Consensus

[TheCusian]

right and we can draw all the lipstick we want on the pig, but until recruiting improves we are what we are.

Y’all including transfer portal in this equation

 

[JRHEETER]

I think we did decent overall

Not great, but not terrible.

I think you’re going to see the second National signing day become a bigger day for us in the future.

Your first NSD is going to be your can’t miss guys. The second NSD is going to become your guys that are developmental players IMO.

This is all because of the transfer portal and teams are going to want to see how they fill out their rosters with transfers

 

[elimunelson]

And yet our results against BC over Dino’s tenure have been ok. Rutgers overall record is always less than their recruiting haul would indicate.

We played a non Jurkevic BC this year. We made the putt. They are building a better program than us right now. Not even a debatable point. They now have a top 30 class which we haven't done since the Clinton administration.

My entire premise is we benchmark against BC and that benchmark is skewed right now in a big way. we need to really coach up the lack of talent coming in and hope Hafley is a paperweight guy. If he's Tom Coughlin we're in trouble.

Not sure how anyone can look at our ranking, while we retained our HC, and think this was a good day. We basically operated like we had a new staff in house and had to cobble together a recruiting class.

 

[TheCusian]

We played a non Jurkevic BC this year. We made the putt. They are building a better program than us right now. Not even a debatable point. They now have a top 30 class which we haven't done since the Clinton administration.

My entire premise is we benchmark against BC and that benchmark is skewed right now in a big way. we need to really coach up the lack of talent coming in and hope Hafley is a paperweight guy. If he's Tom Coughlin we're in trouble.

Not sure how anyone can look at our ranking, while we retained our HC, and think this was a good day. We basically operated like we had a new staff in house and had to cobble together a recruiting class.

I don’t care who was QB - we’ve played them plenty without our QB1 late in the year. Garbage. No need to stump for the enemy.

I’ve already conceded that I’d prefer their spot in the recruiting ranking and I’d rather be .500 this year. Who wouldn’t?

My point is Hafley hasn’t been great. Which is true. The difference between BC and Syracuse isn’t some huge gulf. Even those recruiting rankings are inflated by them having 10 more signees.

He’s got work to do to convince BC he’s a keeper much less some B1G school. He could prove you right this year - certainly all lines up that way. But I’ll agree he’s a good head coach - when he actually proves it.

 

[elimunelson]

I don’t care who was QB - we’ve played them plenty without our QB1 late in the year. Garbage. No need to stump for the enemy.

I’ve already conceded that I’d prefer their spot in the recruiting ranking and I’d rather be .500 this year. Who wouldn’t?

My point is Hafley hasn’t been great. Which is true. The difference between BC and Syracuse isn’t some huge gulf. Even those recruiting rankings are inflated by them having 10 more signees.

He’s got work to do to convince BC he’s a keeper much less some B1G school. He could prove you right this year - certainly all lines up that way. But I’ll agree he’s a good head coach - when he actually proves it.

He takes his team to bowls. Not arguing he’s Saban just saying he’s competent and taking BC to bowl games w schedule similar to ours.

I don’t consider them the enemy. I’ve made it clear that BC was my team growing up and I follow to this day. If that’s fandom jail so be it. Just saying they are extending their lead on us.

Need Dino to coach us out of this mess. My hope is he can. School really stuck their neck out to stay with him. I hope he works hard to repay the patient fan base and the administration. 99% other schools would have sacked him

 

[TheCusian]

He takes his team to bowls. Not arguing he’s Saban just saying he’s competent and taking BC to bowl games w schedule similar to ours.

I don’t consider them the enemy. I’ve made it clear that BC was my team growing up and I follow to this day. If that’s fandom jail so be it. Just saying they are extending their lead on us.

Need Dino to coach us out of this mess. My hope is he can. School really stuck their neck out to stay with him. I hope he works hard to repay the patient fan base and the administration. 99% other schools would have sacked him

I don’t see a lead being extended - Addazzio had a better track record. and we beat them this year. The difference is negligible.

We’ll see. It’s all lined up for Hafley. Dino has a lot more work to do.

 

[Nick44]

Either way Hafley is just destroying us on the recruiting front.

We need to coach our way out of this. Hard but do able

Hafley….Schiano….Narduzzi….they’re all destroying us on the recruiting trail. Happens every year.

 

[Cuse181]

Hafley….Schiano….Narduzzi….they’re all destroying us on the recruiting trail. Happens every year.

And yet Hadley and schiano are still putting up piss poor records with a lot of talent leaving this year.

 

[Ozone!]

