I don't see how anyone can compare where we were last year at this time and not be excited about 2020. Win or lose this weekend, this staff, and all of us, have got to be excited about the future.
We ended 2018 in turmoil. Replacing a popular coach who just couldn't get it done and bringing in an entire new staff is always challenging. Doing so with only 6 seniors is daunting. They sold themselves to this team as evidenced by not a single player leaving the program. And in fact, they retained Mbanasor who was going to leave.
This roster is much stronger up and down than last year at this time. We'll miss some key seniors but overall we'll be much better.
Our DL appears set with McCann and Hutchings at NT and much better than I expected 2 months ago. Broderick is a loss at DE. But Bradford surprised everyone at DE as a true freshman. Mbanasor and Ibeneme are coming on strong. If Howard returns, we'll have our best rotation at DE in a decade. Yes, Brooks was a beast. But moving Riko inside at 240 could be what the doctor ordered. Jeffers was never as good outside in space anyway. Rambo was a steal and Benson is coming on strong for those OLB spots. McPherson was another solid addition by this staff and Hogan appears solid as another true freshman. Frye and Fields were disappointing this year but there is some talent there. Leggett was a surprise and don't give up on Beck or some of the others.. This defense had tons of question marks at this time last year with Patterson probably shaking his head and wondering what he really had, much less putting in his system.
Yost came in with big questions everywhere. It's hard enough to put a new system in. But just imagine ... He was going to be without his best experienced RB, best Olineman, best WR, no real TE, and his starting qb was gonna go down. We now end 2019 with the best returning group of QBs in the Big 12. Henry and Thompson are solid at RB. Weston has stepped up in at OT and surprised everyone. Anderson is back and Deaton is set. Remember a couple years ago when we didn't have enough OL in spring ball to have full scrimmages? We now have more depth at OL than we've had in years.
Yost has had time to develop his TE position and Koontz should be better. WR improved as the year went along. With or without Vasher, Collin's return along with an improving Erik and Carter, along with other solid slot receivers, gives us a good group.
Yes, we had a tough year with an amazing number of close losses and as usual, some really bad breaks. One thing this team and staff showed is that they have no quit in them. Anyone who can't see how much better we are now than at the end of 2018 has blinders on.
AND, we have our 2020 schedule is the best we've had in a long long time.
We ended 2018 in turmoil. Replacing a popular coach who just couldn't get it done and bringing in an entire new staff is always challenging. Doing so with only 6 seniors is daunting. They sold themselves to this team as evidenced by not a single player leaving the program. And in fact, they retained Mbanasor who was going to leave.
This roster is much stronger up and down than last year at this time. We'll miss some key seniors but overall we'll be much better.
Our DL appears set with McCann and Hutchings at NT and much better than I expected 2 months ago. Broderick is a loss at DE. But Bradford surprised everyone at DE as a true freshman. Mbanasor and Ibeneme are coming on strong. If Howard returns, we'll have our best rotation at DE in a decade. Yes, Brooks was a beast. But moving Riko inside at 240 could be what the doctor ordered. Jeffers was never as good outside in space anyway. Rambo was a steal and Benson is coming on strong for those OLB spots. McPherson was another solid addition by this staff and Hogan appears solid as another true freshman. Frye and Fields were disappointing this year but there is some talent there. Leggett was a surprise and don't give up on Beck or some of the others.. This defense had tons of question marks at this time last year with Patterson probably shaking his head and wondering what he really had, much less putting in his system.
Yost came in with big questions everywhere. It's hard enough to put a new system in. But just imagine ... He was going to be without his best experienced RB, best Olineman, best WR, no real TE, and his starting qb was gonna go down. We now end 2019 with the best returning group of QBs in the Big 12. Henry and Thompson are solid at RB. Weston has stepped up in at OT and surprised everyone. Anderson is back and Deaton is set. Remember a couple years ago when we didn't have enough OL in spring ball to have full scrimmages? We now have more depth at OL than we've had in years.
Yost has had time to develop his TE position and Koontz should be better. WR improved as the year went along. With or without Vasher, Collin's return along with an improving Erik and Carter, along with other solid slot receivers, gives us a good group.
Yes, we had a tough year with an amazing number of close losses and as usual, some really bad breaks. One thing this team and staff showed is that they have no quit in them. Anyone who can't see how much better we are now than at the end of 2018 has blinders on.
AND, we have our 2020 schedule is the best we've had in a long long time.
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