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I was not surprised by the outcome of our bowl game. We had very key missing players and game was in state for Tenn. I predicted a 14 point loss and that's what it was (see contest crib thread). The real battle is now with recruiting. We have to win some of these blue chip recruits. If Riley and Co. can't convert in recruiting then we'll continue to not get to the level we want to be. I don't know why everyone expects us to be a Top 15 team when we are not in the top 15 in recruiting. That must be a goal of the coach every year...be top 15 in recruiting. We need to build depth on both lines. The O line was a mess today...overmatched. The D-line lost some guys to the NFL and never recovered. If Lee cannot cut it next year as QB, expect to see Gebbia...the kid gets the ball out quick...definitely needed if we continue with poor O line play. I think we are going pass happy with the QB's we now have. Get used to it. Our skill players are in this mold. If it works, I don't really care. I don't care what offense we run if we can score and put up points. But, the defense to me is a lost opportunity that must be salvaged to get back to big time football. There is no reason we should not be able to get defensive recruits and instill a nasty, hard hitting, fast, play downhill defense. Stock pile guys like this. I hate watching our defense throw shoulder tackles and whiff, get pushed around on the line, get juked, and get burned deep. Gosh our defense is soft. I don't know why everyone is on Banker but loves Bray. I will give them both time as it is a work in progress. Banderas has been good against the run but poor in coverage. Young has not played well IMO in the second half of the season when the better opponents we played overmatched him, Rose-Ivey never got to the level I expected, and M. Newby seems stuck in neutral...this is Bray's unit. The LB's should have been much better knowing the D-Line was going to be on blocks but often the LB's took poor angles, couldn't tackle, got overpowered, could not cover, or were too slow. Riley better understand that he needs the defense to perform better or gains he makes on offense will be lost with a poor defense. In total it was a better season although it did not end well. This team did not have a lot of talent but got to 9 wins. I agree with posters who say our schedule in future will be more difficult and thus this transition for Riley between season 2 and season 3 is the most critical. Recruiting, new QB, fixing the lines. There's a bunch of other stuff we all know about but to keep it short. 1) Recruit, recruit, recruit. If we don't finish in top 15, don't whine we are not an elite program. 2) Depth and talent on both lines needed badly. Offensive tackles and DE rush ends should flock here...early playing time. 3) Get ready to see the ball in the air more. 4) Bring back the real Blackshirts. 5) Critical transition...we will look back at this transition as the making or breaking for Riley. I hope it makes him and the team has more success going forward. GBR