Youngstown Football 2024 Report card. Tired of excuses! What needs to be done!

[YSUGO]

Obviously, 2024 was a disappointment. Here’s the obvious team as it was built cannot compete consistently to be a Conference contender for playoffs. Coach Phillips was hired to do this which she has not done. He claimed he was going to build a culture and we would see how Youngstown football used to be played and will be played Under his watch so far we haven’t seen that. Recruiting has been a problem at certain positions and defense has been in Achilles heal since a Heacock left. Yes Pelini had a year a too of decent D.  My guess is nobody’s getting fired that matters the A.D. is not going nowhere till he retires. Phillips has an extension and we have no money to get out of it..  I’m surprised the defensive coordinator has been fired already.  The defense was a mess and cost us what maybe three wins where we are in the game. As for the quarterback, I’m still not sold on him.  We got lucky this year. He didn’t get hurt earlier and that’s my point. We better find a decent back up because the odds are against our starter to not get hurt specially as much as he’s running. Is that what we really want need more than one guy to win in our conference we need players they can make a splash this year’s team, had more role role players. The other concern is how many guys are we gonna lose? I’m afraid we’re gonna lose our left tackle and maybe two wide receivers.  Everybody thinks we can fix this through the portal maybe we can but we still don’t have the money .  Just a few thoughts now more later.

[goodnews]

Why would they fire anyone? Phillips said he thrives on adversity. Maybe this was his plan all along to lose games and destroy the program so he can bring it back?  Maybe the AD was involved too? Thats why he gave the teacher an extension and a raise?

[YsuPride]

I believe if someone steps up with a buy out he can be fired.  He should resign instead holding out faith to be on his buddies staff at Wisconsin.   We keep him and much of the same next year.  Did anyone see the schedule next year?  Very difficult.

[Dmorton]

Brutal!

[Jayguin]

Alot of good points:
My 2 cents:
1) D needs to improve a lot.  We need to hold teams below 21 to give our offense a chance.  We need to eliminate big plays.  I said this after last year to one of our new safety's who didn't play due to being hurt. We obviously did terrible at this.   I will say I believe we improved from week one to week 12 but still not close to where we need to be.   On 3rd and 10 we should almost never allow a first down.
2) offense needs to backfill the linemen we are losing and rb's however I believe we have some talent there already that we can develop.  I'm looking forward to seeing Gardner from Niles.  I heard he was really good.  We also need at least 2 more receivers with one being a speedster.
3) As far as a coaching change it would be great to have a more experienced d coordinator if there is one available however in fairness to our staff this year with all the turnover on d it was clearly difficult. Not sure what I would do if it was my call although I can say this.  I do not support rebuilding just to rebuild.
4) transfer portal- let's see if the team is stabilized and we don't lose players like last year.  Did we lose players because our coordinator left.   I don't know however we can't continue to lose players we have developed and improve.   This is one of the most important keys in my mind.
5) QB   i think we will be fine.  Coaches should help brungard be more of a pass first QB and speed up his reads slightly.    If he continues to improve he will be an asset.  Not many qb's as athletic as him.

[goodnews]

Alot of good points:
My 2 cents:
1) D needs to improve a lot.  We need to hold teams below 21 to give our offense a chance.  We need to eliminate big plays.  I said this after last year to one of our new safety's who didn't play due to being hurt. We obviously did terrible at this.   I will say I believe we improved from week one to week 12 but still not close to where we need to be.   On 3rd and 10 we should almost never allow a first down.
2) offense needs to backfill the linemen we are losing and rb's however I believe we have some talent there already that we can develop.  I'm looking forward to seeing Gardner from Niles.  I heard he was really good.  We also need at least 2 more receivers with one being a speedster.
3) As far as a coaching change it would be great to have a more experienced d coordinator if there is one available however in fairness to our staff this year with all the turnover on d it was clearly difficult. Not sure what I would do if it was my call although I can say this.  I do not support rebuilding just to rebuild.
4) transfer portal- let's see if the team is stabilized and we don't lose players like last year.  Did we lose players because our coordinator left.   I don't know however we can't continue to lose players we have developed and improve.   This is one of the most important keys in my mind.
5) QB   i think we will be fine.  Coaches should help brungard be more of a pass first QB and speed up his reads slightly.    If he continues to improve he will be an asset.  Not many qb's as athletic as him.

If being OKAY is 5-7 or 6-6 i'm out.  He is buying time and spewing the developmental program BS because he isnt qualified to be the Head Football Coach of YOUNGSTOWN STATE. 

[Double ET]

DP’s assessment on the 2024 season from today’s Tribune/Vindy:

https://www.tribtoday.com/sports/local-sports/2024/11/ysu-heads-into-offseason-aiming-to-address-shortcomings/

[YsuPride]

Good talk by a Phillipps .  He talks a good game now we got to prove it in the off season.  Recruiting he and his staff are not good at bringing in players that are our MVFC quality.   I still think a change is needed but we shall see.   Another piss poor year next year would be the nail in the coffin for Phillips.

[Jayguin]

Let me start by saying regardless of who our coach is/ was I feel like pulling the trigger too early is the biggest mistake a program can make.   The job of a coach in today's college football is very difficult especially at fcs level in MVFC.  That being said 7-4 has to be the minimum expectation next year.  That should get us in the playoffs. Anything less than that a major coaching shakeup would be fair game.  7-4 may sound like low expectations however with the meat grinder of a conference and a money game that would be a good showing. 

[goodnews]

Let me start by saying regardless of who our coach is/ was I feel like pulling the trigger too early is the biggest mistake a program can make.   The job of a coach in today's college football is very difficult especially at fcs level in MVFC.  That being said 7-4 has to be the minimum expectation next year.  That should get us in the playoffs. Anything less than that a major coaching shakeup would be fair game.  7-4 may sound like low expectations however with the meat grinder of a conference and a money game that would be a good showing.

I agree with much of what you say but we are more likely to be 4-7 then 7-4.  I think it's another 12-game season and we will be fortunate to be above .500.

[YsuPride]

I say on another 12 game brutal schedule we will be 4-8 .  Any thoughts?

[goodnews]

Phillips hasn't proven he can win on the road so probably a sub .500 season again in 2025.  He has yet to hire someone who knows more then he does (which isn't much).  Many inexperienced coaches will hire someone loooong in the tooth to help their adjustment.  It proves he is arrogant and is afraid to lose his job.

[Double ET]

I think everyone can agree that we were out coached in every game this year when we were unable to make adjustments and or counter- adjustments. Since coaching is clearly a problem for us, if he does not improve on our coaching, better recruiting is not going to take us to the promised land.