The CheckerBoard

I hate that you went there because I know I'm gonna get dv'd ITT but I think not having a RB coach was a huge mistake. You can't win this league without elite RBs and you can't expect to sign one when there isn't a RB coach. Good news is we have one now and Neal appears poised to carry the load this year maybe next. More to your point.. Yes, an effective running game absolutely helps in those games but I can't say who's to blame more... The OL or the RBs?? They were all terrible.

I think this was definitely a part of the problem. It's hard to pinpoint one thing that caused the bad season. With all of the close calls going against us, so many young players, the injuries, dismissals, the hard schedule last year, Dooley has had a lot to work through. But the RB coach being non-existent last year looks like a bad decision at the very least.

This is hard to argue against. I wouldn't have bet on any coach succeeding with what Dooley inherited. When Dooley was first hired I pegged him as a clean up guy. He has been impressive in a lot of areas though, just not the win column.

See I am on of probably the only ones on the board that doesn't think he handled the Rogers situation terribly bad. I understand that he lost the team at the end of last year, but you also have to put some of the onus on the team leadership last year. The leadership was very poor and in the locker room that is just as important with players attitudes as is a coaches decision to keep or boot a player, IMO. I do agree that not having a RB coach is a terrible decision in the SEC, though.