This is very unscientific, but look at how the 2002 top 10 classes finished in 2006. This is about the only year we can use as the 2002 class were either seniors in 06 or redshirt juniors. The aveage ranking of the 02 top 10 class came in at 30.6. I guess I would look at this and say that really it all comes back to coaching rather than talent. Maybe someone should highlight this for Pud.
Looking at those top 10 in 02 explains a lot. It explains why CU got a new coach. It explains why Coker was replaced at Miami. It explains why Fulmer is on the hot seat. It explains why Dorrell is on the hot seat. It also explain why Bowden should step down as well as Joe Pa. They're getting the talent, and then they are underachieving with it.
Considering NU has only had 1 class in the top 10 in the last 5 years, it's hard to say whether we're underachieving or not. For NU to be successfull, we need a couple of things to happen. First, we need to keep the talent we have here at NU. Every time a good or great player leaves the team it hurts the team. Second, we need to stop the bleeding in terms of losing coaching staff as well. If we lose as many assistants per year as we did this year, it will be very hard to make a championship run any time soon. The final thing that really needs to happen is better on field adjustments. Everybody gets on Coz and BC about adjustments, and probably rightfully so. In 06, we outscored our opponents in the first quarter by an obscene amount. So, we know that the pregame schemes are outstanding. Both coaches are very good board room X's and O's coaches. However, their on field adjustments really kind of suck.
In 06, our defense was pretty crippled up considering our DB's. If we want to have a defense like we did in the mid-90's, we need to increase the speed at the LB position. I realize that Shanle Sr., Ruud, etc. are now in the pros playing, but I think we need to get away from this type of LB. We need LB's like Terrell Farley that were undersized but had blazing speed. Let's get 215-225 pound LB's that run 4.3's and 4.4's instead of 250 pound LB's that run 40's clocked by the sun dial. On offense, the only thing I think we really need to do is get better blocking schemes by the OL. I think plenty of talent is there on the OL, but they just aren't getting it done. They're not dominating anyone's DL. We need more fire and desire by the OL. We have the receivers, we have the backfield, now we just need more consistent play from the OL.