When we hire a new coach (Riley, Frost, Rhule), I always look ahead to year 3 before I look at year one. And maybe that makes me different, because I look ahead and draw it backwards to understand how we can get there.
Year three in the program - the team should have experience and winning ways with a roster that has been through the battles year 1 and year 2, paying there ways, and setting them up nicely for season 3. That's how I think. And the reverse is how we have failed.
Look who is playing this year, and then go look at what this team will look like in year 2 under this regime. And then look at year 3. Who do we have next year?
Offensive Linemen
Running Backs
Receivers
Quarterbacks
I think the defense is taking the approach of rotating younger players into the fold, week after week. Totally respect what White & Co is doing there.
Offensively, I wonder why it is taking injuries to put guys on the field? Maybe that's just me, but I want to incorporate some of the younger players into the rotation like the defense has done.
Without injuries, no one here had any idea if Heinrich Haarberg could play. In fact, yall would laugh at that idea (including me - so we are all wrong). HH playing wasn't a decision by the coaching staff. Or by them working him into the offense here and there. It literally took an injury to the starter Sims going down, despite if he was playing bad or not.
Has he not taken care of the ball and produced? Nobody saw it coming.
Before yall get judgmental on me, I am not saying or wishing the younger guys become the starters. No way! But I am saying that we should incorporate the future players into the offense, like DC White does, in series when the game matters, and not just a few garbage snaps at the end of the game. To me, that is fear and bad decision making by the offensive staff (OC, RB coach, WR, OL coach).
5 offensive linemen and only one backup (Lutovsky) has played meaningful minutes?? Early on in the year.
Teddy has played in a few specific drawn-up plays. He's not there yet as we can see.
But where is the depth and future guys getting some meaningful plays, on a series once a game? Is this offensive line so good and too experienced to break through the lineup? Is Coach Raiola not looking at his roster and thinking about the future? What could literally go wrong with a future prospect getting one series a game? Now that we are going deep into Big Ten season, it won't happen. Unless there is an unfortunate injury, and suddenly you put someone in and he plays pretty darn good. That's on coaching for not even trying.
I'm wondering who will be the offensive linemen in three years from now? Will they even have experience?
RB: Grant is gone. If Rhamir comes back for his 6th year, ok I guess?. Gabe will be back after ACL, turf toe, and Hip surgery. That's also ok I guess? But is that all you have? Who do you have getting experience this year that will be a baller by year 3?? The freshmen getting redshirted this year? Those guys who will possibly get time next season, here and there?
WR: IGC and Bullock. Next year. Who else? Who else is going to start season 2 and learn on the job? Who is going to be ready to make a difference by year 3.
People, it's not that hard to see. Look at year 3, look at our current roster, and figure out how we are going to get there. It has to start now (which is called "building"). Otherwise, we won't see different results in year 3 then what we are seeing now. Meaning, take advantage of it now so they can actually Build for the future.
