Coach O recruiting strategy/Austin Thomas consequences

Austin Thomas screwed up in a major way this past year, and we all know it. So those points aside, I am wondering how much him leaving affected the recruiting strategy.

Thomas worked fine under Miles and was praised by him, Wilson, and Coach O. If you look, we signed 5 DT's for a position that only lost 2. While I am ok with having extra beef in the trenches, take a look at our WDE or Rushing linebacker.

We lost Key, Martin, Herron(corrected) Gilmore and LaCouture, but added Cherry, Moore, Cotton, Jenkins, Rosenthal, Hines, Livingston and Scott - plus adding Shelvin and Fehoko puts us really at 10.

I think we need both Rosenthal and Hines to move over to the OL, and that makes the numbers a lot easier to swallow (with the two JUCO OL possibly moving on next year or in two).

However, I just cant justify Moore in this class. There were stories about how Coach O would load up the DLine at Ole Miss, but sacrifice other spots in doing so.

I dont think Joiner was worth a scholly - we will find out at Auburn, but I have said time and again, he was not physical for his size and we will be fine with Curry as our power back and CEH as our Guice/change of pace back and if Brosette steps up he will be a good third option.

I wonder if Austin Thomas(who played a large roll in class composition, strategy, and making the big board) didnt see eye to eye with Coach O or reel him in on the DL. We whiffed on QB, and sacrificed an absolute need and great take with Goodrich.

Bookmark this post, Goodrich will be more productive and a better take than Surtain - but even if the difference is only negligible - you take Goodrich when he wants in regardless of Surtain or Foster.

The staff should have taken Goodrich, and pushed for both Foster and Surtain - first one in gets the scholly. Worst case you have an extra spot (either CB or QB) and then you look for a grad transfer or JUCO for whoever did not commit first.

I think its more than clear that Coach O is in over his head in many aspects of coaching. Coaching searches, coaches autonomy, recruiting strategy, keeping his emotions in check, using cold leads(finding coaches he doesnt have pre-existing relationships with), and his media relations via Ponamsky are terrible.

Les needed to go, but not if Coach O was the replacement. Its a joke at this point, and all we can do as fans is spend as little money as possible, complain to the appropriate people, and push for changes to be made from the top down starting with the BOS, down to the president, down to the AD, and then the head coach.