F^ck Around and Find Out - Encouraging Signs, But Overwhelmingly Concerning Performance

Re: run blocking. Our biggest issue might be that our coaches want and expect a level of blocking that our guys just aren’t capable of. Dawson has done a good job of transitioning to a “pass to set up the run” offense but our run game is still very deliberate and one note. We still play with super tight line splits and do nothing with our receivers to move defenders away from the box.

Virginia Tech didn’t have success running the ball because they overwhelmed our defense with their line. They used a ton of misdirection and motion to get guys going one way and then ran it in the opposite direction. They spread our defense out and made us cover the whole field. They attacked the edges with tosses and screens to get moving blockers out in front. We do none of this.

Considering what we call, the run game is effective just not dominating. IMO we put too much emphasis on the offensive line winning their one on ones. And even then we’re still running into 7 man fronts 90% of the time.
agree 100%.
 
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It’s some fair criticism in this thread but it’s a lot of over reaction as well. I’ve read some head scratching comments from a few posters. Guys that we heavily rely on had a bad week. Guidry had a rough week. It happens. It’s a long season. One things for sure we will face challenges week to week that will force us to overcome depth and talent issue at certain positions. Get over it!

I’m still feeling encouraged that we will play better because of Leadership and Culture that’s showing up. The guys could have tucked their N*ts and gave in but they didn’t.

This won’t be the last close game either. Buckle up. We don’t have a perfect squad but we do have a good group of guys to work with!
 
something that has gotten lost is the fact Cam is changing ALOT of plays..... Are they are changes for the good? Hard for the fan base to know that without knowing what the original play call was.....

Is it me or has Cam gotten a little sloppy in his reads??.... last couple of games, there were quite a few plays where he threw into a more difficult coverage even when there were receivers wide open elsewhere.

That Bell TD play that got nullified was an instance where there was a TE right in front of him on the goal line but he picked a harder throw to the back of the end zone that the receiver barely tiptoed in while grabbing the ball.
 
I posted this privately, but I’ll say it here:

I gave flowers to the 4 players who made critical plays that changed momentum in our favor, but after revisiting the game, we were very fortunate late in the 4th on VTs last drive.

Before the “Almost Hail Mary”, Drones stepped up in the pocket & had 3 crazy options that would’ve changed the outcome. If u go back to that moment, u would see DPJ allowed a VT WR inside leverage in the end zone, Drones had about 20 yrds of easy real-estate in front of him, & a TE leaked out of the back field in which he was initially covered, but then got lost as the defender took his eyes off him for Drones.

If Drones takes advantage of any of those reads, it’s also a different story. Defense needs to play a bit more disciplined, imho. I forgot who posted it, but they’ve shown flaws all yr; it’s just that VT was the 1st team to take advantage of it, & even they didn’t fully take advantage.
So many replays in any game look like that, read and react. Most of the time these dudes aren't nearly as open as it seems because the QB isn't even looking their way - because if they were they wouldn't be.
 
Many posts, including the first one lays out our weaknesses that VT took advantage of.

This Team is good but not yet Elite. Examples as others have said. In watching Bama and Georgia last night.. Plus Ohio State a few weeks ago, our depth and talent in several positions needs to come up. We knew this, and just keep stacking classes. Develope the recruits also.

Frankly, Cam had an ok game at best. He did some late game heroics, but also had some really bad turnovers. We are going to only go as far as he plays. He better start getting the ball out sooner, or the sacks will be rising. And he won't have a long pro career either if this doesn't change.

Enjoy what we have, I don't see us winning out the season, and thought we would go 10-2 before the season started. Still a big improvement, but prepare for the fact we may not make the ACCCG. Is 1 loss in the Coastal going to do it....And this is not about being a mope, it's just reality based on teams adjusting now. Still much better than last year and hopefully we end the season ranked.

Now Canes go beat Cal dammit! I am flying out to the game with a crew.
There is no more Coastal.
 
People NEED to realize.

The running game is being executed the way it's designed to be executed.

The offensive line has very tight splits already, and there's almost always tightends in tight.

On top of that, they motion extra guys in tight too.

It's designed to just have the RB try to make something happen through 15 to 16 bodies. Very stupid.

As long as Mario and Mirabal are here, its not going to change so there's no point hoping that it changes. It's their style.

Additionally, the bottom line here is that imagine if we had TVD at QB.

Does the team look any different than last year with TVD at QB? No, not at all.

There's something very hard to put into words about the situation but it seems as if the team has a limiter on it, like an engine would.

