(I'm nursing TWO kinds of hangovers--and the emotion/information-induced one is MUCH worse than the French/distillation-produced version)
Where I was conditionally hopeful regarding Muschamp's hire, I KNEW the immediate verdict rested on the OC hire--and Applewhite was NOT the guy I was looking for. In fact, this whole Texas-vibe, while predictable, even inevitable, I suppose, is a real letdown for me, a disappointment .
Muschamp represents a solid future for our defense, of that we can be confident and optimistic.
Recruiting will hardly miss a beat now either, at least on Defense--although there begins our possibly now-multiplying problems on offense: he is definitely NOT any kind of answer THERE, on the field OR on the recruiting trail. Oh, he has enthusiasm, no doubt, but that only goes so far once you get to the livingroom with the influential family member(s) present...Dad (and often MOM) knows what's what and will have some pointed questions to go with a pre-formed impression and/or attitude, and that's when you want a committed, knowledgeable and well-known offensive mind and well-known Gator to close the deal on that 4- or 5-star QB, RB or WR.
Then there our specific on-the-field needs, and it is there that the Applewhite-hire most concerns me. We have the personality and talent makeup (veteran and incoming) of a potentially dominant Spread offense, with the right OC. We've got a broken, ill-suited QB in Brantley who was clearly over-rated and over-matched in his performance last season, a decent potential replacement AND accompanying "change-up"/alternative in Reed and Burton already in hand AND a possible COMPLETE PACKAGE for some version of the Spread on-the-way in Driskell, and Muschamp brings in Major Applewhite? Perhaps Major will surprise me and show the kind of flexibility that great coaches sometimes have, able to adapt his inclination and philosophy to suit the talent he has at hand, but make no mistake: he is a straight ahead proponent of the drop-back passer, quarterback set in the pocket after a 5-step drop and run-to-keep-'em-honest. Texas had the same kind of problems with Gilbert and its offense that we had with Brantley and ours; JB is Major's kind of player, NOT REED or Burton or (I hate to say it and dread its implications) Driskell--and Driskell has GOT to be reconsidering his "solid commitment" at this point; we may lose him now, a REAL disaster.
I am hoping that this "crew" surprises me, most of all that Major Applewhite is about to show his adaptability and willingness to grow and expand his approach to offense--I just have my doubts.
Thing is, I hope to HELL I am wrong, 'cause if I'm not, we are NOW about to be set back even FURTHER, with the program in complete depletion and disarray by the end of the process--about 3-to-5-years from now!