re: Are we really losing ground in recruiting or have our players been undervalued?

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This season ESPN has us at 13th.

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I have lost a lot of faith in ESPN. I think their tack is always about ratings and "controversies." I certainly think they pander to some schools, and I think they definitely have their favorites. I don't think Miles is one of them.

I remember when we offered Tyrann Mathieu. I thought it was a mistake. He had no respect from the recruiting services. He was barely rated. He was undersized, and it certainly looked like a waste of a scholarship. He goes to a camp, and thank God, people who know more about football than 99% of the people on this board see things that make him look like a good fit.

I think that talent is one thing, and talent is overrated to some degree. It's about your work ethic, your ability to learn, your "coachability," and your devotion to the team and the greater good. Think about it. Haven't you ever been to a high school reunion where you looked around the room, and the hotshot high school eighteen year old there didn't find a cure for cancer while the non-descript nobodies are running businesses and bigger successes than you ever imagined they would be? What worries me more than the talent is how do we play them all and keep them happy?

Feel free to ignore this.