Stray Thoughts

[DRU2012]

--Well, we should be underestimated, at least in 2023's early going. That, and a certain "us against THE WORLD!" attitude/chip-on-our-shoulders seems warranted, and could serve us well too.
--When you step back and consider it ALL, weigh things objectively: Despite all the confusion, criticism from familiar quarters, and seemingly regular bad news of various kinds only seeming to heighten and amplify the "extracurricular bad PR", overall a combined assessment of recruiting and portal conclusion shows, save for the underpopulated quarterback room, a pretty damn good outcome. We were out for turnover, and we got it.
The actual coaching staff did its homework well, and it turns out that for the most part we ended up with quality AND quantity moving into Spring '23.
--Finally, as a fan and alumnus, by now I am forced back to a hardened, hunkered-DOWN , dangerous-when-we-are-cornered sort of attitude. Here's hoping our whole team and program can draw strength, unity and hope from a similar alchemy. We'll need something like it in order to begin our resurgence--to truly "RISE ABOVE!!!"

 

[DRU2012]

More such "Stray Thoughts" (all continuing in the category of "Mixed--if not altogether BAD--News")
...Watched a recent DJ Lagway interview, my first time getting an extended impression of our "best hope for the future at QB-1", and found him a calm, articulate, friendly and level-headed seeming fellow--"young", yes, but for his age not so much a "kid" as a composed and well-spoken "young man" with a calm and thoughtful demeanor.
On film so far he is a BEAST: His junior year of high school he WENT OFF from the very start. He showed all the physical skills of our own AR--if anything he is FURTHER along in his development--in terms of strength and size, running and (even more so) passing, AND in his actual "football IQ"!
He won't be accelerating his commitment, and thus far it appears we aren't pushing him to do so either--and perhaps that is, overall, for the best.
Which brings us back to that perceived "vacancy" in the QB room heading into the spring of '23:
Just watched a BUNCH of Mertz' prep and intervening Wisconsin work...
And maybe (not so surprisingly) Billy and his people knew what they were doing focusing on this guy. Sure, he basn't been especially "dazzling" so far as a college prospect, but maybe that is as much the Badgers' philosophy (and its staff's scheme and choices...failings?) as much as anything else.
He showed all kinds of promise back in high school, a real grab recruiting-wise at the time. He throws a nice sharp short and medium ball, accurate and calm under pressure. He is a pocket passer who can make the throws on the run when he has to. They call him a "game manager"--but with a completely replaced and retooled O-line WE may NEED a QB-1 who has those very attributes the coming season as they presumably round into form as a UNIT.
As for that same "hole in the QB room", by the way--the portal may be closed now, but it reopens in like a month-and-a-half and there are still a whole buncha guys in it, still twisting in the wind (so to speak). It may NOT be "all over" yet as far as our "complete depth chart" is concerned.
For good or ill, welcome and to the "New World of College Football".

 

[Leakfan12]

Really hoping Jack Miller is good.

 

[DRU2012]

Really hoping Jack Miller is good.

Yes--here"s hoping at least ONE of these once-heralded relative veterans blossoms here: We'll need at least "reliable competence" in order to achieve acceptable improvement to our record in Year Two of the Napier era.