Taking a step back and looking at everything I can say that our problem is coaching and not the players. Here are a couple of things that have crossed my mind.
With the exception of a few players we keep a strong core of the players from 2014 to 2015 (Levine to Herman), and our production and results significantly improved . I’m not going to present a bunch of stats, I think the record and the results speak for themselves.
From 2016 to 2017 again we lose a few players but still kept a strong core but the results have significantly decreased. I know Greg Ward was a huge part but we still have the same RBs, WRs, most of the O-Line, and a good portion of the Defense.
Speaking of the Defense, with the exception of a few plays and being put in a bad position SEVERAL times they have not been flashy but solid. Yesterday they had 2 times they were put up against the goal line because of interceptions and the offense fumbled the ball to end the game. 21…21 points I would contribute to poor offensive plays. 45-21 that is 24 points our defense should be accredited at msot. Taking that into consideration look at everyone else we played and how the Defense has held good enough to win and times have bailed out the offense.
That being said, the coaching on Defense has done it’s part and should not be to blame. Unfortunately the defense is getting beat up because of being on the field too much and that includes 2 of our best players. Then of course there is the mental toll.
Bottom line is that the offense looks extremely inept. We run the same plays and the defense knows exactly where we are going, what we are doing, etc. etc. So that means it comes down to a one on one battle with the defense and it seems like we lose every time. The RBs, QBS, WRs, and especially the O-Line cannot beat who they are matching up against. Don’t know if it is technique, conditioning, or what but more often than not we are losing in the trenches.
To make things worse, there is no adjustments. In 2015 and 2016 we would make adjustments as possible throughout the game and we seemed to always make halftime adjustments. We always seemed to be a second half team from both an adjustment standpoint and conditioning stand point.
We know the OC is a glaring issue because of the calls but what about our WRs not blocking or losing the blocking battle, missing routes. What about the RBs running up the gut when we clearly can’t do it. etc. etc. etc. ETC.
You all know the rest. Bottom line, there is poor coaching on the offensive side and I don’t think it is the players fault. The players are a representative of what they are coached. There is a clear difference over the years and between our offensive and defensive staff.