Blind Spots

I think every coach has them. I'll define it as that aspect of their coaching philosophy that hinders or undermines their ability to consistently win. Mark Richt for all of his leadership qualities had several. Dabo in his rejection to embrace the Portal. Mullen and his lack of prioritizing recruiting. The list is endless. Like I said, every coach has them. Even Saban had to be dragged kicking and screaming into updating his offensive philosophy and eventually rejected the new landscape ushered in by NIL and retired.

Kirby has some blind spots also. For all of his coaching acumen, and it's vast and deep, I think we have enough of a body of work to say his focus on recruiting and developing the OL isn't his top priority and his utilization of the QB position is awkward to put it mildly.

Regarding the QB position: the fact is we've had some highly rated QBs on the roster for Kirby's entire tenure. Couple that with the fact that our best QB, perhaps the best who has ever played at the University, was a kid who never received a scholarship until injuries forced it. Even then he would have never saw the field if it weren't for transfers and injuries. Think about that for a minute. We won 2 National Championships for all intents and purposes, not by design, but by sheer happenstance at the QB position. For whatever reason Stetson was never embraced by the coaches. That's a glaring problem. Even after the first NC there was so much uncertainty and lack of faith in Stetson that he made the quip about, "where I'll be playing next year." Whatever commentary you care to draw from that comment regarding Kirby's and Stetson's relationship, it isn't positive. He went on to win another NC, and despite all the awards heaped on him by literally everyone: coaches, peers and pundits not to mention MVP in how many BCS games?, his winning did nothing to change the way the staff evaluate QBs. They are still stuck in Pro Style 4-5 star recruit mindset and their recruiting continues to reflect that. I don't know that there's anything per se wrong with that, but one would think that if a guy who never fit your mold as QB won you two NCs, you would maybe rethink your paradigm and how you evaluate QBs.

Now we have Beck who is by all accounts fits the prototypical Pro Style 4-5 Star recruit that have filled Kirby's rosters and reflect his preference. Beck has 4 years in the system and has started the last 2. To say he's regressed would be a MASSIVE understatement. He's fell into an abyss, and at least in part, on a psychological level, drug to some degree or another the entire team down with him. Where do you lay that except at the feet of the coaching?

It just seems to me for all of Kirby's great qualities that assessment, recruitment, and development of QB (and OL to a lesser degree) has been and continues to be his blind spot. Will he like Saban, have enough self awareness and humility to see and and make the changes needed, or will he like Dabo, dig his heels in and double down? I think the answer to this will determine the trajectory of our program going forward.

Let me be clear. I'm not disparaging anyone. I'm not here to debate or denigrate any other forum members. I may be completely off base and absolutely wrong. This is just my .02 as a fan.