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Addazio: We felt great about where we were in training camp, from last year's bowl game. We were finally getting to what I felt was the right fit for us here. The bowl prep last year was an advantage. We felt pretty damn good. We were playing with a young quarterback and a young tailback, and there would be growing pains. We knew that. But then, really, what happened was: Early, we lost Jon Baker, our starting center. He really tied everything together -- made all the calls, the protections. He was a security blanket. When we lost him, it really affected us dramatically. We had to play a true freshman, who'd never played center in his life. We started him against Wake Forest. That was hard for anybody. The kid went on to have a great year, but it had more of an effect on a young quarterback than anyone, including us, expected. It stymied our growth a little, and it took us a couple, three games to get our sea legs back.

In the process, what happened was we lost Connor Strachan, Max Richardson -- we went on this injury routine that didn't stop. When we finally stabilized our offense, we lost the heart of our defense. We lost Harold [Landry], essentially for the rest of the year. Then we got against Notre Dame, and the next thing you know, we're just kind of bolo punched. But here's what you could see. We knew we'd have a really good football team, we just had to hang in there for a little bit while guys kind of reset.

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Only took one question to hit on injuries and youth.

Addazio: We felt great about where we were in training camp, from last year's bowl game. We were finally getting to what I felt was the right fit for us here. The bowl prep last year was an advantage. We felt pretty damn good. We were playing with a young quarterback and a young tailback, and there would be growing pains. We knew that. But then, really, what happened was: Early, we lost Jon Baker, our starting center. He really tied everything together -- made all the calls, the protections. He was a security blanket. When we lost him, it really affected us dramatically. We had to play a true freshman, who'd never played center in his life. We started him against Wake Forest. That was hard for anybody. The kid went on to have a great year, but it had more of an effect on a young quarterback than anyone, including us, expected. It stymied our growth a little, and it took us a couple, three games to get our sea legs back.

In the process, what happened was we lost Connor Strachan, Max Richardson -- we went on this injury routine that didn't stop. When we finally stabilized our offense, we lost the heart of our defense. We lost Harold [Landry], essentially for the rest of the year. Then we got against Notre Dame, and the next thing you know, we're just kind of bolo punched. But here's what you could see. We knew we'd have a really good football team, we just had to hang in there for a little bit while guys kind of reset.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:In fairness, this might be the one time he can get away with injuries and youth. He had potential star who went down at an important position, had a backup that went down, and found a true freshman tackle that he was able to turn into a force in the middle within 4-5 games. If it wasn't for the number of times he has played this card when he should not have done so, no one would think twice about this excuse in these circumstances.

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:In fairness, this might be the one time he can get away with injuries and youth. He had potential star who went down at an important position, had a backup that went down, and found a true freshman tackle that he was able to turn into a force in the middle within 4-5 games. If it wasn't for the number of times he has played this card when he should not have done so, no one would think twice about this excuse in these circumstances.

It's Year 6. Please spare me youth and injuries.

TobaccoRoadEagle {l Wrote}:in all honesty, i'd rather hear his stupid youth and injuries bullshit than his #dude gaiety or wwf promo speeches

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:

TobaccoRoadEagle {l Wrote}:in all honesty, i'd rather hear his stupid youth and injuries bullshit than his #dude gaiety or wwf promo speeches

False

TobaccoRoadEagle {l Wrote}:

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:

TobaccoRoadEagle {l Wrote}:in all honesty, i'd rather hear his stupid youth and injuries bullshit than his #dude gaiety or wwf promo speeches

False

fuck you, microweener. who are you to tell me what i would rather hear?

why don't you go out and scour the shirtless high school center webpages in case the first 3 get hurt this year

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

TobaccoRoadEagle {l Wrote}:

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:

TobaccoRoadEagle {l Wrote}:in all honesty, i'd rather hear his stupid youth and injuries bullshit than his #dude gaiety or wwf promo speeches

False

fuck you, microweener. who are you to tell me what i would rather hear?

why don't you go out and scour the shirtless high school center webpages in case the first 3 get hurt this year

It's year 6, he should have more than four centers on the roster.