Once we identify our OC then we will see what type of quality we can pull through a combination of the the portal and remaining quality High School talent to upgrade our team for next year. Currently there is not enough information to make an informed assessment of where we stand for next season. All we have currently is speculation and fear-based thinking based infused by many seasons of failed expectations through many coaching staffs.
For the most parts our player leadership on D and our DC and support coaches are in place. The defense is our strength; now let’s calm down and let the rest of this rebuild play out.

Without an effective OC we were close in more than enough games to have us go to a bowl this past seaso.

I love Cuse Football and I, for one, am willing to let this play out before I let fear dictate my thinking. I hope others are with me!

 

[kcsu]

Once we identify our OC then we will see what type of quality we can pull through a combination of the the portal and remaining quality High School talent to upgrade our team for next year. Currently there is not enough information to make an informed assessment of where we stand for next season. All we have currently is speculation and fear-based thinking based infused by many seasons of failed expectations through many coaching staffs.
For the most parts our player leadership on D and our DC and support coaches are in place. The defense is our strength; now let’s calm down and let the rest of this rebuild play out.

Without an effective OC we were close in more than enough games to have us go to a bowl this past seaso.

I love Cuse Football and I, for one, am willing to let this play out before I let fear dictate my thinking. I hope others are with me!

A couple of thoughts.

First of all fear is often justified and based on facts.

1 winning season out of 6 is a fact.
Continually poor recruiting rankings are a fact.
Leading the " Portal Cup" in most players lost ( especially considering no coaching change) is a fact.
These are all factual, concrete reasons for concern or as you refer to it fear.

However its also a fact that coming out of the early signing period our ranking is basically the same as Pittsburgh and many of our ACC foes.
In my opinion 50 - 70 in rankings is a crap shoot.

I do however believe that being in the 30- 50 range is an indication that you are obtaining the talent to play with pretty much anyone other than the elite professional teams.

I also believe very strongly that the portal is an equalizing factor for the majority of college football programs. Why? Because it will hurt many teams depth, basically even out the talent of the 2nd and 3rd teams.
Many of our opponents will have a difficult time stocking up on great players.
I believe that the days of Clemson rotating 7 or 8 excellent DL players are numbered.
Just look at what happened at Syracuse. A team with little depth.
We lost players from the only areas of strength.
RB
LB
DB
I believe this will happen across all of college football.

With this as a background how does a school like SU compete?
Here are my thoughts.
First make darn sure that your HS recruits are sold on SU for the right reasons. Good fit athletically and academically. They really need to want Syracuse.

Second take at least 40% of your players from the portal for 2 primary reasons. It allows an extra year of evaluation and the player is more likely to stay with your program allowing the coaches an ability to create depth.

Third and most important. Hire the best possible coaches. Coaching is going to matter more than ever. Game planning and in game coaching are going to be critical.

I actually think that this is an opportunity for SU to do better and close the gap as long as we have good coaching and a good culture your star players will stay and the portal will allow you to build solid depth.

Fear is if your top players enter the portal. If a Tucker, or Mikel were to leave that becomes a death spiral.
It was my biggest fear heading into this off season and im beyond relieved, actually very encouraged that it didnt happen.
For all of his very obvious coaching defincicies Dino does seem to have the respect of his players which is as important a head coaching trait as any.
I also think that his strengths of Family and truly caring for the kids can be a huge winner in portal recruiting.
My hope is that he hires a great OC and distances himself from the game planning and in game decisions which he struggles at and focuses more on the overall leadership of the program leaving the details to his coordinators.
Sorry for the long post.

 

[SyraGus]

A couple of thoughts.

First of all fear is often justified and based on facts.

1 winning season out of 6 is a fact.
Continually poor recruiting rankings are a fact.
Leading the " Portal Cup" in most players lost ( especially considering no coaching change) is a fact.
These are all factual, concrete reasons for concern or as you refer to it fear.

However its also a fact that coming out of the early signing period our ranking is basically the same as Pittsburgh and many of our ACC foes.
In my opinion 50 - 70 in rankings is a crap shoot.

I do however believe that being in the 30- 50 range is an indication that you are obtaining the talent to play with pretty much anyone other than the elite professional teams.

I also believe very strongly that the portal is an equalizing factor for the majority of college football programs. Why? Because it will hurt many teams depth, basically even out the talent of the 2nd and 3rd teams.
Many of our opponents will have a difficult time stocking up on great players.
I believe that the days of Clemson rotating 7 or 8 excellent DL players are numbered.
Just look at what happened at Syracuse. A team with little depth.
We lost players from the only areas of strength.
RB
LB
DB
I believe this will happen across all of college football.

