If I'd wrote this earlier today it would've been a lot more brutal. For 8-4, off a chance to go to Atlanta, it is harsh enough. So, was 7-1 just a maroon mirage? Well, yes and no. I, and many others on this board, said way before the season, that we had to get about three principal objectives met to become a better football program. They were, and are, (1) better culture (2) better coaching and (3) better play in the trenches. Number one, I think resoundingly yes from what Mark and others have stated. Two and three, only marginally so, and I that's what I'll discuss as part of my grades, beginning with coaching.
- Offensive Coordinator (C+) - I'm on record as being a pretty big Coach Klein fan so I'll take the hit from those of you pouncing on me for giving him a little a grace. Still, when you lose your top two RBs, center, best guard and change QBs midstream, a little grace is called for. On the flip side, I've seen what Coach Klein's more imaginative offense looks like and that's not the one he brought a lot of the season. His offense showed flashes but we can't work with flashes. The two red zone turnovers last night were a microcosm of his stubbornness, lack of creativity of key situations and failure to see past bad matchups this season. The SEC is not the Big 12. We are a more finesse than line'em up, run over'em O Line right now (more on that later). We did improve in scoring and running the ball, so kudos there. Given the injuries, changes and lack of explosiveness in the passing game, I think my grade is fair.
- O Line Coaching (B) - After last night, I believe some of you would really wish I'm going to lay a lot of struggles at Coach Cushing's feet, but I'm not going to. First, a lot of those sip players will play on Sundays and secondly, the line, despite last night, has been markedly better overall. Without a true passing game for much of the season, we ran the ball very, very well until Moss went down. Do we realize how hard that is?! Just getting the "right" 5 guys on the field was a serious upgrade from the last staff. Crownover's improvement had to take some really good teaching. Losing Nabou, who was just starting to get things, hurt, a lot. Piecing together the unit the rest of the year was good work. Penalties, however, demonstrated lack of discipline. Needs cleaned up. I know Coach Klein wants to be more physical, but again, I think Coach Cushing taught technique well.
- RB Coaching (B+) - It's really not on Coach Taylor we lacked depth or we had the injuries we did. The former is on on the HC and the latter, just bad luck. I came close to giving him an "A" just based on the production and how his kids carried the offense. They could still block a bit better, though Daniels was much better this year. No complaints.
- WR Coaching (C-) - Well, we did get warned Coach Wiggins was a much better recruiter than field coach. Appears so. While it's true we just don't have the dudes at wideout, not much has changed in the teaching, at least from my armchair point of view. To have an effective passing game, we need three elements. Protection, a QB who can deliver the football and guys who can get open. How long have we lamented about our guys not getting open?! Sure, we've had guys running open that our QBs have missed. We've all seen it. But generally, 80% of the passing game, imo, is about those plays where guys have to fight to get open and make a catch. Those plays, my fellow Ags, are where excellence in coaching comes in. We haven't had it for a long time and we didn't have it this year (sigh).
- TE Coaching (C-/D+) - I bounced back between "C- & D+" on this one because there was improvement at times then critical whiffs/mistakes also. When our TEs did their jobs, in the pass or run game, we were a very effective offense. When they didn't, they blew up the whole scheme. That simply can't happen and it did way too much. That goes back to coaching. Thor improved catching the ball, but did have a couple drops. The missed blocks/assignments/penalties by him and all the other TEs were more concerning. Back to coaching.
- Defensive Coordinator (F) - Hmmm...by all accounts a top flight D Line, a stack of DBs who should've been much better than who you had previously, if properly coached and put into better schemes, a freshman All-American LB amongst some other very talented young LBs, how can you screw that up?! Well, yes, you can, Coach Bateman. Other than the LBs, every unit regressed significantly as the season wore on. Every opponent appeared to catch on to your calls as the season wore on. Your team regressed in every basic fundamental of football i.e. tackling, assignments, run fits, coverage, penalties, you name it...as the season wore on. Tell me that is not coaching. I rest my case.
- D Line Coaching (D) - I simply cannot understand this one at all. Talent handed to these coaches on a silver platter and the play fell off a cliff. These kids did not forget how to play football overnight, but the last half of the season, it sure looked like it. I don't know how much was the schemes Coaches Spencer and TJE were given to coach and implement. Or what it was. But our D Line was atrocious for the talent we had and a lot of that has to be put on the unit coaches.
- LB Coaching (B-) - I'll have to put this in two buckets. First, York. True, he played next to an All-American himself last season. Yet, I don't think he was utilized properly this year. It hurt him and the team. The emergence of Scooby, however, was a revelation. I also believe the unit could've been even better with better schemes. We have the chance to be really good if most kids stick around.
- DB Coaching (C-) - The talent appeared to be better. The coaching was not. Missed assignments galore, poor tackling and an inability to play the ball. Coach A and Coach Peterson rolled out a secondary that looked little improved over the last staff and that is sad. We had more experience and should've taken a step forward...a small one at least. We didn't... Goes back to coaching.
- Specials (A) - See what having dedicated coaching means?
- Overall (C+) - I can't give Coach Elko much more after the huge fade down the stretch. I think Coach Bateman ends up being a bad hire. The defensive flaws will bother Coach Elko more. I'm not sure on Coaches Spencer, TJE, Aristide and Peterson, though I believe the D Line's terrible underperformance makes them on the chopping block first. Coach Wiggins' recruiting probably causes him to stick. As for Coach Klein, I don't see changes there, especially given the injuries and lack of weapons at WR. Everyone else, safe for now.
