In Reply to: Let's take a deep breath here posted by Deplorable on February 14, 2024 at 10:53:52
The players left behind were really bad.
They gave up 287 ypg rushing, worst in the nation, in 2017. Ucla was horrible on d in 2017.
They also couldn't run the ball. The o completed some passes, but got sacked a lot.
Double kiss of death.
When your team is devoid of good players, there's no one who rises as team leaders.
It took 3 or 4 years before chip would mention that the team is becoming player-led. And that being player-led is so good and valuable. It raises accountability levels.
Jarmond met with 14 or so players, and asked them what they're looking for in a coach. He was able to do that because this team has leadership at the player level.
Luckily for those guys that were part of the 2017 that stayed and played for chip, they grew and got better. Duh. Chip is a developmental coach. He is highly respected in his profession for developing players. Much of what df has learned about developing players... he learned from chip Kelly. Eventually, Josh Kelley became an nfl player. Was he ready for the nfl at the end of 2017? Fvck and no. Lol. Very few Ucla guys were. But they stuck with it, bought into chip's nutrition/recovery/fitness program, and got better.
Every year under Chip, the run d got a little better.
Last year, it got great. Only 80 ypg allowed rushing.