Yep, it's time. Both Thompson and Butterfield have shown they can throw a lot better. I can't imagine they'd make RPO reads any worse. They are the future and this year doesn't feel like the year we'll win it all, build for next year. Is it the 6th year senior/leadership/calm presence thing? Great, but it's not working.
Too many injuries, especially on D, and the D continues to keep us in games in spite of the injuries. I think scheme and coaching are the biggest culprits, and discipline.
*Scheme...this is on the coaches. Several people have pointed this out. The offense has no identity (year 4 for MC) though for the most part, MC lets his DC's do their job and with a a healthy lineup I think DeRuyter will shine. Offense is a bigger concern
*Discipline...this is on the coaches. Every single incompletion, they make the incomplete symbol (emphatically) as if the crowd and the clock keeper can't see the refs do it. Every single first down...let the refs make the signal. Is this the down side of 4 and 5 star recruits? Too entitled? I get it on a fumble, everyone is signaling their direction, hopeful. I can see late in the 4th quarter, you stop them on 4th down and seal the win...nothing wrong with passion and emotion, but after a 12 yard pickup to your own 39 yard line in the 1st quarter, hey that's what a receiver is supposed to do, you haven't won anything yet. Line up again for the next play, the refs will signal for the first down, that's THEIR job. Prove me wrong, I know a lot of players do it, but I am going to watch this more. Do Saban's players do that a lot? I want to re-watch the Stanford game now and watch their players. David Shaw is a classy and elite coach. What would he do with 'Bama level recruiting?
*Discipline...this time I'm talking about penalties. 'Nuff said? Coaches? Taggart's Ducks were amongst most penalized in the nation, MC emphasized cleaning that up, and we were among the best in the nation a couple years ago...what happened?
3 straight recruiting classes at the top of the Pac (never had even one prior) so we have the talent. Charles nailed it yesterday, MC can recruit, the family culture is awesome, the off-field issues (save for a poor choice with an air soft gun) have been very minimal under MC. But the X and O stuff needs work, and putting these high caliber freshmen in now, I think is the way to go. And...MC needs to let Moorhead (hope he is recovered and back soon) have the reigns.
Kill the clock to 2 seconds on every play when you are trying to kill the clock, and no false starts. Rest of the time? Feels like it takes 8 years to change a play. I agree with those who want to see more of the Chip Kelly tempo. 45 points a game should be the minimum goal, especially with this talent. Sorry, pent up rant.