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So I always try to be an optimist about the football team, and though that has been very difficult this season, I will attempt to continue to do that. I was thinking about our success last year in that nice four game home stretch to finish the regular season and if it is possible for that to happen again. Essentially, if we win out, we've got the MAC east because everybody has at least two MAC losses and winning out would give us the tie breaker over everybody except for Miami, and another loss there is likely. However, there are some real issues that I've seen with this team that weren't there last year.

- Offensive playbook. OK, so we were really creative vs Pitt, but that's been the only game this year where that was the case. The offense broke wide open toward the end of the season last year and wins became inevitable. This year, not so much. Marques Parks, Chris Wright, and Jeremiah Kelley have hardly been used this year, and those three were very important last year. Marques is a fast guy and a huge target, and when he's not catching passes, he's throwing blocks. This year, not just is he hardly being used, save that great TD vs Akron, but there aren't enough plays being called with him downfield to throw a massive block. Chris Wright has a couple of long TDs and he is a sold player, but the past couple of games he's been nowhere to be found. He is incredibly fast and has a knack for getting open, very similar to Cole Magner in that regard. And Kelley is just an all-around good receiver that came on huge last last year and just hasn't been used that much this year. Instead, we're using the tight end more, which I do like, but doing so when we're not in the red zone often eliminates the deep threat. That brings me to ...

- Offensive coordinator. We don't have one ... we have two, and that is never successful. On top of that, our coordinators are the offensive line coach and the tight ends coach. It just seems like we have a great WR coach and a great QB coach/former head coach and those guys would each be their own great offensive coordinator. And, we have a head coach who is an offensive genius, who created the groundwork for the current Florida offense. I don't know the coaches, I don't know what's going on, and I probably don't have room to criticize, but why use two offensive coordinators? It just seems like if Hoefer were coordinating the offense we might be in better shape. Just a thought, and maybe an idea for next year ...

- Running backs. AT is a great guy, a great player, but he's just not a running back. He's most successful running as a quarterback, but we do that WAY too often, and yesterday, he TWICE was called to run to the weak side, thus getting nailed in the backfield for a big loss on 3rd and 1. I know that with the coaching staff, if you're in the doghouse, you're there for a long time, which is probably what happened to Willie Geter, but where has Chris Bullock been? He was a monster vs Pitt and had quite a few nice carries last year. Chris is a true running back and I still think he is the best option as a tailback, where AT needs to continue his role as a "slash" player. Essentially, we don't have a true ground game this year. When Sheehan is under center, we're passing. When AT is under center, we're running.

- That stupid chain to lock the gate. OK, so they did that last year, but it wasn't the whole team, just the captains. What the whole team did last year was the ball of tape, which was awesome. It was silly, but it was a true feel-good story about a few seniors creating something small that was carried on through a whole season. There was a fun article last year on the ball of tape and it was just so much fun to see the seniors running in vs UT last year carrying it over their heads. This year, they're replaced a goofy tradition about teamwork with a tradition that reminds me way too much of Tulsa's team entrance in the GMAC bowl, running over to our team to taunt them all. It is poor sportsmanship and seems to pump up the wrong team.

The team just doesn't seem to be as focused this year as they were last year. After that OU loss, they focused, regrouped, and came together as likely the best team in the conference in that home stretch. I would love to see that happen again, but my doubts are there. I will still support this team as always. I missed no games last year, the only I've missed this year is Wyoming, and tomorrow I'm calling to get a couple of NIU tickets tomorrow, and next Saturday it will be back in the car for another trip out west. I'm holding on to hope that the seniors on this team and the coaching staff will get this team to focus on the goal ... a MAC championship is within our grasp.

