Sure, the offense really needs some creativity, but our record would be the exact same if Chip Kelly were running this offense.

The problem lies no further than looking at upper-classmen leadership or lack thereof. This isn't a knock on our Jrs and Srs, it's just a fact that these two classes is what is hurting the team.

2011
Odell- NFL departure
Jalen Collins- peforming better, but not up to expectations coming out of HS
La-El Collins- Great player. Great senior.
Kenny Hilliard- Not up to expectations. Good Sr back.
David Jenkins- transfer
Freak- NFL departure. Mostly disappointing.
Mickey Johnson- Major miss on DT here.
Jarvis Landry- NFL departure.
Terrance Magee- decent player. About up to expectations
Ronald MArtin- not a great player. average-below average, but not much was expected.
Mett- JUCO/NFL
Jerrard Randall- transfer
Rasco- Not living up to expectations IMO. Decent player, but not what he was billed to be.
Quentin Thomas- Meh player. Not much was expected out of HS though.
Trai Turner- NFL departure
Corey White- ???? Major miss here.
Stephen Rivers- Transfer

This was a great class and led to a great 2013 season IMO. However, misses at DT with Freak not developing and Mickey Johnson/QT being meh really hurt the D last year. Not to mention the lack of a great safety in this group. A QB in this class would've REALLY helped to have this year after Mett left. We should've taken the chance on Prescott here instead of Rivers IMO.

2012
Kwon- Great pick up.
Vadal- hugely underperforming
Dural- Good pick up.
Edingburgh- major disappointment
Feist- Miss
dillon Gordon- meh
Trey Granier- transfer
Jerald Hawkins- Good pick up. Surprise. Not much expectations out of HS
Kavarha Holmes- GOne
Danielle Hunter- Only DL prospect this class. Disappointing so far. Seems to be workout warrior with a major body but not major skills. See Luke Sanders, Ej Kuale
Avery Peterson- meh
Debo Jones- Project pickup. Meh so far.
Jeremy Liggins- gone
Lamar Louis- Major disappointment so far IMO.
Jalen Mills- Good pick up, but seems to get beat a lot.
Lorenzo Phillips- apparent bust
Dwayne Thomas- Good pick up

Only ONE Dlinemen and it was a project player in Hunter? Are you kidding me? Losing Freak early really hurts now. Also, missing on Mickey Johsnon and QT really hurts too. QT wasn't expected to be much, so I'm not sure I understand why we didn't at least go get a few 3 star DT from out of state since LA was down in talent that year.

Summary: Problem areas on the team QB, DT, OL. The 2012 class killed this season just like the 05 class killed the 08 season. Since '11 left early, it was up to 2012 to carry this team. Unfortunately 2012 was a horrible talent year in LA and the staff seemingly got lazy on offering out of state talent to supplement.

QB- Should've had a good project after Mett. Should've gone with the in-state guy IMO. Especially if you wanted a mobile QB type.

DT- It is hard to have a Dline when all the players you expect to contribute are only Sophomores. Go look around the country. Very few good Dlines are filled with NO upper classmen. Not taking a DT or 3 in 2012 is inexcusable IMO. Godchaux, Lacouture, Herron, Bain, and Gilmore should all be rotation guys and not starting right now. Chucky Hunter and Jacoby Briscoe would sure be nice to have about now. That's not even taking into account that we didn't take any DEs in '12 either.

OL- Some decent prospects and surprises here (Hawkins, La'el,) But we missed bad on a few like Edinburgh, Austin, and Corey White. Still no reason other than coaching for the OL to be bad IMO.