I think it is interesting and informative that several programs that made coaching moves five years ago like Arizona, UCLA and ASU, all have program issues, after living off the players they inherited from Stoops at AU, Neuheisel at UCLA and Erickson at ASU...
AU under Rich Rod has really crashed hard this season, partially due to injuries and largely due to recruiting mistakes, during his first three years at the school...the Cats won the PAC South two years ago largely due to having around 9-10-11 fifth year and true seniors step up, that were recruited by Stoops, so virtually half of the starters on either side of the ball had been recruited by Stoops...
UCLA hasn't crashed as hard but Mora is not having a good season so far this year using his players and not those he inherited from Slick Rick...the Bruins have had some key injuries but Mora's players have not stepped up they way it was anticipated before the season started...
This leads us to ASU, which at 5-2, certainly hasn't crashed yet but the defense is still pathetic following last seasons woes and the defense is relying on Graham's players and not those he inherited from Erickson, when the Devils won a South PAC title and put back to back 10 win seasons on the board...
So, what in the world is going on here with these three programs in the PAC South..??
Clearly, the Cats have a talent problem that Rich Rod has acknowledged and have had some key injuries, esp at QB, that have really hindered the team this year...RR has said the program will be fixed as he has revamped both the coaching staff and recruiting emphasis by the new staff...however, the fix probably won't be seen for another year or two until the Cats get better talent on board...
UCLA has gone to a new offensive approach, getting away from the spread under Mazzone to a more conventional power approach, guided by new OC Kennedy Polamalu and they have had injury problems with their QB and have no ground attack in place these days, either...this doesn't make a lot of sense based on the way Mora's classes have been ranked by recruiting services...
Meanwhile, at ASU, it has become apparent that something is fundamentally wrong with the way the Devils play defense as they give up more yardage, big plays and points than just about any other team in the nation...however, when they had several of Erickson's defensive recruits to rely on during Todd's early tenure at ASU, the defense seemed to be pretty darn good...
Enter this coming Sat at SDS, the Wash St Cougars, under Mike Leach, you will see a team that has been developed without a lot of high profile, blue chip players and they have a great QB leading them, who was initially a walk-on at Wazzu, so what gives..??
Are recruiting rankings basically meaningless..??
Can you win just as well with "our kind of guys" as with blue blood talent..??
How much does Lady Luck have to do with all this..??
It's a real head-scratcher, if you ask me, since I'm a Talent Is Destiny advocate, but would like to know what all of you think..??
Is Mike Leach a superior coach and developer of players or is it his system or what, for crying out loud..does he have the goods on Lady Luck whereas Arizona, UCLA and ASU are on the outs with her..??
Go Devils!!!
AU under Rich Rod has really crashed hard this season, partially due to injuries and largely due to recruiting mistakes, during his first three years at the school...the Cats won the PAC South two years ago largely due to having around 9-10-11 fifth year and true seniors step up, that were recruited by Stoops, so virtually half of the starters on either side of the ball had been recruited by Stoops...
UCLA hasn't crashed as hard but Mora is not having a good season so far this year using his players and not those he inherited from Slick Rick...the Bruins have had some key injuries but Mora's players have not stepped up they way it was anticipated before the season started...
This leads us to ASU, which at 5-2, certainly hasn't crashed yet but the defense is still pathetic following last seasons woes and the defense is relying on Graham's players and not those he inherited from Erickson, when the Devils won a South PAC title and put back to back 10 win seasons on the board...
So, what in the world is going on here with these three programs in the PAC South..??
Clearly, the Cats have a talent problem that Rich Rod has acknowledged and have had some key injuries, esp at QB, that have really hindered the team this year...RR has said the program will be fixed as he has revamped both the coaching staff and recruiting emphasis by the new staff...however, the fix probably won't be seen for another year or two until the Cats get better talent on board...
UCLA has gone to a new offensive approach, getting away from the spread under Mazzone to a more conventional power approach, guided by new OC Kennedy Polamalu and they have had injury problems with their QB and have no ground attack in place these days, either...this doesn't make a lot of sense based on the way Mora's classes have been ranked by recruiting services...
Meanwhile, at ASU, it has become apparent that something is fundamentally wrong with the way the Devils play defense as they give up more yardage, big plays and points than just about any other team in the nation...however, when they had several of Erickson's defensive recruits to rely on during Todd's early tenure at ASU, the defense seemed to be pretty darn good...
Enter this coming Sat at SDS, the Wash St Cougars, under Mike Leach, you will see a team that has been developed without a lot of high profile, blue chip players and they have a great QB leading them, who was initially a walk-on at Wazzu, so what gives..??
Are recruiting rankings basically meaningless..??
Can you win just as well with "our kind of guys" as with blue blood talent..??
How much does Lady Luck have to do with all this..??
It's a real head-scratcher, if you ask me, since I'm a Talent Is Destiny advocate, but would like to know what all of you think..??
Is Mike Leach a superior coach and developer of players or is it his system or what, for crying out loud..does he have the goods on Lady Luck whereas Arizona, UCLA and ASU are on the outs with her..??
Go Devils!!!
