To retort:
I get what your saying UKCR - sometimes improvement is gradual. We are talking about a lot of young players that still have time to develop, and some have already shown signs of improvement. I also understand that so many of us are bashing the staff left and right it does seem like a pile on.
I just cannot stand when people make blanket statements of opinion and act like its 100% fact. If someone has the opinion that certain players are developing, or certain positions are improving, great - they most likely are. But to just blindly say that there is "plenty of development on this team" as a point of argument means nothing.
Take our seniors - I realize there aren't many of them - but how many are really that much better than they day they stepped on campus. Toth is (ironically, because so many on here bash Schlarman at every turn), but honestly look at the others - I would argue that most have either plateaued or regressed since their soph. season:
Kemp
Timmons
McClain
McWilson
Harmon (maybe unfair to put here, playing fairly well)
That is lack of development. This doesn't all fall on Stoops; the offensive guys have had new OC's every year (except for OL - see Toth)
I am still pulling for our team, our players AND coaches - that doesn't mean I can't be critical of what I see.
Thanks for the response, PR.
First point is, being critical with respect is perfectly fine (constructive criticism). Slamming and bashing is what I am talking about.
Second point: When you say "lack of development," who is responsible for that?
You mentioned 4-5 players that haven't developed. CJ Johnson was one I tried to remember the name, but couldn't. Glad someone else brought him up. He's another player that absolutely improved while being coached by this staff. How come only some players are developing, then you have a few that aren't?
My thought on that is, maybe they (the players who haven't developed as much as we thought) were closer to their ceiling before they even got to UK. Others have more room to grow whether it be in fundamentals, technique, etc.
It's hard to mention all the players we have on this thread that have obviously gotten better, then say a few players haven't been developed and then blame it on Coach Stoops and his staff.
Some players work harder than others; some players don't catch on to the systems as fast; some players - as I said - may not have as high a ceiling as others..... lots of variables.
But to say coaches can't develop - as I've read on here over and over - and that's the reason (coaches) is a bit shortsided, IMO.
PS - I agree about JD Harmon. I actually think he's a better player than he was before Stoops got here.