Is there anything to suggest

[Joe Schmedlap]

that Coach Mullen can right this sinking ship in 2017? I just don't see anything, nothing at all, that is going well for the program. As a rational person, am I supposed to think a tweak here and there will get us back to playing competitive football again next season? I'm open to hearing arguments that Dan can still be the man, but my eyes are telling me otherwise. The stench of this season will be difficult to eradicate without wholesale changes. Mullen has never previously been one to make changes or change his ways. Can the leopard change his spots?

[Dawgfan77]

No. the players are sick of him playing favorites. When JWS turned it around you saw the talent he never lost the team. I see some talent we are not void of that but I don't see leaders thst trust the HC.

[Quaoarsking]

The only thing to fall back on is that Dan will probably develop Fitz into being a very good QB by 2018. Every QB that Dan has had for multiple years going back to his Bowling Green days has followed that pattern.

Of course just having a very good QB doesn't do a lot if the rest of the team sucks (see Juice Williams and Illinois), but it's something that a hypothetical next coach may be worse at.

[dawgday166]

No. the players are sick of him playing favorites. When JWS turned it around you saw the talent he never lost the team. I see some talent we are not void of that but I don't see leaders thst trust the HC.

I don't doubt you at all but is this a fact that you know for sure?

[msstate7]

On offense, Dan has to get a qb ready by next season whether it's fitz, tiano, or Thompson. I know the oline has been bad, but we've still had plenty of opportunity to win games with better qb play.

On defense, we have to get better in the secondary and at lb. I think hoopsdawg is correct... we need to be running s 4-2-5. Should've hired tom Allen. I digress...

JUCOs... they have to be ready next season

[RougeDawg]

No. the players are sick of him playing favorites. When JWS turned it around you saw the talent he never lost the team. I see some talent we are not void of that but I don't see leaders thst trust the HC.

This. There was ANOTHER fight in the locker room this week over the issue of playing favorites and QB choice. Dan allowed this to happen by not deciding on a starter before fall practice.

[msstate7]

This. There was ANOTHER fight in the locker room this week over the issue of playing favorites and QB choice. Dan allowed this to happen by not deciding on a starter before fall practice.

Who fought?

[bluelightstar]

if you want to know how tight-knit our team is, just check out some of the tweets our players have favorited

[gravedigger]

that Coach Mullen can right this sinking ship in 2017? I just don't see anything, nothing at all, that is going well for the program. As a rational person, am I supposed to think a tweak here and there will get us back to playing competitive football again next season? I'm open to hearing arguments that Dan can still be the man, but my eyes are telling me otherwise. The stench of this season will be difficult to eradicate without wholesale changes. Mullen has never previously been one to make changes or change his ways. Can the leopard change his spots?

Yes. Not a popular answer i know. If he could somehow show he is going to change his approach to personnel decisions, play calling, and make some step toward the fanbase that PROVES he isnt shopping himself, he could get the magic back. But the problem with that is he is a narcissist type A, as are most coaches. Giving up control isnt in their nature. Strangely enough, great coaches put the work in the hands of their coordinators. They do stop micromanaging at some point and they focus on selling the program.

[TrapGame]

The only thing to fall back on is that Dan will probably develop Fitz into being a very good QB by 2018. Every QB that Dan has had for multiple years going back to his Bowling Green days has followed that pattern.

Of course just having a very good QB doesn't do a lot if the rest of the team sucks (see Juice Williams and Illinois), but it's something that a hypothetical next coach may be worse at.

If KT is the phenom everybody says he is then Fitz should be a place holder. So, next year Fitz still can't read a defense and throws worse than Relf but we'll have this fantastic phenom QB on the bench.

[dawgday166]

If KT is the phenom everybody says he is then Fitz should be a place holder. So, next year Fitz still can't read a defense and throws worse than Relf but we'll have this fantastic phenom QB on the bench.

He'll stay there for at least 2 years too.

[Bothrops]

2016 - 2-10 or 3-9

If Mullen remains

2017 - 3-9 or 4-8

New coach

2018 - 5-6

2019 - 6-6 or 7-5 bowl

We will eventually start trending up again, but before we do, we will slip further back behind in the West in terms of budget, facilities, crowds, and support. The next AD will have a monumental task of trying to keep us in the race in football.

