From what I have seen this season, we finally have a championship coaching staff.
Our defensive scheme has come light years from last season. D backs are well positioned, confident in their assignments, and tackle by wrapping up and driving the defender to the ground - credit Chris Ash and Kerry Coombs. Chris Ash planted a seed in our defense this offseason, one which has been growing all year long, and finally coming to fruition. I see hints of silver bullet swagger finally re-emerging on film. Our D line plays gap sound defense, and gets to the quarterback enough to disrupt the passing game - even when rushing only 4. 3 out of our 4 DL could be first round draft picks. - Credit LJ (and Vrabel). Credit Luke Fickell - Our linebackers play aggressive, fundamental and confident football. We are stacked for the next 3 years. Fickell - once a head coach and defensive coordinator - has accepted his new (and old) role with grace and honor.
In spite of concerns about conservative play calling, especially in big games, Tom Herman has proved that he can game plan against some of the best minds in the game. Herman proved he knows what he's doing - as fans we scold him for vanilla play calling, but last week he proved why he's talked about as one of the top candidates for a HC next year. After Braxton went down, he's turned one of his hand picked recruits into the envy of college football. He's also proved that he can strategically manipulate a playbook and dispatch offensive commands- weather its during a game or over the course of a season. I give him credit for waiting to play his best hand until the most critical game of the season.
We lose Hyde, and Elliot emerges as a back with speed, power and vision. Behind him, we have an emerging freshman in Samuel, and two hungry backups in Ball and Dunn. Credit Drayton.
The WR were able to defeat press coverage, produce YAC, and block on run plays during crucial points in the game. Furthermore, we had/have superior speed and ball skills to any DB on the field - against MSU as well as any opponent we've faced all year. Credit Zack Smith for coaching as well as recruiting.
Our O-Line leaves something to be desired in terms of talent. Yes, we have Taylor Decker as a prototype tackle, but Boren is undersized, Baldwin is a career backup, and Price is young and lacking essential footwork. Despite of all these shortcomings, combined with the 4 linemen we lost to the NFL, we were able to control the line of scrimmage with against of the most respected fronts in college football. Our TE's can catch, block and run. Credit Hinton and Warinner.
Urban is the white wizard of course.
