So, if we were very close, competitive, in each and every game but did not win one would we have improved?
If we have something better than the worst offense in the FBS, then this year will be so much better. Gotta fix what's broke first, and our offense could have improved just by punting on first down.
IMO.. YES!! Not one for moral victories.. But there's a huge difference in feeling between losing 45,59,78-0... and losing 24-21.. 31-21... 28-27.... Worst case scenario...Even if we go 2-10 again this year.. But say we lose to OSU...44-21.. Mich.. 48-24... Penn St...31-17... Mich St... 21-13....Indiana 17-14.. Illinois... 14-10... Wash.. 28-14... Purdue...34-27...and MD...27-20... would you say that this team sucks still? or would u feel that the close losses can be a springboard for 2018?
You could have a Hall of Fame coaching staff, and as good as they are, you wont win consistently without good players. It doesn't matter if recruits come from Montana or NJ, but if you want to be competitive with a PSU, Nebraska, MSU etc. you need to win your fair share of recruits that are being recruited by the schools you want to compete with.
I think, it's hard to say without living through it, that I'd be OK with tangible improvement on the field, even without more wins. Though it would be hard to have another year of not picking up any conference wins. It might depend on how that translates to interest from recruits. Right now we seem to be picking up no interest from anyone with other viable options.We win two games and lose all those other close games, I'd say our HC is in over his head. I'm on the fence at the moment. Not because I don't think he can get it done here, but because nothing he did last year impressed me. But he talked a big game.
We win two games and lose all those other close games, I'd say our HC is in over his head. I'm on the fence at the moment. Not because I don't think he can get it done here, but because nothing he did last year impressed me. But he talked a big game.
IMO.. YES!! Not one for moral victories.. But there's a huge difference in feeling between losing 45,59,78-0... and losing 24-21.. 31-21... 28-27.... Worst case scenario...Even if we go 2-10 again this year.. But say we lose to OSU...44-21.. Mich.. 48-24... Penn St...31-17... Mich St... 21-13....Indiana 17-14.. Illinois... 14-10... Wash.. 28-14... Purdue...34-27...and MD...27-20... would you say that this team sucks still? or would u feel that the close losses can be a springboard for 2018?
If we go that close with Michigan and PSU on the road there is a very strong possibility that we win at home vs. Purdue and Maryland and win one of Indiana/Illinois on the road.
I've always felt that losing is losing, especially in individual sports. In team sports it's different because you could argue that close games is an indication that the product is improving and moving in the right direction. I've always felt that at the beginning of every year 15 or so teams are capable of winning a NC. I believe early rankings have us at 78. Coach Ash has a lot to prove this year and in 2018 we'll know if he's HC material.IMO.. YES!! Not one for moral victories.. But there's a huge difference in feeling between losing 45,59,78-0... and losing 24-21.. 31-21... 28-27.... Worst case scenario...Even if we go 2-10 again this year.. But say we lose to OSU...44-21.. Mich.. 48-24... Penn St...31-17... Mich St... 21-13....Indiana 17-14.. Illinois... 14-10... Wash.. 28-14... Purdue...34-27...and MD...27-20... would you say that this team sucks still? or would u feel that the close losses can be a springboard for 2018?
If we have something better than the worst offense in the FBS, then this year will be so much better. Gotta fix what's broke first, and our offense could have improved just by punting on first down.
Never thought I'd be looking back fondly at Ito's rugby-style punts...Ummmm, not with our punting. lol
You're right. And the sad part is that Terry Shea actually outcoached Chris Ash in his first season here. Amazing that we've reached this lowpoint after all the money that's been donated and invested in the program since Schiano brought us back to respectability.It really is the late 90's again.
last year was what it was, last year, new year, a more experienced staff, qb upngrade, i cant see that happening this year, i look for an upset or twoHow could it be any different? How many points did RU score against 4 division mates, Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan, Michigan St, last season? That's right, the same number of times the hoops squad has been to the Dance since 1991. ZERO! Hard to believe but true. Parcells used to say, " We can't think about the Super Bowl until we get out of our division first. Same for RU. A massive hill to climb.
And a look inside our QB room is not exactly awe inspiring. A guy who had 1 good half in a loss, a true freshman, and the star from Southern Connecticut.
Yet you have to admit the bar is set pretty low for Kill. Like managing a first down against Michigan before the 4th quarter. Kidding aside, I do love the Kill hire. This guy just has to make an impact.
Because the 2017 season is going to be about finding an offense, and finding a QB.
