Yes, I am very disappointed in our recent losses. But today I began to come to grips with the fact that the biggest issue that we have in putting a better product on the field this year may actually be the overall strangeness of this season. Every team is not only battling the opposing team, but also the issues presenting by Covid this entire season. For instance:
*We have starters who opted out from the secondary, DLine and key depth from the O-Line. Even our #2 QB who we relied on for a wildcat package in red zone situations is not available to us.
*We are starting several DBs that, who are not only are new to starting, but new to the program;
*No Spring Ball to get new players acclimated;
*Less off-season conditioning, possibly leading to more injuries already this season.
No these aren't excuses, as of course all teams are dealing with these challenges. But they are part of a strange and weird reality for all of college football this year. Basically, I don't think we are seeing the true status of our team. Today we did not see the true status of Memphis' team either. Both teams are actually much better than what we saw today. So who knows what the "real" outcome would have been had both teams been there today with their true makeup. But this year we are seeing a brand of college football that is the best that each team can do under the circumstances. And for most every team, Top 25 or otherwise, it tends to be a knock-off of a team's true current ability and identity.
Sure, we have seen issues on the field that have nothing to do with Covid. There's no excuse for some execution and other deficiencies that can be fixed currently. But as we judge/consider where we are as a program. Let's consider how much of the problem is who is not on the field due to opt outs, or is still limited due to being new to a roster that had no spring ball or conditioning, or other unique issues this year.
Let's also consider how good we actually can be when we get our "full" roster back, along with our transfers, and have time to practice and condition normally. No I don't expect that will make us a perfect team. But it will make us a team that most likely has a lot less issues to fix than what we are seeing now.
*We have starters who opted out from the secondary, DLine and key depth from the O-Line. Even our #2 QB who we relied on for a wildcat package in red zone situations is not available to us.
*We are starting several DBs that, who are not only are new to starting, but new to the program;
*No Spring Ball to get new players acclimated;
*Less off-season conditioning, possibly leading to more injuries already this season.
No these aren't excuses, as of course all teams are dealing with these challenges. But they are part of a strange and weird reality for all of college football this year. Basically, I don't think we are seeing the true status of our team. Today we did not see the true status of Memphis' team either. Both teams are actually much better than what we saw today. So who knows what the "real" outcome would have been had both teams been there today with their true makeup. But this year we are seeing a brand of college football that is the best that each team can do under the circumstances. And for most every team, Top 25 or otherwise, it tends to be a knock-off of a team's true current ability and identity.
Sure, we have seen issues on the field that have nothing to do with Covid. There's no excuse for some execution and other deficiencies that can be fixed currently. But as we judge/consider where we are as a program. Let's consider how much of the problem is who is not on the field due to opt outs, or is still limited due to being new to a roster that had no spring ball or conditioning, or other unique issues this year.
Let's also consider how good we actually can be when we get our "full" roster back, along with our transfers, and have time to practice and condition normally. No I don't expect that will make us a perfect team. But it will make us a team that most likely has a lot less issues to fix than what we are seeing now.
