Funny, but I happen to think that many of the players that we have recruited of late may have a lot of stars but have little of the character seen in lesser ranked but more accomplished recruits of old. Player evaluation ain't what it used to be in this organization, and thus, the organization has suffered.
Every year, we are treated to the ridiculous drama of which 18-year-old knucklehead will sign with who. "Ooooh! 5-Star Yadda Yadda signed with Alabama!" So what. Most of the 5-star kids flame out. Most of the 4-stars flame out. Some of them go on to stardom, tis true, but most don't. There are intangibles, things that can't be measured with a stopwatch: Heart. Drive. Poise. Character. A 5-Star prima donna who becomes a lockerroom cancer is hardly a recruiting win in the long run, whereas the 3-star kid you passed over for him may well go on to be a star. Dissociating the "starsies" from actual observation and evaluation, and making honest assessments of the overall package is where we have been lacking.
Xs and Os are another matter, as is player execution, as is team poise, etcetera. Our Staff is failing at each of those levels as well. Stevie Wonder could see it...