Sure, camp is a ways away, but for me it's not too early to start thinking about how are our newest "additions" (I'm not talking only players) will significantly change who we are by the time the season starts. With that said, here are some areas I absolutely think will be impacted.
Offensive Line continuity: Simply put, we must get better than we were last year. In our Spring Game, I saw hopeful signs even though we were patchwork at best. Getting Foster back is key number one. Not only is he a good player, but he makes all the line calls. We were brutally hurt when he was out last year. Gotta have him in there, though I I feel better on the depth backing him up now. Secondly, the reshuffling looks pretty permanent and I like it. I never really believed Bisontis was an automatic to kick inside. I saw the athleticism to play on the edge. I was surprised he pushed his way in so quickly. I didn't mind Deuce moving over if that gives us our best five. Overall, this group needs time to work together, so I am crossing my fingers they will have that. Less thought of additions will be Petrino, and yes, Addazio, who from what Mark said, was out much of last year. OCs and O Line coaches have to work in tandem so the the assignments/timing of the line and skill players can be in sync. I think both coaches have something to prove and I think it will show out in camp with very improved line play.
Installing all the schemes, particularly offense: I have to really wonder how much of our offense was really installed in the spring. I believe Petrino is still designing the offense he will ultimately utilize for us. Yes, the basic concepts are in. They have to be because with the practice restrictions now, camp simply is not enough time to install a whole offense. What I am speaking of are the nuanced concepts built around the skill sets of all his players. Some will be built around units like the line. Our line is pretty dang big. There are movement skills there but we aren't the "Hogs" of the great Washington pro teams of the '80s. In Petrino's offense, we will see less of those big risk/reward blocking schemes of the past few years. I definitely don't think we'll see our right tackle "crossing" to try to pick up a quick end rushing from the left. Players will be certainly be asked to take on some more difficult assignments. Petrino has a lot angle, reach and pulling concepts in his offense. If difficult for individual players, he can handle it a few different ways. Adapt to the player, as he did for Ryan Mallet, with number of steps he did for a particular drop back. Get another player to handle the assignment or scrap it completely. From what I've seen of his offense, he will be most flexible with what our QBs are good at. Best example is Lamar Jackson.
On defense, I think Durkin et al will being doing a lot more teaching some newcomers how to play positions as opposed to schemes so much, at least the beginning. I think he is ahead of the game because he's had so many guys who have played next to each other. Some guys are just going to have to learn trial by fire, but I expect the transfers to pick up the defensive concepts fairly quickly. SEC speed is another matter. They are just going to have see it and experience it.
Durkin's biggest challenge, in my mind, having his players stay disciplined. Most have had an offseason to get bigger and stronger. That was a big issue last year. They have also had a year to work on their collective football IQs. I expect the coaching changes on defense to be most impactful. Worst unit on our defense was the linebackers and it wasn't because we had bad players. They tried to do too much instead of just staying with their assignments and they weren't alone. I chalk some of that poor play to youth and inexperience. Shouldn't happen like that this year. Durkin with the backers should be a big help and I've read very good reports on the other coaches.
Recruiting - Transfers & Prep: The hire for the guy to as the NIL Liaison may not seem all that impactful but it is one of a number Program decisions we are making. It is changing who we are and who we will be in the short and long term. Getting out in front of keeping core players and bringing in new ones is part of the game nowadays, irrespective of how we personally feel about NIL and the like. We got caught off guard last year, even with "losses" that were certainly encouraged to happen. We weren't prepared to fill those spots with the portal as other teams were. We became dangerously thin in a lot of key positions (still are in some). There is no excuse for that for a program of our resources. Changes had to be made and they were. We plugged the depth drain this spring, picked up some guys and are in on others The guy from OSU is just the latest addition and I do think he will have an impact, if not immediately, then for sure in the very near future.
I like where we are headed. I can't wait til camp gets here.
Gig'em!
Offensive Line continuity: Simply put, we must get better than we were last year. In our Spring Game, I saw hopeful signs even though we were patchwork at best. Getting Foster back is key number one. Not only is he a good player, but he makes all the line calls. We were brutally hurt when he was out last year. Gotta have him in there, though I I feel better on the depth backing him up now. Secondly, the reshuffling looks pretty permanent and I like it. I never really believed Bisontis was an automatic to kick inside. I saw the athleticism to play on the edge. I was surprised he pushed his way in so quickly. I didn't mind Deuce moving over if that gives us our best five. Overall, this group needs time to work together, so I am crossing my fingers they will have that. Less thought of additions will be Petrino, and yes, Addazio, who from what Mark said, was out much of last year. OCs and O Line coaches have to work in tandem so the the assignments/timing of the line and skill players can be in sync. I think both coaches have something to prove and I think it will show out in camp with very improved line play.
Installing all the schemes, particularly offense: I have to really wonder how much of our offense was really installed in the spring. I believe Petrino is still designing the offense he will ultimately utilize for us. Yes, the basic concepts are in. They have to be because with the practice restrictions now, camp simply is not enough time to install a whole offense. What I am speaking of are the nuanced concepts built around the skill sets of all his players. Some will be built around units like the line. Our line is pretty dang big. There are movement skills there but we aren't the "Hogs" of the great Washington pro teams of the '80s. In Petrino's offense, we will see less of those big risk/reward blocking schemes of the past few years. I definitely don't think we'll see our right tackle "crossing" to try to pick up a quick end rushing from the left. Players will be certainly be asked to take on some more difficult assignments. Petrino has a lot angle, reach and pulling concepts in his offense. If difficult for individual players, he can handle it a few different ways. Adapt to the player, as he did for Ryan Mallet, with number of steps he did for a particular drop back. Get another player to handle the assignment or scrap it completely. From what I've seen of his offense, he will be most flexible with what our QBs are good at. Best example is Lamar Jackson.
On defense, I think Durkin et al will being doing a lot more teaching some newcomers how to play positions as opposed to schemes so much, at least the beginning. I think he is ahead of the game because he's had so many guys who have played next to each other. Some guys are just going to have to learn trial by fire, but I expect the transfers to pick up the defensive concepts fairly quickly. SEC speed is another matter. They are just going to have see it and experience it.
Durkin's biggest challenge, in my mind, having his players stay disciplined. Most have had an offseason to get bigger and stronger. That was a big issue last year. They have also had a year to work on their collective football IQs. I expect the coaching changes on defense to be most impactful. Worst unit on our defense was the linebackers and it wasn't because we had bad players. They tried to do too much instead of just staying with their assignments and they weren't alone. I chalk some of that poor play to youth and inexperience. Shouldn't happen like that this year. Durkin with the backers should be a big help and I've read very good reports on the other coaches.
Recruiting - Transfers & Prep: The hire for the guy to as the NIL Liaison may not seem all that impactful but it is one of a number Program decisions we are making. It is changing who we are and who we will be in the short and long term. Getting out in front of keeping core players and bringing in new ones is part of the game nowadays, irrespective of how we personally feel about NIL and the like. We got caught off guard last year, even with "losses" that were certainly encouraged to happen. We weren't prepared to fill those spots with the portal as other teams were. We became dangerously thin in a lot of key positions (still are in some). There is no excuse for that for a program of our resources. Changes had to be made and they were. We plugged the depth drain this spring, picked up some guys and are in on others The guy from OSU is just the latest addition and I do think he will have an impact, if not immediately, then for sure in the very near future.
I like where we are headed. I can't wait til camp gets here.
Gig'em!
