Its not just you and you bring up valid points. There are many systemic issues that have been constant issues with this program. Its unfair to boil it down to one or 2 things, but at least to me, our decline has coincided with our decline in play on the lines. Football is by and large won at the LOS. How long has it been since we've had multiple starters on the OL go to the nfl? im probably forgetting a few but outside of jurgens and jaimes, who have we placed in the NFL in the last 10 years?
For the DL, we haven't had a guy since Randy Gregory who can terrorize the opponent. That was 10 f'n years ago.
We've been a s#!t team running the ball for 10 years now outside of one stellar season from Oz who was a bo guy. Quality line play is obviously a boost for the running game but it makes everything else that much easier to run when the defnese knows youre runing and you can still run with sucess. Im still not convinced donovan raiola is worth his weight OL coaching wise but if he's the cost of having dylan at qb then i can live with it. Objectively speaking, however, his 3 years have been rather lack luster.
We've been a s#!t defensive team in critical situations from late bo, thru riley, all thru frost and moments here and there into the rhule era... Our defense is vastly improved, but imagine what it would look like if we could get consistent pressure on the qb without bringing extra guys. Imagine having a guy who can completely shut down a side to the point where the opposing OC needs to scheme differently for us.
We don't scare any one in either of these phases. Yes, better OC play calling would work wonders, having a pure talent like Ameer at RB would obviosuly be a major boost, but its inexcusable we have been this below average for his long on both the DL and OL.