People get nutty, but my gosh, give Allen year two before trying to put nails in coffin.
His first year was 5-7 but wheels did not fall off. 3 disappointing winnable games, but no blowouts, solid D and just a young, injured and not as solid O last year.
But since the loss:
-Nailed the initial recruiting signing period (with a LOT of hustle/travel to lock them down)
-Has added Grad Transfer OL from Miami & Husky from Ga Tech w/3 yrs left
-Added an excellent new S&C Coach who looks as state of the art as our weight room facilities
-Added a rising new LB coach and committed to a full-time special teams coach
-Showing his committment with a Scholly punter last season & All-American K this year
-Has focus for the program & season ahead: #Finish (as they were so close last year)
-Still to see but bet they land a good 2-3 more recruits on final signing day
-Has team underway now with winter training (under the new S&C coach he made change on)
What from all of that above shows a coach that is not focused, determined and with a plan? Our biggest weakness was offense, and the O-line will be all year older, bigger w/2 new recruits and a grad transfer to add more competition. Have 4 Top WR's retruning. A new 3-4 star RB here in Jan. And a 4-star QB also here in Jan.
Defense lost some good players, but a lot of players still returning, especially in backfield where we may have perhaps IU's most athletic (and bigger) DB's as a whole in a long time. Top pass rusher is returning. Stud DE from FL on campus in Jan for spring too.
It's all other B10 teams are making huge leaps and bounds while IU is staying static! Adding new S&C coach alone may be huge payoff staring this spring and carrying on into next year, with less injuries or quicker returns back. More competition and most positions. New F/T LB coach for that big need to fill. And further focus on S/Teams with full time coordinator with fantastic 2nd year punter and blue chip FR kicker. And the schedule is MUCH more favorable than this season.
Still saying 7-5 is likely, and there is a path to 8 or 9 wins if they execute and have little luck too.
That's my case for big year next year, or at least one on the right track!
His first year was 5-7 but wheels did not fall off. 3 disappointing winnable games, but no blowouts, solid D and just a young, injured and not as solid O last year.
But since the loss:
-Nailed the initial recruiting signing period (with a LOT of hustle/travel to lock them down)
-Has added Grad Transfer OL from Miami & Husky from Ga Tech w/3 yrs left
-Added an excellent new S&C Coach who looks as state of the art as our weight room facilities
-Added a rising new LB coach and committed to a full-time special teams coach
-Showing his committment with a Scholly punter last season & All-American K this year
-Has focus for the program & season ahead: #Finish (as they were so close last year)
-Still to see but bet they land a good 2-3 more recruits on final signing day
-Has team underway now with winter training (under the new S&C coach he made change on)
What from all of that above shows a coach that is not focused, determined and with a plan? Our biggest weakness was offense, and the O-line will be all year older, bigger w/2 new recruits and a grad transfer to add more competition. Have 4 Top WR's retruning. A new 3-4 star RB here in Jan. And a 4-star QB also here in Jan.
Defense lost some good players, but a lot of players still returning, especially in backfield where we may have perhaps IU's most athletic (and bigger) DB's as a whole in a long time. Top pass rusher is returning. Stud DE from FL on campus in Jan for spring too.
It's all other B10 teams are making huge leaps and bounds while IU is staying static! Adding new S&C coach alone may be huge payoff staring this spring and carrying on into next year, with less injuries or quicker returns back. More competition and most positions. New F/T LB coach for that big need to fill. And further focus on S/Teams with full time coordinator with fantastic 2nd year punter and blue chip FR kicker. And the schedule is MUCH more favorable than this season.
Still saying 7-5 is likely, and there is a path to 8 or 9 wins if they execute and have little luck too.
That's my case for big year next year, or at least one on the right track!