Defense had some really key injuries though they shouldn’t have been so bad. Experienced offensive line played like absolute shit and is what I can’t explain. I read that the old OL coach Charlie Dickey was literally mailing it in and was an asshole and there was criticism of Gundy for not canning him earlier, but who knows, that was on the message board.
Gundy wasn’t mailing it in nor will he going forward. He’s also not been as hostile to the new rules as people say, he’s openly hated it like other coaches, but has also discussed how he’s using the portal and nil. Saying to not ask for more money mid season is reasonable imo. His approach though had to change and it will.
His successor isn’t on campus right now. Doug Meacham would be closest if he succeeds as OC but he’s a few years older than Gundy and has never been a HC. If he gets the position in the next 4 years it’ll be a gap hire. His son Gunner is on staff now as QC something or other but he’s has a long way to becoming a head coach. I always assumed he was on the roster to learn coaching. Cooper Bassett and Andrew Mitchell came back as OL coaches but also need more experience for HC consideration.
The most popular choice would be Zac Robinson, he might be ready in a few years if he succeeds in Atlanta, but if so he might end up NFL HC before Gundy retires and would be hard to get him to move to college. The contract language says he’ll help the AD “identify” etc a new coach so I don’t think that person is currently on campus. But we’ll see, I know we’ll be better next year, but no idea how much better. If not he’ll probably just step down and take the $15 mil.