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We need to be patient because as we saw today that it is going to take a while to get things turned around like it did at USF. We don't need to hear how well we are doing in Spring practice nor quick thought on the Memphis game. We need good D1A players. And that is going to take time.

After a few spring practices, expectations will be all out of whack yet again.

10 wins

Rebel10 wrote:We need to be patient because as we saw today that it is going to take a while to get things turned around like it did at USF. We don't need to hear how well we are doing in Spring practice nor quick thought on the Memphis game. We need good D1A players. And that is going to take time.

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sbsmith wrote:After a few spring practices, expectations will be all out of whack yet again.

You might be right about that. But as someone pointed out that they are probably going to look good because they are playing against themselves. But we all know the reports that will come out of it. I don't pay attention to these like some do or those that go to Spring practice and say we are massively improved in areas when we really are not. You can't tell until we line up against a few teams during the season.

I love that people year after year take reports about spring or summer practice seriously and then year after year they complain that those reports were too positive.

Oh come on, we can already hear your glowing reports about the amazing true freshman defensive recruits.

footballdad wrote:Oh come on, we can already hear your glowing reports about the amazing true freshman defensive recruits.

True freshmen will not be here during the Spring only the ones that have been redshirted. And even when they get here it is still going to take some time. See USF.

Rebel10 wrote:

footballdad wrote:Oh come on, we can already hear your glowing reports about the amazing true freshman defensive recruits.

True freshmen will not be here during the Spring only the ones that have been redshirted. And even when they get here it is still going to take some time. See USF.

30 seniors -> zero difference makers
Complete defensive rebuild.

I think the spring reports were pretty clear about the offensive line really struggling. Pointed out that Sutton would be good, and that Lawler would be good. Saw flashes from Hollie and Minor and was hopeful, but unfortunately it stayed as flashes. Thought the secondary would struggle a bit (I think the two true frosh getting injured really hurt us. When they started Castle at safety in the Spring instead of AJ, I thought for sure it was to open a starting spot for that frosh). Personally, I am not going to throw the individual players who are really struggling under the bus as much as I can, but I will call out if personnel groups really struggle. More likely to point out the players who are doing well.

I missed big on 2 things. 1) I thought Davis would have a better overall season. I think I had him at 3500 total yards and he only ended up at 3000. Keep in mind that about 80% of the people on this board had Hicks starting by the 3rd game.

2) MLB. Rhone and Horton played pretty well during the spring, anyone who watched those practices would say that. They were awful during the season. During the season, our defense dominated less talented teams. It was obvious in the Spring that they were dominating our offense... which happened before the frosh showed up so our offense was much less talented. What was so surprising was how poorly the entire defense played against better teams. Night and day. It shouldn't be to that extreme.

Later, as we started Fall practice, I predicted 6-6 coming into the season based on a couple of things. 1) I thought the o-line would be better with Brown and Hyder coming back after taking the Spring off and that 75 and 71 would get back to their form from 2 years ago. 2) I thought the new recruits on offense would have a big impact. 3) I bought the hype from the coaches about Shaq being a perfect fit for the Star position. 4) I underestimated the strength of the AAC. I thought we would see significant regression from some teams in conference (ECU, Temple) and that south florida was going to still be bad. I was certainly wrong about that.

FYI, go and look at the write-ups from Scout and Rivals from the spring. Everyone was optimistic about the defense. And everyone coming into the season thought we would surprise people. We were all on the same page about that. Its very hard to not be optimistic when you spend any time with this coaching staff.

JasonB wrote:I think the spring reports were pretty clear about the offensive line really struggling. Pointed out that Sutton would be good, and that Lawler would be good. Saw flashes from Hollie and Minor and was hopeful, but unfortunately it stayed as flashes. Thought the secondary would struggle a bit (I think the two true frosh getting injured really hurt us. When they started Castle at safety in the Spring instead of AJ, I thought for sure it was to open a starting spot for that frosh). Personally, I am not going to throw the individual players who are really struggling under the bus as much as I can, but I will call out if personnel groups really struggle. More likely to point out the players who are doing well.

I missed big on 2 things. 1) I thought Davis would have a better overall season. I think I had him at 3500 total yards and he only ended up at 3000. Keep in mind that about 80% of the people on this board had Hicks starting by the 3rd game.

2) MLB. Rhone and Horton played pretty well during the spring, anyone who watched those practices would say that. They were awful during the season. During the season, our defense dominated less talented teams. It was obvious in the Spring that they were dominating our offense... which happened before the frosh showed up so our offense was much less talented. What was so surprising was how poorly the entire defense played against better teams. Night and day. It shouldn't be to that extreme.

Later, as we started Fall practice, I predicted 6-6 coming into the season based on a couple of things. 1) I thought the o-line would be better with Brown and Hyder coming back after taking the Spring off and that 75 and 71 would get back to their form from 2 years ago. 2) I thought the new recruits on offense would have a big impact. 3) I bought the hype from the coaches about Shaq being a perfect fit for the Star position. 4) I underestimated the strength of the AAC. I thought we would see significant regression from some teams in conference (ECU, Temple) and that south florida was going to still be bad. I was certainly wrong about that.

