Someone Convince Me We’re Going To Be Better Next Year

I need a pep talk, because when I look at this team next year, I’m pretty pessimistic about our chances of improvement. Please, please refute the below:

Offense

**WR/TE**: We’re losing our (by far and away) two top pass catchers (Toure/Allen). We’re also losing Falck, probably our most consistent third guy this year. The rest of the receivers/TEs have talent, but haven’t shown they can consistently stay on the field and be productive. Looks like a big question mark.

**RB**: Same as above, revolving door of guys with talent but spotty production, and often can’t stay healthy.

**OL**: This actually seems to be the biggest chance of improvement (mainly because it was such a liability this year), with new coach and young guys getting older. But then again, the same guys who often seemed lost this year.

**QB:** Either 2AM again (kill me now), Smothers (appears still very limited passing, and although fast, doesn’t appear as shifty/crafty a runner as Martinez), or portal QB. If its (best case) Myles Brennan or something, is that a gamechanger? He’s only started 3 games ever, and we haven’t exactly had a ton of luck with transfer QBs here (Sam Keller, Tanner Lee anyone?).

**Coaches**: SF says they’re still running the same offense, so how much effect is a new OC going to have?

Defense

**DL:** Looked pretty overmatched after Daniels went out against Wisky, and its not like Wisconsin/Iowa have vintage offenses this year. Stille, our second best lineman, also gone. Mainly need a good NT to replace Daniels, and fast.

**LB:** This definitely looks like the strength of the defense. Imho, though, bad LB play makes your defense awful, but good LB play doesn’t make it great. Particularly when they can’t generate pass rush. The amount of third and longs we gave up this year due to no pass rush was infuriating, and I don’t know how that improves next year.

**DBs**: We lose our best three DBs (CTB/Williams/Dismuke), and the starting lineup will likely be Newsome/Clark/Farmer/Pola-Gates. Farmer and Newsome have been serviceable but not great, and the other two are pretty green. This unit is definitely taking a step back, and I think it covered up our pass rush deficiencies a lot this year.

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Special Teams

Sure a new coordinator could improve the coverage units, but it really comes down to having a good kicker and punter, and that appears to be a total portal crapshoot.

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Anyway, sorry to be such a downer, had to get this off my chest. GBR

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