- Mar 22, 2016
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These statistical improvements speak for themselves. Do we still need to improve? Most definitely! But averaging a ranking improvement of approximately 73 positions over these 8 offensive statistics in one year's time is a huge accomplishment! This is especially encouraging relative to our new staff given that these improvements were made with a team where 80% is comprised of the same personnel.
When you add our massive improvement in turnover ratio to these stats, you start to see how this transformation is really founded in the overall cultural change Mullen (with a huge assist from Nick Savage) has orchestrated from the moment he arrived. That trend also extends to similar levels of improvement in special teams and in the defense's ability to continue to hold their own despite our thin roster in key defensive positions.
Overall, I think that Mullen year 1 has been a major success on the field. Now it comes down to recruiting which I also think is trending in the right direction overall in terms of relationship building and establishing a pipeline of recruits over a 3 year HS window. The only remaining question is whether Mullen can close strongly with this year's class. I think if he even delivers a class in the top 15 he'll deserve an overall 'A' grade as long as the class addresses our biggest areas of need.
I guess I, like many others, underestimated the value of getting a 9 year SEC coaching veteran who also had an established track record for turning around a perennial SEC bottom dweller to have success in the brutal SEC West.
I am therefore now officially super psyched for our hire of Coach Mullen (albeit a year after the fact)! :)
