I know it didn’t end how we wanted, but honestly the roster didn’t turn out to be as good as we all thought. We have an elite championship level defense but the offense has been maybe the worst in Kiffin’s tenure. 9 games with that O line and running back room wasn’t too bad of an accomplishment. I like what I see looking to next year, we can possibly reload and have a really good roster again, assuming the funds are there. I think we will have a good defense once again, although this season’s defense will be hard to ever replicate. I trust that the offensive coaches will make changes as needed and emphasize improving the RB room and O line to a point that we can probably make a run for the playoffs again. We’ve seen this year that you don’t have to be perfect, 10-2 is definitely in the realm of possibility despite having a new QB and a lot of other new personnel.
Something to note, we will no longer be the “hunted” and shouldn’t be a cocky, arrogant team. I’ve said this a few times but I feel like this team drank too much of their own koolaid, which Neal has alluded to a few times. The polls, the fans, and national media all put a lot of pressure on this team that they weren’t prepared for and it showed through the players and coaches both at times. You could just feel it. I have been guilty of not enjoying this season at all because right off the bat we lost to Kentucky and in my mind it was all about making the playoffs. Next year shouldn’t be this way.
Something to note, we will no longer be the “hunted” and shouldn’t be a cocky, arrogant team. I’ve said this a few times but I feel like this team drank too much of their own koolaid, which Neal has alluded to a few times. The polls, the fans, and national media all put a lot of pressure on this team that they weren’t prepared for and it showed through the players and coaches both at times. You could just feel it. I have been guilty of not enjoying this season at all because right off the bat we lost to Kentucky and in my mind it was all about making the playoffs. Next year shouldn’t be this way.
