re: Official Melt Thread

Look there’s a lot of stuff going on with this team. On offense there are certainly some issues to be solved. But if we’re being honest, this offense is not performing worse than we could have reasonably hoped for given all the new pieces. When it mattered, they weren’t perfect, but they did enough to win.

I do think there is a longer term problem of the players who give us the highest ceiling not currently playing. Specifically at TE, Slot, RT, and perhaps RB.

But again, these problems are normal for such a young offense. They have the benefit of the doubt until midseason at least.

The defense though? Inexcusable. This is a deep, experienced, ultra athletic defense. It is supposed to be the strength of the team, only to be rivaled by the units at UGA and Clemson. There is absolutely no excuse for allowing a touchdown on every single second half possession. No excuse for letting a one dimensional team rush for 250 yards at 6 yards a clip. No excuse for letting a team steamroll you for a 99 yard drive.

The defense has been disappointing for three straight years and there is only one common denominator: Pete. He is the problem. You can’t deny it anymore.

You know I posted this in the game thread but I’ll put it again because it’s so true.

Our Mike libebackers consistently look lost, confused, and out of position. When it was Shane Lee we said “well he’s a freshman.” When it was Dylan Moses we said “well he’s not a true mike” or “well he’s banged up.” What’s the excuse for To’o To’o? We’ve already seen it. We KNOW he’s good. We’ve seen him be really good at another school that runs the exact same scheme. And yet he, just like Lee and Moses, looks to be getting WORSE in our system.

How can the same thing happen to all three players? Well what’s the common denominator? The position coach: Pete.

If Pete’s position played great, you could say maybe it’s the other players, maybe it’s the other coaches. But the fact is, his position has underperformed relative to expectations more than any other group on either side of the ball the past three years.

He’s not the guy. He can coach them fine against a crappy offense, against an opposing signal caller who’s equally mediocre. But against the best? Against Mullen, or Kiffin, or Brady, or hell even Gus… he just isn’t up to the task.

The definition of insanity… doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. We’re at that point now. It has to change.