I don't have answers to all of that
@gamecockcat but I will mention this because I wonder how much it factored into things-
The two seemd to be moving in opposite directions on more than one front.
- Stoops getting divorced for whatever reason, and Marrow settling down.
- Stoops looking at A&M, while Marrow wanted to stay in Kentucky
- Marrow wanting to be on the field less, and Stoops wanting to get back to the grind
I wonder how much of the offensive scheme and recruiting, as well as the results in the field were a product of the division in the staff. I still don't think a Hamdan/Mumme type offense is the answer to SEC defenses. What we were doing led to competitiveness and a good result every 3 yrs before we ditched it. I'm inclined to believe ditching it was not Marrow's idea.
We were doing things no one else in tbe conference was doing with TWilson and WLevis. Dual threat QBs, a great running game with some great RBs, a grind you down bunch of warriors on the OLine and a decent enough passing game.
When you're different, you make teams have to adjust to you and gameplan just for you. They have a week to get ready in the middle of an already brutal schedule. When you're the same as others, the adjustment required is minor. Reducing the playbook as we have makes it even easier. Going away from the running game has made it even easier still.
We've played into everyone's hands as we did when Joker took over the offense on his own.
We are now competing with everyone for the best passing game recruits, WRs, and pro-style QBs, when our success was with AND ATTRACTED the dual threat QBs that can throw well, RBs that got better as they game went on, and aggressive linemen that lived to knock the sht out of somebody.
We've taken OURSELVES out of contention by trying to be like Georgia, UT, Ole Miss, or Bama to the delight of Florida, Georgia, Vandy, Mizzou, and UL.