FYI, go and look at the write-ups from Scout and Rivals from the spring. Everyone was optimistic about the defense. And everyone coming into the season thought we would surprise people. We were all on the same page about that. Its very hard to not be optimistic when you spend any time with this coaching staff.

Seems like a little too much optimism, cheerleading, and twitter........not enough X's & O's, game planning, and culture change.

How is anyone to believe they have made any progress in changing the culture of the program, when they end the season with a 63-0 debacle, and the coach seems to be dumbfounded as to the reason?

JasonB wrote:FYI, go and look at the write-ups from Scout and Rivals from the spring. Everyone was optimistic about the defense. And everyone coming into the season thought we would surprise people. We were all on the same page about that. Its very hard to not be optimistic when you spend any time with this coaching staff.

Those people have to be optimistic because it's how they get/keep subscribers. Everyone didn't buy into that crap though.

JasonB wrote:I think the spring reports were pretty clear about the offensive line really struggling. Pointed out that Sutton would be good, and that Lawler would be good. Saw flashes from Hollie and Minor and was hopeful, but unfortunately it stayed as flashes. Thought the secondary would struggle a bit (I think the two true frosh getting injured really hurt us. When they started Castle at safety in the Spring instead of AJ, I thought for sure it was to open a starting spot for that frosh). Personally, I am not going to throw the individual players who are really struggling under the bus as much as I can, but I will call out if personnel groups really struggle. More likely to point out the players who are doing well.

I missed big on 2 things. 1) I thought Davis would have a better overall season. I think I had him at 3500 total yards and he only ended up at 3000. Keep in mind that about 80% of the people on this board had Hicks starting by the 3rd game.

2) MLB. Rhone and Horton played pretty well during the spring, anyone who watched those practices would say that. They were awful during the season. During the season, our defense dominated less talented teams. It was obvious in the Spring that they were dominating our offense... which happened before the frosh showed up so our offense was much less talented. What was so surprising was how poorly the entire defense played against better teams. Night and day. It shouldn't be to that extreme.

Later, as we started Fall practice, I predicted 6-6 coming into the season based on a couple of things. 1) I thought the o-line would be better with Brown and Hyder coming back after taking the Spring off and that 75 and 71 would get back to their form from 2 years ago. 2) I thought the new recruits on offense would have a big impact. 3) I bought the hype from the coaches about Shaq being a perfect fit for the Star position. 4) I underestimated the strength of the AAC. I thought we would see significant regression from some teams in conference (ECU, Temple) and that south florida was going to still be bad. I was certainly wrong about that.

FYI, go and look at the write-ups from Scout and Rivals from the spring. Everyone was optimistic about the defense. And everyone coming into the season thought we would surprise people. We were all on the same page about that. Its very hard to not be optimistic when you spend any time with this coaching staff.

You were the main one saying the offense line was improved. You even badgered the coaches about it during a meet the coaches event trying to prove your point, The reports on PF made it seem like the team would be better but it does every year. In fact I made a little joke about how overly optimistic the reports are on PF and you did not like it but I was correct. Go look at he reports on PF. I said that the coaches told everyone to temper expectations but you did the opposite as 6-6 was ridiculous. Rivals and Scout were not as over the top optimistic as you were. But as one of the posters pointed they are going t look good in Spring practice because they are playing against each other. It means nothing. You have to play the first game or 2 to really see what you have.

sbsmith wrote:

JasonB wrote:FYI, go and look at the write-ups from Scout and Rivals from the spring. Everyone was optimistic about the defense. And everyone coming into the season thought we would surprise people. We were all on the same page about that. Its very hard to not be optimistic when you spend any time with this coaching staff.

Those people have to be optimistic because it's how they get/keep subscribers. Everyone didn't buy into that crap though.

He is a PF practice report contributor so he tries to take a pot shot at Rivals and/or Scout anytime he can to try to redirect the blame because they are in competition for traffic with PF. Scout and Rivals were a lot more realistic in their reports.

By the way, I think the few true freshman that played did a very good job not just sprinkled in like JasonB said. And 80% of the posters here did not say Hicks would be starting by the 3rd game.

Rebel10 wrote:

sbsmith wrote:After a few spring practices, expectations will be all out of whack yet again.

You might be right about that. But as someone pointed out that they are probably going to look good because they are playing against themselves. But we all know the reports that will come out of it. I don't pay attention to these like some do or those that go to Spring practice and say we are massively improved in areas when we really are not. You can't tell until we line up against a few teams during the season.

Subscribers to Scout got the bottom line during and after spring practice. Scout hit the nail on the head as to the vulnerabilities, glaring weaknesses, lack of depth, questionable talent, lack of speed...etc. of this team. The use and impact of the true frosh were the great unknowns. Unfortunately, our hopes superseded the realities of the situation after our initial games. I posted several times before the season that I thought the staff would have done a great job with 3 wins and an exceptional job with 4 wins. Unfortunately, even my low expectations were not achieved.