FanNation - The Republic of Sport

So...we lose to Arkansas St., the Red Wolves.  Some Ags are already being talked off of bridges, and out of closed garages with the car running.  Arkansas St. gave the burnt orange boys in Austin a close game last year.  The Big XII officials admitted an error in the call of a late onside kick that could have made it REAL interesting.  The Red Wolves have some talent.  At least we didn't lose Eastern New Mexico or Coastal Carolina.  

But we should not have lost.  Our kicker misses chip shot field goals that 100 high school kids can make.  Why?  What happened to our special teams?  Our 2 top receivers were a RB and a QB.  Fran's stamp of the option offense will be felt this year.  You do not recruit skill WRs running the option.  The cupboard was bare.  We need another recruiting class to help the position.  Our D, um, what happened to getting rid of the Bend, Don't Break philosphy.  Uh, more attack?  We bent enough for 4 field goals.  Fran's 4-2-5 left us thin on LBs, and his loyalty to Seniors left us really thin at experienced LBs.  I always get scared when a baseball team brags about its bullpen (if that is their strength they normally lose because of lack of starting pitching, lack of offense, etc.).  I heard great things about our secondary.  That scares me even more.  A good line with good LBs who pressure the QB and stop the run make an average secondary look great.  The greatest secondary in the world can't help if the QB has all day to throw or he can escape and run at will and the WRs can "lose" their guys in coverage.  We need experience at the LB position and the only way to get it is to be thrown into the fire.  Scrimmages don't help.  The Red Wolves O didn't seem to have too much of a problem.

Our O, ick....4 sacks and 4 turnovers.  Yeah, our line is young and inexperienced.  Many college football mags pointed out this weakness.  McGee was McGee, did you expect anything more?  The RBs showed flash and promise, if they hold on to the ball.  But two touchdowns, that's it?  Come on. 

So I watch the Alabama-Clemson game while suffering through the finale of the Ags "punt".  Saban struggled last year, but after 2 of his recruiting classes, he has some athletes.  I went from expecting a 8-4 season to praying for a 6-6 season this year.  These guys have go through growing pains with experience (learning the college game) and skill (learning Sherman's offense).  Fran had losing records, so it is not like we took a step back.  But I still don't like it.  We should never lose to a Sun Belt school.   Temper your expectations while maintaining your enthusiasm.  This step back was not unexpected, just unwanted.