Apparently many of the players really, really like Key, which should not be a determining factor in the decision. However, it needs to be considered; if Key isn’t hired it’s quite possible many will leave and those that don’t won’t be motivated similar to how it was when Ross replaced Curry. Ross overcame it, but in todays world if the new coach starts out with a 1, then a 3 win season, his time here will be short unless he’s a Bobby Ross caliber coach. Key and his crew are also being fairly successful at recruiting, despite the uncertainty of who the coach will be.
As far as Key’s OL coaching, I think it was a scenario not unlike Thacker’s where the former HC‘s practice philosophy and interference sabatoged the OL and defense. The OL actually had a good game Saturday despite losing 2 starters. The losses to UVA and Miami can be blamed on injuries to QBs, and the coaches still working to overcome the Collins hangover.
Remember, the off-season is where conditioning and fundamentals are implanted into the team, it’s difficult to overcome what wasn’t accomplished in the offseason during the week of game prep, but IMO Key has done an outstanding job. If Collins had been fired a year ago and Key hired, I’d say we would be ranked at this point and not considered a sacrificial lamb for the #1 team this week.