The 2019 season ended with a dud in the Gasparilla Bowl on Monday. It goes to show that overall team speed makes a difference when you size up teams in the Group of 5. There's some G5 teams who can hang with and beat Power 5 teams on a regular basis, and if Marshall is to do that, team speed needs to improve on both sides of the ball. It was evident in the 90s and early 2000's and also in 2013 and 2014 that the Herd's team speed was top notch and made a difference when lining up against teams with better players or a better scheme both offensively and defensively. UCF exposed that early and often Monday afternoon. It wasn't as glaring during the regular season, but you saw it against the Knights.
Heading into spring football, there is only ONE player who should have his starting position next season and that's Brenden Knox (and maybe Tavante Beckett). Everyone else should be looking over their shoulder. Competition brings out the best in performance and with some uneven play this season from individuals and units, you have to look at what fits best in 2020 and when we play East Carolina Week 1 there can't be any questions about which 22 can help win games. That said, you need to have open competition across the board including quarterback. It's unsettling when you don't know how you want to move forward into next season when your incumbent has 23 games of experience. However, Isaiah knows it's on him and he has to step up. He has flashed some of that ability and has been inconsistent in his body of work. Some of you have seen Grant Wells play in HS. Everyone who has spoken to me about him says he's a quick study and can make plays in and out of the pocket. Hopefully that translates to the college game. That's the biggest question heading into spring ball. Maybe the light bulb clicks on for Green and he takes the next step as a junior. Other guys have done it, no reason to think he can't. No one knows until it happens, so unless a GT can step in immediately, no need to waste time with that. Our next on field question is finding quality specialists to replace our long snapper, holder, and potentially an NFL caliber placekicker. Those stand out to me the most. So many games are won and lost in the third phase of the game, ask WKU.
I believe that Doc will step down after the 2020 season. If you look at this year's class with all of the JUCO players, he's looking for guys who can step in and compete right away instead of playing the waiting game and seeing if guys develop over time. It appears as though he's going to finish out his contract and retire. He's done what he could at Marshall and I believe this upcoming season will be his last. The state pension comes into play and it's a young man's game now. Moving forward, the next coach should be Adam Fuller, currently at Florida State. I've been a slight advocate for him a little while now. He would be the right fit for a number of reasons. 1. His familiarity with the program. (LB/SAF - 2013-2017 and DC - 2018). 2. His defenses had not only solid rankings, but had good size and speed at all three levels. 3. Has tested himself at other locations (Memphis and now FSU). 4. Temperament. He's good with his players, fellow coaches, the media, and most anyone he comes in contact with. I interviewed him just before he took the Memphis job and he has what it takes in my opinion. He would bring a fresh enthusiasm to the program and a blue collar work ethic that would translate well with the fan base and players alike.
In 2020 there are some key guys coming back and we have to replace some important seniors as well. This would translate into 8-4 or 7-5 in my estimation. Chad Pennington spoke with me in a recent podcast saying that the program needs to take the next step forward. I agree with him, but if you don't hit a home run with the next coach, you will not have the success you've come to expect. A quality QB coach is needed regardless of who the quarterback is. Once those things are in place, then you will have the opportunity for success. Doug Chapman spoke with me in the same podcast and said the program is on solid ground. I say it's better than over half of the Group of 5. In order to do better, they will have to improve team speed and get more production from the skill positions and the quarterback. 2019 was a season of questions. Hopefully those questions will be answered in 2020 and beyond.
Keep listening to the podcasts, let's root for the basketball team and let's have a great 2020.
Heading into spring football, there is only ONE player who should have his starting position next season and that's Brenden Knox (and maybe Tavante Beckett). Everyone else should be looking over their shoulder. Competition brings out the best in performance and with some uneven play this season from individuals and units, you have to look at what fits best in 2020 and when we play East Carolina Week 1 there can't be any questions about which 22 can help win games. That said, you need to have open competition across the board including quarterback. It's unsettling when you don't know how you want to move forward into next season when your incumbent has 23 games of experience. However, Isaiah knows it's on him and he has to step up. He has flashed some of that ability and has been inconsistent in his body of work. Some of you have seen Grant Wells play in HS. Everyone who has spoken to me about him says he's a quick study and can make plays in and out of the pocket. Hopefully that translates to the college game. That's the biggest question heading into spring ball. Maybe the light bulb clicks on for Green and he takes the next step as a junior. Other guys have done it, no reason to think he can't. No one knows until it happens, so unless a GT can step in immediately, no need to waste time with that. Our next on field question is finding quality specialists to replace our long snapper, holder, and potentially an NFL caliber placekicker. Those stand out to me the most. So many games are won and lost in the third phase of the game, ask WKU.
I believe that Doc will step down after the 2020 season. If you look at this year's class with all of the JUCO players, he's looking for guys who can step in and compete right away instead of playing the waiting game and seeing if guys develop over time. It appears as though he's going to finish out his contract and retire. He's done what he could at Marshall and I believe this upcoming season will be his last. The state pension comes into play and it's a young man's game now. Moving forward, the next coach should be Adam Fuller, currently at Florida State. I've been a slight advocate for him a little while now. He would be the right fit for a number of reasons. 1. His familiarity with the program. (LB/SAF - 2013-2017 and DC - 2018). 2. His defenses had not only solid rankings, but had good size and speed at all three levels. 3. Has tested himself at other locations (Memphis and now FSU). 4. Temperament. He's good with his players, fellow coaches, the media, and most anyone he comes in contact with. I interviewed him just before he took the Memphis job and he has what it takes in my opinion. He would bring a fresh enthusiasm to the program and a blue collar work ethic that would translate well with the fan base and players alike.
In 2020 there are some key guys coming back and we have to replace some important seniors as well. This would translate into 8-4 or 7-5 in my estimation. Chad Pennington spoke with me in a recent podcast saying that the program needs to take the next step forward. I agree with him, but if you don't hit a home run with the next coach, you will not have the success you've come to expect. A quality QB coach is needed regardless of who the quarterback is. Once those things are in place, then you will have the opportunity for success. Doug Chapman spoke with me in the same podcast and said the program is on solid ground. I say it's better than over half of the Group of 5. In order to do better, they will have to improve team speed and get more production from the skill positions and the quarterback. 2019 was a season of questions. Hopefully those questions will be answered in 2020 and beyond.
Keep listening to the podcasts, let's root for the basketball team and let's have a great 2020.
