closing the talent gap

[bornbleddinorange]

When will this happen? If not during Nico's time here, then when? I am concerned that we won't have the players to get into the top 4 of the CFP.

LSU, Auburn, and Florida are all a bit down right now, so it is the time to strike. Heup has showed he can win with inferior talent, but our recruiting classes are still fringe top 10.

what say you VN?

 

[FranklinVFL]

When will this happen? If not during Nico's time here, then when? I am concerned that we won't have the players to get into the top 4 of the CFP.

LSU, Auburn, and Florida are all a bit down right now, so it is the time to strike. Heup has showed he can win with inferior talent, but our recruiting classes are still fringe top 10.

what say you VN?

Didn't we just go to the CFP?

I mean, yeah, we got our a$$e$ handed to us by tOSU, but so did Oregon and Texas really looked inferior most all of that game.

I went from saying the same thing as. you did to, "well, maybe we really are not that far off, we just got hit with a buzzsaw".

I'll wait and see, but really feel like there were several teams in the CFP we could have beat had we not drew tOSU the first game. We just need to shore up the OL and WR and get Nico a full year experience in the system in real live action.

 

[rocketskates]

I feel that we are closer rather than further apart. We got smacked once this year and it’s by a team that’s LOADED with NFL talent that finally decided to show up in the playoffs, and has beaten everyone by double digits. OSU is kinda like the 2019 LSU team. They will remain a good program but their squad this year is special and a good portion of them will be gone next year.

As far as the SEC, as I said, we are right in the mix. We very well could’ve and should’ve gone undefeated this year if not for a stinker at Arky and a bad second half in the hornets nest that is Sanford Stadium.

 

[Concept]

We're going the right way. I thought we were ahead of schedule, but possibly our rivals regressed, making us look better. Nevertheless, we have two really strong recruiting classes. Next year should be tough -- we're losing a lot on both lines, and we have reduced numbers. After that I expect us to be in contention for real. So to answer the original question, two years.

 

[majinVol]

takes consistent time, although with NIL leveling out the recruiting classes its going to get slightly easier, we use to see record setting number 1 classes year by year that created alot of seperation, this years number 1 class is the lowest score number 1 class in years and the margins of difference between 3-10 are now just educated guesses essentially

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

We aren’t close to UGA, OSU and TX. And honestly I doubt we ever will be. Why? The only real way we can close the talent gap with those teams is for those teams to take a massive plunge in recruiting. And does anyone see that happening?

 

[preacherrandy]

When will this happen? If not during Nico's time here, then when? I am concerned that we won't have the players to get into the top 4 of the CFP.

LSU, Auburn, and Florida are all a bit down right now, so it is the time to strike. Heup has showed he can win with inferior talent, but our recruiting classes are still fringe top 10.

what say you VN?

I don't believe we're that far off. We outscored Texas on OSU, just 4 points behind Oregon. Improve some this year and we should be back in the playoffs. I'm a believer that the glass is always full. It's just sometimes half air and half water (or whatever beverage you consume.)

 

[tn4elvis]

We aren’t close to UGA, OSU and TX. And honestly I doubt we ever will be. Why? The only real way we can close the talent gap with those teams is for those teams to take a massive plunge in recruiting. And does anyone see that happening?

They are in three of the absolute best recruiting states you could possibly ever want to recruit in. We just need to try and stay close. Plus they all three care and want to win as much or more than we do.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

When will this happen? If not during Nico's time here, then when? I am concerned that we won't have the players to get into the top 4 of the CFP.

LSU, Auburn, and Florida are all a bit down right now, so it is the time to strike. Heup has showed he can win with inferior talent, but our recruiting classes are still fringe top 10.

what say you VN?

Not just the talent gap but need development. OL and WR big concerns with development.

 

[IndianaVol]

We're still under scholarship restrictions for 2 years.
Yes, NIL should level that out some, but you still need spots to recruit players.

I don't feel that our 1st string talent is that far off from the others mentioned. It's when you get to that 2nd man in the position things drop off drastically.

 

[bornbleddinorange]

Didn't we just go to the CFP?

I mean, yeah, we got our a$$e$ handed to us by tOSU, but so did Oregon and Texas really looked inferior most all of that game.

I went from saying the same thing as. you did to, "well, maybe we really are not that far off, we just got hit with a buzzsaw".

I'll wait and see, but really feel like there were several teams in the CFP we could have beat had we not drew tOSU the first game. We just need to shore up the OL and WR and get Nico a full year experience in the system in real live action.

Top 4 , not top 12

 

[bornbleddinorange]

Not just the talent gap but need development. OL and WR big concerns with development.

And yet no movement on Kelsey Pope or the O Line coach

 

[Orange931]

They are in three of the absolute best recruiting states you could possibly ever want to recruit in. We just need to try and stay close. Plus they all three care and want to win as much or more than we do.

Ohio isn’t that great of a recruiting state. Most of their players are from out of state. They just spent WAY more than everybody else this year.

 

[TN1111]

We aren’t close to UGA, OSU and TX. And honestly I doubt we ever will be. Why? The only real way we can close the talent gap with those teams is for those teams to take a massive plunge in recruiting. And does anyone see that happening?

When you lose 10 or more of a recruiting class to the transfer portal then those once great classes mean nothing. It’s always been standard practice to evaluate a recruiting class a few years after they’ve been in the program.

That is even more the case now. What is important is the need to hold on to players and also hopefully fill the gaps of those great players who you didn’t expect to leave.

 

[bornbleddinorange]

I don't believe we're that far off. We outscored Texas on OSU, just 4 points behind Oregon. Improve some this year and we should be back in the playoffs. I'm a believer that the glass is always full. It's just sometimes half air and half water (or whatever beverage you consume.)

We should be good in the secondary next year and I expect the Ross kid to come on strong so the D Line should still be very solid under Gardner. LB will be OK.

QB is fine, O line & WR is a concern. Offense was flat all season. I expect RB and TE positions to be solid also.

Bottom line is we need big plays. Look how OSU gets Howard moving a bit in the pocket compared to Nico looking like a statue.

 

[Sudden Impact]

We aren’t close to UGA, OSU and TX. And honestly I doubt we ever will be. Why? The only real way we can close the talent gap with those teams is for those teams to take a massive plunge in recruiting. And does anyone see that happening?

The norm would be a day late and a $$$$ short before we get it.
We lead the way to NIL and have shown progress, but now have fallen behind because of maintaining.

 

[easttnbuck]

Ohio isn’t that great of a recruiting state. Most of their players are from out of state. They just spent WAY more than everybody else this year.

They are 6th for d1 scholarships, 7th for NFL talent

Not sure Exactly what the definition of "great" is, but they are certainly up there and don't compete with anyone for their talent . Kids born in Ohio almost all want to play for OSU.