[NU Sports] Cat report card

[johnadeg at comcast.net]

Colby has to go. Also, Fitz should put up the Duke score in the locker room to remind all of the players coming back that by not finishing against a poor team, it cost not only the returning players but the seniors as well a bowl bid.   Nu has th players to get to a bowl game next year especially if they hire a defensive coordinator who can teach tackling and speical team skills.
  Everything considered, Fitz did a great job this year.
John DeGroat
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Dennis W. Brandt" <tbng at comcast.net>
> Before the first game, I offered a pre-season report card by position.  Time to 
> compare my final evaluation with my predictions.  The first grade listed was the 
> predicted value, and the second is the end-of-season value.
> 
> 
> OL - C+/D  They were often manhandled.  Given there were three seniors, they 
> were a disappointment. 
> 
> QB - C+/C-   LOTS of yards passing but WAY too many interceptions (19), bad 
> passes, fumbles, and struggles with the rush.  He can still be a "B" 
> quarterback, maybe even A-, but he has to stop making so many errors.
> 
> RB - A-/C-  Sutton's injury hurt, and he wasn't dominant when he returned 
> either.  The OL wasn't opening giant holes.
> 
> WR - C/B-  Peterman is a tough, clutch possession receiver.  In fact, they were 
> all good possession receivers who played better than I thought they would.  But 
> they lack a deep threat, a stud, and anyone who can get yards after catch.
> 
> DL - C/F  They did improve slightly against the run but not enough.  John Gill 
> is the lone bright spot in this group, but the ends did not cut it.  It was 
> another year without a pass rush.  Wooten had one sack all year, and Ngene had 
> five.  As usual, the DL was the weakest portion of the team and the principle 
> reason we were not better than .500.
> 
>   
> LB - C/C  They were average.  Kadela did yeoman's work at middle linebacker, and 
> the OLBs were not fast enough.
> 
>  
> 
> TE - nr/C We actually have one, what little we saw of him, and he appears to be 
> a decent receiver.
> 
> 
> DB - B-/D  The play of the DLs hurt, but these guys did not cover well and 
> sometimes not at all.  They can't play off blocks on runs and screens.  This 
> group was the biggest disappointment to me.
> 
> ST - I/C
> 
> KR - C+  Our kick returns weren't bad and included one TD.
> 
> P -    B    Punting was generally effective, if ugly to watch.
> 
> PR - D-   What punt returns?
> 
> PK - C    Improved but still doesn't scare anyone.
> 
> KO - F   Just kick the damn thing out-of-bounds
> 
> Depth - D/D+  What else is new?  
> 
>  
> Coaching - B-/C  I  know some of you hate the coordinators, but I still don't 
> think they are the problem, although the defensive coaches probably should go.  
> Fitz seemed to have it more together this season.  But coaching success depends 
> on the caliber of player on the field.  Ask Ron Zook.  The big issue will be how 
> well they can recruit.
> 
> Intangibles - C/D  While they never gave up and won three late, they also failed 
> to win three more games in which they were ahead in the final quarter and lost 
> one more against a weaker Duke team.  The seats remained largely empty and those 
> filled were largely from the opposition.
> 
>  
> 
> Prognosis - The bottom line is what it always has been:  Insufficient talent, 
> especially on defense.  Losing three seniors from the offensive line and the 
> return of a mediocre defensive line, I am not optimistic that next season will 
> be any better barring some super frosh arrivals, but I will not be holding my 
> breath.  I believe Bacher and Sutton will be better if the OL will support them.  
> There HAS to be a new era of recruiting, but with our facilities, puny little 
> stadium, academic standards, and weak fan support, I don't see that happening.  
> May I please be wrong about that.
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