[DogsofAnarchy]

Next year's schedule is not friendly either. But more than that, Dan has to overhaul his staff or the fan base is done.



that Coach Mullen can right this sinking ship in 2017? I just don't see anything, nothing at all, that is going well for the program. As a rational person, am I supposed to think a tweak here and there will get us back to playing competitive football again next season? I'm open to hearing arguments that Dan can still be the man, but my eyes are telling me otherwise. The stench of this season will be difficult to eradicate without wholesale changes. Mullen has never previously been one to make changes or change his ways. Can the leopard change his spots?

[msbulldog]

I hope seeing young players more last night D. Lee, more A. Williams, more K. Mixon and more M. McLaurin was a sign that Dan knows its time for change and preparing for the future. I would not be surprised to see staff changes after the season is over, actually the only time you can make those changes.
I think Dan realized after last season, changes needed to be made, evidenced by bringing in additional recruiting staff and a NFL kicking specialist (not that it's helped our kicking game much).
Dan doesn't have much choice, he's not going to get a better job after this season (even with Sexton as his agent). He's probably not going to be fired this year. His only chance of a job (here or somewhere else) after next year is to make a better showing in 2017.

[dawgday166]

Something to think about:

Say Dan decides to turnover the O staff and maybe find a new DC (cause a lot of folks on here think that's part of the problem). Even if the DC is think on this:

The whole D staff left last year. Was that Dan's decision, was it mutual, was it their decision? I don't know. I do know that Dan was left scrambling for a new DC so he went and plucked yet another up-and-comer from USC. Why? Cause no really good DC with a track record is gonna come here and work for Dan is my thinking.

What really good assistants does anyone think Dan will be able to get to come here? On the O or D side of the ball? I think his rep as a micromanager and hard guy to work for may be working against him even if he decided to make staff changes. He'd have to find, yet again, other up-and-coming coaches.

Does anyone think this will work?

[Todd4State]

I hope seeing young players more last night D. Lee, more A. Williams, more K. Mixon and more M. McLaurin was a sign that Dan knows its time for change and preparing for the future. I would not be surprised to see staff changes after the season is over, actually the only time you can make those changes.
I think Dan realized after last season, changes needed to be made, evidenced by bringing in additional recruiting staff and a NFL kicking specialist (not that it's helped our kicking game much).
Dan doesn't have much choice, he's not going to get a better job after this season (even with Sexton as his agent). He's probably not going to be fired this year. His only chance of a job (here or somewhere else) after next year is to make a better showing in 2017.

In Sexton we trust.

[Todd4State]

Something to think about:

Say Dan decides to turnover the O staff and maybe find a new DC (cause a lot of folks on here think that's part of the problem). Even if the DC is think on this:

The whole D staff left last year. Was that Dan's decision, was it mutual, was it their decision? I don't know. I do know that Dan was left scrambling for a new DC so he went and plucked yet another up-and-comer from USC. Why? Cause no really good DC with a track record is gonna come here and work for Dan is my thinking.

What really good assistants does anyone think Dan will be able to get to come here? On the O or D side of the ball? I think his rep as a micromanager and hard guy to work for may be working against him even if he decided to make staff changes. He'd have to find, yet again, other up-and-coming coaches.


Does anyone think this will work?

Logically Dan changing assistants likely isn't going to work. It would work with Jackie on occasion because Jackie didn't micromanage as much as Dan. I think there is a good chance that our staff ends up like the 2003 coaching staff with a bunch of has beens or unqualified guys.

[Dawgfan77]

I don't doubt you at all but is this a fact that you know for sure?
Yes unfortunately

[Dawgfan77]

Who fought?
Let's keep names off the board. We have a sr that doesn't like a thrower

[maroonwhitedawg3ddd]

NOPE NOT ONE SINGLE DAMN THING!!

[RougeDawg]

Who fought?

Let's just say the main instigator this week and all season has also been fighting to catch passes as well.

[HereComesTheSpiral]

Let's just say the main instigator this week and all season has also been fighting to catch passes as well.

So all of our receivers?

[preachermatt83]

Somebody PM me who it was.