There's no requirement to be "intellectually dishonest" to say we are performing worse now with easier SOS. That's a fact.
If Bronco hadn't gone on to 4 straight top-25 finishes after his 1st season, it wouldn't get as much a pass. Kalani has to improve results to get the same leash. 20-19 isn't good enough.
Can that change? Yes. I'd hope just as much if not more than anyone that things improve, but a 7-6, #63 finish is still very far from the 9 win, 33 average we've had the decade prior.