I defended Funk, largely on the basis of his 2021 performance. In listening to Connor Pay, however, that was largely a hangover effect of having had Grimes there for so long, and things just deteriorated quickly as the OL became farther removed from their former coach.

Pay hinted strongly at coaching being at the root of what he calls out as the line’s total failure last year, but he’s praised Coach Woods. The results so far appear to line up with Pay’s sentiments.