Well, I wouldn't....and I didn't.......count 2013 because that was Kugler's first year and I clearly said "for about 3 seasons under Price, Germard Reed was our best D-Lineman."
Reed led all UTEP defensive linemen in Tackles For Loss as a Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior! Those 3 years were also Mike Price's final 3 seasons. In addition to leading all d-linemen, Reed also ranked in the top 2 on our entire team(including the LB's and DB's) in Tackles For Loss as a Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior! He tied a LB for the team lead as a Freshman, he finished second behind a LB by only 1/2 TFL as a Soph, and again he finished second behind a LB by only 1/2 TFL as a Junior. And again, he did all of this as a Defensive Tackle. I stand behind my opinion that he was our top defensive lineman for about a 3 year period.
Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but your selective use of stats to make your point (e.g. using freshman data but omitting senior data) is curious, doesn't fit your narrative that he was the "best" during that period. What difference does it make that '13 was Kugler's first season, you said Reed was the best UTEP dlineman of the period, presumably including Germard's senior class. Guess the senior season didn't count. Let's be clear - Germard was a good football player. However, he strongly reminded of Trevor Vittatoe's career - both were exceptional talents their first two seasons, but neither really ever took it to the next level after that. Which is why I suggested incorporating his senior stats to get a
FULL picture, after all, he and all of the other '13 Dline starters were all Price recruits. If you did, you'd find that Reed was a complete non-factor his senior season. And of course Germard never came close to the next level, either. But those points wouldn't fit your point...
What I find truly funny is that you make much of Reed's stats but then argue that he wouldn't even start on this year's iteration of UTEP's defensive line. Really? Like UTEP's loaded or something this year? Remember, Reed and his Class of '13 played
MUCH stronger competition, week in and week out. Weekly conference games against Houston, Tulsa, East Carolina, Central Florida, SMU, Marshall, non-conference games against, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Colorado State, etc. But he couldn't start for a Dline that gave up 77 points last year to Army? Please...
What is truly remarkable (and sad) is Germard Reed and his class of '13 defensive team mates played four base defensive sets under four different defensive coordinators during their career at UTEP. Think about that!
Another point, Reed struggled with injuries, particularly in '13 because Kugler absolutely
KILLED that football team, first in August and then during the season! Live hitting -
ones against ones! - was standard on Wednesdays regular DURING THE SEASON! Many of those kids were recovering from the prior Saturday and Kugler is running first team offense and defense, full speed! Those kids would be forced to go full speed drills
BEFORE practices, those kids were half exhausted BEFORE practice. Germard and many others on that team struggled to stay healthy because their new head coach was looking to make a name and a statement - at their expense.
Anyway, my last word on the subject...
