CAG gets some forgivness for the non-confrence schedule this year due to player personnel. I think he felt this team needed a little cush early on to try and develop some kind of player rotation due to Knox and Jemison leaving the team. I can promise you the schedule will be much improved starting next year.
I feel that the weak early schedule hurt but I think the fact that the SEC had an off year with not many teams being ranked. This hurts when you don't get much credit for winning your conference games.
I agree, this is exactly what happened and it almost bit him in te rear. I don't think he was expecting Releford to have the year he hs had.