- Joined
- Sep 20, 2023
- Messages
- 64
Watching that game nearly ruined my Saturday. It felt like a rehash of the GT debacle up until the end of OT.
A few semi-sober takeaways:
* This team has exceeded last year's win total with four games left to play in the regular season. Is 5-7 the new baseline expectation? Absolutely not- but it was last year's record, so it's completely rational to use it as a measuring stick for this year's team.
* This team has won games late with physical and mental toughness. They've battled back from early deficits and haven't quit in a single game this season. Of course, it's better to not have to battle back from a deficit in the first place. But when they've needed (to gain or to stop) a yard in the 4th or in OT, they've usually done it. When was the last season this was the case?
* Mario Cristobal is living up to his reputation. He is an ace evaluator, recruiter, and developer of talent. He is shaping this team to be mentally and physically tough. He is also sometimes a stubborn bonehead who loses games that shouldn't be lost. I'm reminded of Butch Davis; may that be an apt comparison.
* Tyler Van Dyke is a solid college QB who flourished in a fast spread offense with pre-designed, one-read passing concepts. He has also been exposed by teams who bracket his top target. I don't think we've seen the last of his strong performances this season, however.
I'm frustrated by many of the team's shortcomings, but still feel that its performances this season have given us plenty of fuel for our optimism.
A few semi-sober takeaways:
* This team has exceeded last year's win total with four games left to play in the regular season. Is 5-7 the new baseline expectation? Absolutely not- but it was last year's record, so it's completely rational to use it as a measuring stick for this year's team.
* This team has won games late with physical and mental toughness. They've battled back from early deficits and haven't quit in a single game this season. Of course, it's better to not have to battle back from a deficit in the first place. But when they've needed (to gain or to stop) a yard in the 4th or in OT, they've usually done it. When was the last season this was the case?
* Mario Cristobal is living up to his reputation. He is an ace evaluator, recruiter, and developer of talent. He is shaping this team to be mentally and physically tough. He is also sometimes a stubborn bonehead who loses games that shouldn't be lost. I'm reminded of Butch Davis; may that be an apt comparison.
* Tyler Van Dyke is a solid college QB who flourished in a fast spread offense with pre-designed, one-read passing concepts. He has also been exposed by teams who bracket his top target. I don't think we've seen the last of his strong performances this season, however.
I'm frustrated by many of the team's shortcomings, but still feel that its performances this season have given us plenty of fuel for our optimism.
