Looking ahead to 2018

[mbenecke]

How many wins do we realistically need this coming fall for you to believe in Jinks?

We basically have 3 built-in non-conference losses to start the season (@ Oregon, @ Georgia Tech, vs. Maryland) so anything above 9 wins is a ridiculous answer.

To me, if we can get to 5 wins and have most losses be competitive, I will feel confident that we are moving in the right direction.

What say you, Falcon Nation?

[BillyLP]

5 wins puts us on the same track that Clawson had us on for year 3, so I'll go with that. I'm not saying I think Jinks is Clawson, but that would at least show significant improvement. I also really want to see Jinks replace the DC and/or the rest of the defensive staff. If that stays stagnant, then I won't be convinced at how seriously he can be taken as a D-1 coach.

[footballguy51]

I would say 5 wins as well, but I wouldn't rule Maryland as a guaranteed loss. Maryland is terrible and would finish 6-6 in the MAC at best.

[Schadenfreude]

To me, if we can get to 5 wins and have most losses be competitive, I will feel confident that we are moving in the right direction.

This would be a reasonable test of whether we are moving in the right direction. Depending on other factors, I could be sold on 4-8 as progress. (More young emerging stars recruited by Jinks, a win over Toledo, lots of competitive games, an upset in Oregon, etc.) But, yes, I think 5-7 would make it easy to see the progress.

[bowlgreen]

Question because I dont know the answer...including this years recruiting class...how many does this staff have?

[MarkL]

Hard telling. Year 3 is when the program really becomes the coach's own. 2005 was Brandon's year 3 and we all remember how that went.
I'm going to say 6-6 is reasonable. More than enough offense returning and hopefully new defensive coaches that are ready to turn this defense around. Although I said going into this year the team can't possibly be worse than 2016 ...

[BGSU33]

I would say 5 wins as well, but I wouldn't rule Maryland as a guaranteed loss. Maryland is terrible and would finish 6-6 in the MAC at best.

That's mainly because Maryland lost its starting QB early in the year as was nowhere near the same after. BG couldn't beat a single team at home last year and only played MAC and FCS teams. How in the world are we going to beat a Big Ten team? We'll win 3 games at most in 2018. BG will lose all three Power 5 games to Oregon, Georgia Tech and Maryland, will lose road games at Ohio, Toledo and Akron, will lose at home to Buffalo and Miami, and will lose one of the other West crossover games no matter who it is. The only possible wins, and they are far from certain, will be Kent State, Eastern Kentucky and maybe Ball State if they roll onto the schedule. But we could also lose any of those too. Three wins at most. Period. And then Jinks can claim we made "improvement." SMH....

[kdog27]

We play 5 games in the MAC east and an fcs team.

So 6

[Flipper]

We'll beat Ohio...

[guest44]

Just beat Eastern Kentucky please, and maybe even by double digits.

[Siborg]

Question because I dont know the answer...including this years recruiting class...how many does this staff have?

Depends on how you want to count a coaching transition year. 2 or 3.

They had the transition year 2016 from Babers to Jinks. You can credit that to either or both.
2017 with Clair and Doege was his first full recruiting season.
This coming year, 2018 remains to be seen.