If there's anything I liked about Kyle Flood, it was his run first philosophy. And the power spread figures to bring back some punch to RU's running game. Which has to help the QB. And speaking of QB, its hard to be sold right now about Gio. After the Odin failure, I hope Lewis is the real deal. And if he is, I'm desperate for the future right now. But that's Kill's and Ash's call.
And speaking of Ash, we have yet to really see what type of coach he is. Is he conservative? Will he gamble? The offense was so bad last year, we couldn't tell.
Why low expectations? Because there are 5 automatic losses before we even get started. Washington, Nebraska, Ohio St, Michigan, and Penn St. I hesitate to put Michigan St in that group right now. They have a low number of returning starters, its at home, and despite getting blown out last year, we were very competitive against them at home the year before with Laviano at QB.
So that means 4 B1G teams RU can be competitive with, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Purdue. Problem is 2 are on the road, and 1 in NY. Even with E Michigan and Morgan, how many wins can we expect?
So for me 2017 comes down to finding some semblance of an offense, and finding a QB.
Low expectations indeed.
You're right. And the sad part is that Terry Shea actually outcoached Chris Ash in his first season here. Amazing that we've reached this lowpoint after all the money that's been donated and invested in the program since Schiano brought us back to respectability.
its worse really, Shea didn't have a 1/3 of the resources and ancillary aid that Ash does.
This is the most optimistic post of yours that I have read in quite a while! Are you moderately optimistic about this year?last year was what it was, last year, new year, a more experienced staff, qb upngrade, i cant see that happening this year, i look for an upset or two
Shea also didn't have the infrastructure, school support, any semblance of a brand, financial support....I could go on for crying out loud, Chad Bosch was our running back!I think there is only one poster in history of this board that repeats himself as often as you do and then also ask for apologies...lol
And Shea didn't have 8-9 games against the B1G and OOC against a top 10...just saying.
Miami, VTech, Syracuse, West Virginia, and BC were all good during the Shea Error. Played Cal, Texas, Notre Dinero ooc. Hell, even when we played Tulane they finished ranked.And Shea didn't have 8-9 games against the B1G and OOC against a top 10...just saying.
Plus, Miami, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and even Syracuse were national powerhouses during the Shea years. The schedule difficulty in the late '90s is actually comparable to what we're dealing with now.Shea also didn't have the infrastructure, school support, any semblance of a brand, financial support....I could go on for crying out loud, Chad Bosch was our running back!
I don't want to hear about the Big10, we still played some teams we should have beat so what does that say about how mighty the schedule was last year?
nonsense.Plus, Miami, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and even Syracuse were national powerhouses during the Shea years. The schedule difficulty in the late '90s is actually comparable to what we're dealing with now.
Virginia Tech went to the National Championship Game following the 1999 season. They were absolutely a national power at the time.nonsense.
Miami was a national power.
VTech was a notch below.
and SU was in a bowl 96-97-99Virginia Tech went to the National Championship Game following the 1999 season. They were absolutely a national power at the time.
Miami, VTech, Syracuse, West Virginia, and BC were all good during the Shea Error. Played Cal, Texas, Notre Dinero ooc. Hell, even when we played Tulane they finished ranked.
Plus, Miami, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and even Syracuse were national powerhouses during the Shea years. The schedule difficulty in the late '90s is actually comparable to what we're dealing with now.
Bon
nonsense.
Miami was a national power.
VTech was a notch below.
None of the others were ever national powers.
As I had stated..WORST CASE scenario....
Ain't going to happen under that scenario. No way.
I get the on the field comparisons, last year was abysmal, but I just don't get the same feel from Ash as I did Shea. Ash seems like a guy who is methodical, organized, willing to work and willing to make changes. Shea seemed like a guy who was smart and liked football, but really didn't have much interest in doing the hard work.Now, hopefully Ash will see a better 2nd year than Shea did... who saw a definite drop in the strength of schedule, but performed worse overall.
1997 was Shea's second year, and we went 0-11
- Played the year-end AP #21 Syracuse, (#40 VTech)
- We had one shutout, against (7-5) WVU, for a score of 0-48.
- We had no wins, and played just 4 teams with winning records (9-3 Cuse, and three schools that finished 7-5)
- Overall, lwe were outscored 496-185 (45.1-16.8)
I get the on the field comparisons, last year was abysmal, but I just don't get the same feel from Ash as I did Shea. Ash seems like a guy who is methodical, organized, willing to work and willing to make changes. Shea seemed like a guy who was smart and liked football, but really didn't have much interest in doing the hard work.
We'll see though, Ash's first year certainly didn't help with what was already a very difficult job.