Yes, I know the season is not over yet but the regular season is. Hopefully we can get a win during the bowl game to take some momentum into next year.
Here are things I liked, didn't like, and things that I am still undecided about from the year.
Positives:
I may add more as I think about this. In the meantime, I would like to know what all of you think. Where do you agree and disagree? I know some of you will put Dimel in the positives and others will put him in the negatives. I tried to be as fair as I could be. I will really be looking forward to seeing what people think about Hardison too.
Overall this was absolutely a successful season in my eyes! This team exceeded my expectations by 3-4 wins. Congrats to the players, coaches, and fans that have stuck with this team through some dark times. I am looking forward to the bowl game and next year.
Here are things I liked, didn't like, and things that I am still undecided about from the year.
Positives:
- Cowing - NFL prospect, nuff said
- Tyrin Smith - Going to be a good second option at WR next year
- Praise - another NFL prospect
- DL - best unit on the team
- OL - while not great, they were good more than they were bad in my opinion
- Awatt - good season for him
- Winning more games than we lost. Yes, I know we only beat bad teams but we would have lost a lot of those games the last six years
- Having a 30k person crowd despite the result of that game. The Sun Bowl is a beautiful place with people in it
- TWC uniforms. We should have used them more
- Overall defense - best overall defensive unit in decades probably but I think most of the credit should go to the DL
- Youth - this team is young! Hopefully we can be even better next year
- Average attendance increased - hopefully some of the new fans stick around
- Starting 6-1 - despite the competition, we can only play the teams on our schedule
- (not so) Special teams - no need to elaborate
- Predictable play calling - although it improved during the last two games
- Big plays at the end of half/game
- Dumb penalties, lack of discipline
- 2 PM start times. Yes, I know it has been happening for years but that doesn't mean I have to like it
- Hankins playing time. He played well today against a good team and should have had more opportunities during the rest of the year
- No wins against winning teams
- Ending 1-4
- Hardison - I think the coaches may have put him in bad situations most of the season. He handed the ball off on 1st and 2nd down and probably played against difficult coverage on 3rd downs all year. These past 2 games he seemed to have played better when not throwing on obvious passing downs.
- Dimel - yes he has increased the talent level, had a winning season, and got us bowl eligible but he also hired Price, has a team that commits bad turnovers, bad time management, careless timeout usage, and his play calling has been suspect. I mentioned this earlier in the season and still believe it, he has a higher floor than our last coach but also might have a low ceiling... I guess we will find out next year.
- Secondary good at times and bad at times. Sometimes very bad during crucial moments but they were still part of the best defense we have had in decades
I may add more as I think about this. In the meantime, I would like to know what all of you think. Where do you agree and disagree? I know some of you will put Dimel in the positives and others will put him in the negatives. I tried to be as fair as I could be. I will really be looking forward to seeing what people think about Hardison too.
Overall this was absolutely a successful season in my eyes! This team exceeded my expectations by 3-4 wins. Congrats to the players, coaches, and fans that have stuck with this team through some dark times. I am looking forward to the bowl game and next year.
