Yep, the slide started last year "on the field", our offense fell off quite a bit but it was hard to tell if it was due to a freshman qb or there were a lot more issues than that. This year told the tell. The difference between last year and this year is last year we had a solid D to bail out our offense many times, this year our d is in rebuilding mode due to attrition and graduation. To me, the glaring issue is since Hartley left, and Seider, our recruiting has fallen off in a major way, we aren't getting producers to fill gaps like we were getting under them. Recruiting has to be addressed, we are no longer outmanning the underlings of our own crap conference. Maybe its taking too many risks instead of just going after the solid player, I really don't know, but its obvious that the non high risk players we did take aren't up to the task and lacking considerably. We are lacking speed at skill set position, and the football IQ is lacking too, bad combo. How many Qb's do we have to recruit to sit and watch them fizzle and leave as well. Doc saying personel issues is an understatement.
As far as coaches, shew where do you begin. Start with Legg, his offense worked with Cato simply because Cato could turn a turd into a good play, many plays broke down that he was able to save. We do not have a Cato like Qb to do that right now so it falls back on the crap playbook that legg uses..........and he doesn't adjust to what he has to work with. He did with Anderson, so I do not know why he wants to put a square peg in a round hole, the read and ride doesn't work with chase or whoever else is on the team. Proof is in the numbers, compare 2012 to now, you see the major drop off after Cato left. Legg needs to go, if he can't adjust and use what we have, then he is not a good OC. Second, Mirabol has done nothing but lead our Oline from average to way below average since he has been here, he is the next one that needs to go. Wr coach, we never had a good one here in my opinion, the WR quit on the plays after running their vanilla routes, lack speed and suck as getting separation, have for while. Shuler was good due to himself and his history with Cato. Outside of that, what can the multiple wr coaches hold their hat on? We also stopped using TE as much when we have play makers there. Ok lets get on the Defensive side. Heater I feel is a good DC, but some position coaches are questionable, the DL made no strides all season and these aren't new guys, they have played in a good number of games before this season. So how did that group alone fall so far. Lb, I never once saw them just react to the play, I always saw hesitation. The one game they reacted, we won, imagine that (MTSU).
Make a long story short, a sizable staff overhaul is needed, the question is, are there any quality replacements that will come here. I hate to say even our players are needed in an overhaul, but that will require patience for an quality freshman to get up to speed or a large influx of Juco's, even then they are hit and miss, you have to unteach them and hope they can be taught to your system.
I bought the UL tickets before the Akron game, honestly if I waited till after, I wouldn't have bought them. Call me a fan that bailed on the team if you want. Why would I drive 4 hours, pay 300$ for tickets, gas, concession, to watch a team that mailed it in after a horrible Akron game. I obviously wasn't the only die hard fan to do it, stands were evident of that. I am sorry Mr. Hamrick but business is business.