“If’s” were my concern, as well.
Ppl chit on Rumph, all the time (as they should), and have given a pass to Diaz unjustly, and it f’ing makes me sick. U r in South Fla, and if u go Norf, u hit Central Fla, North Fla, GA. If u go slightly NW, u hit AL, MS, and LA.
Now, u might have some problems recruiting blue chips in MS & AL b/c 98% are local to the major schools in those states, but the local & close proximity of talent pool around is unimaginable for us, yet we continue to chit the bed over & over & over & over again at the DB & LB positions which are ESSENTIAL in this chaos, undisciplined type of def. We’ve had 2 guys since the 2018 season (Patke & Diaz) & 3 guys since the 2019 season (Diaz, Patke, Baker) who have been responsible for the LB unit! 1 of the 3 gets hella flack, the other is getting a pass b/c of coached up transfers making AA teams & becoming an award winner (on special teams), and the other gets more excuses thrown his way than a corrupt *Olitician getting their dyck sucked in office.
Let’s be very clear:
Shaq, Pinckney, JJ, and Redwine...all Golden players. Those were the best yrs on defense.
Since 2016 (recruiter rankings):
Rumph -
#429 - 2016
#209 - 2017
#135 - 2018
#164 - 2019
#228 - 2020
#727 - 2021 (lol)
Diaz -
#339 - 2016
#139 - 2017
#196 - 2018
#242 - 2019
#304 - 2020 (HC)
#331 - 2021 (HC)
Patke (2018 - Now) -
#UR - 2018 (meaning no recruits)
#316 - 2019
#188 - 2020
#189 - 2021
Baker (2019 - Now) -
#574 - 2019
#484 - 2020
#341 - 2021
So clearly, we know why the CB room sucks, but it’s also clear why our LB room sucks! Yet; everyone is so anxious to point the finger at Rumph & completely absolve Diaz of anything! He and his bumbling idiots have allowed this room to become more unathletic than a 85 yr old speed walk event!
So maybe, just maybe we had our best yr in 2018 under Diaz b/c it was anchored by Gerald Willis (transfer from FL), Joe Jackson (Golden Recruit), Mike Jackson (Golden Recruit), Quarterman (Golden Recruit), Pinckney (Golden Recruit), JJ (Golden Recruit), Redwine (Golden Recruit), & McCloud (when he was decent - Golden Recruit)
8 of the 11 starters on defense were not recruited by Richt’s staff, especially not LB
So we’re replacing Shaq (#5 ILB in the nation & 111th overall) w/ Flagg (#35 ILB in the nation & 830th overall)
We’re replacing Pinckney (#19 ILB & 511th overall) w/ Jennings (#48 OLB & 697th overall)
We’re going back & forth w/ McCloud (#21 OLB & 317th overall) with Sam Brooks (#52 OLB & 750th overall)
So yeah, we suck b/c Golden’s LBs have left (except McCloud who regressed when the scheme got tweaked), & we’re replacing them with inferior (per 247 ratings) players.
Is 247 Bible? No; but it’s pretty accurate for the most part as we see teams on field play.
Too many if’s, and that includes TRob, if imma be honest.