Before the football season actually started this year, we all considered ourselves to be a major threat for a NC....and then the season began. Nearly everyone looked to be no better...if not worse than last year. We got rocked by some key injuries, Rattler was benched, we struggled against every decent opponent on the schedule including some that were not even decent. Despite TBOW's most talented roster, we got the least desirable results. Lots of concerns raised before he bolted on run game schemes, terrible gameplans and playcalls as well has issues brought up about the S&C program (which were a concern when Wylie was brought in).
It's fair to say the OL under BB was not an issue while Bob and Schmitty were here. Other than last year...BB's recruiting classes have been amongst his best. Has the development been there? Who's to say what the issue has been with development as well. I think we could say they've mostly been decent at pass blocking. They would likely be better at it if we had better run game schemes. Personally, I project we'll get better on the OL with the addition of Schmitty and the culture he and Brent bring along with the run game schemes employed by Lebby. Bold prediction: Many around here are going to fall in love with BB again next year and the OL recruiting will take off again. It's hard for me to hold this recruiting season against BB. If things didn't change, he has a good shot at some guys but we are NOT void of talent in that room right now and it's by far not the thinnest OL room I've seen here at OU. We won a NC with a far less talented OL that didn't even have a full 2 deep.
I am reasonably happy with the way recruiting has rebounded. Bob, Gundy and Murray did a tremendous job of keeping everything together as well as possible for a week. The defections have hurt and the kids interested who moved on hurt...but in the long run, we'll be fine because we have the right man in charge. BV has worked tirelessly to keep our class and keep kids on campus. I think it's been a MASTERFUL display. You're kidding yourself if you don't think that this has been a truly remarkable job of holding down the fort and trying to add some pieces. If there's anyone who knows something about sifting through the remaining pieces...it's going to be BV. We're going to find some kids in January that sign in February that are going to be players. You can count on it.
Finally...the defensive hires. Looks like we have maybe 2-3 more hires left? Analysts possibly as well? I think there is a fair reason why we let Thibs go and it's likely because the guy he has in mind is better and he can't go get him right now. That should be fairly obvious for any level headed person. It would be safe to say we have a CB coach out there as well still playing or recruiting for someone else. I think we'll be happy with these hires. I know people are flipping out about Roof but to me, he's a short-term, developmental hire. He's likely here because he's experienced in the role, experienced in what BV wants to do defensively and old enough he's not going to have an ego about doing what BV wants or being overridden on a gameday call. He's likely also here to help develop our future DC. Whether that's Hall or whomever....the next DC is likely going to be on this staff. Roof will be an extension of BV so that BV can be involved in everything.....but make no mistake....BV is going to be deeply involved in defense.
There's so much handwringing and bedwetting around here. TBOW left. We took a little bit of a setback but if you ask me....we came out ok. There are holes....but we'll be ok and they will find solutions in January. I'm still pleasantly surprised with our recruiting class for December. If anyone would have told me we'd lose Brown but still have Sawchuck and get Barnes...I'd be good. The OL misses are disappointing but if Sexton and Taylor wind up being players...we'll be fine there. I still expect we land a few more guys in January. We lose the DL guys.....that's the big bummer but obviously BV wanted to go a different way than Cain/Thibs and those guys were with them. I'm sure they will locate some guys in January as well. The DB/TE/LB/WR we've kept/added are some of our most immediate needs. We are likely to add a top 100 WR to the mix and got a QB. There are setbacks...but we're not nearly in as bad of shape as we could have been.
It's fair to say the OL under BB was not an issue while Bob and Schmitty were here. Other than last year...BB's recruiting classes have been amongst his best. Has the development been there? Who's to say what the issue has been with development as well. I think we could say they've mostly been decent at pass blocking. They would likely be better at it if we had better run game schemes. Personally, I project we'll get better on the OL with the addition of Schmitty and the culture he and Brent bring along with the run game schemes employed by Lebby. Bold prediction: Many around here are going to fall in love with BB again next year and the OL recruiting will take off again. It's hard for me to hold this recruiting season against BB. If things didn't change, he has a good shot at some guys but we are NOT void of talent in that room right now and it's by far not the thinnest OL room I've seen here at OU. We won a NC with a far less talented OL that didn't even have a full 2 deep.
I am reasonably happy with the way recruiting has rebounded. Bob, Gundy and Murray did a tremendous job of keeping everything together as well as possible for a week. The defections have hurt and the kids interested who moved on hurt...but in the long run, we'll be fine because we have the right man in charge. BV has worked tirelessly to keep our class and keep kids on campus. I think it's been a MASTERFUL display. You're kidding yourself if you don't think that this has been a truly remarkable job of holding down the fort and trying to add some pieces. If there's anyone who knows something about sifting through the remaining pieces...it's going to be BV. We're going to find some kids in January that sign in February that are going to be players. You can count on it.
Finally...the defensive hires. Looks like we have maybe 2-3 more hires left? Analysts possibly as well? I think there is a fair reason why we let Thibs go and it's likely because the guy he has in mind is better and he can't go get him right now. That should be fairly obvious for any level headed person. It would be safe to say we have a CB coach out there as well still playing or recruiting for someone else. I think we'll be happy with these hires. I know people are flipping out about Roof but to me, he's a short-term, developmental hire. He's likely here because he's experienced in the role, experienced in what BV wants to do defensively and old enough he's not going to have an ego about doing what BV wants or being overridden on a gameday call. He's likely also here to help develop our future DC. Whether that's Hall or whomever....the next DC is likely going to be on this staff. Roof will be an extension of BV so that BV can be involved in everything.....but make no mistake....BV is going to be deeply involved in defense.
There's so much handwringing and bedwetting around here. TBOW left. We took a little bit of a setback but if you ask me....we came out ok. There are holes....but we'll be ok and they will find solutions in January. I'm still pleasantly surprised with our recruiting class for December. If anyone would have told me we'd lose Brown but still have Sawchuck and get Barnes...I'd be good. The OL misses are disappointing but if Sexton and Taylor wind up being players...we'll be fine there. I still expect we land a few more guys in January. We lose the DL guys.....that's the big bummer but obviously BV wanted to go a different way than Cain/Thibs and those guys were with them. I'm sure they will locate some guys in January as well. The DB/TE/LB/WR we've kept/added are some of our most immediate needs. We are likely to add a top 100 WR to the mix and got a QB. There are setbacks...but we're not nearly in as bad of shape as we could have been.
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