The departure of Filip “NEO” Kubski from FaZe has sparked a much broader discussion about the team’s current state. Analyst Dustin “Dust” Mouret addressed the situation in his latest video, delivering a harsh assessment: FaZe’s problems have been building for a long time, and the coaching change is merely a consequence, not the root cause. According to him, the team has been in a prolonged slump, and the latest changes are unlikely to bring immediate improvement without a deeper rebuild.
NEO’s departure only highlights the crisis
Dust made it clear that the news of NEO stepping down did not come as a surprise. In fact, he had already planned to discuss FaZe’s issues before the announcement:
I already had a video planned about FaZe and the struggles they’re going through… but today we got the news that NEO is no longer the coach and they’re looking for a new one.
He sees this move not as the beginning of change, but as confirmation that the organization is finally reacting:
Changes are already in motion… but this is just the start of a bigger conversation about what’s going on with FaZe.
In his view, FaZe have reached a point where small adjustments are no longer enough.
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FaZe have lost their identity
One of Dust’s main arguments is that FaZe no longer look like a top team—not just in results, but in how they play. In the past, even when inconsistent, they remained dangerous. That is no longer the case:
They were always dangerous, even when they weren’t at the top. Now there’s almost nothing interesting about FaZe.
He emphasized that the issue goes beyond statistics:
Everything has fallen flat. They’re not exciting anymore, the results aren’t good, and nothing is coming together.
This suggests a deeper loss of identity, confidence, and cohesion within the team.
“The Major run was a miracle”
Dust also addressed FaZe’s run to the grand final of the StarLadder Budapest Major, which many saw as a sign of recovery. He strongly disagrees:
That Major run… was a miracle.
According to him, it was a one-off performance that masked deeper issues:
It looks like a miracle because outside of the Major, nothing has been working.
2026 results: the numbers tell the story
Dust backed up his analysis with clear statistics:
They’ve played 12 best-of-threes and only won three.
He also pointed out that even those wins were not particularly convincing:
That’s far below the level a team with these players should be at.
In short, FaZe are no longer performing like a consistent top-tier team.
Broky as a core issue
The harshest criticism was directed at Helvijs “broky” Saukants. Dust identified him as one of the main reasons behind the team’s decline:
At this point, broky is one of the worst-performing AWPers among teams anywhere near the top 15.
He explained that the issue is not just about stats, but about impact:
He’s too passive and doesn’t have impact in early round situations.
This creates a structural problem, as FaZe frequently lose control of rounds from the very beginning. Dust also noted that these issues are not new:
He’s had problems throughout 2025, and they’re still here in 2026.
Lack of entry power and jcobbb struggles
Another weak point identified by Dust is Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, who has not met expectations:
His performances in FaZe just haven’t been good.
The main issue lies in his role as an entry fragger:
He takes a lot of openings, but his success rate is very low.
Combined with broky’s passive style, this leaves FaZe without early-round pressure:
They just have no opening power.
As a result, the rest of the team struggles to play to their strengths.
Karrigan is not the problem
Despite the criticism, Dust defended Finn “karrigan” Andersen. In his view, the team’s struggles cannot be blamed solely on the in-game leader:
It’s very hard to make a system work when two key roles aren’t producing.
He stressed that no system can function without the right pieces:
No system is going to work if you don’t have the pieces for it.
Moreover, Dust still believes in karrigan’s value:
I think karrigan still has value as an IGL.
Frozen and Twistzz remain key pieces
Amid the criticism, Dust highlighted players who could still form the foundation of a rebuild:
Frozen has been their most consistent player for a long time. Twistzz looked like a superstar when he came back.
He believes this core still has potential if properly supported.
FaZe face a crucial decision
In conclusion, Dust outlined several possible paths for the team: a full rebuild, roster changes, or even a complete reset.
Part of me feels like you might just have to blow it up.
However, he also sees a more optimistic scenario:
With the right AWPer and the right entry fragger, this team could still be a top 10 team.
Still, the overall situation remains worrying:
It feels like FaZe are at an impasse right now.
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FaZe at a Crossroads: Rebuild or Collapse?
Dust’s reaction makes it clear that NEO’s departure is only a symptom of deeper issues. FaZe have lost balance, form, and consistency, while key roles are underperforming.
It’s sad to see how far this team has fallen… while still knowing there’s potential there.
The next decisions made by the organization could define their future—either a proper rebuild, or a continued decline for one of Counter-Strike’s most iconic teams.
