Not at all, but still a surprising thing to hear a HC say out loud in front of media, though I'm guessing he's said more or less the same to the players' faces by this point. I'd say I'm worried this tactic will blow up in his face but there isn't much to blow up anyways, so have at it.
Didn't see this discussed specifically: "Particularly the offensive line, I don't believe we have a player in the two deep that they recruited here over the last three years that is really significantly doing anything for us in the playing department."
This......
Zero points, ever, for anyone, no matter the circumstances, for excuses about the contents of the inherited cupboard. Period.
Yeah, but he really wasn't making excuses. He stated a fact: no one recruited over the last three years has made any really significant contribution during a game and they can't have that. Initially, I took it as a motivational ploy to these younger guys, as in step it up or we'll recruit over you. I don't think he intended it as a dig at the previous staff, and generally he's been very complimentary towards the previous staff regarding the players that he inherited, but I do feel it can be interpreted that way.
I don’t think it was him digging at the past staff so much as calling a spade a spade. We all know this team is talent deficient.
I don't understand the reasoning behind BB making that pronouncement about the OL. Even fired up, most of those guys don't have the talent to play big ten ball, and the freshmen are still in OL development mode and not expected to make a contribution. You can't put it on all on the players... some of the blame has to go to the current coaches too. BP, for instance, is having by far his worst season, as a super senior, in a system that's supposed to play to his strengths. Is that all him, or is there something going on with how they're coaching/managing him?
I'll confess up front that I have not seen Epstein and or Hansen play in person. On TV, they appear to play with guts and determination. I admire that. They also appear to be a bit "thin" or undersized for the positions they play which involve so much intense contact. This may be why they have been injured so often. I admire them for having probably demanded and received more out of there bodies than their bodies are capable of supporting over the long haul. Would like to read thoughts from others. Am I close or really off base here?
BB shoots it straight. He has praised the previous staff at times when things first began, but now he's had time to evaluate everything. Gotta like a coach who is brutally honest.
Especially if they are looking at jucos with 2 yrs remaining. Or transfer with 2+years remaining. So transfers.
The OL has been decent or better over the last few years. Under BB and his O-line coach, they have not. Not a Lovie fan but, it is hard for me to see how this is being laid upon Lovie.
Oh he definitely took a swing at the previous staffs, but I don’t know how anyone can listen to that and think it isn’t a shot at the kids too. The horse racing analogy alone doesn’t fit the “not a shot at the kids” narrative. Again, I think what he is saying is in large part true, but there were much better ways to say it that wouldn’t risk alienating current players — and potential future ones. I just don’t think his approach is a good look or one that will do him any favors in the future.
So now it is the previous staff's fault for BB's poor coaching and decision-making.
Bingo.....Poor coaching and in game decisions have cost us much more. At this point there is no date to accomplish a full rebuild. Just don't see it happening with this current staff.
I am a huge fan of this. This should motivate the players or tell us 100% that he was right and they are not mentally sound enough for D1 football. This exactly tells transfers that they can play immediately. Hit the JUCO hard and the transfer portal. We need to reshape this team as I am pumped about the future. The OL was suppose to be a strength and its horrible. We are getting destroyed weekly. If you are a player, man up and get better, if not, sit on the bench and watch someone else take your spot.
It is Lovies fault at the lack of depth they have on the roster. They have 3 OL on the roster that they trust(slaughter might have made 4) They recruited undersized interior linemen which isn't going to work in the big 10. The WR group as a whole is terrible, The struggle with QB is obvious. Lovies plan of relying on grad transfers was a terrible idea from the get go, never going to get anywhere with that.
