We have been an elite SEC team, and therefore an elite team nationally, for 3 years now IMO. With that status comes better recruiting, more investment, better facilities, increased public perception of our university, increased interest from quality coaches/ coordinators, etc. And these things in turn will keep us in the elite category and propel us further up the pecking order and so on. Soon this feedback loop produces a critical mass in which a culture of winning and prestige is established that frankly becomes hard to undo. At this point of critical mass USC will be a perennial contender for SEC crowns and national title runs.
I have been doing some thinking about what will need to happen to keep us here and continue our advancement to the very top. Of course recruiting needs to continue and even improve. We need to win the SEC. We need to continue to hire good coaches/coordinators. We need to continue making investments in facilities and the like. We need to get lucky along the way on several levels. There are many factors that will go into keeping us elite and making us even better.
But it seems to me the straightest path to the critical mass I am talking about would be to develop a dominant offensive line. If our program could add this element to the existing mix (high character, hard working, strong, good coaching, 10 and 11 win seasons, facilities through the roof, recruiting, tennessee and Florida down a little bit, whipping the dawgs and necks every year, reaching into the northeast for kids and dominating recruiting within our talent-rich state, etc) we immediately jump on the fast track to perennial contention for SEC title games and national championships.
Just looking at the coming season, yes I am concerned about the youth at LB. And Ace leaving means we need a WR or two to step up. WE need connor to stay healthy and/or Dylan to continue his great play. But in my view, if the OL could step up and dominate for Steve Spurrier’s offense (open running lanes consistently and make the QB confident that he is well protected on passing downs) we’re headed for an SEC title game and a national championship game. Adding this element to our current mix would do it for us I believe. Just one man's opinion.
All that said, I’d love to hear some insight from posters,or anyone else regarding the state of the OL. Wolford was a nice break from the dark days. He recruited many of the players that we rely on now. And I love elliotts fire and recruiting prowess. Does Elliott have us on track? What needs to change about the OL play to get us there? What are the weaknesses that need to be shored up? What's up with Matulis' shoulders? Is recruiting good enough? Am i wrong to obsess on OL play? Are better days on the horizon? Is THIS the year our OL goes elite? Maybe next year?
I have been doing some thinking about what will need to happen to keep us here and continue our advancement to the very top. Of course recruiting needs to continue and even improve. We need to win the SEC. We need to continue to hire good coaches/coordinators. We need to continue making investments in facilities and the like. We need to get lucky along the way on several levels. There are many factors that will go into keeping us elite and making us even better.
But it seems to me the straightest path to the critical mass I am talking about would be to develop a dominant offensive line. If our program could add this element to the existing mix (high character, hard working, strong, good coaching, 10 and 11 win seasons, facilities through the roof, recruiting, tennessee and Florida down a little bit, whipping the dawgs and necks every year, reaching into the northeast for kids and dominating recruiting within our talent-rich state, etc) we immediately jump on the fast track to perennial contention for SEC title games and national championships.
Just looking at the coming season, yes I am concerned about the youth at LB. And Ace leaving means we need a WR or two to step up. WE need connor to stay healthy and/or Dylan to continue his great play. But in my view, if the OL could step up and dominate for Steve Spurrier’s offense (open running lanes consistently and make the QB confident that he is well protected on passing downs) we’re headed for an SEC title game and a national championship game. Adding this element to our current mix would do it for us I believe. Just one man's opinion.
All that said, I’d love to hear some insight from posters,or anyone else regarding the state of the OL. Wolford was a nice break from the dark days. He recruited many of the players that we rely on now. And I love elliotts fire and recruiting prowess. Does Elliott have us on track? What needs to change about the OL play to get us there? What are the weaknesses that need to be shored up? What's up with Matulis' shoulders? Is recruiting good enough? Am i wrong to obsess on OL play? Are better days on the horizon? Is THIS the year our OL goes elite? Maybe next year?
