We want there to be a discipline problem or "bad coaching night" problem because those are quickly fixable. The real problem. We have a major talent problem COMPARED to where we were from 1998 to 2013ish. It's in full effect when we have the defensive losses in the offseason leaving our depth chart exposed. Hooker is solid, but an athlete and not a pure QB. Willis is a transfer and JJ has shown why Michigan didn't offer. We have no more Vicks 1 or 2, Randalls, Tyrods, or even a 4 star Sean Glennon. We can not get them. Defensively, no where close to the recruiting prowess in state of years ago. The offensive line is the one spot that has picked up in recruiting, even compared to the past. We get mainly 3 stars and a few 4 stars.

The problem with talent extends to exactly the following. Virginia Tech had major prowess in Virginia from the mid 90's to about 2009 in recruiting, and Coach Beamers decision to keep Stinespring on for so long led to major recruiting hits on the offensive side of the ball at the WR position, and Tyrod was the last true-major 4 star QB or above (Tyrod a 5 star) that we got. LT wasn't offered as a QB as a 4-5 star, so I'm not going there. The decision to not replace Stinespring in 2006 as the OC hurt bigtime. Keeping him for another 6 or so years started the downward motion of a team on the cusp of being elite. Around 2012ish, the decision by Beamer to hire Lefty and keep Stiney on staff cemented our future for 10 years. Even a great coach and staff like Coach Fu are not able to overcome the recruiting downtrend that was in full effect when they arrived, and we are seeing it now in full effect when our depth chart is exposed. Those 2 major decisions by Coach Beamer were as defining as signing a guy like Vick and leading us to a national title appearance.


With all of the above written. I love Coach Beamer. He brought our program to prominence, but good coaches and good people can make bad decisions, and the 2 he made by keeping Stiney in 2006 as OC, and the other one by letting him stay to around 2012 and hiring another inept OC are 2 decisions that can and did set our program back for a good decade to 15 years, and this is what is happening in my opinion. We have a talent problem COMPARED to where we were, and now teams like NC State, Pitt, GT, UNC, and maybe even Duke are equally talented.