We can make excuses, some of which have been a factor, but this is a legit criticism of kill's staff. It is the only knock I can think of this far, but even they would agree.
Yes and no and i'm not sure.
Yes, in that they have not developed Leidner, who seems to have regressed significantly. Yes, in that our o-line has not been good enough this season, so far. Both of those factors are squarely on the coaches. Also, yes on recruiting. I think if they'd seen some success early on the O side of the ball, we might have been able to land a few guys we wanted to at QB but did not. McKinzy felt like a settle at the time. Streveler and Leidner feel like they were destined for different roles/change of pace QB snaps vs. being full on starters.
No, in that they couldn't control everything that has put us in this situation -- injuries and ego.
I'm not sure: The play calling is bizarre at times, but I'm not sure that isn't because of the "capability" of Mitch in the offense. This could be on the coaches and a part of the not coaching Leidner up, it could be on the circumstances of having to play Leidner with no other capable back-up.
Kill inherited and recruited among others:
2007 -- TB/GM
Clint Brewster
2008 -- TB
Marquies Gray (enrolled in 2009)
2009 -- TB
Moses Alipate
2010 -- TB
JD Pride
Tom Parrish
2011 -- JK/TB
Dexter Formam
Max Shortell
2012 -- JK
Philip Nelson
Mitch Liedner
2013 -- JK
Chris Strevler
2014 -- JK
Dimonic McKinzy (recruited as athlete)
2015 -- JK
Demroy Croft
So funny thing happened on the way to the top of the big ten. This is a simplified look at the scenarios:
Ideal /What happened
2011 Starter Gray/Gray
Backup Alipate/Shortell
2012 Starter Gray/Nelson
Backup Shortell/Shortell
2013 Starter Shortell/Nelson
Backup Nelson/Leidner
2014 Starter Shortell/Lediner
Backup Nelson/Streveler
2015 Starter Nelson/Leidner
Backup Leidner or Streveler/Streveler
2016 Starter Leidner ??
Backup Strevelar/McKinzy ??
Assuming the evaluation was good on the incoming freshman and injuries didn't happen (they did) and Kill didn't recruit players whose dad's were total head cases (Shortell/Nelson) who thought their kids were the second coming of Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Andrew Luck all rolled into one, the guys we've had playing QB would have looked a lot different and players would have had the time they NEEDED to develop into starters or wash out not on the field.
in 2013 the most experienced quarterback on the roster was a RS SO. No Jr - RS Sr.s on the team. That's a FOUR YEAR GAP and we're paying for it today.
My guess is that Streveler and Leidner were not taken as QBs as much as athletes that could help the team and might be serviceable as a backup. Leidner as H-Back or TE is much more appealing to me than what he's dong on the field as a QB. If Gray had stayed healthy and the offense progressed more quickly, we might have been able to bring in better talent that would've/could've disrupted the scenario above.
It is what it is. Some of what happened is on the coaching staff, some is adversity and trying to make due with what you've got vs. the Everett Withers route of curling up in a ball and giving up because you don't have the right people. I'm hoping that Croft is a significant step in the right direction. All I wanted to do was better understand where we are. The QB is the last piece of the puzzle, then it's continued focus on depth and improving talent along with success. I'll continue to hope that a light turns on for Leidner or someone else on the roster can unseat him. We're close.
