2023 Offseason

[kdog27]

Why are so many lineman injured right now anyway?

I don’t know where the injury report came from?Many transferred… some graduated/retired. Plus we were light before the exodus.

Got it.

[Tony4BG]

Players were released today. NO spring game.

Wow. I don’t follow every school spring games but has this ever happened before??

The roster was upside down and no spring Game in 2019…… same thing 5 years later.

Not sure which year it was but one spring game was moved to inside facility due to weather. If that was 2019, at least they had a glorified practice. I think it was Doege last year before he left.

That was 2019. It was moved inside, but there never was going to be a “game”, regardless of weather. Not enough bodies.

Wow. Never heard that back then at all. Use weather as an excuse to move it inside.

[Flipper]

I don't think DVDM is going to be swayed by an of the excuses we've been hearing over the year's regarding football. Seems a little too smart to fall for that

[mbenecke]

I don't think DVDM is going to be swayed by an of the excuses we've been hearing over the year's regarding football. Seems a little too smart to fall for that

Agree with this. But he also does seem to have a very good relationship with Scot - they've been on the road meeting with alumni/donors a bunch since football season ended.

[BillyLP]

I don't think DVDM is going to be swayed by an of the excuses we've been hearing over the year's regarding football. Seems a little too smart to fall for that

Agree with this. But he also does seem to have a very good relationship with Scot - they've been on the road meeting with alumni/donors a bunch since football season ended.

Was just about to say this. I don't think Loeffler has an endless leash or anything, but I think it seems likely DVDM will give him a 1-year extension before the season.

[mbenecke]

Pro Day is Monday, 3/20.

Players participating:

Karl Brooks
Bryce Brand
Chris Bacon
CJ Lewis
Matt McDonald
Jakari Robinson
Christian Sims
DJ Taylor
Diata Burns (Alabama A&M, but a BG alumnus)

Hoping for the best for those guys!

[jpfalcon09]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/i ... ll-preview

Bill Connelly has his all too early 2023 MAC preview posted. Here is the BG snippet.

Was 2022 the start or finish for Scot Loeffler? After most of a decade of taking on salvage jobs as offensive coordinator (Auburn in 2012, Virginia Tech in 2013, Boston College in 2016), Loeffler embarked upon the next logical step in his career, taking on a salvage job as head coach. When he landed at Bowling Green in 2019, the Falcons had won nine games in three seasons, the worst three-year run of their six decades in FBS.

After going 3-14 with SP+ rankings of 128th and 126th in his first two seasons, Loeffler began to engineer at least a bit of success. The Falcons upset Minnesota on the way to a 4-8 finish in 2021, then upset Marshall and Toledo on the way to their first bowl since 2015 last fall.

Going from three wins in two years to 10 in the next two is clear progress, but the statistical growth was minimal. The defense took a lovely step forward in 2021 but could not solve third downs (or scrambling QBs) last year and plummeted from 82nd to 125th in defensive SP+. The offense, still moribund in 2021, improved in 2022 as the defense was regressing. You never knew which team was going to show up from week to week. The Falcons lost to FCS' Eastern Kentucky the week before upsetting Marshall, and in November they ripped off a baffling three-game stretch, losing to Kent State by 34, knocking off West champion Toledo, and losing to Ohio by 24.

That quarterback Matt McDonald and three of his top four receivers are gone certainly doesn't say encouraging things about the offense, but Loeffler brought in Missouri/Indiana transfer Connor Bazelak and welcomed back two pieces from 2021: running back Terion Stewart and receiver Austin Osborne. Slot receiver Odieu Hilaire was the Falcons' most reliable big-play threat last season, and he's back as well. A heavily penalized line returns three starters but needs to improve.

On defense, 16 players recorded at least 300 snaps, and while nine return, all-MAC edge rusher Karl Brooks, disruptive tackle Walter Haire and Jordan Anderson, an excellent nickelback, do not. Co-coordinators Steve Morrison and Sammy Lawanson will need to find some new havoc creators, though they'll have one of the East's better cornerback duos in juniors Deshawn Jones Jr. and Jordan Oladokun, and 2022 backup Demetrius Hardamon matched Brooks in terms of sack and pressure rates. He's a breakout candidate.

On paper, Bowling Green's growth in 2021-22 wasn't as impressive as its win total. That could mean a setback (and potentially a meek close to the Loeffler era) is a possibility, or it could mean that, as depth and culture set in, slow and steady growth continues. We'll find out.

[mbenecke]

His numbers have us winning 4 games overall and 3 in the MAC. If that's the case, and we take a step back, I think we'll be moving in a new direction.

But here's hoping this season is another step forward and we can keep winning games! Maybe we'll be a little more competitive in the losses this year, too. I would be encouraged if we were more consistent on a week to week basis.

[Flipper]

I think we're in line for a regression this year..how big a regression is likely dependent upon how well the team responds to what looks to be a slow start. If they start out at 1-4 will they still play for these coaches?

[mbenecke]

Oh hey, BG FB’s offensive line coach Chris Hedden left this month. I totally missed that news.

Greg Nosal moves to OL coach, Alex Bayer is now coaching special teams and tight ends, and we hired Beyah Rasool as CBs coach/special teams assistant.

He worked as an assistant DBs coach/defensive analyst at Missouri and then Arizona in the past few season.

[jpfalcon09]

Non BG related, Tim Albin got an extension and raise today from Ohio. Salary jumps from $535 to $700K and he gets an automatic year extension if the Bobcats win eight games or a MAC championship.

[Flipper]

Oh hey, BG FB’s offensive line coach Chris Hedden left this month. I totally missed that news.

Greg Nosal moves to OL coach, Alex Bayer is now coaching special teams and tight ends, and we hired Beyah Rasool as CBs coach/special teams assistant.

He worked as an assistant DBs coach/defensive analyst at Missouri and then Arizona in the past few season.

Hedden is gone?...there's hope for next season after all.

[Globetrotter]

Oh hey, BG FB’s offensive line coach Chris Hedden left this month. I totally missed that news.

Greg Nosal moves to OL coach, Alex Bayer is now coaching special teams and tight ends, and we hired Beyah Rasool as CBs coach/special teams assistant.

He worked as an assistant DBs coach/defensive analyst at Missouri and then Arizona in the past few season.

Hedden is gone?...there's hope for next season after all.

LOL-I knew who posted this before I even saw the name. I am a bit fearful that they just turned to another guy on staff like they would be any better.

[Flipper]

Nosal hasn't coached OL...but he did play it in college...so we'll see

[BillyLP]

Nosal hasn't coached OL...but he did play it in college...so we'll see

I like the shift. Bayer to TE makes a ton of sense and I like the new CBs coach, too. Nosal certainly can't be any worse at OL than what we've had.