Call me a Polly but I think there's an Occam's Razor view of

by Domer99, John Wesley Powell's Expedition Island, Monday, April 27, 2026, 07:32 (88 days ago) @ Jay

..this situation.

I am convinced that Mickens and Ash were not on the same page in those first two games. I recall watching the aTm game and those 2 would just walk past each other on the sidelines and not even address each other.

Certainly, personnel changed over the course of the year. Stroman getting replaced by Tae Johnson and Karson Hobbs getting benched for the season. Who knows whose responsibility the personnel falls, I think we usually assume the position coaches decide that. Regardless, I think it's clear that Mickens and Ash weren't in concert with each other.

If nothing else, I think the turnover in coaches is a going to be a net positive. We can certainly quibble about the caliber of coach Mickens was, especially when it came to development. But the bodies we have in the secondary have never been better. I mean we're talking about a 2-year starter in Christian Gray playing nickel or maybe not even having a starting spot. The talent alone might overcome the secondary coach replacement. And don't get me started on the DL. Almost all of the ND pods are saying that Partridge was by far and away the biggest off season target we landed. The staff having some cohesion and chemistry should make a difference.