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I have a question. I just saw a post about needing to ramp up improvements on OLine/DLine in order to see improvements. I'm pretty sure everyone can agree on that. I have a few questions within a question. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that we need W's year after year in order to convince the cream of the crop in the country to come here. We have the facilities. IMO we have the coaching for maybe upper middle tier talent as far as Big 10 goes. We have the HC to do it all, assuming he's here after this year.
Offensively speaking, what is our identity? My in laws are Chiefs fans, so for the last two years, this year especially, I've tried to watch the Chiefs offense closer, and it feels like we're trying to run a watered down version of that, given DR's skill set and how he's trained to be a QB......maybe? But, we have a RB who seems to be a little bit of a mix of speed and power and bruising. But, the OLine component here to try and make it hum, what are we exactly trying to accomplish here? Any program is always looking for improvement, but what is our identity to try and match the trenches to improve? Is it that we want bruising OLineman that can also pass pro for a few seconds? What's difficult for me to watch, especially on Friday night, is I see us as a program that is absolutely trying to get back to a certain place of respectability. But, we're not the program that can attract the top talent in order to see that mountain top, yet. But, we also look down upon the Minnesotas and the Iowas of the world, who consistently just batter and bruise us up with their physicality each year, but schematically we try and be Ohio State and Oregon, but also want to be able to run the ball at will like Minnesota and Cockeye and Michigan and Wisconsin of old. How do you match the OLine for that? And how do we as a fan base consistently look down on programs that punch us in the face over and over for 60 minutes each season?
Defensively, what we've learned in the Big 10 over the last 15 years or so, is in order to win you have to stop the run, or simply be more talented. Repeating, we are not more talented. So, stop the run. To an extent, it seems we had the formula figured out for the most part the last 2 years with Ty and Nash, as far as stopping the run goes. So, even if one coordinator leaves and another comes in, why would we not just try to get really really good at that formula and make that our identity? Reload at that formula every year. I haven't looked at the roster body weights but I'd be shocked if we had a DLineman over 300 lbs. Schematically, how is that ever going to work in the Big 10? I believe the answer is pretty simple there with upgrading the DLine. Seems the formula there is massive DT's and quick twitch, still good size of course, rush ends.
Offensively speaking, what is our identity? My in laws are Chiefs fans, so for the last two years, this year especially, I've tried to watch the Chiefs offense closer, and it feels like we're trying to run a watered down version of that, given DR's skill set and how he's trained to be a QB......maybe? But, we have a RB who seems to be a little bit of a mix of speed and power and bruising. But, the OLine component here to try and make it hum, what are we exactly trying to accomplish here? Any program is always looking for improvement, but what is our identity to try and match the trenches to improve? Is it that we want bruising OLineman that can also pass pro for a few seconds? What's difficult for me to watch, especially on Friday night, is I see us as a program that is absolutely trying to get back to a certain place of respectability. But, we're not the program that can attract the top talent in order to see that mountain top, yet. But, we also look down upon the Minnesotas and the Iowas of the world, who consistently just batter and bruise us up with their physicality each year, but schematically we try and be Ohio State and Oregon, but also want to be able to run the ball at will like Minnesota and Cockeye and Michigan and Wisconsin of old. How do you match the OLine for that? And how do we as a fan base consistently look down on programs that punch us in the face over and over for 60 minutes each season?
Defensively, what we've learned in the Big 10 over the last 15 years or so, is in order to win you have to stop the run, or simply be more talented. Repeating, we are not more talented. So, stop the run. To an extent, it seems we had the formula figured out for the most part the last 2 years with Ty and Nash, as far as stopping the run goes. So, even if one coordinator leaves and another comes in, why would we not just try to get really really good at that formula and make that our identity? Reload at that formula every year. I haven't looked at the roster body weights but I'd be shocked if we had a DLineman over 300 lbs. Schematically, how is that ever going to work in the Big 10? I believe the answer is pretty simple there with upgrading the DLine. Seems the formula there is massive DT's and quick twitch, still good size of course, rush ends.