With this as a background how does a school like SU compete?
Here are my thoughts.
First make darn sure that your HS recruits are sold on SU for the right reasons. Good fit athletically and academically. They really need to want Syracuse.

Second take at least 40% of your players from the portal for 2 primary reasons. It allows an extra year of evaluation and the player is more likely to stay with your program allowing the coaches an ability to create depth.

Third and most important. Hire the best possible coaches. Coaching is going to matter more than ever. Game planning and in game coaching are going to be critical.

I actually think that this is an opportunity for SU to do better and close the gap as long as we have good coaching and a good culture your star players will stay and the portal will allow you to build solid depth.

Fear is if your top players enter the portal. If a Tucker, or Mikel were to leave that becomes a death spiral.
It was my biggest fear heading into this off season and im beyond relieved, actually very encouraged that it didnt happen.
For all of his very obvious coaching defincicies Dino does seem to have the respect of his players which is as important a head coaching trait as any.
I also think that his strengths of Family and truly caring for the kids can be a huge winner in portal recruiting.
My hope is that he hires a great OC and distances himself from the game planning and in game decisions which he struggles at and focuses more on the overall leadership of the program leaving the details to his coordinators.
Sorry for the long post.

Agree with these points, but I also think there needs to be increased emphasis on player retention. Just not sure what we can do that we aren't already doing. I find it disheartening when our kids go up against teams that have so many more upperclassmen playing, since we're typically battling players that are more physically developed and have a lot more experience.

We need to find a way to hang onto guys who are valuable backups and potential starters maybe 1-2 years down the road. Getting them onto the field in limited roles, maybe on specials, doesn't seem to be enough. Should our coaches do a better job getting them a taste of action in games with lopsided scores? Would it be better to burn a redshirt year if it means we might retain the player? How can we we promote patience and loyalty to the program in an era where everyone seeks instant gratification?

When I look at an incoming class - freshmen and transfers - I see 3 groups. There's usually a small number of guys who have a chance to contribute immediately and may even achieve a high degree of success. In today's world these players often enter the draft early, so they are hard to retain. Then there are the guys who for one reason or another don't get to see the field at all - maybe they don't develop as we'd hoped, or maybe there are injury or academic issues. These guys are prime candidates to transfer, and many times that may be the best option for them as well as the program. We need to do everything we can to minimize the numbers in this category by ensuring our incoming players are good fits.

But then there's everyone else: the 3 star kids who have potential but maybe need a couple years to fill out and develop. These are the guys who we really need to find a way to keep in the program. I think this needs to be an ongoing process, not a 3 hour chat when the player is on the brink of leaving.

One thing I've noticed is we seem to be rotating a lot more players in on defense recently, and I think this bodes well for player retention. I hope we continue to do this, and I hope we do everything we can to increase the number of upperclassmen on the 2-deep moving forward.

 

[kcsu]

Agree with these points, but I also think there needs to be increased emphasis on player retention. Just not sure what we can do that we aren't already doing. I find it disheartening when our kids go up against teams that have so many more upperclassmen playing, since we're typically battling players that are more physically developed and have a lot more experience.

We need to find a way to hang onto guys who are valuable backups and potential starters maybe 1-2 years down the road. Getting them onto the field in limited roles, maybe on specials, doesn't seem to be enough. Should our coaches do a better job getting them a taste of action in games with lopsided scores? Would it be better to burn a redshirt year if it means we might retain the player? How can we we promote patience and loyalty to the program in an era where everyone seeks instant gratification?

When I look at an incoming class - freshmen and transfers - I see 3 groups. There's usually a small number of guys who have a chance to contribute immediately and may even achieve a high degree of success. In today's world these players often enter the draft early, so they are hard to retain. Then there are the guys who for one reason or another don't get to see the field at all - maybe they don't develop as we'd hoped, or maybe there are injury or academic issues. These guys are prime candidates to transfer, and many times that may be the best option for them as well as the program. We need to do everything we can to minimize the numbers in this category by ensuring our incoming players are good fits.

But then there's everyone else: the 3 star kids who have potential but maybe need a couple years to fill out and develop. These are the guys who we really need to find a way to keep in the program. I think this needs to be an ongoing process, not a 3 hour chat when the player is on the brink of leaving.

One thing I've noticed is we seem to be rotating a lot more players in on defense recently, and I think this bodes well for player retention. I hope we continue to do this, and I hope we do everything we can to increase the number of upperclassmen on the 2-deep moving forward.

Good post. Retention of HS kids will be difficult. Its why i would focus on the portal as much if not more than HS recruits as a strategy to build depth.