Offensive playbook - I agree that our starting receivers are not getting the ball enough. I don't think Corey is getting the ball enough and Kelley/Wright have not done much of anything this year. Parks has been pretty good for the most part, but he was a non-factor yesterday. I think the biggest problem in this area is the management of the WR corps during the game. Way too many guys get snaps at WR, including Hutson, Wiley, and the guy that should have been kicked off the team. Pronty gets a bunch of action and generally gets the ball thrown his way quite a bit because he is always running 3-5 yard routes. I don't understand why the starting receivers can't be out there for 90% of the plays and sprinkle in Pronty and Turner when necessary.

Offensive coordinator - I looked at Miami's site and they use a "run game" coordinator and a "pass game" coordinator. Up until yesterday, it certainly had not worked for them either.

Does anybody know who is really calling the plays? I don't think that Campbell has any responsibility there. I think it comes down to Rothenbuehler (sp?) and Hofher and to call Hofher "great" because he has head coaching experience is a stretch. He was at Buffalo from '01 to '05 (8-49 record) and not employed as a coach during the last two seasons. That unemployment says a lot to me. Maybe there is something else there, but it looks like a situation where nobody wanted to hire the guy as an assistant coach until GB came calling.

Running back - I completely disagree with you about AT playing running back. I think he should be an every down back with plays at receiver and direct snaps sprinkled in. When he gets tired, bring Bullock in for a play or two. I would love to see a stat of Turner's per rush average on "normal" running plays and direct snap/obvious runs.

Geter should feel lucky to be in Brandon's dog house. At least there he is getting to be on the team and a free education. That beats where he should be - off the team and living back home.

I believe its time to start looking for the next up and coming coaching prospect. We're going to be better off hiring short-contract future greats on thier way up than on long term guys who have no where to go but down.

This is a major change in opinion for me, but I'll admit it when I'm wrong.

MarkL wrote: - Running backs. AT is a great guy, a great player, but he's just not a running back. He's most successful running as a quarterback, but we do that WAY too often, and yesterday, he TWICE was called to run to the weak side, thus getting nailed in the backfield for a big loss on 3rd and 1. I know that with the coaching staff, if you're in the doghouse, you're there for a long time, which is probably what happened to Willie Geter, but where has Chris Bullock been? He was a monster vs Pitt and had quite a few nice carries last year. Chris is a true running back and I still think he is the best option as a tailback, where AT needs to continue his role as a "slash" player. Essentially, we don't have a true ground game this year. When Sheehan is under center, we're passing. When AT is under center, we're running.

I agree with you for the most part, but I don't think that Bullock is better than AT at RB overall skills. And the loss on 3rd and 1 was just a bad call didn't matter who is back there. AT runs harder than Bullock and is faster, and AT hits the holes harder than Bullock. He also doesn't have the hands that AT has and doesn't break as many tackles. To me AT is a better blocker and overall threat. But then again maybe you are right and it's best for AT to play the "slash" role. I think the Off. coordinators should become more creative with using "all" of the weapons on this team.

AT is a good RB but hes not a true RB. He can and will be very effective at that spot as long as the coaches can call the right plays. Willie and Bullock are still kind of dinged up a bit which is why AT has been getting the majority of the reps most likely. Bullock had hurt his quad and geter had hurt his knee. I dont think either of them is 100 percent yet. With that said, Bullock needs to be our 3rd down back. When it is 3 and 1 we should be running north and south, not east and west, and Bullock is the best power back option we have. Very rarely do I see that guy get stuffed in the backfield. I just don't understand the play calling on 3rd and short and neither do the players I don't think. I heard one of the players coming off the field yell "Our offensive coordinator is a moron." This was following the play that AT got stuffed in the back field on 3rd and 1. This shows me that players don't have faith in the coaching right now.

I have never really got in to the arguments regarding the coaching situation, but it was clear to me after this game that something has to be done. Very undisciplined team and god awful play calling.....

My thoughts on the season so far is that I'm trying not to.

--MH

Let's just say that AT's future at the next level is "OVA", it's hard to define his raw talent with this offense and he really can't be used anywhere in any of the pro teams schemes. It's sad but true but the man has skills.