So I'll talk about 2018-2021...that culture and work-ethic defined the Stoops era. But we've lost it the last 2 years...
In 2016 we hit a new level with out talent and we felt like we could compete on another level. We beat UofL and some other good teams. Got to a bowl game. But then 2017 came...we got humbled a bit. Mississippi State, UGA, & Louisville. Stupid decisions cost us the Florida & Ole Miss Games. We had that meltdown against Louisville with the brawl. But then guys came back hungry and experienced in 2018...that group just had something.
Eddie Gran/Schlarman built and offense from the 2016 offseason all the way through the class of 2021. That's 5-6 years of a culture and style. 2021 we had to get some new juice to get new skill players or else we would've been in bad shape. Coen came in with a new scheme...but we also had the great culture guys to bridge the gap.
But that gets to 2021...we lost Schlarman and Gran and were moving to a completely new scheme.
I'll go through the depth chart of some guys who were in the program a long time
-2016: Rigg & Robinson
-2017: Ali, Epps, Wright, Pascal, Dort, Aijan, Corker
-2018: Horsey, Kinnard, Bates, C-Rod, Smoke, McCall, Square
We did lose a lot of talent on the OL in 2021...but you'll also notice the leadership gap as guys have left. I think guys like Pascal, Square, Kinnard, and C-Rod were just built different because they played under those guys. They played and or saw Josh Allen, Benny Snell, CJ Conrad, Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson, Westry, Baity and Big George. Those guys built the program and set the standard. The guys under them saw what it took to succeed and knew the struggle and climb it took to get to that level.
2021 we saw Pascal, Kinnard, McCall, Robinson, Ali, and a few others exit. You could kind of tell we were missing something internally. But even late last year when we struggled...C-Rod, Wright and Square were there to make a difference and lead. Horsey was a force on an overall disappointing line. But now? Horsey and Bates are the only ones left who remember that era...and Horsey is gone. This next generation just believes we got there over night...it wasn't a long build. They weren't there to remember that era. The defensive guys now don't know about Allen, Jordan Jones, Kash Daniel, Mike Edwards, Boogie Watson etc. and the guys that just took it up a notch. No one on the 2 deep on defense was around for Matt House.
2021 we had a big group of guys to help bridge the gap between eras...but it's different now. Schlarman's illness and the turnover of staff at OC/OL coach really hurt our OL recruiting development for a few years and that's been taken away. The WR room is rebuilt...but remember the new system wasn't in place until the offseason of 2022 and those guys are true sophomores and aren't leaders. the runningback room has 0 identity outside of Ray Davis. We still have yet to get our QB recruiting right...well until Boley and Saunders arrive.
So you're asking what's my point and now what? We have to have leaders step up and take charge. These guys are now at the bottom...so who steps up? Who leads by example? You had your high of beating Florida...but now you have your low of the last 2 weeks? That's where it has to change...
Kenneth Horsey getting back to 100% in the lineup is paramount. He has to be that force he was before injury. Our most experienced and toughest hardest working lineman. I think he's a guy that can set a tone and lead by example. I think he's a guy that rubs off well on Jager Burton. I think Jager is a guy that WANTS TO WIN and has passion...but can't control it yet. So getting those guys up front to play mean...like we know they can...that sets the tone. Then Ray Davis can EAT and Leary can be a little more confident.
Tavion Robinson's health is important...you've seen him make big plays when we need them...but his injury has set him back. He can get it going....so then Barion Brown can finally show the world what he can do....Dane Key too...and then it rubs off on the freshman.
Then the defense...Trevin Wallace getting healthy is big. He's the guy that sets the tone and guys follow. Deone Walker is great...but now he needs to realize that guys look to him as well. Those guys set the tone...then it rubs off on guys like Ox, Weaver, Jackson, etc. But it starts with those two.
These 2 weeks will define this 2nd decade of the Stoops era. Stoops needs to as we say become "OLD STOOPS" and get these guys rallied and fired up to take on the world. Because the guys behind them on the 2-deep will be watching and recruits at home will be watching...that's what sets the tone for 5+ years in the future as you build a culture.
I'm usually positive and try to find the best or a possible outcome where we can turn it around...the last 2 weeks were unacceptable effort. Missouri is a game we win from 2016-2021. Now we have to learn how to do it again...and guys have to step up to do it. This is our LSU 2006 moment...
