1) I think we have a talent gap on O where our only average group is WR, every other group is below average. This is why the plays don’t work and we end up turning it over a bunch and getting called for holding.
2) Our young QB throws the ball into danger a lot, I think that will fix itself over the next two years because he shows enough moxie in tough situations that he’ll mature as a player through that. Huge focus area for Barry next year.
3) our pass/run (we’re something like 60/40 pass/run entering yesterday) is out of whack mostly because we’ve trailed a lot. We led nearly the whole game yesterday and had 39 rushes vs 28 passes. I think Barry wants to run it more, is forced to put it up because we’ve been down quick in all but one game.
4) He’s made adjustments to more TEs, different OL personnel, and we almost always leave a RB in pass protection. He’s trying to find something that works, but see 1). I don’t think there’s some obvious thing he’s not doing.
5) Last year he had bad judgment in the RZ and frequently dialed up misdirection plays to get walk in TDs that sometimes worked but often resulted in negative plays and turnovers. We went from bottom 10 in Red Zone scoring to middle of the pack and went from kicking more FGs than TDs to 11 TDs to 3 FGs entering yesterday. We were 2-2 yesterday in the RZ, both were TDs. Our TD rate counting yesterday is 68%, which is pretty good. For comparison sake, Bamas (#12 in RZ scoring %)TD rate entering yesterday was 58%. The problem in the RZ this year is we aren’t getting in the RZ enough. See 1).
6)if we’re on our 3rd OC in 4 years, we don’t have a Barry problem, we have a Bielema doesn’t know what he wants to be offensively, struggles to pick OCs he likes, and struggles to coach his offensive coaches problems.
Three big areas for Barry next year. 1) solve for OL problems. easier said than done, we have personnel short falls that aren’t easy to fix but that’s why Barry makes the big bucks. 2) develop Luke to cherish the football. Addressing OL will go a long way to fixing this one. 3) find a more talented RB in the portal or develop Feagin into a #1 guy. Also easier said than done.
If Barry is fired, so be it, I don’t think he’s the best ever but see 1) and 6). Firing Barry doesn’t change either one, we’re just hoping BB gets lucky in the hiring process at that point. Maybe he will.