Rupp's outdoor season wasn't great but it also shouldn't be dismissed. If you believe 4th at the World Champs isn't a quality result you really need another sport to follow.
He wasn't as sharp as last year but he still had a pretty good season.
The thing is that when you're a medalist and you're still on what is considered the upswing of your career, your expectations are higher. Fair or not, that's true. In addition, he's the training partner of the world's best so this again makes his expectations high. He was a silver medalist not a bronze so fourth is a disappointment. It is fair to say that after running the 6th fastest indoor mile and setting the 3000m record that this outdoor season was disappointing. I watched all his races and he was flat this season with no kick. Not what anyone expected after what he did indoor. I think that is fair to say and doesn't make me a hater.