This should end any discussion on Edsall & Crocker for right now. I don't think they're world-beaters by any means, but if they had that roster the past two years things would be different. Let them rebuild the defense and see where we stand.
Ok, what is the timeline and when will we know it is working?
Give me an acceptable result for the RI game. Give me point spread, yardage, something to quantify what would be ok playing a FBS team at home in game 3 of the experienced coach's 2nd year on the job. I'll be ok with a game played within less than 2 touchdowns, win or lose.
As to rebuild, when is the "too young" to compete get lifted and when does the not talented enough get put on HCRE2.0? 2018 has HCRE2.0's 1st real class so for him to get real shot at showing what he can do with "his" guys they need to at least be juniors so has at least one other class with over a year on campus. So that gets us to 2020 (with his Diaco/HCRE2.0 hybrid class as seniors). I'll give up 2018 as it will be whatever (maybe UCF type 0-12 where talent is better than the record) but what is ok on the rebuild path for 2019: more wins than 2018 (could be zero in 2018), more wins than 2017, bowl game?
HCRE2.0 needs to show in game 15 of his second tenure that whether too young, too slow, too weak, or too low football IQ as a team he and his coaches can get them to compete (didn't say beat) with the RI's of the football world at home.