BillySee58

He heard us!

We have plenty of guys like that and the coaching staff never can find an improvement over a player who should be reasonable easy to upgrade.

This is late but what in the world was Gaddie barking about on that pass interference? Just pushes the dude straight out of bounds. That isn’t on anyone else, dude.

I guess. I’m just saying don’t panic about the volume of commits (or lack thereof).

The current roster only has 8 scholarship seniors. So there are not many spots currently available for the recruiting class. And when guys transfer out, their spot usually gets filled by a player coming in from the portal, rather than a traditional recruit

The staff is going to operate as if they will be here next season until they are told they are not. As for benefit, even if there is a coaching staff change, there are almost always players who a previous staff recruits who the next staff benefits from those recruiting efforts. Examples there are Rico Bussey in football and Umoja Gibson in basketball. Bussey was offered by McCarney and Gibson was offered by Benford, and when the new coaches took over, they picked up where the old staff left off on those players and landed their commitments/signings. And that is EXCLUDING players who are committed under the previous staff and end up staying committed through the coaching change. Obviously that happens too. The program can’t just stop recruiting.

We offered. Also offered by Arkansas State, Kansas, Memphis, Missouri, Texas State, and UAB. https://247sports.com/Player/Judea-Milon-46136436/

Absolutely. And I’m fine with that too.

Watch the film. O-line had a solid day. They knew what was coming on 4th and 1 (along with everyone watching) but they played well overall.

I think people are going to be surprised at how many starters stay. The ability to transfer without sitting out a season started after the 2020 season. The guys who are still here have had that opportunity and chose to stay. Probably pretty safe to say they like it here in Denton. Even through a coaching change, when presented with the option of getting to stay here and continue being starters, or start over somewhere else, I think more will stay than leave.

Agreed. Regarding the o-line, with Nwaiwu getting starts in Carroll’s absence, they could just plug Carroll in at center (where he has played here a little and played in high school) next year and leave the rest of the line as is. Or they could bump Duncan in at guard where he probably is a more natural fit, if they can get a legit tackle. They should have options but as long as the next coach can get Blair to stay, I think the next coach will feel okay about the personnel at o-line.

Yeah I’m not fully sold on DL either but I think we have some guys who could make up a competent D-Line with the right coaching. Let’s not forget they aren’t exactly being coached by someone who has ever developed D-Linemen, and has never even held a defensive coaching position in college before this stint. Last year we had two 3-year starters at D-Tackle and the Murphy twins at end. Wasn’t like he had much developing to do with that group. Rod Brown and Enoch Jackson both can be effective defensive tackles IMO. I think the biggest issue with them is that they’re both disruptor/penetrator types, not gap eaters. Ideally you want one of each playing next to each other. And at d-end, I think Trieb has the ability but it almost always takes JUCOs most of a full season before they really start playing like effective FBS players. And Cam Robertson was a big-time recruit with a lengthy P5 offer list and has immediately earned a spot in the rotation as a true freshman, which is very tough as a d-lineman. Plus Mazin Richards has shown a pretty impressive ability to get by tackles. I think you fast forward a year and that group (plus maybe some from the backup group like Vailea, Leota, Rausaw) could easily be productive with decent coaching.

The focus has been on Littrell and the coaching staff (rightfully so) but I’m curious what the thoughts are on the roster. I think overall you have to ding Littrell for not having the roster where it needs to be for AAC competition, but I also don’t think it’s in a bad spot for whoever inherits it to take it to that level. I think the biggest areas of deficiency are QB, LB, and DB. Beyond that, I think most of the other position groups are at least close to AAC ready. At RB I think Adaway and Adeyi are both at that level, and both are sophomores, plus some solid depth behind them. At WR, Burns, Shorter, Maclin, and even Ward seem to be good enough. Could probably use more speed there but no huge overhaul needed. At tight end it looks like Gumms is starting to take a step forward and become a stud, and Roberts isn’t as explosive but I think he is AAC quality. And on the O-Line, you only have one senior in Mose and the group is pretty decent. Really have excelled in pass blocking, even with the two tackles being more interior guys naturally. Hoping true freshman Howard Sampson at 6’7” can be a guy who takes over at a tackle spot eventually. Defensively the line doesn’t look great but only Mazin Richards is a junior and the rest of the rotation guys are underclassmen. Trieb has been disappointing but he still has 2 years of eligibility left and True Freshman Cam Robertson has already earned a spot and looked promising. DTs have struggled a little being undersized but Rod Brown has also shown the ability to make plays and Enoch Jackson has shown something too, just has been injured this year. That leaves QB, LB, and DB as positions that just do not appear to have the guys we need currently on the roster. I’m not out on Gunnell, and I think he at least gives us a baseline as a guy who has been starter caliber at the PAC 12 level, but he hasn’t had an impressive start here. As for LB and DB, there’s just not much there and KD Davis is out of eligibility after the season. Our safeties don’t look FBS caliber at all and Gaddie, who is the one DB who has shown ability this year, hasn’t really looked good since the UTEP game. Curious what everyone’s thoughts are.

I’m not disagreeing with you, but they are family friends with Littrell and his family. Not like someone they just like since he got here. They are a big part of why he ended up here to begin with. Not crazy at all to think they pull their donations if he gets fired, or at least largely rein in their donations. Now should that be the reason we don’t move on from Littrell? Absolutely not.

Not at all (to your first question). TCU hired Dykes away from SMU at the end of November. Texas Tech hired Joey McGuire away in early November and he left Baylor mid season to start preparations for the next season as Tech’s head coach. The prevailing rumors around the coaching industry were that McGuire was our top target, but he was off the market before we had played game #9. That’s the timeline we’d be looking at. It just gives you more time to interview candidates. These guys don’t wait until the season is over to interview. And I’m not saying fire Littrell today. I’m just saying I think waiting until after a potential bowl game or after game 12 against Rice might put you at a disadvantage if you’re waiting until that late to start interviews.

While I agree that there isn’t much to gain by doing it now, I also think there is something to lose by waiting until the end of the season. Most high school players are signing by mid December so there’s not much left there if you wait to hire a coach until around that time (or after bowl season). Plus you don’t wait then getting too late a jump on the transfer portal.

Just did the math. Our defense’s last interception was in the first quarter of the FIU game last year. Kevin Wood picked off Max Bortenschlager. Since then, opposing offenses have attempted 222 passes that we have been unable to intercept.

Boy, sure thought the 4th down play call that hasn’t worked all day would work there

He is taking terrible angles in open space. Pretty hard to watch. He and Richards are not correcting their issues at all either.

Mazin Richards is killing me with the way he over pursues. Have to throttle down on a mobile QB or he’s going to run right by you, which he has all day.

Absolutely

I liked how the color commentator said “poor tackling.” No one got more than a swiping finger on him.

Ah

What?

Secondary looks terrible. Now we see why Zahodri Jackson wasn’t starting. Just a terrible whiff.