And the answer is pretty consistent across the board...BG was better, but still below average in the conference. I understand from what I read at BGSUfalcons.com that BG improved by 3 games, and that was something only 12 teams in the country bettered.
And, yeah, the team had an FCS team on the schedule, but also replaced CMU with WMU...certainly, the schedule did not do BG any favors in 2011.
So, progress was made. It was not stupendous, "Urban Meyer in his first year" progress, but it was progress. BG had one of the youngest teams in the country and it showed. If the 2010 season was rock bottom, then you would have expected to get a little better anyway...on the other hand, that's what they thought at Akron and, oh, yeah, Terry Bowden.
My point is this. Relative to the MAC competition, BG made modest, incremental progress, which very well was all that anyone could expect. I think because we were able to run the ball better, we might lose sight of the fact that we were still below average in our conference, and if we want to compete for a championship, we are going to need to see more progress.
Coach said in his post-game presser that the team needs to get stronger over the off-season, starting with the lifting program. As with everyone, it won't be enough for BG to just not be young anymore. There are signs that the players are good, but they have to get better and in many cases, stronger.
The team also needs continual improvement at the QB position. We clearly documented that Matt Schilz played better than he did in 2010. But, he was not in the Top Ten in passing efficiency in the conference. Whether you like that measure or not, it is probably the best we have to work with.
One issue is that of the top 10 QBs in pass efficiency in the MAC, only Chandler Harnish will not be back in uniform next year. So, entering his junior year, Schilz has to improve MORE in the off-season than guys who were more efficient than him this year. His supporting cast should be better...and while he was good in spots in 2011 there were also plenty of times that he was, in Coach Clawson's words, "hit and miss."
Bowling Green fans have been pretty patient, I think. We understood what was going on with the 2-10 season, we wanted to see progress in 2011 and we did. We're being told that our young guys are going to be very good players, and there is reason to believe that. I think fans are expecting a huge jump next year. I think anything less than 7-8 wins will start to strain that patience.
Agreed. Although with away games at the swamp and against the Hokies, 2012 may be a difficult year to pull down eight wins. Coach Clawson at least has some experience in the Swamp and I am always hopeful against big opponents and look to grab a big unexpected win to kick off a great 2012.
ReplyDelete(By the way, thank you for the great analysis of the 2011 season - the breakdowns and analysis are appreciated).
Thanks, appreciate the kind words, and thanks for reading. I agree, eight wins will be tough, which is why fans should have reasonable expectations.
ReplyDeleteThe two dominant non-conference opponents are at least offset by two winnable non-conference games.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the caliber, as a fan that has been to big away games a number of times since I graduated, I still really enjoy playing big time football schools and think that BG should continue to schedule them. We will pull a few out from time to time and they will pump the program...to lose to Florida costs BG nothing from a credibility standpoint (as long as it isn't by 50 points).
Once into the MAC season, I think that the Falcons can build on some of the improvements pointed out in your season run-down and gain a little in the experience department to pull more wins. We were so close on several occasions this year - particularly at the end of games (e.g. Toledo) and no game (in my humble opinion) in the MAC is out of reach.
Thanks for reading. Hopefully, no game in our own conference should be out of reach...that should almost never happen to a good program. BG did have some close calls again. I think we're on the right track, I'm just not sure what people are expecting.
ReplyDelete