It isn't defeatist pussy talk it's the reality. I just don't see the wins you see. I want to be optimistic, I love being optimistic.
However, I'm looking at the reality. IMO we had a better team last year and finished 7-5 ...8-5 over a mighty Purdue. QB is the big player in this game, and we have no idea what we have. Including Gus has shown time after time that he can fuck up even the best QB.
I want to be on that train with you, but every time I step on we hit a pothole and I get thrown 50 feet in the air and hurt my ass.
I see guaranteed wins against the 3 nobodies and Ole Miss and Arky. That get's us to 5.
Assuming losses to FUGA and bammer. I could possibly agree with you that FUGA is beatable, but I don't see us beating the turds not even at home. I also think FUGA has the better team than us right now, Jake Fromm from State Farm at the QB position gives them the edge.
That leaves us with Oregon, @ aTm, Miss State, @ Florida and @ LSU - That's a tough slate.
You said 8 wins, are you happy at that number? What makes you giddy? I think I would be surprised if we got 8 this year, but it doesn't move my pecker. Like I said it all depends on what those wins and losses look like. We get 8 wins and look to be a team making strides through the year, maybe I'm ok. Yet Gus has never shown that in his entire tenure save for 2013.
I like your attitude, I love your optimism, I just don't see the signs.
I'm in agreement here. First, I've never really put much stock in the theory that Gus has to have a "Pre-trained" QB to succeed. I've always thought why wouldn't you bring in a QB with prior experience? But the fact is, he's never done shit with a QB recruited out of H.S. and we're sitting here with 2 battling it our for the starting job who are exactly that. I'm not saying Gatewood or Nix will fail by any means, but until I see one of them look like anything other than 3 day old road kill in a real game, my pecker ain't budging either.
Also, there's nothing that gives pause for chub with our running backs. I like Boobies. I think he showed some real potential last year. But right now, it's still just potential that so far seems injury prone. Kam Martin? Meh. Shivers? Really? And before last season, Gus had the brilliant foresight to let a Running Backs Coach go that had had a 1,000 yard rusher for a bazillionteen years running.
To finish off the Debbie Downer take, our O-line was putrid last year. Granted, they are all back, all seniors and played a little better down the stretch. They will definitely be better...but how much can you improve from putrid?
I can see a scenario where Gus goes full 2013, moves back to that straight up, RPO offense, going HUNH and Gatewood kicks ass in that role. I honestly think that's our one chance to navigate this schedule to 8-9 wins. But that's about as positive as I can be right now given Gus' history.
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