Player development under Hoke

First, I need to commend our young men that actually wear the uniforms.  They come to work every day and play their hearts with pride and they sacrifice their body every single day.  They don’t deserve their embattled, bewildered coach despite how likeable he is, and clown show that is the athletic department.  These young men come to be a part of the tradition, the prestige and historic allure that the program has built over time.  They come to because they are confident that the program and coaching staff has enough talent and resources to develop them enough to give them a shot.  Unfortunately, everyone has lost confidence fast that the current staff can develop raw potential into polished NFL-caliber players.  This is not at all an exhaustive list, but here are just a few notes on the underwhelming performance of players Hoke & staff have been charged with developing:

Denard Robinson – his best year was 2010, last year of rich rod.  He lived off the zone read, screens and slants.  Where he truly got dubbed ‘electrifying.’ Maybe its because defenses started keying in on him more, new system, etc. Borges ruined him, and it was Hoke’s fault for letting him.

Devin Gardner- 5* talent by all accounts coming out of HS.  Has spent most of his career under Hoke and has not progressed at all, even regressed at times.  Underutilized in his skill sets.  A leader on this football team, a shame Hoke won’t make him a captain his senior year.

Everyone on the O-line - name me one O-lineman that has really “gotten it” over the last few years? I even submit that Lewan’s ceiling could have been higher.  He made a mistake coming back, I thought that both before the season and after. Kalis, where art thou?

Jake Ryan – I won’t be too hard on Hoke because of the injury, but by many accounts of poster on this board and the UFRs, Jake is not exactly lighting it up at MLB. Coaching?

Countess – I guy we were all excited about when he was starting 5-6 game into his freshman year.  Has been getting beat consistently all year.  Again, injury caveat.

Frank Clark – love this guy.  But ever since the hype train left the station in camp last year, I haven’t seen too many ‘monster games’.

And what will come of Bolden, Peppers, Kalis, Wormley, Taco, or any of our monster O-line classes? Who else?

We’ve had a rough few days but it’s not the real reason Hoke needs to go.  Even if everything miraculously blows over, the results are in on a lot of these guys and if I am a recruit and his family and it comes down to who is going to get me the best shot at taking my game to the next level, I am going to that system, to that school, to that coach – which is exactly what we need to get back to.  We’ve been there before, we’ll get back there again, but not with this guy.  Even if Hoke miraculously beats MSU, let alone Rutgers, and keeps his job in 2014, will he ever be better than a 9-4 coach?  Let alone win 12,13,14 or 15 games?

Get busy livin, or get busy dyin.