Who made the decision to put in the walk-on QB? We have scholarship guys on the bench. Few schools can replace an Abdullah but we have other 4* kids also on the bench, why not play them? DE I'll give you. LB was supposed to be terrible and when a walk-on is manning the middle, we are at our best. Our 4* guy is no Chris Weber. I would say we have pretty good coaching there, where is it everywhere else? Can anyone confidently say that any other position on the field including special teams has improved?
Also, we have had injuries every year. Our OL was usually a mash unit and down to 3rd stringers by the time we got to the end of Big 10 play. Last year Abdullah was about 75% for much of the season (still was like most players at 110%), Gregory played at less than that or just sat out completely. Banderas was always hurt, Rose-Ivey didn't play at all, Keith Williams hardly played and neither did Maurice. Our whole secondary is virtually the same. We miss Kenny Bell but even he didn't have a great season due to injuries and you can even say Alonzo Moore has basically picked up where he left off. We also didn't have Reilly most of the year or Sam Burtch. Losing DPE definitely hurts as he was a game changer on special teams.
And still Bo and Co pulled up in their clown car and managed to win 9.
We're all frustrated, I think that's a given. I just don't buy into the talent argument like so many others. Is that part of the problem? Absolutely but I still just don't see the improvement. To me that's coaching. Everyone from the top down needs to step their game up. At this point I think the players are begging for someone to take the lead. Maybe Riley wants them to figure it out on their own, I don't know, but if someone doesnt figure it out quick they may all be looking for jobs after next season.
