Mike Roach
Staff
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2013
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- 2,021
The bye week is probably coming at a great time for Charlie Strong who could use a week with no game prep to re-evaluate his team as they prepare for a tough few weeks following next week's contest in Lawrence. With all that has happened to this team, the players and coaches could certainly use a breather to get the team on the same page. Let's take a look back over the last few weeks.
The Good:
Honestly, it's hard to find but the offensive line improved from putrid to nearly average against a tough UCLA team. Many of the problems on offense start up front, but there is some talent there for Joe Wickline to mold. Marcus Hutchins has made some strides recently, and though he's not the idea left tackle he's certainly playing well enough. Kent Perkins has been great in the run game but might be playing out of position and has struggled a bit when playing in space. Taylor Doyle and Jake Raulerson have certainly made their mistakes, but neither looks in too deep playing against Division 1 competition. The play of Tyrone Swoopes has obviously been one of the brighter sides to the early part of the season. He's not a difference maker at this point, but he hasn't made major mistakes and has shown the ability to play within the offense. This would be a great time to ratchet it up and turn it loose against Kansas before they face Baylor and Oklahoma. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the special play of Malcom Brown early on. The junior defensive tackle is making money every week he steps on the field, and has been the team's best player early on.
The Bad:
Injuries, suspensions, and questionable playcalling have all been a big part of the narrative early on in Coach Strong's tenure. The loss of David Ash has forced the offensive game plan to change, while suspensions have decimated the offensive line depth. The team is still waiting for it's most explosive player Daje Johnson to return from exile as well. Shawn Watson came under fire for conservative play calling against BYU, and inexplicably going with the hurry up offense late against UCLA when trying to put the game away. The bye week is an excellent time to take a deep look at all of these things and figure out how to sort them.
The Uncertain:
There's a lot of uncertainty ahead, as the Horns prepare to face the two best offenses they will see all season in the next three weeks. How will a defense that looks better than last season but still a bit shaky overall perform when the competition level takes a step up? What freshmen can come through to provide a spark for a team that looks like it's struggling to get out of it's own way? Can this team cut out the mental mistakes that have cost them in the past two games? It's clear the honeymoon is over for Charlie Strong, and how he responds to early adversity will be closely monitored.
What's at Stake:
It's clear that this was always going to be a giant undertaking. At this point I think Coach Strong would be thrilled with 7-5 or 8-4. The goal for the second half of the season is progress both on the field and the recruiting trail. People understand that re-builds take time, but missing out on bowl eligibility could really turn up the heat on this team. Five wins are needed to get there, but it appears that none of them will come easily. The way this team finishes the season will dictate how they are set up for next season. It's not time to panic, but it's definitely time to ramp up the pressure.
The Good:
Honestly, it's hard to find but the offensive line improved from putrid to nearly average against a tough UCLA team. Many of the problems on offense start up front, but there is some talent there for Joe Wickline to mold. Marcus Hutchins has made some strides recently, and though he's not the idea left tackle he's certainly playing well enough. Kent Perkins has been great in the run game but might be playing out of position and has struggled a bit when playing in space. Taylor Doyle and Jake Raulerson have certainly made their mistakes, but neither looks in too deep playing against Division 1 competition. The play of Tyrone Swoopes has obviously been one of the brighter sides to the early part of the season. He's not a difference maker at this point, but he hasn't made major mistakes and has shown the ability to play within the offense. This would be a great time to ratchet it up and turn it loose against Kansas before they face Baylor and Oklahoma. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the special play of Malcom Brown early on. The junior defensive tackle is making money every week he steps on the field, and has been the team's best player early on.
The Bad:
Injuries, suspensions, and questionable playcalling have all been a big part of the narrative early on in Coach Strong's tenure. The loss of David Ash has forced the offensive game plan to change, while suspensions have decimated the offensive line depth. The team is still waiting for it's most explosive player Daje Johnson to return from exile as well. Shawn Watson came under fire for conservative play calling against BYU, and inexplicably going with the hurry up offense late against UCLA when trying to put the game away. The bye week is an excellent time to take a deep look at all of these things and figure out how to sort them.
The Uncertain:
There's a lot of uncertainty ahead, as the Horns prepare to face the two best offenses they will see all season in the next three weeks. How will a defense that looks better than last season but still a bit shaky overall perform when the competition level takes a step up? What freshmen can come through to provide a spark for a team that looks like it's struggling to get out of it's own way? Can this team cut out the mental mistakes that have cost them in the past two games? It's clear the honeymoon is over for Charlie Strong, and how he responds to early adversity will be closely monitored.
What's at Stake:
It's clear that this was always going to be a giant undertaking. At this point I think Coach Strong would be thrilled with 7-5 or 8-4. The goal for the second half of the season is progress both on the field and the recruiting trail. People understand that re-builds take time, but missing out on bowl eligibility could really turn up the heat on this team. Five wins are needed to get there, but it appears that none of them will come easily. The way this team finishes the season will dictate how they are set up for next season. It's not time to panic, but it's definitely time to ramp up the pressure.
