This is going to be quick -- both because nature might call (yet again) and I'm not sure that anyone can improve on @Jim__S 's piece.
Two canaries in the coal mine. @Jim__S is, of course, one of the most moderate and informed voices on the site. When he runs a poll asking (essentially) "which offensive coach should get s*canned first?", you know things are not in a good spot. Second, Mrs. Varnsen turned to me during the second quarter and said "this is like watching a Brady Hoke team. I'm going to go sort Christmas lights."
On the latter point, I couldn't agree more. To me, THE defining aspect of most Hoke teams was when the game was over you had no idea what the offensive game plan was -- you had NO idea what they were trying to establish. So I ask the assembled genius of The Fort -- what was our offensive staff trying to do last night? What is our "go to" series of plays? Email me at cluelessandwonderingwhyistillgiveashitinmpls@gmail.com.
Matt Limegrover is the OL coach @ PSU. He was Kill's OL coach and then assumed play-calling responsibilities. He later admitted it was too much for him. It seems to me that Drevno's responsibilities on offense have increased since 2015 -- with a negative impact on OL play. A guess.
How many times have we heard "the whole playbook will be open" only to come away from the (loss) wondering "what the hell was that?"
Successful first drive and then we resort to sending Eddie McDoom(!?) on a fade. MSU's base defense is DESIGNED to force the fade and its corners rep it every day in practice. And we wonder why McDoom can't hold his ground and make a play on the ball? Where were our tall tight ends putting MSU's safeties in conflict?
Third and game and we call a dink-ass draw. Al Borges Special.
It seems to me there are two primary issues and there is an interplay between the two. I'm not smart enough to figure out which is predominant, but I'll go to my grave arguing that ONE of the problems that plagued Al Borges' offensive lines (besides just Funk) was the grab bag of techniques that his OLs had to master in the run game. I think the same is true now and probably a creature of the offense by committee approach.
This team and program will not improve until the offensive line does. And I don't think either it or the offense will improve until serious changes are made in the staff. Certainly the responsibilities and vision have to be more clearly -- ruthlessly -- defined. And from where I sit, the current staff can't get it done. Changes have to be made.
