Most important recruiting class in RU football history

[letitrip2]

Usually not one for overstating things, panicking or jumping to conclusions but after 12 hours of thought following that train wreck I have reached a conclusion - this upcoming recruiting class is without a doubt the most important in the schools history.

If Ash pulls in a strong class with decent speed and some solid skill players there will be hope to field a competitive team in 2019. if that does not happen we are looking at least 3 more years of beat downs. This fan base will not tolerate that and both ticket sales will continue to fall (probably to pre-2006 levels) and donations will start to be seriously impacted. In addition, the media buzz will be in full swing that the B1G made a mistake, Ash will probably be replaced and the death spiral will be in full motion.

Of course things can change but IMO this is a very realistic possibility and one that assumes Ash can actually coach - scary thoughts for a lifelong fan....good news is we will all know rather quickly.

 

[LC-88]

Good post. After yesterday, every top punter in the country will be calling to line up a visit.

 

[RUlighty]

First, we knew this was going to be a terrible season. Flood lost control of the team, didn't recruit, and buried this program. The writing was on the wall in his first season, but admin was more focused on saving a few bucks.

As a quick refresh from last year's schedule with an experienced offense, senior leadership, and the last of Schiano's final class:

PSU 28 RU 3
OSU 49 RU 7
Wisc 48 RU 10
Mich 49 RU 16

What I've liked so far:

- Ash has made clear that he is getting this squad into shape. That takes time.
- Defense is playing well for the amount of talent, but technique needs to improve
- no post-game BS.
- Got on recruiting game hard and has put a good class together (hope it holds)

What I don't like:

- I'm not sure Mehrigan is ready to be an OC in this conference. Maybe it's a matter of players learning the scheme, talent etc, but we look totally inept (playcalling, o-line, QB, WR)
- If we let him go at the end of the season that could hurt the class, but at the same time we need to set this path down for the next 3-4 years.

 

[letitrip2]

First, we knew this was going to be a terrible season. Flood lost control of the team, didn't recruit, and buried this program. The writing was on the wall in his first season, but admin was more focused on saving a few bucks.

As a quick refresh from last year's schedule with an experienced offense, senior leadership, and the last of Schiano's final class:

PSU 28 RU 3
OSU 49 RU 7
Wisc 48 RU 10
Mich 49 RU 16

What I've liked so far:

- Ash has made clear that he is getting this squad into shape. That takes time.
- Defense is playing well for the amount of talent, but technique needs to improve
- no post-game BS.
- Got on recruiting game hard and has put a good class together (hope it holds)

What I don't like:

- I'm not sure Mehrigan is ready to be an OC in this conference. Maybe it's a matter of players learning the scheme, talent etc, but we look totally inept (playcalling, o-line, QB, WR)
- If we let him go at the end of the season that could hurt the class, but at the same time we need to set this path down for the next 3-4 years.

Through the first half of a season under Ash I have significant concerns - while talent is clearly lacking we did have 14 or 15 starters returning (one of the highest rates in the country). The problem I see is that the talent we do have is just not ready nor ever will be to run a no-huddle spread offense. The coaching staff should have seen this and adopted the schemes around the talent to limit these expected blow-outs. Just using huddles would have probably saved 2-3 scores in the last 2 wipe outs.

That leads to the point of my OP - if we lose this class because of these performances Ash may not recover and we are looking at serious problems as a program.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Through the first half of a season under Ash I have significant concerns - while talent is clearly lacking we did have 14 or 15 starters returning (one of the highest rates in the country)..

Doesn't mean a damn thing if:

- not many of those starters are good
- you lose your, by far, your best playmaking option on O and ST's
- you have multiple starters out for either the year or now on D
- you have ZERO quality depth at any position other than, maybe, RB

 

[LeftyLarry]

Ash was our DBs coach for a few years at Wisconsin.
Badgers DBs weren't great during that time, though Ash had a reputation as being a very good recruiter.
I think you guys just cannot compete in the Big Ten, until you get an equal cash payout from the Big Ten, until then, you're screwed, money counts.
I think Ash might be good enough to organize your program, create some pipelines for talent that will help you AFTER he's replaced by a bigger more exciting NAME Coach, but that won't happen probably for another five years.
In the meantime, you've also been hurt by the resurgence of the entire league, better Coaches at OSU, Mich, MSU, Indy, Illini, Wisconsin, Nebby etc.
Big is back to being, IMO, the best conference in America.

 

[letitrip2]

Doesn't mean a damn thing if:

- not many of those starters are good
- you lose your, by far, your best playmaking option on O and ST's
- you have multiple starters out for either the year or now on D
- you have ZERO quality depth at any position other than, maybe, RB

That was not was not the focus of my post -my point was while we have little talent - what we do have we are not using correctly - I would even say recklessly if recruiting falls apart and the OP becomes a possibility.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

That was not was not the focus of my post -my point was while we have little talent - what we do have we are not using correctly - I would even say recklessly if recruiting falls apart and the OP becomes a possibility.

I was simply responding to the fact that we had "x" # of starters returning.

 

[billhilf]

Ash was our DBs coach for a few years at Wisconsin.
Badgers DBs weren't great during that time, though Ash had a reputation as being a very good recruiter.
I think you guys just cannot compete in the Big Ten, until you get an equal cash payout from the Big Ten, until then, you're screwed, money counts.
I think Ash might be good enough to organize your program, create some pipelines for talent that will help you AFTER he's replaced by a bigger more exciting NAME Coach, but that won't happen probably for another five years.
In the meantime, you've also been hurt by the resurgence of the entire league, better Coaches at OSU, Mich, MSU, Indy, Illini, Wisconsin, Nebby etc.
Big is back to being, IMO, the best conference in America.

I know this is a question that has probably been answered countless times, but when do we start getting equal share? 2018?

 

[Steve91562]

Lots of playing time available for recruits. That should be a strong selling point for guys who want to get on the field.

 

[letterman]

Leftylarry hit the nail on the head. Nothing is going to happen here until we can get a big time coach with name recognition and real recruiting savvy. That will not happen until 2021. Until then we are whistling in the wind.

 

[motorb54]

we get to see if the recruiting class holds before we commit to buying tickets, right

 

[dollarbill]

Leftylarry hit the nail on the head. Nothing is going to happen here until we can get a big time coach with name recognition and real recruiting savvy. That will not happen until 2021. Until then we are whistling in the wind.

If nothing happens until 2021, and the state's finances continue to deteriorate, we will be playing Princeton and Lafayette in 2022 in front of 20k fans. $$$$

 

[RUTGERZ_R00LZ]

I know this is a question that has probably been answered countless times, but when do we start getting equal share? 2018?

I wish it was 2018. It is a 7-year initiation; so it's 2021. I believe Nebraska went thru the same thing.

 

[Jim_from_RU]

If nothing happens until 2021, and the state's finances continue to deteriorate, we will be playing Princeton and Lafayette in 2022 in front of 20k fans. $$$$

We're never playing Princeton and Lafayette, so save the dramatics. We're in the B1G to stay.