Standards and capacity
This really is an operational question, as marketing will depend on success on the field. What yardsticks can we measure things by besides the almighty and most important W? We all know that W's matter the most.
We can look at the future. Are we better prepared for 2011 than 2010? How could we measure that? Quality of personnel. Does the team have the right personnel to accomplish the plan?
If not, what corrective measures have been implemented? How is the team being motivated and incented to move forward (really tough here. Can't give out cash, but for walkons you may dangle scholarships. Pushing the starters forward.) Do we need to revisit our strengths and weakness assessments mid season and revise the plan?
We can adjust the current plan to reach longer term goals sacrificing this year for the develpment of younger talent. Such as bench some seniors to develop the underclassmen to be taught on the field as well as in practice, pushing development earlier in the process. This may push more losses on the team, but, that might not be the worst thing. Explaining this to the team may bring them on board to work harder for a better next year. Impact on marketing would be a severe hit. Not likely to do that now with the financial obligations so high (payoff TCF stadium).
We can stick to the current plan, run, ball control, simple team development over the course of the season. We are who we are and we can not be world beaters this year. Gain defensive experience. Get a better feel for the game. Measure it by where we are now in defensive categories and offensive categories. Measure it out. Project our staff contribution and losses and see where we should be next year. Then decide if we need to make leadership changes.
My guess is that if we did a thoughrough examination of a SWOT analysis and an environmental scan, we would find that we are simply in a down cycle with a young team on defense. We have a solid future on the offensive line with a solid QB coming in. We lack skill players on the current team and lack them in recruiting this class. We are also lacking in defensive linemen in the current recruiting class. In the short term, the clearest needs are to further develop the talent of the defensive secondary and recruit for more defensive players and offensive skill players.
I think, after calling for Brewsters head after USD, Brewster is likely to remain the head coach. The training and development of the team look like our greatest weakness, as many are very inexperienced on the defensive side of the ball. Take away 2 big USC plays, and the game is even. Those are player mistakes and they are able to be fixed. The staff is performing just fine. With minor adjustments, the plan looks solid. The vision of the team is gaining wider acceptance by customers and players.
I say we stick to the plan, keep the leadership of the team, and continue to work on refining our skills and recruiting for talent. Projections look rough but they are managable.
