Cold, Harsh Reality in Charlotte(thoughts on Clemson)..

[kryptonite]

Canes offense sucks period, defense has been carrying this team all season long until now its run out of gas and also add Miami football teams never win in cold weather places in December.

Our offense also regressed from last year too.

Here is how we performed against our regular season ACC schedule:

2016 (averages): Defense

Points Allowed: 21.75 (This includes the 7 points on the STs TD against Pitt, the 100 Yard Return) [Actual Points Allowed is 20.875]
Yards Allowed: 397.75
Turnovers: 1.5
Sacks: 2.5
Tackles for Loss: 6.75

2016 (averages): Offense

Points Scored: 29.38 (This includes the 14 points the D scored against GT, 2 Fumble TDs) [Actual Points Scored is 27.625]
Yards Gained: 394.13
Turnovers: .63
Sacks: 2
Tackles for Loss: 5.5

2017 (averages): Defense

Points Allowed: 18.75 (This includes the 7 points on the STs onside kick flop against GT) [Actual Points Allowed is 17.875]
Yards Allowed: 368.25
Turnovers: 2.75
Sacks: 3.75
Tackles for Loss: 8.75

2017 (averages): Offense

Points Scored: 27.125 (This includes the 7 points the D scored against UVA, Johnson Pick 6) [Actual Points Scored is 26.25]
Yards Gained: 392.625
Turnovers: 1.25
Sacks: 2.375
Tackles for Loss: 5.375

And people were saying that anybody was better than Kayaa and a "running" QB would solve all our ills. Turns out that a type of QB doesn't win you games, a good QB wins you games.

 

[ncncanes]

Canes offense sucks period, defense has been carrying this team all season long until now its run out of gas and also add Miami football teams never win in cold weather places in December.

Our offense also regressed from last year too.

Here is how we performed against our regular season ACC schedule:

2016 (averages): Defense

Points Allowed: 21.75 (This includes the 7 points on the STs TD against Pitt, the 100 Yard Return) [Actual Points Allowed is 20.875]
Yards Allowed: 397.75
Turnovers: 1.5
Sacks: 2.5
Tackles for Loss: 6.75

2016 (averages): Offense

Points Scored: 29.38 (This includes the 14 points the D scored against GT, 2 Fumble TDs) [Actual Points Scored is 27.625]
Yards Gained: 394.13
Turnovers: .63
Sacks: 2
Tackles for Loss: 5.5

2017 (averages): Defense

Points Allowed: 18.75 (This includes the 7 points on the STs onside kick flop against GT) [Actual Points Allowed is 17.875]
Yards Allowed: 368.25
Turnovers: 2.75
Sacks: 3.75
Tackles for Loss: 8.75

2017 (averages): Offense

Points Scored: 27.125 (This includes the 7 points the D scored against UVA, Johnson Pick 6) [Actual Points Scored is 26.25]
Yards Gained: 392.625
Turnovers: 1.25
Sacks: 2.375
Tackles for Loss: 5.375

And people were saying that anybody was better than Kayaa and a "running" QB would solve all our ills. Turns out that a type of QB doesn't win you games, a good QB wins you games.

Was just going to start this post - Brad leaving made us so predictable - interesting that sacks went up with a more mobile QB

 

[TallyCane]

I think young would be best suited at nickel

 

[UMFarArcher]

Diaz playing zone the first quarter allowed Pitt and Clemson QB to complete their first 15 passes........
i hope he stops doing that. Miami db's suck at zone. They are terrible at it.

I can't understand why he hasn't learned that our zone makes every QB look like a Heisman finalist.

I was on the phone with a friend who's a Clemson alumni when the game started.

First play - FIRST play - as both teams lined up - I told him, "You got this game. It's already over."

Hadn't played the first play - so he's like, "What are you talking about?"

I told him, "We're already in a prevent defense - and they never prevent anything. The only chance we have against you guys is if the defense can keep your score low. Rather than play tight man press with one dog high - to stop your run - it's over."

And it was.

 

[k9cane]

Thank you for your posting, [MENTION=1464]k9cane[/MENTION]! I have a question for you.

How many receivers were open that Rosiers missed?

djh, I can't tell you a specific number( that would be dishonest) but as I mentioned, watching from the end-zone really illuminates how plays develop and how Rosier simply misses opportunities to make routine throws that would keep drives going.

