So we're going to take a step back this year.
The assumption we as fans had was our offense, WRs, and QB would be upgraded by the new staff, and the running backs, OL, and defense would remain the same as last year or slightly upgrade/downgrade. That was a false theory.
The loss of Hardin, Buford, Travis, and depth at DE has downgraded our D from the start. The injuries at corner/safety have further degraded the depth, and the Cashman/Coughlin at DE experiment has been mixed thus far.
On offense we just don't have QB talent, WR experience, or OL depth/talent/experience/health to upgrade or even replicate what the coaches did at WMU, or even what we had last year. We now are down WRs 2,3,4 from injuries too.
Some perspective:
The roster holes are laid bare by the fact that this coaching staff is gearing up for the long term. Year zero, new culture, elite etc. Fleck is a program builder, he's a recruiter.
Sure throw in Croft to run and maybe things look somewhat better, then expect players to rebel against Fleck's culture and watch things degrade internally. Like they did when Claeys failed to lead on the sex scandal last year. No first year coach is going to let off the field bad behavior go undisciplined, not Kill, not Claeys.
Claeys and Kill were grinders, schemers, X's and O's were their specialty, they were up all night finding ways to gain an edge, but in the end they failed to build program depth because they depended on JUCO players too much, and frankly Limergrover's lack of recruiting talent did everyone a disservice, our QB, WR, and OL depth and talent is pretty awful. Especially OL.
Here's how I see this going:
We flounder this year, go 5-7 or 6-6.
Meanwhile Fleck will redshirt his guys from the past class, and bring in a lot of solid talent in the 2018 class.
We debut next year with a freshman at QB, lots of young WR talent, a year more seasoned at OL, but still probably start freshmen, and a restocked but young defense.
We likely struggle again, the natives get restless, but the team shows more signs of explosiveness and moments of impressive athleticism.
Fleck again brings in a good, possibly great class in 2019, we roll into that next season with a fuller squad of Flecks guys and then we will see what he can do as a coach. I bet we break through in 2020, or 2021 with a west title, just a feeling that this time is different. We're due as a program.
It sucks the momentum from coach Kill seems to have been blunted, but the hiring of Claeys and the subsequent turmoil and recruiting malaise, combined with poor recruiting at key spots going back awhile puts us here.
Mason won 10, Brew won 8, Kill won 8, Claeys won 9, Fleck will get us back there too, it's just not going to happen right away like we all wanted. Fleck has a chance to elevate past those coaches though, which is what it's all about anyway.
Enjoy the ride, hope for a few rivalry upset wins, and have fun watching the young talent develop.
Ski u mah, Go gophers!
