Should've worked harder and he would've played more.
Dude can't beat out inconsistent guys like Pope, Harley and Wiggins? That's on him.
Hightower not getting it done is on him, not the coaches.
So Blades couldn't beat out Ivey either? And Brooks (or any other LB) couldn't play better than Ragone, even if he doesn't 100% know all the calls (and Shaq isn't able to help him or slide over himself)? Realus couldn't play at all ever but Parrot could? Burns couldn't get any run with a gassed Cam?
C'mon dude. This staff obviously had favorites and put a lot into practice/weight room stuff.....and when you're winning, it's fine, you can pull that ****. When you suck as bad as we do and show little direction with all the bs explanations, buzzwords, redirections, etc while you staff is laughed at nationwide for being a bunch of former GAs sprinkled in with guys from mid-level programs, it all comes crashing down. Manny pulled stunts all offseason with the clinic and "TNM" etc and do touchdown knuckles but when push comes to shove, we look like clowns now getting out **** pushed in by GT and VT and struggling with CMU. Just imagine if we actually played a legit team like Clemson, OU, OSU or Bama. My gawd. You can only be ****y if you back it up. Otherwise you stay quiet, grind, and earn it before you boast about it.
I can go on and on....bad route combinations, or bad combination player rotations running them, Jordan and KJ running sweeps, Donaldson put in a position to pull at his size/speed, Mallory inline blocking, little chipping/rolling out against blitzes, play action in obvious passing situations, etc. We do very little as a staff to put our guys in positions to best utilize their talents/skillsets. But then we'll complain when someone leaves. I just hope we can right the ship before we lost all our talent. You don't think it can get worse.....yeah it can.
And let's be real here, this isn't just a Hightower thing. This is family of a former player leaving. That means more than an Ezzard or Cager portal decision.