Is this year 3 or closer to year 1?

daydc_2000 · Sep 22, 2017

I posted this in response to Tunnel Talk but thought I would create a thread for it so maybe I could get others thoughts and insights.

One thing I don't see many pointing out when they say they expected to see progress on the field each year. That is the vast number of changes to the staff, team, and schemes.

Year one:
- Coach Riley and crew arrives to a team with a team that is completely torn asunder by the way their former coach was canned and the way it was communicated to them.
- Team was slim on depth especially at key positions such as 2 scholarship linebackers.
- Players were not a fit for the system Coach Riley and staff was bringing with them.
- Team struggled while Coaches figured out what they had and what they could do with what they had.
- Lost many gams by last second drives. Signs of a weak team mentally. Much to do with the upheaval that had happened.
- Fired Hank Hughes at the end of the year and brought in John Parella.
- Finished 6-7.
Year two:
- Lost Maliek Collins (left early), Vincent Valentine (left early), Alex Lewis, and Andy Janovich to the NFL. Also, lost the following players:
  - Taariq Allen (graduated)
  - Jamal Turner (graduated)
  - Johnathan Rose (dismissed from the team)
  - Joe Keels (graduated)
  - Daniel Davie (graduated)
  - Byerson Cokrell (graduated)
  - Imani Cross (graduated)
  - Zach Sterup (graduated)
  - Matt Finnin (graduated)
  - Ryne Reeves (graduated)
  - Chongo Kondolo (graduated)
  - Chris Long (graduated)
  - Givens Price (graduated)
  - David Sutton (graduated)
  - Jack Gangwish (graduated)
  - Gerg McMullen (retired from football)
  - Derrion Grim(graduated)
  - Derion Grim (transferred)
  - Lane Hovey (transferred)
  - Jordan Stevenson (transferred)
  - Adrienne Talan (transferred)
  - Kevin Williams (transferred)
  - Paul Thurston (transferred)
- Lost Sam Foltz to a tragic accident.
- New defensive line coach.
- Figured out how to use players and changed system to match skills, finished with 9 wins.
- Still players on team that had some bad attitudes left from last coach.
- Coaches fired or left:
  - Brian Stewart
  - Bruce Read
  - Mark Banker
- Ridiculous number of injuries.
Year three:
- Players lost:
  - Keyshawn Johnson Jr. (leave of absence)
  - Tommy Armstrong Jr. (graduated)
  - Josh Banderas (graduated)
  - Cethan Carter (graduated)
  - Sam Cotton (graduated)
  - Ross Dzuris (graduated)
  - Trey Foster (graduated)
  - Ryker Fyfe (graduated)
  - Nathan Gerry (graduated)
  - Sam Hahn (graduated)
  - Charles Jackson (graduated)
  - Kevin Maurice (graduated)
  - Alonzo Moore (graduated)
  - Terrell Newby (graduated)
  - Bandon Reilly (graduated)
  - Michael Rose-Ivey (graduated)
  - Dylan Utter (graduated)
  - Lavan Alston (transfer)
  - Zach Hannon (transfer)
  - Greg Simmons (transfer)
  - Deiontae Watts (not qualified)
  - Elijah Blades (not qualified)
- New DC with complete new scheme.
- New DB coach.
- New safety coach (passed) causing a second new safeties coach.
- New QB, fits system they would like to run so I am sure it is a fairly major change from last year.
- New way to coach special teams without a dedicated ST coach.
- Several injuries to key players at key positions.

I would agree that year three should show marked improvement under normal circumstances but with the vast overhaul this staff needed to do in talent upgrades, replacing talent that fit old system with talent that fit their system, completely changing out the defensive coaches and the scheme, major changes to the offense with the type of QB for their system, and the lack of senior leadership across the board it is as if this is year one for this team. I still think there are some changes that need to be made with the OL coach and possibly the RB coach and OC but the HC and team need time to adjust and grow. I think we are on a good path despite the results thus far this year and we need to give this the remainder of this year and next to see if the required progress is being made. If we see progress on defense but not so much on offense and we make the vast number of changes on offense that we did on defense the last two years at the end of the season then I say the HC gets this year, next year, and the following year to see how things work out. However, if we continue to see the offense stick it up and the changes are not made in the staff at the end of the year or during, then the HC should probably be gone after this season. Sorry so long. #GCR

...TrueColors... · Sep 22, 2017