If it is the number of Ws, then yes, we have made some progress as we have won a whole 2 more games than last year. Doubling the number of victories. But I like to see it terms of the weekly games. If you look at just the wins, we had to come back in the second half to beat KSU and WIU. We handled RU and played the best game of the year versus Minny. So, according to the line, we won one more game than what was predicted. In fact, most people here predicted 4 to 5 wins. I think I had 3 or 4. However, I don't think we can look at those games as progress because we were expected to win those games...maybe a toss up against Minny.
So, on to the losses...defensive collapse in the last 6 minutes cost us the USF game. We looked darn good up until that point. After the game, yea, Lovie should have gone for it on a couple 4th downs to keep the drives going instead of kicking field goals. PSU, we looked good until the 4th quarter and then collapsed again and got blown out.
The other losses...not even close. Blow outs from the opening kick off. Purdue game got our DC fired. Game against Minny cost them their DC so that evens out.
Honestly, I can see some progress. Offense looked good in most games. Defense, what the heck is going on? We are not strong enough up front nor at linebacker. We just get pushed around and out of position. Something Zook said stuck with me. Year 1, lose big. Year 2, lose small. Year 3, win small. Year 4, win big. Well, we are still losing big and looking like horse s**t in the process. I do see some progress but it is all on the offensive side of the ball. We still make far too many stupid mistakes. Below average at the qb position, too many dropped passes when they are on target. Then again, maybe that is why they are dropped. The receiver is shocked that the ball is actually there. Defense, wow, what an abolute joke. Lovie needs to land a bunch of 5* defensive kids to make progress. Getting 2 or 3* players and hoping to beef them up and coach them up in two years just takes too long.
So, I guess I see some progress on the offense and none on the defense. Overall, the huge blowouts, when looked at as a whole, are what is so upsetting and embarrassing. Not being competitive at all against Iowa, Nebby, Wisky, Purdue looks awful. If the fighting Fitzees blow us out, JW has to step in and doing something about hiring D coaches. I doubt Lovie gets fired. I think we are stuck with another year of crap before a new coach comes in and this cycle starts all over again. So this is a long post to say that it is the huge losses that are so upsetting. Today was just a collapse in every aspect of the game; offense, defense, special teams. Probably the worst game of the year. I just can't watch anymore. If Fitzee is smart, he will just beat us by 14 to ensure another year of Lovie.
So, on to the losses...defensive collapse in the last 6 minutes cost us the USF game. We looked darn good up until that point. After the game, yea, Lovie should have gone for it on a couple 4th downs to keep the drives going instead of kicking field goals. PSU, we looked good until the 4th quarter and then collapsed again and got blown out.
The other losses...not even close. Blow outs from the opening kick off. Purdue game got our DC fired. Game against Minny cost them their DC so that evens out.
Honestly, I can see some progress. Offense looked good in most games. Defense, what the heck is going on? We are not strong enough up front nor at linebacker. We just get pushed around and out of position. Something Zook said stuck with me. Year 1, lose big. Year 2, lose small. Year 3, win small. Year 4, win big. Well, we are still losing big and looking like horse s**t in the process. I do see some progress but it is all on the offensive side of the ball. We still make far too many stupid mistakes. Below average at the qb position, too many dropped passes when they are on target. Then again, maybe that is why they are dropped. The receiver is shocked that the ball is actually there. Defense, wow, what an abolute joke. Lovie needs to land a bunch of 5* defensive kids to make progress. Getting 2 or 3* players and hoping to beef them up and coach them up in two years just takes too long.
So, I guess I see some progress on the offense and none on the defense. Overall, the huge blowouts, when looked at as a whole, are what is so upsetting and embarrassing. Not being competitive at all against Iowa, Nebby, Wisky, Purdue looks awful. If the fighting Fitzees blow us out, JW has to step in and doing something about hiring D coaches. I doubt Lovie gets fired. I think we are stuck with another year of crap before a new coach comes in and this cycle starts all over again. So this is a long post to say that it is the huge losses that are so upsetting. Today was just a collapse in every aspect of the game; offense, defense, special teams. Probably the worst game of the year. I just can't watch anymore. If Fitzee is smart, he will just beat us by 14 to ensure another year of Lovie.
