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[QUOTE="billsin01, post: 46886, member: 837"]
I've seen this excuse a ton, but I'd like to bring up two points:

1) How about all the IAA teams that have piled up yardage and points against us? How about Toledo? Those weren't teams that physically outmatched us offensively.

2) Marrone and Adkins are our OL coaches. We're not absolving Marrone by blaming an offensive line. That's HIS group! And believe me, coaching is huge in that area. I watched ND suck on the offensive line throughout John Latina's tenure only to play immeasurably better under Verducci and Ed Warriner (Kelly's guy). I'm not advocating we fire anyone, but the fact this OL has not taken significant steps forward is concerning any way you slice it -- regardless of talent and depth (which I agree is also a concern).

3) The perfect foil here is Shafer's defense. That was a group that everyone said for four years under GRob had ZERO talent and was way too slow. Then they were a top 25 defense for two years. Did they all of a sudden explode talent-wise? No, the guy has a great system that puts good players in positions to make plays. Yes, Hogue moved to defense and Derrell SMith was really good, but seriously? That group lost Art Jones and still played well. He helped D'amon Merkerson, who switched back and forth between offense and defense 872 times in his career, look like a really viable corner with strong coverage skills.

I don't know. I love Marrone and think he's done a fabulous job, but I'm not sure how anyone here makes themselves sleep better at night by thinking QB, talent and/or time are going to solve the offensive woes for this team. They would all help, but the issues run deeper, IMO.
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