i recall a reporter asking Smith why the deep passing game was clicking after Drew got hurt and Coach Franklin fired. Smith paused, looked down, hesitated, and then said "because we called the plays".
I also recall, having attended the NW game, that the team drove right down the field in the first series and then threw an INT in the endzone intended for Clifford. The guy next to me started to yell at Allar and I said, "check the replay. Clifford was supposed to come back to the ball, to use his body but just didn't. it was like he never saw that the pass was even thrown". Days later, Tegewell released a video showing that same play being run multiple times, sometime to Clifford, and for whatever reason Clifford didn't make a move on the ball. Inexplicable for a five year senior leader.