But another play really sticks out in mind: Richt dials up a planned roll-out of Rosier and you could see Berrios curl short(enough for a first down) but instead Rosier takes a few more steps(therefore waiting too long to make the throw) and he leads a wide open Jeff Thomas out of bounds. Both were open and in that one play he showed a bad feel for the game and inaccuracy.

Again, he did some good things for this team this year, but his completion percentage(which coming in was in the low-50s) spoke for itself. In this day and age thats poor anyway you slice it

I know Rosier wasn't a true, die-hard football guy(who ate and breathed the sport) when he came to UM and I just dont think you can suddenly become that. Which can be OK at other positions - but not QB. Those guys have to be students of the game and the first one in, last one out-type of guys

I truly believe the QB job will be open in the spring. It will be interesting to see what transpires because we've gotten as far as we can with Rosier as our QB

 

[miamifan007]

Diaz didn't have the balls to go man to man on a single play until the game was out of hand early. If he goes to man to man on 3rd down on any of the first 3 drives against us, maybe clemson doesn't convert and while we still would have lost, It wouldn't have been so ugly early in the game. Rosier playing an even worse game than the pitt game gave the defense no chance in the second half. They were gassed. I can't imagine Rosier starting next year no matter how he looks in the spring. We squeezed out 10 wins, many of which were games we should have lost. I rather take 3 losses next year developing Perry or hopefully that Williams kid decides to sign. If I'm a 4 star qb and UM makes me an offer, I'd take it seeing how the job should be up for grabs.

That zone in the beginning killed us.

Don’t understand why he only rushed 3.

 

[k9cane]

Question; how much of a momentum change would it had been if Bagley hit that FG, and we recover those two gimme fumbles? Do the game outcome change? I felt we had a defeatist attitude after a whole w blown opportunities

Rell, that's hard to say, was it deflating? Absolutely. But again, Clemson was just THAT much better. But our Diaz-led unit was in a fog for the first 20 minutes of that game.

And speaking of that drive, once again 'the TO Chain' comes out and we have to settled for a FG.

I never thought Miami had a real shot to win the game unless they took an early lead. Once it was 7-0 you got that sinking feeling

 

[CANE1775]

Good stuff K9.

 

[mackjones]

The Pitt loss was worse because they suck *******.

We are looking at 3 Ls in a row unless something miraculous happens.

It's possible the Canes keep the losing streak flowing at the tail end of a very good season. Oh, and one more notion. Mighty Wisconsin's offensive line is arguably speaking STRONGER than mighty Clemson's offensive line! OUCH.

 

[mackjones]

Question; how much of a momentum change would it had been if Bagley hit that FG, and we recover those two gimme fumbles? Do the game outcome change? I felt we had a defeatist attitude after a whole w blown opportunities

Rell, that's hard to say, was it deflating? Absolutely. But again, Clemson was just THAT much better. But our Diaz-led unit was in a fog for the first 20 minutes of that game.

And speaking of that drive, once again 'the TO Chain' comes out and we have to settled for a FG.

I never thought Miami had a real shot to win the game unless they took an early lead. Once it was 7-0 you got that sinking feeling

Nah! Once mighty Clemson went up three TD's. Then U knew the game was over.

 

[dogcane]

Well, Im back here in my hotel room in Charlotte after being able to digest what I witnessed several hours ago. What was a fun, magical and resurgent year has suddenly become a season that has become a bit of a buzzkill. Again, I don't want lose sight of the progress that was made the first 10 games. Miami was relevant again, they were the 'in'-thing with the 'Turnover Chain' and a newfound home field advantage that had been missing for years was cultivated. There was even talk of a playoff birth up until Thanksgiving weekend...

But it turned out to be a mirage as Clemson just systematically dominated Miami over 4 quarters from the very opening kickoff

Flat out, they were just better than the Canes in every aspect and showed that for as far as UM had come - they still have that much more of a distance to go to truly rejoin the upper echelon of college football. I'm debating just which loss was worse: an inexplicable defeat to a 4-win Pitt squad or getting hammered by a Clemson team that looks like it could be going back-to-back.

Anyhooo, a few thoughts on the game:

- I though for Miami to have any shot that the defense had to keep them in the game and create 10-14 points. Well, instead the opposite happened and they gave up 3 TD's on the first three possessions and they couldnt get off the field to save their lives. Ive noticed that last few weeks slant routes have really been effective(and Malek Young's play recently has really declined). They'd get Clemson into 3rd downs and time and time again they would convert. Bryant made some key throws early on.

