent in that you aren’t sure what you are going to get. And blue chip transfers are being let go from the bluebloods for a reason. We aren’t going to go out and get quality transfers on the OL or DL unless extremely lucky. Going to have to develop within, and GP made that awfully tough with what he left behind. Go look at who was brought in for the trenches before GP left, then hopefully you will never again suggest he should be part of a modern day coaching staff.
Maybe a few of them, but you have to remember the following:
1) Sonny said this team is more athletic than last years
2) Sonny said he thought this team would compete for the conference championship.
3) The QB room is what it is because this staff lost Jackson to the portal (don't blame him), and couldn't even sign 1 freshman QB or even a game manager JUCO or portal guy.
3) Statistically, with losing only 3 key players, and in the 2nd year of the system, the defense is only slightly better than last years, but the eye test tells you it is actually worse, because the turnovers are down
4) Our DT play is actually better than last year, one DE is a little worse, and the other is a downgrade from Horton, who by the way, was only outstanding a couple of games last year.
5) We haven't lost any games because of critical bad referee calls, or funny bounces of the ball. Every game we've lost I've felt like we got exactly what we deserved.
6) If you include the Conference Championship Game, we are 1-5 vs 6-1 vs common opponents; the difference is even worse than the overall record indicates.
Even with the sunshine pumping, my expectations were something like 8-4 vs last year's 12-0 regular season. I'm not calling for Sonny's head, I'm not even calling strongly for staff changes, but if next year is like this I will be asking for them. If, heaven forbid, next year is worse, all bets are off!
Oh, and let's talk about Mike Norvell at FSU, the current poster child for patience. Willie Taggert left FSU in worse shape than Gary left Sonny. Norvell has gone 3-6, 5-7, 10-3, and now is in the hunt for the playoffs in year 4. Based on this, year 3 should be a turnaround year. How about 8-4??
Rant over
