Petrino 2.0 has actually recruited with ACC heft for 3 years. Yes, in a way this can be construed as somewhat apologetic in support of the coach who honestly yet needs a full season or even 2 for the work we so insistently demand - assessing the dude's competence as the HC of our Cards. Obviously - and this has been covered - fans freaked out over the Clemson collapse, to say nothing of our final 3 games of last season. All this matters - in particular the 6 games stretch where we have gone 2-4, against Big Boys and even freaking UK, lol, who tends to be showing strange signs of life in the 'Filth.
In looking for a balanced perspective, I would submit - first - that his initial recruiting was a hurried affair during a very compressed period of time, owing to Charlie's urge to clear town after the Texan approach, leaving him fairly bereft of insight or analysis. It was also our very first year in the ACC, a conference, it turns out (and particularly our division) which is mighty dam strong. The good result we got - beating ND, Texas A & M in the bowl - was also the emergence of Lamar. To my mind, there is little doubt both of Lamar's seasons - particularly last year caused a substantial uptick in recruiting and an improvement in our brand. I suspect we are only now reaping those benefits and that it is early in the process. There is also something that springs to mind about the man which reveals a "make or break" situation in upcoming analyses - this will soon be the longest period he has ever stayed at one place. He does seem to be building a recruiting bureaucracy and the approach to high school coaches where we recruit the most is seriously underway and also paying dividends. Bobby in Year 5 has never been done, lol.
In the game day coaching, what has cost us games is not necessarily his coaching, although it can be said he is responsible for the composure, aggression and competence levels if the team implementing his plan. I thought we lost our leaders on defense in Harvey-Clemons, Wiggins, Young and, later, Hearns and Henry. All upperclassmen and all seriously relied on as anchors. As we know, our lack pf depth killed us. Losing against Clemson bothers me not, lol. I watched every painful second of that fiasco and my conclusion - quite frankly - was we should simply move on as rapidly as possible. I have said as much everywhere I post. Sometimes, you just play shitty - that is sports. I've been there and the mystery of why it happens is an immense combination of factors - hyperventilating, too pumped for even warm ups to where you literally tire yourself out before the dam game even takes place, fear of failure which cascades with lack of success....a million reasons which all say the same. A big loss.
I stay optimistic, personally, but much of that is my nature, too. We all celebrated the return of 2.0, but I would caution his arc of improvement is an unfinished thing. There is even reason to think that Lamar going pro could be a blessing in disguise - an ironic but possible scenario. No one who we know in coaching will ever have a Lamar in the future. He is a One Timer and, unfortunately, he might be the guy who hyperventilated, mistiming easy passes much the same as he did closing the season last year. His "Twitch" is included in his emotions. Bobby should probably hand the ball off more and allow Lamar to relax, but confidence in the line is not just a discovery we have to make - so does the play caller.
Watching Becton on his way to a marvelous career at Louisville and a freshman All American anchors our O line and hugely mitigated the damage one side of Clemson's D Line could do - all game long!! Getting Jaire back will be big.
I like both the trajectory of our season to come and the future beyond that. Bob has a chance to produce wonderful stuff, but this season needs to play out. If we end is doubts similar to those we closed with last season, then his seat got slightly warm.
