[ZachTheZip]

You find out immediately whether a coach can coach. You find out quickly if he can market his team to fans. You find out years later whether he can recruit.

Ianello and his staff can't coach. Coaching in college is the art of getting the most out of a bunch of bunch of 18-22 year old guys who would rather be partying. If you can't coach another coach's players, you can't coach your own players because in reality the old and new players aren't that much different. If you make bizarre playcalls with the other coach's players, having your own won't make it any better because a fieldgoal is still only 3 points when you're down by 21.

Sometimes overwhelming talent can make up for a lack of coaching, but this class doesn't have that, even if they are better than the players they are replacing. Ianello's big sell for his hiring was that he was supposed to be the best recruiter around, but he isn't recruiting players that are a step above the rest of the MAC. And don't forget that even if his recruits are somehow all-MAC players, they're only 25% of the team so he still needs to be able to coach the other guys if he wants to be successful.

[Lee Adams]

Since it is doubtful that anybody here knows much about recruiting and has likely seen very few if any of these guys play on a regular basis nobody will know for at least 2 years whether these guys are any good. Of course by that time we will know if Ianello can coach. Relax.

[Keener'92]

Did Miami fans know immediately in '09 that Haywood couldn't coach? Ianello and staff came in and changed everything. They didn't take over from where J.D.left off. They started from scratch. Last year was a write off. It sucked to see the depths the Zips sank to last year. Obviously.

I am no apologist for Rob Ianello. He needs to prove his and his staff's worth in 2011. If they can turn it around, will he then know how to coach? There was plenty of blame to be heaped onto the coaching staff last year. Some piss poor calls and some atrocious clock management. However, there was definitely improvement made toward the end of the year, as witnessed by the performance in the last two games.

The most obvious shortcomings of our ball club, according to my amateur observations, seemed to be secondary, placekicking, and quarterback. The coaching staff addressed those areas in this year's class.

I am aware that this staff can do nothing right, ever, in the eyes of some. I am through chastising them for sins of the past. This year's recruiting looks good to me. We have a QB enrolled right now that was good enough in high school to go to an SEC school! He clearly made some very poor decisions that were very detrimental to his career, but he is obviously trying to redeem himself. This could turn out very good for all involved. Time will tell. I am excited about it. Several of the other prospects are very exciting as well.

I hope RI turns this around and reinvents the program. Not because I love RI, but because I love the Zips.

[ZachTheZip]

Last year didn't need to be a write-off. Ianello didn't need to change the offense from a spread to a pro and then make an excuse that the players didn't know the scheme. He didn't need to run off a bunch of players and then complain they they didn't have the depth to run efficient practices.

He could have put in an offense that employed more things that the players knew, knowing that in a year or two he would move to a full pro-style with players that know the scheme. He could have kept enough players to run a proper practice around until the end of the year and then let them go instead of letting them drop like flies throughout the duration of the season and creating unnecessary locker room drama. But he created more problems because it gave him more excuses.

[Keener'92]

Last year didn't need to be a write-off. Ianello didn't need to change the offense from a spread to a pro and then make an excuse that the players didn't know the scheme. He didn't need to run off a bunch of players and then complain they they didn't have the depth to run efficient practices.

He could have put in an offense that employed more things that the players knew, knowing that in a year or two he would move to a full pro-style with players that know the scheme. He could have kept enough players to run a proper practice around until the end of the year and then let them go instead of letting them drop like flies throughout the duration of the season and creating unnecessary locker room drama. But he created more problems because it gave him more excuses.

I am not going to justify anything done last year. I am neither condoning nor condemning Rob Ianello. You know, hindsight is always 20/20 and I am sure Rob would change some things given the second chance. To suggest that he purposely sabotaged the team in order to have an excuse for poor performance is laughable. If you really believe that you need help.

For me, the jury is still out. Let me ask you, Zach...Is there any way this staff can redeem themselves or are they condemned forever no matter what?

[ZachTheZip]

For me, the jury is still out. Let me ask you, Zach...Is there any way this staff can redeem themselves or are they condemned forever no matter what?

Winning would redeem them. They haven't done that. Recruiting is not the same as winning. As it stands, the staff is 1-11 and has lost to an FCS team. They have dug a deep hole to climb out of, deeper than need be.

[RowdyZip]

They have dug a deep hole to climb out of, deeper than need be.

As determined by who? What would JD have done with one more year? Played some slightly better offense (maybe) with some slightly worse (probably) defense? I'm sure that would've won much more than one game. I'm very satisfied with this class, as mentioned a few times above, needs of the team were addressed. There are a few guys out there that seem to be very impressive on the HS field and lets hope the talent evaluation is spot-on. I'd like to see 3-5 wins this season to prove adequate progress.

Next year-
2 wins or less-angry
3-5 wins - expected
6+ wins - ecstatic

It's amazing how an offseason returns some optimism for an angry Zip...

[Dave in Green]

Last year didn't need to be a write-off. Ianello didn't need to change the offense from a spread to a pro and then make an excuse that the players didn't know the scheme. He didn't need to run off a bunch of players and then complain they they didn't have the depth to run efficient practices.

He could have put in an offense that employed more things that the players knew, knowing that in a year or two he would move to a full pro-style with players that know the scheme. He could have kept enough players to run a proper practice around until the end of the year and then let them go instead of letting them drop like flies throughout the duration of the season and creating unnecessary locker room drama. But he created more problems because it gave him more excuses.

Really? Am I correctly understanding you to say that you seriously believe that Ianello deliberately created problems for the team for the specific purpose of creating excuses for himself?

[RootforRoo44]

They have dug a deep hole to climb out of, deeper than need be.

As determined by who? What would JD have done with one more year?

Won more than one game...i guarantee it.

He also actually understands how the coin toss works.

[goodthts]

Since it is doubtful that anybody here knows much about recruiting and has likely seen very few if any of these guys play on a regular basis nobody will know for at least 2 years whether these guys are any good. Of course by that time we will know if Ianello can coach. Relax.

+1

Relax folks. It is all just speculation for now. Let's see how the teams looks in October when MAC games start. If the team is still getting <200 total yards a game at that point, then start the mutiny.

[GP1]

They didn't take over from where J.D.left off. They started from scratch. Last year was a write off.

Last year wasn't a "write off", it was almost a complete disaster of epic proportions if they don't beat Buffalo the last game. The Zips had something like 16 or 17 returning starters. There was no starting from scratch. They should have done better.

[Lee Adams]

They didn't take over from where J.D.left off. They started from scratch. Last year was a write off.

Last year wasn't a "write off", it was almost a complete disaster of epic proportions if they don't beat Buffalo the last game. The Zips had something like 16 or 17 returning starters. There was no starting from scratch. They should have done better.

Agree. But, unfortunately it doesn't matter.

[ZIPMAN5]

You guys are forgetting about the most important positions. The Offensive Line. Without a solid O-line, Moore/Nicely or the running game wont be able to do anything. Hopefully the O-line can step it up this coming season! GO ZIPS!