- Had endzone seats for this game and this vantage point really highlights just how much Malik Rosier leaves on the table. The deep post to Jeff Thomas was underthrown, he had a back-shoulder to Langham that was poorly thrown and for all those who wonder why we don't roll him out, well, it's because he has no feel for getting rid of the ball on time(he missed Thomas on what would have been a third round coversion). Honestly, to even get to 10-0 with him at QB was/is a minor miracle. He severely limits the offense with his inaccuracy and inability to scan the entire field. I don't want to come down too hard on Rosier(the loss of Walton, Richards and Herndon throughout the year and leading into this game are a factor) but I believe Richt and this program have come as far as they can with him as QB1

Yeah, I believe the QB job will be open come spring ball. Moving forward it will only become easier for opposing defensive coordinators to game plan against his defiencies.

- Again, Clemson was a vastly superior team but anyone else underwhelmed by Richt's overall game plan? It seemed to me that all he came up with was that quick toss to Homer. But when you can't run the ball I guess there isn't much you can really do with a scatter arm QB who simply can't make the routine throws consistently.

- I dont know how fatigued this team was after 11 straight weeks without a bye week and depth stripped away but you could just see that Clemson was seemingly coming in waves and Miami was just worn out to a certain degree. At 14-0 it just felt like a lost cause that wasn't going to get any better. But really it shows that Miami still needs another recruiting class or two to really fortify it's roster from top-to-bottom. The Canes peaked in early November as they rode the crest of an energized Hard Rock Stadium and then reality hit.

I still think the best is ahead of this program(they probably over-achieved to a certain degree) but Richt still has a lot to address moving forward. Who knows, maybe this here is his version of the 66-13 drubbing Butch Davis and his team took at Syracuse in 1998.

Terrible game to what was a fun time in Charlotte. Personally as a fan I got to see the great ending vs Gatech and the frenzied night vs Notre Dame and now this here in Charlotte. Hey, I don't regret one bit, regardless. Better days/nights lie ahead but Richt has some tough decisions to make(namely the QB situation) and the staff and team saw first-hand what a true national title contender looked like on the other sideline.

I wish I can upvote 10 more times

 

[RomeoJunior]

The most SHOCKING thing to me is the POSITIVE outlook alot of you had going into this game,...even after witnessing the disaster you saw in Pittsburgh.

HELLO??! We couldn't hit receivers streaking free in that game,...and in previous games, we skirted by at the end for half the season. LUCK.

We would've needed extreme luck to unseat Clemson. Even if we had beat them, we are NOT the better team. Not in depth, and not without a legitimate threat to throw the ball downfield.

Yeah, I believe the QB job will be open come spring ball. Moving forward it will only become easier for opposing defensive coordinators to game plan against his defiencies.

Huh?? He's not a legitimate option at QB,...because you really cant "TEACH" accuracy. There isin't some hitch in his throwing motion that's going to be corrected this Spring. He's just not a QB that suits our strengths (exceptional talent at the WR and TE positions).

Hat's off to him for all his other strengths to give us a memorable season. He deserves whatever accolades he gets.

But the focal point of discussion about Richt's staff between now and the beginning of year 3 in August is whether or not they can put a legitimate option at QB.

 

[RomeoJunior]

I can't understand why he hasn't learned that our zone makes every QB look like a Heisman finalist.


I was on the phone with a friend who's a Clemson alumni when the game started.

First play - FIRST play - as both teams lined up - I told him, "You got this game. It's already over."

And it was.

Felt the same,....just think you're barking up the wrong tree.

If you want someone to be upset at,...be upset at us not having Perry ready to take over for a 10-0 team void of a QB. Because unless we were completely terrified of Clemson in the ACCCG either way, the 2nd half of that game would've certainly been worth burning his shirt. Having that void was definitely the turning point of the season.

 

[TemplarCane]

I can't understand why he hasn't learned that our zone makes every QB look like a Heisman finalist.


I was on the phone with a friend who's a Clemson alumni when the game started.

First play - FIRST play - as both teams lined up - I told him, "You got this game. It's already over."

And it was.

Felt the same,....just think you're barking up the wrong tree.

If you want someone to be upset at,...be upset at us not having Perry ready to take over for a 10-0 team void of a QB. Because unless we were completely terrified of Clemson in the ACCCG either way, the 2nd half of that game would've certainly been worth burning his shirt. Having that void was definitely the turning point of the season.

Buring Perry’s RS already down 21-0, or worse, would have been the worst roster move possible. No Herndon or Richards made a bad situation worse.

