I've already talked about how "interesting" things are getting at QB--and the only thing I'll add here is that I think it's a given that Coach Mac will go after and get SOMEONE that "fits his mold" there in the 2016 class, a 4-star-plus whom, as one of "his guys" he'll be that much more predisposed to bring along, eventually start. Along with the aforementioned Culpepper, that high-profile kid who just decommitted from Tennessee might now be in the running too. Will he even try to get both? We shall see.
As for the rest, well, this staff has finished strong with 2015 recruiting (with a couple more good adds still possible), and any kind of real improvement, especially in a more exciting offense (I mean, how could it NOT be???) may well key an outstanding haul come Feb, 2016.
I may expand on this in the weeks ahead in a separate, new thread, but for now this seems as good a place as any to mention something I really like, something pretty striking, and that's the way Mac has expanded the whole staff. It's already literally TWICE the size of Muschamp's, gone from 9 to 18 full time assistants and position coaches on the payroll. Foley and co. have been completely supportive, smoothly approving the funds for everyone the Coach has wanted and wooed; talented, knowledgeable and creative young up'n'comers are filling out the new staff top to bottom, and it is expected that there'll be at least a couple more added before summer, along with grad assistants to in turn help and support them. The idea, from this Head Coach's POV, is to build a hierarchy of smart people, each able to concentrate on his own area of interest, talent and expertise, yet ultimately pull together towards the same goal, WINNING: A team that builds and guides The Team. Give this group talent and depth, they will get it done.
We don't have consistent, across-the-board "talent" OR "depth" yet, proven or even apparent, on either side of the ball, so plugging holes and further identifying real needs will probably go on through summer and into the fall--meaning some real "ups'n'downs" in the course of our coming season, especially in the early going.
I don't want to inflate my own expectations...I'd like to see us hold the line to some extent on defense, and real improvement (not to mention EXCITEMENT, for a change) on what's been of course a moribund offense during the "Muschamp-plus-pick-your-disappointment-at-QB" years. In addition to making an "up and down year" bearable, even at times fun, that would set us up for the kinds of gains at both "talent" AND "depth" that I sense on the horizon under this coach. Even better if we were to "come on strong" as the season progressed. That's where E-'s points above, especially the main one about depending on the 2014 class to begin to come through, really make their mark, are so appropriate.
As for the rest, well, this staff has finished strong with 2015 recruiting (with a couple more good adds still possible), and any kind of real improvement, especially in a more exciting offense (I mean, how could it NOT be???) may well key an outstanding haul come Feb, 2016.
I may expand on this in the weeks ahead in a separate, new thread, but for now this seems as good a place as any to mention something I really like, something pretty striking, and that's the way Mac has expanded the whole staff. It's already literally TWICE the size of Muschamp's, gone from 9 to 18 full time assistants and position coaches on the payroll. Foley and co. have been completely supportive, smoothly approving the funds for everyone the Coach has wanted and wooed; talented, knowledgeable and creative young up'n'comers are filling out the new staff top to bottom, and it is expected that there'll be at least a couple more added before summer, along with grad assistants to in turn help and support them. The idea, from this Head Coach's POV, is to build a hierarchy of smart people, each able to concentrate on his own area of interest, talent and expertise, yet ultimately pull together towards the same goal, WINNING: A team that builds and guides The Team. Give this group talent and depth, they will get it done.
We don't have consistent, across-the-board "talent" OR "depth" yet, proven or even apparent, on either side of the ball, so plugging holes and further identifying real needs will probably go on through summer and into the fall--meaning some real "ups'n'downs" in the course of our coming season, especially in the early going.
I don't want to inflate my own expectations...I'd like to see us hold the line to some extent on defense, and real improvement (not to mention EXCITEMENT, for a change) on what's been of course a moribund offense during the "Muschamp-plus-pick-your-disappointment-at-QB" years. In addition to making an "up and down year" bearable, even at times fun, that would set us up for the kinds of gains at both "talent" AND "depth" that I sense on the horizon under this coach. Even better if we were to "come on strong" as the season progressed. That's where E-'s points above, especially the main one about depending on the 2014 class to begin to come through, really make their mark, are so appropriate.