Danimal

Notice that they're now hitting line-drive rollers because they know that we're afraid of even fielding the ball? For punt returns we are now below the Santino Panico season, at least he caught the dang thing. This is killing us in in terms of field-position and completely unacceptable in year-4, this is partially why we get yards but not scores. Kick returns are still non-existent to the point I'd say opposition are doing themselves a disservice booting them through the endzone. Kick coverage isn't as poor as last year but it's still subpar. Kickoffs have gone from crappy to meh. We had a 7yd-punt and drilled one straight to the return-guy opposite of where our coverage was going. Culp has been inconsistent to say the least. We aren't good at anything. I worried that Dawson may not be the answer since we didn't get him to fix the ST's last season when it was obviously needed but figured with Busch helping him we'd be alright. Allegedly we put considerably more time into ST's. Figured we'd manage ST mediocrity this season. What are we do doing and/or not-doing that our ST's are so garbage and costing us games?

All four seasons we've been ranked significantly higher in yards than points. Yet another consistent problem we have.

I get what you're saying, but like I said if you are correct then Frost is the problem, and it's hard to see the problem changing. Then Trev needs to replace him with a coach that does see things clearly and gets how to run a program. Frost should then go down to Sabin's coaching rehab and learn how the most dominant coach of the modern era runs his show. Has worked wonders for other guys.

It not only went left but directly to the return-man on the left. He not only punted in the wrong direction but he also managed to do it poorly. I suspect that academy in Australia hoodwinked us, edited footage to make it seem like Cerni is significantly better than he is and leaving out that dude can't seem to follow basic directions.

This would mean Frost has to go since he evidently doesn't know how to run a team or judge his assistants. There is no "for whatever reason" in year 4, if we can't get our act together by now that is coaching. Plus Frost helps with the qb's. Mario has the smallest group to coach and Frost still feels the need to help him. What does it say that Mario was kept around when our O and ST's were struggling so much and that spot can obviously be put to better use? It's not like you even have to ditch him altogether, make him an an analyst.

Love AM but there is no getting around that he hasn't been a clutch qb. Frost is gripping too, since season-2 we've seen plenty of "fear of failure".

Frost has had plenty of time and nothing holding him back but himself from making big-boy staffing changes to get us over the hump. We had three seasons of disappointment and did nothing this past offseason but replace an analyst, that's not how you win. Yes this is the same old movie Frost, and you're the director with plenty of resources and minimal studio interference, so this is all on you.

Doesn't have to be a splash hire, just one that knows how to develop players and plays smart, disciplined football. In terms of hires I can actually see us landing I'd look at guys like Bill O'Brien, Dave Clawson, Jamie Chadwell, or (controversial pick) Hugh Freeze.

That's pretty damning. Austin has had more than enough time with these guys to be coordinated better than that.

Granted that stat doesn't reflect us having played an extra game but it's still a damn sight better than what we've seen the last two seasons. This offense should really take-off if we can get the O-line playing better, it all starts up-front.

It's both unfortunately, get flat-out beat too often and screw-up handling stunts too often. Make me wonder what we're practicing against that stunts work so damn consistently against us.

Ya I'd say 8 is the right amount. You avoid bye-weeks and watering things down too far while not screwing-over that 5 or 6 team that could have just as easily been the 4-seed and giving G-5 teams a chance.

This is where screwing the pooch against Illinois haunts us. We need to be 4-2 coming out of the first half of the sched being that the second half is a nightmare. I think we beat NW but MSU in a road nightgame is a tall order. If we manage a W there I think we do make a bowl. Buying Frost another year with a little program momentum that could enable us to improve recruiting some and make a couple good staffing upgrades.

Ya this is probably the best crew we've ever had. Manning and Betts should have been more fully involved in the opener, could have made the difference. If we could give AM a clean pocket we'd be dangerous as hell.

We were down our top two TE's. We had to roll with Hickman(who's still built like a wr), a walk-on transfer in Brewington(who also looks like a wr), and a frosh walk-on converted from O-line. Those guys graded-out as well or better than our starting O-line. That's sad.

Even a young line should hold-up better than what we've seen considering the underwhelming competition. Pass-blocking sucks too, Buffalo got consistent pressure on AM without blitzing.

The time to make staffing changes was this past offseason and all we did was make an analyst upgrade. A fourth losing season and the CFB world largely writes-off this regime. Good coaches with options will not come here to crew what's seen as a sinking ship. We would have to beat the bushes for proven guys with baggage or unproven guys that are considered up-and-comers. Plus recruiting will take another hit, we already dropped off the radar of 4*'s, we'll drop off the radar for high 3*'s too. Booster donations and season ticket sales(which also require donations) will take a hit. We have already lowered the bar considerably for Frost, if he can't clear that by making a bowl in year four I don't see reason to have faith and give him year 5.

Crappy punting screwed the defense out of field-position all game long. Maybe we give-up fewer points if Illinois had a longer field to drive down. I still can't get over our ST's actually getting worse. Kick-off team was average, the rest was a ****-show.

I agree. After the Illinois loss it will take a real turnaround to get to 6-wins against this sched, it would mean we FINALLY got some things straightened-out. If Frost manages that somehow he should stick around. IMO he needs to cede control of the O to Lubick. Become a GM type that's really on top of what's going-on with ST's and defense plus helps with some position coaching.

He won in a tough situation at PSU and had a winning record in the NFL. He's currently the OC for the most successful HC of the modern college era, which will certainly be a learning experience. He'd be a good get.

If Frost isn't just protecting his boy then our recruiting/handling of the qb position hasn't just been bad but absolutely abysmal. So AM just can't be developed but we passed on Burrow and chose AM over Gebbia to start the s***-show then in the next three seasons we don't get a high schooler or transfer that can take the starting spot? Hell Milton was available this offseason. If Mario's coaching isn't the issue then he and Frost are bumbling fools when it comes to player analysis and running the qb-room.

IMO he should live off his buyout and take an analyst job in Sabin's coaching rehab, maybe OC there a while, then he could springboard back into being a HC if he wants. Speaking of Sabin's coaching rehab Bama's current OC Bill O'Brien would be a solid candidate to replace Frost. He won at PSU despite inheriting a horrid situation and had a winning record in the NFL

Our 4th-year starter got outplayed by the Illinois back-up. AM's passing was spotty, missed a couple huge passes to wide-open guys. He showed athleticism obviously but his read-option is still more of a guess-option. Gotta love the kid but geez he hasn't developed. That Mario wasn't replaced this offseason is absurd.

Oh I haven't given-up hope yet, the season can be saved. I see a down year for NW, four of our next five are very winnable. Clean things up to do that and we have some momentum going into the arduous back half of the sched and hopefully surprise some folks. But chances are that doesn't happen, as Frost said it's the same movie over and over, if it doesn't then IMO Trev needs to pull the plug and have a replacement ready to roll.

How the hell did our ST's manage to get even worse? Seemed to make a coaching upgrade. Supposedly cranked-up attention/time given to ST's. Our punting was horrible, we gave Cerni a schollie for that? CTB just handed Illinois 2pts and the ball. Culp can't make a freaking extra point. Frost's insistence on bringing a whole G5 staff over and inability to part with any coach he's tight with continues to haunt us. Still have the hallmarks of a team that's not well-coached. Wasn't expecting big things this season but did think we'd make a freaking bowl, would be very surprised if we manage that now. Don't like saying it but we probably witnessed the beginning of the end today.