One thing that gives me hope...

[boydbuff]

Not necessarily for the AZ game tomorrow, but more for the future. We all know we don't have the talent we need. We haven't for a long time. But what is so different this year from year's past is that the freshman that are playing, and starting, are not only amongst our best players but are also playing well by Pac 12 standards. Gillam, Awuzie, Adkins are playing particularly well.

In years past, we threw freshmen in due to a lack of quality depth and they turned out more often than not to be a liability. Not happening with HCMM's freshman. That makes me feel that:
1.) They are better recruiters than we give them credit for
2.) They must be better at coaching up young players than our prior coaches b/c they are not liabilities for us
3.) The staff seems to make the right decisions about when to bring young players in. Gillam was ready right away and started from the beginning and he is on pace to have like a top 10 season ever for tackling. Awuzie playing well in the backfield. Adkins was held out until after the 3 week flood break once they felt he was ready.

Assuming we can keep attrition down with our quality players, our freshman starters are going to be amongst the best players in the Pac12 in future years, and if we can keep that flow coming and the player development, we should be a more competitive program soon.

 

[FlatironsBuff]

I agree. With that said, even great coaches can't coach up kids where the lack of talent/size/speed is so severely lacking. Otherwise they could be getting the older kids up and running just as well. Yes, that does give me hope that while we are not still attracting much high 3 and 4 star kids, we are still getting better quality kids than we did in the past. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the best, if our overall talent was a three, and they can get it to a five or six, then we can start making bowl games. Even lower level games will allow them to start moving us up to a 7. And that will never happen as fast as we want. This will be a several year process, but I think these coaches will do it.

 

[Buffenuf]

I agree. With that said, even great coaches can't coach up kids where the lack of talent/size/speed is so severely lacking. Otherwise they could be getting the older kids up and running just as well. Yes, that does give me hope that while we are not still attracting much high 3 and 4 star kids, we are still getting better quality kids than we did in the past. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the best, if our overall talent was a three, and they can get it to a five or six, then we can start making bowl games. Even lower level games will allow them to start moving us up to a 7. And that will never happen as fast as we want. This will be a several year process, but I think these coaches will do it.

As John Lennon said, "Its all in the mind, ya know."

Upperclassmen haven't the time to fully buy in. For all but a few, its their second, if not third staff. Reflect on what a SR like Handler said earlier about the changes in strength and conditioning, where the new regime wants attention to detail and building upon change of weaknesses for the long term, not just "how much weight, how many times" as earlier S&C guys emphasized.

JRs and SRs got three four years of one or two different types of training of their mindsets to overcome. Freshmen are learning the HCMM Way without any pre-conceived notions or mental blockage. Compare and contrast Awuzie with Crawley as the best example of the impact of mindset development and coaching.

Talent and star-wise Crawley is better on paper, but he has to overcome the shellshock of last year's WB&Co FUBAR. Awuzie does not. Its not just that Crawley was thrown in to the fire last season, its that he was given no tools to help him, coaching-wise, so he's been burned badly.

 

[Duff Man]

I like some of the freshmen. Not convinced anyone other than Gillam will be an all-conference type player though.

 

[slider]

I like some of the freshmen. Not convinced anyone other than Gillam will be an all-conference type player though.

Not Awuzie? The physical ability is there... obviously production hasnt been outstanding but the learning curve for a freshman DB is pretty steep

 

[Duff Man]

Not Awuzie? The physical ability is there... obviously production hasnt been outstanding but the learning curve for a freshman DB is pretty steep

I think Awuzie can be a good multi-year starter. I think Adkins is in that group too. They will help us win games.

But most other teams in the conference have those types of players too.

 

[Eggon]

Not necessarily for the AZ game tomorrow, but more for the future. We all know we don't have the talent we need. We haven't for a long time. But what is so different this year from year's past is that the freshman that are playing, and starting, are not only amongst our best players but are also playing well by Pac 12 standards. Gillam, Awuzie, Adkins are playing particularly well.

In years past, we threw freshmen in due to a lack of quality depth and they turned out more often than not to be a liability. Not happening with HCMM's freshman. That makes me feel that:
1.) They are better recruiters than we give them credit for
2.) They must be better at coaching up young players than our prior coaches b/c they are not liabilities for us
3.) The staff seems to make the right decisions about when to bring young players in. Gillam was ready right away and started from the beginning and he is on pace to have like a top 10 season ever for tackling. Awuzie playing well in the backfield. Adkins was held out until after the 3 week flood break once they felt he was ready.

Assuming we can keep attrition down with our quality players, our freshman starters are going to be amongst the best players in the Pac12 in future years, and if we can keep that flow coming and the player development, we should be a more competitive program soon.

Well Said BB. Agreed 1-3. Especially as it relates to recruiting. Staff made a lot with a little, given the time they had for transition. Will be very interesting to see how the incoming class works out. Plus we have some players in the wings currently (such as Rippy and some OL youngsters) which will be fun to watch next year. Now let's figure out a way to play 4 quarters tomorrow.

 

[dio]

I think Awuzie can be a good multi-year starter. I think Adkins is in that group too. They will help us win games.

But most other teams in the conference have those types of players too.

Exactly - sometimes I think the posters on Allbuffs think this all happens in a vacuum. Every team has a few players in each class who become producers.

 

[chipwich]

Exactly - sometimes I think the posters on Allbuffs think this all happens in a vacuum.

Fitting. The Buffs suck.

 

[slider]

I think Awuzie can be a good multi-year starter. I think Adkins is in that group too. They will help us win games.

But most other teams in the conference have those types of players too.

True. At this point I'd trade a couple All-conf type players for 6-7 honorable mention types if it actually leads to a bowl game. I'd kill for one

 

[Dark Bohner]

Would you say that it is a New Hope?

 

[VCBuff]

I would have gone with alcohol. Alcohol gives me hope.

Usually some time on Friday night after a couple of cocktails I have hope that the Buffs will win. Those hopes are regularly crushed early Saturday morning as the Buffs fall behind by multiple scores before my hangover wears off.

That is how I am guaging improvement. When my hope for a victory outlasts my Saturday morning hangover I know the Buffs have turned a corner.