I think most fans greatly overestimate how bad we were last year. Only winning 4 games sucked, but our ability to find ways to lose games was unlike anything I've ever seen. We've had teams that only won 2-3 games, and at the end of the season, I felt we were lucky to just get those. Last year, we lost 2-3 games alone because our two best receivers couldn't make routine catches. If our kicker doesn't have an all time horrible game @ Kansas, we win that one too.
We dominated in 3 of our wins, then squeaked out the Iowa game, which we should have won by 2-3 TDs but tried everything in our power to lose, and still came out on top.
At the end of it all, you're stuck with the record you got. But, we went 1-5 in one score games, which doesn't count the OU game, which was close until OU scored a late TD to make it 2 scores.
2022 Losses
Baylor by 7: down 17-14 at half Dekkers throws a pick on the 2nd play of the 3rd quarter and another in Baylor territory early in the 4th. Offense had 25 minutes of possession time; 2.4 yards/carry, 36 pass attempts
Kansas by 3: 3 missed FG's, Dekkers throws a pick on 3rd and 12 at our own 5 that gifts them their second TD; defense allows 28 yards on 6 drives in the second half. 0.9 yards/carry, 48 pass attempts
K-State by 1: 3.3 yards/carry, 38 pass attempts
Texas by 3: Dekkers picked off in the endzone on 3rd down; Dekkers fumbles in Texas territory with 2 minutes left; 2.6 yards/carry, 36 pass attempts
Oklahoma by 14: Dekkers INT on the second play of the game, 2 more picks in the fourth quarter, one of which was returned to the 2 yard line; 2.4 yards/carry, 57 pass attempts
Okie State by 6: 5 turnovers (3 picks, two fumbles) including 3 in the first 4 possessions; 2 more TO on downs (both in the fourth quarter); 1.6 yards/carry, 43 pass attempts
Texas tech by 4: two 30-ish yard field goals missed in the first half, led to two TO on down at the Tech 5 yard line in the second half; 3.0 yards/carry, 36 pass attempts
TCU by a million: started with consecutive 3&Outs totaling 1 yard, next nine possessions included 2 missed FG, 2 picks, a fumble, a TO on downs after losing 5 yards.
Bold above: can't remember which games....was that KSU and Texas Tech? I remember X had one that really hurt....
We couldn't run the ball, and were both horribly inefficient and turnover prone when we passed. You can get away with being ****** at rushing as long as you don't throw picks. You can get away with a poor passing game if you can consistently run the ball. You can get away with poor red zone play if you can at least make FG's.
It's a big ask to correct all this stuff in one year, particularly with what the team lost....but Dekkers not being the QB also might be a massive upgrade. OL play will be the key.