I'm not sure he fully recognized the problem before this year. I suspect he wrote some of the issues off as first a "new system" and then "youth" much the same as many of us. Now he's got guys who are 3 years in the system in some cases and they're still struggling to execute their responsibilities. Clearly outside eyes have recognized a problem as the quotes from Alberts pointed out. No doubt Stai who is on our AD staff now, has had conversations with Trev about what he sees. I don't believe this is a problem with the offense that isn't fixable but it might not happen with Austin as the coach. It will be interesting to see how this all goes down over the next 2 months. At the very least I expect we'll have a new O line coach next year if Frost is retained.
I think SF was making any decison about football that he wanted to when Moos was the AD. Now that there's a new boss, he realizes that shit don't fly.
As we all know, and should acknowledge, SF is a master at blaming everything on someone else. 2+ years ago I quit watching any of his during the week or game week press conferences, because I knew he was blowing smoke up their asses.
My personal opinion is NU under SF, has recruited a boatload of OL that are never gonna cut it playing Big Ten football.
Cam (already), Teddy, maybe Nouli, maybe Bando, possibly Banks, and then as he matures and ages Corcoran may all have the potential to be really good offensive linemen.
But for having 20 OL on hand, speaks to the lousy job of recruiting of big kids that have good feet and a level of aggression, has been a total faiure.
Next week will be "smash-mouth" when Michigan comes to Lincoln. I watched the Rutgers-Michigan game and Harbaugh rarely uses only the standard 5 man OL. Its always a TE on the line or slotted, or 2 TE's with one on the line and one slotted, OR 2 TE's and an additional OL when they near the red zone.
Some of his additional TE types are converted OT's. Harbaugh uses a ton of TE's or converted OT's in motion to serve as almost a lead blocker.
I'm not a "smash-mouth" advocate, I'm merely pointing out that MU will come in and have lots of big people on the line in an effort to move the ball.
Michigan is not impressive offensively, they throw @ 15 times a game and its a pretty simple passing game.
I know I'm a week early since NU has NW tomorrow, but maybe SF and Austin will get a dose of different ways to help out young/inexperienced OL's in order to help move the ball. Yet MU returned most of their starting OL from last year when they stunk as a team.
Sorry for the length of this.