PlanoStang wrote:Anybody that thinks that Chad is doing that much better than ol JJ, or hasBennett is wearing
rose colored glasses.
SMU TCU
2002 #69 #80
2003 #62 #69
2004 #144 #89
2005 #82 #54
2006 #110 #60
2007 #99 #81
2008 #91 #97
2009 #81 #46
2010 #76 #46
2011 #50 #26
2012 #90 #37
2013 #71 #30
2014 #99 #50
2015 #74 #31
2016 #74 #20
2017 #75 so far
I think I have been pretty well established as trying not to "overhype" Morris or his recruiting classes. Keeping that in mind, I would like to point out the following:
1) When evaluating the classes, it is important to take a look at all 4 of the recruiting services (Rivals, Scout, ESPN, and 247). As Stallion mentions, the quality and ratings of rivals goes up and down, so just depending on one source isn't very accurate.
2) June's classes were way better than what Bennett did, even at the end.
3) Chad's recruiting classes to this point are way better than June's. One reason, as Stallion mentioned, is the non-qualifiers June recruited, which often inflated the classes. In fact, when you look at the drop in the rival's ratings year by year under June, one could argue that the difference at the end was that he stopped recruiting non-qualifiers. The reason the team went downhill was missing on or not developing the diamond in the rough players.
Another reason is that Rivals tends to look at top recruits in one light and then shoves everyone else in the same category. June would get a couple of guys that were really well regarded by a service, but then have a ton of guys that nobody knew anything about. But the way the Rival's system works, having a few guys at the top and a bunch of unknowns is essentially equivalent to having a consistently strong class. When you are building a football program, however, it is much better to have the depth.
I have a spreadsheet where I built this out in pretty strong detail, looking at ratings across the various services as well as offers. When you evaluate the players that were on the roster when June left versus what Chad brought in the first two classes, what you find at almost every single position is that June would have a player who was the highest one or two players at a particular position. But then the next 5 would be Chad guys, and the rest of the June recruits would be at the bottom of the list.
When you look at the difference between our 5-7 team this year and June's successful second season, it basically comes down to:
- we are playing in a tougher conference now
- June's starting QB and starting RB didn't get hurt
- June recruited better linebackers that came in and played immediately
Outside of that, looking at the rosters after year 2 of CM versus JJ:
- we have way more depth at QB now
- we have way more depth at RB now
- Receiver is a wash, maybe a nod to JJ until we see the redshirts in the spring
- JJ was a year ahead of CM on the OL because of pre-JJ recruits; we will see how much we caught up in the spring
- we have way more depth at DL now
- we have way more depth in the secondary now
- JJ was way ahead of CM at LB because of JD and Reed.
If the OL and LB groups come together before the fall, our team next year will easily be the best team we have had since the DP. And that is mostly due to Chad's recruiting.