B1G Disaster

[Eric]

Hmmm, well after Nebraska and Iowa almost blew games last week against inferior opponents and Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State all lost their primetime games (including Wisky against LSU) to go along with Purdue and Northwestern losing to MAC teams, this week the middle of the pack of the Big 10 was atrocious: Minnesota and Illinois got absolutely pasted and then Iowa and Maryland lose close rivalry games, in addition to Indiana losing to a team that gave up 700 yards to Western Kentucky. In years past, I've always thought that B1G dumping was unfair and over the top. The B1G hasn't been great since 2006, and that's saying something, but it was still a somewhat competitive conference. But this year. Whoa boy, this year....This is the worst I have ever seen the conference. The absolute worst.

Fire the following coaches: Ferentz, Edsall, Beckman, Wilson, Fitzgerald, Hazell, probably Flood, and Brady Hoke.

- Ferentz is stale and Iowa is a dull lifeless program that has no idea about how to run an offense. It amazes me at how they can never find any athletes at the skill positions. They haven't had a QB since Stanzi. Go down in Texas and get some of these track athletes that Oregon is so fond of, it can't be that hard.

- Edsall has had some tough luck with injuries the past two years and 2012 would have been a bowl season if Rowe or Brown stayed healthy (he was reduced to playing a converted LB / high-school QB at the end of the year), but the fact is he just isn't the guy. Not a great recruiter and he brings nothing to the table.

- Beckman will land a job somewhere else at a smaller school, but Illinois' recruiting has absolutely gone down the toilet. Where is Ron Zook when you need him?

- Kevin Wilson can coach an offense, but man his defenses have been absolutely pathetic at Indiana. You could use his skills on the offensive side on the offensive side, but his defenses are helpless. Indiana can't ask for much, but this team isn't ready to even compete for a bowl berth yet.

- Fitzgerald was the right fit for the team, and maybe he still is. He would be the last on my list here because he has some success with the program. Still, I believe they have gone 1-8 in their last 9. If this season is an absolute disaster, it might be time to try something else.

- Hazell was overrated from the start. Purdue's roster is so devoid of talent that it's hard to blame him, but it's not like he's going to make a difference here. He was the beneficiary of a very experienced team at Kent State that was blessed with a couple of game changers, but Purdue needs something to build on and he doesn't bring much to the table.

- Flood is just weak.

- Hoke can't win any big games and the offense is a mess. The offensive line still is miserable. Enough with the "hard work" platitudes at press conferences and halftime interviews, we need to see real progress and it's not there.


So to sum up, this is just the start of things. They have to revamp their recruiting strategy because the guys they get in don't cut it. Where are the skill guys? Where are the QB's? Where are the RBs that can break a tackle and take it to the house? Minnesota lost today because they were one-dimensional. Liedner can't throw the forward pass and he's not as good as somebody like Jordan Lynch where you can just ride him all the way. Iowa has no skill guys on the outside. Maryland couldn't play in the secondary (maybe Stefon Diggs can play corner?). Michigan's offensive line is inexcusably bad. Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue's defenses might as well not even exist as a light breeze would bowl them over. Nebraska has just been a mental team for some time now. The only teams that are on track to remain competitive in the near future are Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State. Nobody else even has a chance in this conference considering the way the rosters are situated and how their coaches use the talent. What does that say when Eastern Washington or North Dakota State would be the fifth or sixth best team in your "Power 5" conference?

[WoVeU]

This is the best Sports Article I have read all year.