Everything we're seeing is Cam Ward.
Sad A Christmas Story GIF by filmeditor
 
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Our interior DL got destroyed against VT. We had mesi inside for too much of that game and he got pushed around. On their long TD run he got destroyed. He’s so much better on the edge, but unfortunately we need help inside.
He been starting at DT all year. I think it’s more of not wanting to have him come off the bench so they have him primarily inside. I like him rushing on passing downs inside but not being a every down DT
 
Speaking of DT and depth, Clark is a nonfactor thru 5 games. Moten may never become the player we need and Horton needs to get healthy.

Missing meaningful contributions from these 3 forces us to play Messidor far too often inside Sux,
 
Many posts, including the first one lays out our weaknesses that VT took advantage of.

This Team is good but not yet Elite. Examples as others have said. In watching Bama and Georgia last night.. Plus Ohio State a few weeks ago, our depth and talent in several positions needs to come up. We knew this, and just keep stacking classes. Develope the recruits also.

Frankly, Cam had an ok game at best. He did some late game heroics, but also had some really bad turnovers. We are going to only go as far as he plays. He better start getting the ball out sooner, or the sacks will be rising. And he won't have a long pro career either if this doesn't change.

Enjoy what we have, I don't see us winning out the season, and thought we would go 10-2 before the season started. Still a big improvement, but prepare for the fact we may not make the ACCCG. Is 1 loss in the Coastal going to do it....And this is not about being a mope, it's just reality based on teams adjusting now. Still much better than last year and hopefully we end the season ranked.

Now Canes go beat Cal dammit! I am flying out to the game with a crew.
There is no way
 
I posted this privately, but I’ll say it here:

I gave flowers to the 4 players who made critical plays that changed momentum in our favor, but after revisiting the game, we were very fortunate late in the 4th on VTs last drive.

Before the “Almost Hail Mary”, Drones stepped up in the pocket & had 3 crazy options that would’ve changed the outcome. If u go back to that moment, u would see DPJ allowed a VT WR inside leverage in the end zone, Drones had about 20 yrds of easy real-estate in front of him, & a TE leaked out of the back field in which he was initially covered, but then got lost as the defender took his eyes off him for Drones.

If Drones takes advantage of any of those reads, it’s also a different story. Defense needs to play a bit more disciplined, imho. I forgot who posted it, but they’ve shown flaws all yr; it’s just that VT was the 1st team to take advantage of it, & even they didn’t fully take advantage.
That's the problem with our latest DC's, emphasis is on tricky schemes, instead of just lining up and being disciplined.
 
The most troubling part last night with the defense (besides the poor tackling) was how poorly our guys were at defeating blocks and more importantly getting off blocks. Our CBs were terrible last night getting off stock blocks
To me that's about heart and effort, VT seemed like they wanted it more for most of the night
 
Dude, the ******* scramble Drones had for the 1st down where Kiko either came on a delay blitz or left his spy assignment, made me want to chug bleach.
It felt like Kiko was in no man's land. Not sure he was supposed to spy, but the TE also free released on that play and he got confused on who to cover.
 
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This thread proves that CIS is always week to week. There can be no acknowledgement that college teams have been playing up and down regardless of competition since i started watching in the 80s.
Last year Bama almost lost to Arky and USF, Wash to Stanford and ASU, Michigan to Maryland. Great teams struggle once or twice per year and all others are a crapshoot week to week.
That being said, let’s fire all our coordinators and start over again because we struggled with an highly motivated team who played their asses off and have a lot of NFL talent. Not to mention with a QB who is one of the better Dual Threat QBs when he’s on.
I can’t even imagine what’s gonna happen if we ascend back to the top. The mental fragility of our fanbase is nearly unmatched
100%. If you've watched other teams at the top you'd see that no team is 2022 Georgia this year. There's realistically 5 teams that could win it all based on depth and how long this season is but if you're in the 6-10 range you'll likely lose a game or 2 and occasionally look shaky.

Everyone had their own expectations for this year but finishing top 10 should be a success regardless if we struggled with a few bum ACC teams. We were never talented enough to be completely dominant from week 1 through the playoffs. And it doesn't appear any other team will be either.
 
He been starting at DT all year. I think it’s more of not wanting to have him come off the bench so they have him primarily inside. I like him rushing on passing downs inside but not being a every down DT
I get the intention, but we are also between Horton and Sam brown at times getting on the field but they shouldn't be playing DT either. Very concerned that we're relying on Mesi inside and he will get pushed around by the elite IOLs as we face tougher competition. Disappointing lack of depth at such a key position.
 
I get the intention, but we are also between Horton and Sam brown at times getting on the field but they shouldn't be playing DT either. Very concerned that we're relying on Mesi inside and he will get pushed around by the elite IOLs as we face tougher competition. Disappointing lack of depth at such a key position.
We don’t play any elite iols
 
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