https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/06/...ayers-2019

With two winnable P5 games and so much returning on Offense, you get the sense that this is our shot at a NY6 bid ... however there are just too many ? marks with a new coaching staff that I can't comfortablely or honestly predict that. Plus, there always tends to be a mid season let down game (ie, UMass 16, ULM 17, GS 18) that is so odd when compared to the rest of the body of work.

Nothing wrong with high expectations, but I tend to want to stay more humble. We're not yet at the point were we should expect to beat P5 teams and/or be consistently ranked. There's still lots of work to do. I'm just enjoying this FBS ride we are on right now and will be satisfied with another Conference Championship and a 5th straight bowl win. Which we'll need to play our best to achieve. GO Apps!

This is likely the best offense and worst defense App has had the last three years. I was concerned about Zac stepping up last year too though and look how that turned out.

Apps success may come down to how good a HC Drinkwitz turns out to be.

(06-07-2019 10:36 AM)_x_ Wrote:  Apps success may come down to how good a HC Drinkwitz turns out to be.

Pretty much my thinking as well. We have plenty of talent and depth on all sides to win a lot of games. Can the new staff come up with the right game plans, and can they get the players to buy in?

(06-07-2019 10:36 AM)_x_ Wrote:  Apps success may come down to how good a HC Drinkwitz turns out to be.

______ success may come down to how good a HC ______ turns out to be.

Agree, however, it nearly applies to all teams, especially G5 teams. I would also throw in avoiding injuries to certain position groups.

I'd say some coaches are pretty screwed in their first year (ie. Withers in 2016).

(06-07-2019 10:52 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  

(06-07-2019 10:36 AM)_x_ Wrote:  Apps success may come down to how good a HC Drinkwitz turns out to be.

Pretty much my thinking as well. We have plenty of talent and depth on all sides to win a lot of games. Can the new staff come up with the right game plans, and can they get the players to buy in?

The interesting thing about talent as it relates to Troy and APP, and to some degree ARKST with their coaching turnover is this: How many of the school's superstars are properly developed from a mental and athletic standpoint, and how many of them just really strived under the previous head coach's systems? As an example, Troy always has offensive guys on the all-sunbelt lists, but I can't think of any guys from Troy's offense that have had lasting careers in the NFL. It's a question of being developed in a system and a culture, vs being developed as an all around football player.

Troy has six returning all sunbelt players, despite losing some key contributors in Marcus Jones, Tron Folsom, Tyler Murray, and Sawyer Smith. How many of these guys will continue to dominate and how many will have other guys on the team surpass them in the new system? Sounds like a genuine concern to me.

(06-07-2019 09:08 AM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/06/...ayers-2019

Before the first snap I'd say the East is a three team race between App, Troy and GS but who knows look how GS turned things around last year. Coastal or GSU may be capable of doing the same. I'll just be glad when we can settle this on the field!

(06-07-2019 10:36 AM)_x_ Wrote:  Apps success may come down to how good a HC Drinkwitz turns out to be.

While I’m sure I could coach this team to a few wins you are correct. The talent that is in place is like winning the last course of Bingo when you’ve sat there all night.

I think he was spot on about the offense, I think Drink will bring a creativity to the offense that SS couldn’t/wouldn’t do, it was the best offense in the SBC last yr, and it should be even better, but, I think he was alittle too optimistic about the defense, you can’t lose Hayes, Stout and Duck and believe it’s still a nationally top 20 unit, plus I’m not sold on our new DC. I think you will see a much different APP team, one that’s much less predictable on offense, and one that will take more shots down field, and not just moving the chains. Defensively, in the past 4 yrs, we have been so aggressive, we tried to take the fight to the offense, and shut them down, but not sure we won’t see more of a bend or don’t break style, atleast until we find out if the replacements can excell at their positions.

(06-07-2019 09:42 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  This is likely the best offense and worst defense App has had the last three years. I was concerned about Zac stepping up last year too though and look how that turned out.

So we should expect some 63-57 type games like ULM had in 2017?

"Yeah, there might be a few question marks at cornerback and defensive tackle, but there’s absolutely no excuse to not take a second straight championship game."
"In other words, new guy, don’t screw it up."

No pressure at all on Drinkwitz....

(06-07-2019 01:15 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(06-07-2019 10:52 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  

(06-07-2019 10:36 AM)_x_ Wrote:  Apps success may come down to how good a HC Drinkwitz turns out to be.

Pretty much my thinking as well. We have plenty of talent and depth on all sides to win a lot of games. Can the new staff come up with the right game plans, and can they get the players to buy in?

The interesting thing about talent as it relates to Troy and APP, and to some degree ARKST with their coaching turnover is this: How many of the school's superstars are properly developed from a mental and athletic standpoint, and how many of them just really strived under the previous head coach's systems? As an example, Troy always has offensive guys on the all-sunbelt lists, but I can't think of any guys from Troy's offense that have had lasting careers in the NFL. It's a question of being developed in a system and a culture, vs being developed as an all around football player.

Troy has six returning all sunbelt players, despite losing some key contributors in Marcus Jones, Tron Folsom, Tyler Murray, and Sawyer Smith. How many of these guys will continue to dominate and how many will have other guys on the team surpass them in the new system? Sounds like a genuine concern to me.

In 2016 we returned 89% (!!!!!) of our production from a team that was still majorly made up of players from our run that started during the transition. That team had excelled in two different systems, and it was obvious they had a very good basis mentally and athletically stemming back to the Monken days. You still see conversations from those guys about playing in those days, and based on what Monken has done at Army, it's pretty evident he builds these guys up very well.

They resisted the changes from the new staff and we even heard things in the spring about how the players refused to buy in for a while to what the coaches were trying to teach them and how players didn't know how to practice...where it's obvious now they were likely resistant because the formula of what had worked well didn't match up with what that staff was doing.

A coach can torpedo a good team and culture in a heartbeat. I never thought I'd see it, but we have a perfect case study everyone should use.

I've seen some comments from App's coaches that made me remember some of the weird things we heard out of Summers and his guys. Also, Drink is taking on all duties of OC and HC as a first time HC and that's a lot to handle, especially at a school with the expectations of App. Satt was in a different situation at App, especially with the timing of when he took over and basically rebuilt the team. Drink doesn't really have that luxury, so it would appear he may be placing a lot of undue stress on himself.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.

(06-07-2019 05:49 PM)debragga Wrote:  

(06-07-2019 09:42 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  This is likely the best offense and worst defense App has had the last three years. I was concerned about Zac stepping up last year too though and look how that turned out.

So we should expect some 63-57 type games like ULM had in 2017?

I hope not, I hate that brand of football. I think App will score 50+ four times this year and give up 30+ three times.