Beat Tennessee!
In 2016 we hit a new level with out talent and we felt like we could compete on another level. We beat UofL and some other good teams. Got to a bowl game. But then 2017 came...we got humbled a bit. Mississippi State, UGA, & Louisville. Stupid decisions cost us the Florida & Ole Miss Games. We had that meltdown against Louisville with the brawl. But then guys came back hungry and experienced in 2018...that group just had something.
Eddie Gran/Schlarman built and offense from the 2016 offseason all the way through the class of 2021. That's 5-6 years of a culture and style. 2021 we had to get some new juice to get new skill players or else we would've been in bad shape. Coen came in with a new scheme...but we also had the great culture guys to bridge the gap.
But that gets to 2021...we lost Schlarman and Gran and were moving to a completely new scheme.
I'll go through the depth chart of some guys who were in the program a long time
-2016: Rigg & Robinson
-2017: Ali, Epps, Wright, Pascal, Dort, Aijan, Corker
-2018: Horsey, Kinnard, Bates, C-Rod, Smoke, McCall, Square
We did lose a lot of talent on the OL in 2021...but you'll also notice the leadership gap as guys have left. I think guys like Pascal, Square, Kinnard, and C-Rod were just built different because they played under those guys. They played and or saw Josh Allen, Benny Snell, CJ Conrad, Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson, Westry, Baity and Big George. Those guys built the program and set the standard. The guys under them saw what it took to succeed and knew the struggle and climb it took to get to that level.
2021 we saw Pascal, Kinnard, McCall, Robinson, Ali, and a few others exit. You could kind of tell we were missing something internally. But even late last year when we struggled...C-Rod, Wright and Square were there to make a difference and lead. Horsey was a force on an overall disappointing line. But now? Horsey and Bates are the only ones left who remember that era...and Horsey is gone. This next generation just believes we got there over night...it wasn't a long build. They weren't there to remember that era. The defensive guys now don't know about Allen, Jordan Jones, Kash Daniel, Mike Edwards, Boogie Watson etc. and the guys that just took it up a notch. No one on the 2 deep on defense was around for Matt House.
2021 we had a big group of guys to help bridge the gap between eras...but it's different now. Schlarman's illness and the turnover of staff at OC/OL coach really hurt our OL recruiting development for a few years and that's been taken away. The WR room is rebuilt...but remember the new system wasn't in place until the offseason of 2022 and those guys are true sophomores and aren't leaders. the runningback room has 0 identity outside of Ray Davis. We still have yet to get our QB recruiting right...well until Boley and Saunders arrive.
So you're asking what's my point and now what? We have to have leaders step up and take charge. These guys are now at the bottom...so who steps up? Who leads by example? You had your high of beating Florida...but now you have your low of the last 2 weeks? That's where it has to change...
Kenneth Horsey getting back to 100% in the lineup is paramount. He has to be that force he was before injury. Our most experienced and toughest hardest working lineman. I think he's a guy that can set a tone and lead by example. I think he's a guy that rubs off well on Jager Burton. I think Jager is a guy that WANTS TO WIN and has passion...but can't control it yet. So getting those guys up front to play mean...like we know they can...that sets the tone. Then Ray Davis can EAT and Leary can be a little more confident.
Tavion Robinson's health is important...you've seen him make big plays when we need them...but his injury has set him back. He can get it going....so then Barion Brown can finally show the world what he can do....Dane Key too...and then it rubs off on the freshman.
Then the defense...Trevin Wallace getting healthy is big. He's the guy that sets the tone and guys follow. Deone Walker is great...but now he needs to realize that guys look to him as well. Those guys set the tone...then it rubs off on guys like Ox, Weaver, Jackson, etc. But it starts with those two.
These 2 weeks will define this 2nd decade of the Stoops era. Stoops needs to as we say become "OLD STOOPS" and get these guys rallied and fired up to take on the world. Because the guys behind them on the 2-deep will be watching and recruits at home will be watching...that's what sets the tone for 5+ years in the future as you build a culture.
I'm usually positive and try to find the best or a possible outcome where we can turn it around...the last 2 weeks were unacceptable effort. Missouri is a game we win from 2016-2021. Now we have to learn how to do it again...and guys have to step up to do it. This is our LSU 2006 moment...
Beat Tennessee!
