Sitting in the stands watching the game from very nice seats (thanks @Done&Done ), I saw the good, the bad and the very ugly up close and personal.
Sadly, what has come to fruition is exactly what I secretly feared from the beginning of the Riley era - lack of identity on offense; soft, finessy West Coast play; too much throwing; weak defense and recruits that are looking for a gateway to the NFL more than a Big Ten championship. My gut isn't always right, but in this case, it looks like it may have been.
That said, however, I still "think" Riley should get the rest of the year and all of next year as well. Why? Because this reconstruction project has been SO COMPLETE, this overhaul so all-encompassing, that the man should get a chance to see it through. Also, there are glimmers. The pass to Morgan. The early success with Devine. Tanner's pocket presence. J.D. Spielman. The pick 6. The sack. Glimmers.
Next year is the year. No more excuses. His schemes (both sides of the ball) will have been in place long enough. His pro-style QB will be in his second year. Most of the O-Linemen will be back. His defense will be in its second year under Diaco. All those sophomores will be juniors.
OK, so why am I torn? Scott Frost. He may be the answer, the person to come home and bring us back to greatness. (Of course, he may not, but he makes more sense than any of the hires we've made since Solich). My biggest fear is that he goes somewhere else before we can call him home.
But in the end, we can't let him - or any one person - dictate what is done.So let's take a deep breath, swallow our pride and continue to support Riley and the program through November, 2018. I "think" that's the right path to take. I say that very shakily.
Sadly, what has come to fruition is exactly what I secretly feared from the beginning of the Riley era - lack of identity on offense; soft, finessy West Coast play; too much throwing; weak defense and recruits that are looking for a gateway to the NFL more than a Big Ten championship. My gut isn't always right, but in this case, it looks like it may have been.
That said, however, I still "think" Riley should get the rest of the year and all of next year as well. Why? Because this reconstruction project has been SO COMPLETE, this overhaul so all-encompassing, that the man should get a chance to see it through. Also, there are glimmers. The pass to Morgan. The early success with Devine. Tanner's pocket presence. J.D. Spielman. The pick 6. The sack. Glimmers.
Next year is the year. No more excuses. His schemes (both sides of the ball) will have been in place long enough. His pro-style QB will be in his second year. Most of the O-Linemen will be back. His defense will be in its second year under Diaco. All those sophomores will be juniors.
OK, so why am I torn? Scott Frost. He may be the answer, the person to come home and bring us back to greatness. (Of course, he may not, but he makes more sense than any of the hires we've made since Solich). My biggest fear is that he goes somewhere else before we can call him home.
But in the end, we can't let him - or any one person - dictate what is done.So let's take a deep breath, swallow our pride and continue to support Riley and the program through November, 2018. I "think" that's the right path to take. I say that very shakily.
