I think the failures were multiple and everyone likes to make overly broad statements after a year of disappointment. After 2022, we should've gotten rid of Washington and Golden was on the hot seat (according to many on this forum).
This year, it's Parker.
Parker failed to score enough points in our biggest games, it just so happens those were also the best defenses we faced.
Parker also had way less talent at wideout than you're willing to admit. Thomas, who was our projected receptions leader at the outset of the season, was injured for like 10 games. Colzie was injured and closed it down to save a year. Greathouse was injured. The top TE target, Mitchell, was injured. Didn't get Raridon back until the last couple games.
He had Flores and Tyree consistently. He had Faison at week 7 onward. Flores and Faison couldn't play multiple roles as true freshman, one being awarded a scholarship on his callup. It was an absolute mash unit that started the seasons 3 WRs below ideal numbers.
If you want to have a dynamic, high-scoring offense, you must have consistent WRs that can get separation and we didn't have that. Merriweather, who we expected to emerge, was a Ghandi-level pacifist when the ball was in the air so Hartman started ignoring him.
Now, if we want to say: He's the OC, he has to produce then I completely agree. But if we really want to look at the failures of this past year, we should honestly review the contributing factors.
Our WR room is already better in terms of numbers and proven production. I'd love to add one more transfer to the freshman class but even without that, we should be able to find a 6-7 man rotation out of: Collins, Mitchell, Greathouse, Faison, Colzie, Thomas, KK Smith, Cam W., Gilbert and Saldate.
It'll still require at least one freshman to be ready to contribute unless all of the other WRs ahead of them pan out. We're still about 2 short of what you should have. And we're losing Estime who was an absolute monster, capable of extending drives.
Parker will have improved talent in many areas but a new set of questions to answer. Excited for the offseason as the offense should look very different.
