Well, before I saw the team play, I was expecting we'd win the Wisconsin game. The game I didn't know which way it would go was Nebraska, which is why my prediction varied and why I phrased it the way I did in my post.
I can tell you I was in the minority when I thought we'd be 6-6/7-6. Most here were expecting things I did not - the challenges of a RS Freshman QB, a rebuilt O-line would work out, and that we'd finally been able to have more than one functional WR on the roster were finally solved after Bateman and Johnson left. I also expressed concern about the secondary given the changeover there (and was one of the few to raise it).
With Fleck's boast that there is no lid on the team this season, the high expectations on the board rose, particularly among the Flecktites, with only the Ohio State and Oregon games seen as likely losses.
Where the angst comes from is:
- How absolutely unprepared we've been in games we've won and lost.
- That outside of Drake proving we've got a different level of QB behind center we had:
- The o-line has been a mess, playing one single good game for 60 minutes.
- The receiving additions were not upgrades.
- The poor secondary play and a total regression on defense.
- The inability to have a functioning running game for the second year in a row (the cornerstone of Fleck's offensive philosophy
- A lack of progression in the OC and what can best be described as an overreach in the hiring of the DC.
- Fleck's public comments about not being able to compete with the big boys because we want to, when teams similar to us have put up more of a fight
- How thoroughly beaten by an Iowa program that we are on par with in terms of NIL, talent, and reality.
If we'd played like we did against Nebraska and were 6-5 at this point, losing to teams that beat us, I'd be excited about next year, and I think the general mood on the board would be better.
Instead, we've backed into a 6-5 record, are facing a worst-case scenario for a bowl game based on our results and "style" of play, and an offseason trying to address problems that are very similar to last offseason, but at least it doesn't include concerns over another new QB; it's not hard to get there.
Well written and I can tell you put a lot of thought into this. I respect that and agree with somethings, disagree with some others. I certainly don't think Harbaugh is gods gift to football by any means, and he certainly deserves his share of the blame in roster construction, but I think he's calling games based on what he has, and he's pretty far down the list of problems. Collins on the other hand, it's going to come down too are we playing man instead of zone because of talent or his (in) ability to teach zone coverage Whether we win or lose Saturday I'm guessing fleck has already made up his mind in that regard and will probably know the plan by Monday.
QB obviously we have our guy, need to keep him, but it's easier to fix the rest of offense when you have the most important piece on the chess board figured out. Guessing Max will stick around, curious to see what the rest of the room does.
RB. Taylor tanked his draft stock so my guess is he will be back, it's unfortunate Turner got hurt, but would imagine he goes portalling. Feme is clearly number two now and it sounds like Washington has emerged as the best of the freshman.
WR. I will miss Brockington, but encouraged with Coleman development as a blocker and lately through the air. Think Tracy was a good pick up, excited for him to take another step. Same with Smith. After that will find out what the pecking order is based on who stays and who portals out. Wouldn't be opposed to getting someone in the portal to at the very least increase competition for reps.
TE. Obviously Geers, Biber and Bierman will be gone, Walsh seems like the next one up, with Simpson in the mix. Definitely spot to add a portal guy, another Biber would help.
Oline. We have 3/5 of an oline, Roy, Johnson, Beers, my hope is Carroll ready next year and we can kick Beers out to RG, I imagine there will be a lot of movement in this room in the portal, guys who came in that didn't win jobs, guys like Tripp, Williams and Alvarez will probably be gone. Not sure what to make of Nelson he seems fine when he plays, but if he can't consistently get on the field over Marshall than can't imagine he's going to be in the plans next year. Team needs to figure out RT, that needs to be priority one for the portal
Dline: I like Mentz and Howard on the edge, obviously if Anthony Smith comes back that's huge too, but we will need to hit the portal hard for the interior. Between portal additions and young guys stepping up, it's going to look a lot different.
LB. Mav will be back, Kingsberry will be back, Carrier been really good on special teams and I think Karmo has a bright future. Not against adding a guy in the portal but needs to be a jack gibbons type add.
CB. Wolf, does this room need an overhaul The only positive I'll say is they all get older but I have my doubts they will magically grasp zone coverage. We had success grabbing like Ethan Robinson and Jones the year before, Jack Henderson was perfect in nickel. We really need to bring in guys at that caliber to reenergize that room.
S. Koi and Brown are good players, we need to fix CB so we can allow them to thrive as well. Not sure if Gousby done but I like Monroe when he was healthy. With that said wouldn't be opposed to ads there either.
Punter is fine not great but fine.
Kicker. That one is obvious.
My gut feeling is Collins will be back in some capacity, maybe they go get Rossi and it's a soft landing, keeps coordinator title, Rossi calls plays? That's probably the only scenario I would see a change, at least this off season. I think there's a lot to like about next years roster, but need to hit on portal additions at a much better rate than we did last off season. Corner and dline there's just no margin for error there. If there's a coordinator change it'll probably be special teams.
Schedule next year is UCLA, Iowa, Michigan and NW at home. Wisconsin, Maryland, Penn State, Washington and Indiana on the road. Mississippi State at home in non con. Definitely a step up from first glance, could also face three teams with new coaches and a couple where the coach is a dead man walking.
