This argument about talent is irrelevant. And I'm not going after you here but this common theme.
We've never had much talent on offense. Really ever, at least collectively at one time. We've had some stud RB's, good oline play, and Easley at wideout sprinkled in over the years. And yet with defenses not quite as good as we had last year, we still made it to bowl games season after season, with one being the Fiesta Bowl.
Yet GDL couldn't direct the offense out of a paper bag. No one's talking about world class offensive talent, but we had a handful of players that are at worst "serviceable" or manageable, on par with the talent level of prior seasons. And yet we achieved a level of incompetence on offense that is matched by only 2 or 3 other cellar-dwelling programs in all of FBS football.
When the level of play of the defense is a constant (for the most part), and the talent level on offense is a constant (for the most part), with the only change in the equation being the coaching and direction of the offense, it seems pretty clear to me where 8-9 win seasons become 5 wins and staying home in December and January.
I completely disagree with you on past talent on offense, Remember, we are talking college talent, not pro talent. We have had great college offensive players at running back (pretty much every year from Caully to Todman), and most importantly offensive line (from Ryan Krug to Mike Ryan).
Last season, I would say Griffin was the only above average college talent. That is not to say some will not develop as they get older (I think we have some promising WR's and OL). I fully expect some of the younger guys to get better with another year in the weightroom and more reps in games and practice, I saw flashes from the two starting wide receivers, and I am not giving up on McCombs yet.
I completely 100% agree that this should have been a bowl team. No questions. I have said in other threads my feelings on the offensive scheme. Specifically: 1. We should have never changed the blocking scheme/o line coach. Mike Foley can get an O line to run block, and play as a cohesive unit. He has a proven track record of that. Instead of trying to run stretch runs, they should have been running inside traps, toss sweeps, and counter tres. Get those lineman moving to open the holes. 2. The offensive scheme should have been tight end heavy. Two tight ends, create mismatches with Griffin on a linebacker. Utilize play action to freeze the D a little. 3. While Foley could have greatly improved the run blocking, IMO, the pass blocking was a train wreck. And something that could be helped with scheme changes. Instead of 4 and 5 step drops, have the QB do 3 step drops (see my tight end point # 2). Take the snap, quick read, and throw. Takes pressure off the linemen. Use a FB to chip at a D End.
The point being, when you find a weakness on your O, you have to try and solve it the best you can through scheme.
