aero
12/4/2011, 12:07 AM
We need changes. Yes, the program is better than before Stoops got here and we have had some great years. I would contend from 2000 to 2005 we had legitimately very good teams. Since 2005 I think we have had some good players and good teams but they have not played the kind of football that legitimate top 5 teams. A lot of different setbacks have happened but the majority of them are just excuses. Other teams lose players to injury or whatever and don't miss a beat. I think we may be close or possibly have already passed the point where we are living off our reputation. It seems a lot of other teams have surpassed us while we have dusted off the same old plays. Start the year with high ranking, high expectations all around. Beat up a few weaklings and overrated teams. Puff up our chest. Start playing teams that won't lay down for us and lose a game or 2 that seem we shouldn't. Limp to the finish line.
Time for change.
The truth is the defense has NOT performed to championship level for some time. It's either personnel or coaching. Maybe it's both but my thought is it's coaching.
The hurry up offense was gimmicky from the start. It might work on Ball St. but not much else. It's as physically hard on the offense as it is on the defense. The running game has totally disappeared. Remember DeMarco, Chris Brown, Patrick Allen? Probably the last time we had a serviceable running game. I can't say I've seen a new play in the last 4 years. We had a run of pretty good qb's. LJ is probably a decent qb but he is what I thought he was from day one. I thought he would only get better and better with each year but it seems like he is the same as the first year he started. Decent but not great nor as good as maybe any we've had in some time. There are a lot of qb's that can rack up stats against inferior teams and with receivers like we've had. Reality is he typically throws behind receivers, too high, too low. We're used to them making great catches but this group, outside of Broyles and occasionally Stills, hasn't done that nor should they be expected to game in and game out. When the pressure is on, Landry checks out.
So. Are we going to be Florida State and slip into mediocrity? Have we already? We're not even close to LSU, Bama, Oregon. We've seen how we faired against OSU and Baylor. Who would put money on us against Arky, Va Tech, Boise, Wisky, Mich St, Stanford, Georgia, USC? That's the short list.
We've turned into a fake. The defense is all talk. The offense is lifeless and predictable. But it really didn't just happen overnight. It's been smoke and mirrors for a few years now.
Time for change.
The truth is the defense has NOT performed to championship level for some time. It's either personnel or coaching. Maybe it's both but my thought is it's coaching.
The hurry up offense was gimmicky from the start. It might work on Ball St. but not much else. It's as physically hard on the offense as it is on the defense. The running game has totally disappeared. Remember DeMarco, Chris Brown, Patrick Allen? Probably the last time we had a serviceable running game. I can't say I've seen a new play in the last 4 years. We had a run of pretty good qb's. LJ is probably a decent qb but he is what I thought he was from day one. I thought he would only get better and better with each year but it seems like he is the same as the first year he started. Decent but not great nor as good as maybe any we've had in some time. There are a lot of qb's that can rack up stats against inferior teams and with receivers like we've had. Reality is he typically throws behind receivers, too high, too low. We're used to them making great catches but this group, outside of Broyles and occasionally Stills, hasn't done that nor should they be expected to game in and game out. When the pressure is on, Landry checks out.
So. Are we going to be Florida State and slip into mediocrity? Have we already? We're not even close to LSU, Bama, Oregon. We've seen how we faired against OSU and Baylor. Who would put money on us against Arky, Va Tech, Boise, Wisky, Mich St, Stanford, Georgia, USC? That's the short list.
We've turned into a fake. The defense is all talk. The offense is lifeless and predictable. But it really didn't just happen overnight. It's been smoke and mirrors for a few years now.