This is my very summarized opinion of what my take is at this point - it is an opinion, and I don't offer it as fact:
- Offense did not really improve or get worse in my opinion (too many ups and downs)
- But, with such a patchwork O line, it is really difficult to assess - I do believe that Key did a good job of improving the offensive line, based on what was available to him
- Defense seemed to wear down a bit over the season, as it would make sense that would happen, with such limited depth and size on the DL
- The defensive backfield is the major highlight of the team - they had very few fundamental breakdowns during the season
- Our punter is solid, but we knew that - we worked him a little too much
- Our kicker(s) looked bad this year on FG attempts, but I blame this on coaching - you go with a kicker that gets it done in the game situations, until he does not get it done
- Special teams were myeh basically - not terrible, probably a little better in general than previous years, but not consistent either
- Recruiting, although so far a step up for sure (and the transfers that could not play this year will definitely help), is still not showing the kind of commitments for the DL and OL that are needed (enough of them - and the high 3 star or 4 star talent), but this is difficult for any non-football factory, especially on the DL - just a numbers game - not enough big nasties to go around
- Fan base has definitely not grown in 2019 - at least not the ones that attend and spend - hoping this can change over the next few years
I would be surprised next year if we win 4 or more games with our schedule. If the coaching performs miracles, a bowl game could be had, but I think it would require some superb coaching. Now, I say all of this with the background of seeing our offensive skill players this year (especially QB) in this P-nut offense. Maybe, if a QB steps up (and his talent around him makes a monumental leap upward), a coaching miracle would not be required to get to 6 wins. I will continue to believe that CGC needs a play calling/play design genius for his OC, especially at GT.
This is what I see - I also hope and pray that CGC is growing and learning as he goes, because with only 2 years of HC experience, he still had a lot to learn - he must be willing to change when change is needed - flexibility to see what works and what does not work is CRITICAL. This includes his asst. coach decisions (hirings and firings) going forward.
Opinions on your opinions:
1. Yes. This was, I think, mainly a matter of the lack of flexibility you mention later. What we should have done is go really multiple a la Wisconsin with the run predominating. The team was recruited to run, so why stop them? I understand we wanted to look good to recruits, but really …
2. I agree. The nagging injuries really hurt.
3. Losing Dawson and Owens really, really hurt our DL performance, imho. DE was hit and hit hard.
4. I don't think they were quite that good, but better, at least.
5. Harvin led the nation in the number of punts! Our only national ranking!
6. Yesssssss. I don't think we did ourselves any favors by not using Welles on FGs. King could have done KOs. I don't have a clue as to why this happened, but it was obvious that Welles kicked with less confidence this year.
7. Yes. We pretty much sucked, especially when receiving. It often seemed that our return people hadn't been getting even rudimentary instruction.
8. Yes. People need to look at the some players who developed into good DLs at Tech:
Gotsis: He's from OZ, for Christ's sake!
Perdoni: He was 5'10" playing DT.
Rudolph: He was recruited as a LB and grew out of it.
Walker: He had one offer (Tech) from a major program when he committed.
Coleman: He was a tween that nobody wanted to take a chance on. Except Ross.
Johnson: He was a 6'7" 215 lb. TE who wanted to play D. Nobody would promise to give him a chance there. Except Chan.
And the list goes on …
Tech has signed some DLs who fit the profile - Richards, Barnes, Attaochu, Cross - but most of our good ones have been stretches. We need to rustle the bushes as hard as we can and hope the staff has an eye for talent. Overall, we've done ok this year; I think we'll end up in the high 20s or low 30s in ranking. We need to be patient about DLs, however, and about recruiting going forward.
9. Yep. I think this is pretty much in the cards, given the school's small alum base. Then there's the declining interest in football (American style, at least) playing into it in the future. But, like you say, everybody is having this problem.