 

[miamifan007]

Diaz playing zone the first quarter allowed Pitt and Clemson QB to complete their first 15 passes........
i hope he stops doing that. Miami db's suck at zone. They are terrible at it.

I can't understand why he hasn't learned that our zone makes every QB look like a Heisman finalist.

I was on the phone with a friend who's a Clemson alumni when the game started.

First play - FIRST play - as both teams lined up - I told him, "You got this game. It's already over."

Hadn't played the first play - so he's like, "What are you talking about?"

I told him, "We're already in a prevent defense - and they never prevent anything. The only chance we have against you guys is if the defense can keep your score low. Rather than play tight man press with one dog high - to stop your run - it's over."

And it was.

I don't know how Manny didn't see this.

 

[Swampcity]

Excellent post

 

[Rellyrell]

Question; how much of a momentum change would it had been if Bagley hit that FG, and we recover those two gimme fumbles? Do the game outcome change? I felt we had a defeatist attitude after a whole w blown opportunities

Rell, that's hard to say, was it deflating? Absolutely. But again, Clemson was just THAT much better. But our Diaz-led unit was in a fog for the first 20 minutes of that game.

And speaking of that drive, once again 'the TO Chain' comes out and we have to settled for a FG.

I never thought Miami had a real shot to win the game unless they took an early lead. Once it was 7-0 you got that sinking feeling

I felt the same way. Once we saw how easily they scored their first 7, it put a pit in my stomach

 

[Consigliere]

Canes offense sucks period, defense has been carrying this team all season long until now its run out of gas and also add Miami football teams never win in cold weather places in December.

Our offense also regressed from last year too.

Here is how we performed against our regular season ACC schedule:

2016 (averages): Defense

Points Allowed: 21.75 (This includes the 7 points on the STs TD against Pitt, the 100 Yard Return) [Actual Points Allowed is 20.875]
Yards Allowed: 397.75
Turnovers: 1.5
Sacks: 2.5
Tackles for Loss: 6.75

2016 (averages): Offense

Points Scored: 29.38 (This includes the 14 points the D scored against GT, 2 Fumble TDs) [Actual Points Scored is 27.625]
Yards Gained: 394.13
Turnovers: .63
Sacks: 2
Tackles for Loss: 5.5

2017 (averages): Defense

Points Allowed: 18.75 (This includes the 7 points on the STs onside kick flop against GT) [Actual Points Allowed is 17.875]
Yards Allowed: 368.25
Turnovers: 2.75
Sacks: 3.75
Tackles for Loss: 8.75

2017 (averages): Offense

Points Scored: 27.125 (This includes the 7 points the D scored against UVA, Johnson Pick 6) [Actual Points Scored is 26.25]
Yards Gained: 392.625
Turnovers: 1.25
Sacks: 2.375
Tackles for Loss: 5.375

And people were saying that anybody was better than Kayaa and a "running" QB would solve all our ills. Turns out that a type of QB doesn't win you games, a good QB wins you games.

So we won more games with a bad QB, what are you saying?

 

[RomeoJunior]

Buring Perry’s RS already down 21-0, or worse, would have been the worst roster move possible. No Herndon or Richards made a bad situation worse.

Just so the point's not lost,...we were down 7-10 against Pitt @ half-time with a clearly non-functional QB.

 

[Silver King]

I'm seeing a lot of blame on the Q, but the receivers (two of the best didn't play) didn't help, dropping balls. He was hurried because of a lack of running game. Last week it was on him overthrowing. But this week he threw well enough to get in a rhythm and get his confidence going had the receivers not dropped so many of his early passes. I was in the upper level and that long ball to Thomas looked very catchable - his reaction afterwards showed he thought it was too (loved the call but you have to execute and make the catch). The throw to Barrios at the 1st down marker was right between two defenders and hit him in both hands. Then Thomas makes a catch and fumbles - make those plays and the Qs confidence goes up, the defense isn't right back out of the field.

On the other side, hitting slants and outs, before Clemson's QB had an incompletion, he was exuding confidence and was already up 21-0.

Also when your team is starting slow how about not trying to pour gasoline on a fire with field position with that ever present sub-par punt, in this case 16 yards. The kicking game needs a lot of attention this off season. I watched ten weeks of high school games in SW Florida this season with punters on both teams more consistent than I saw with the Canes. Inexcusable to continue to get hammered in field position in key situations because of it.