Long Term Analysis/Predictions - After Rewatching Game

[FL Cane]

Rewatching the number of opportunities we blew in last night's game was sobering, but I think a few key observations and takeaways could be made. For the most part, this team is on a good long-term trajectory. That's what matters at this stage in our development. Here's what I saw:

• Last night in my "Post Game Thoughts (For the Rational Fans)" thread, I criticized Scott Patchan for his play. I think that was unwarranted. In rewatching the game, he was in the thick of it almost every play and was a major reason why we shut down their run. While I do think Hill and Rousseau could ultimately pass him, and have a higher ceiling, he's got a motor and will be hard to unseat.
  
  
• Jarren Williams still needs to adapt to the speed of the game. At times he was slow, and some of the sacks were completely on him. Over the next few games, he has a chance to get tuned to it. Overall, I think he'll be a very good QB by the end of the year.
  
  
• Zion Nelson played worse than my initial impression of him. I expect him to only get better, especially the way he's been practicing as a true freshman, but he wasn't ready. He was unplayable at times. I think the Zion you see at the end of the season will impress.
  
  
• John Campbell was bad. Arguably worse than anyone else on that line. I believe that he'll only get better, as with Zion. The next 3 game stretch is perfect for him and Zion to get settled.
  
  
• Beyond KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, all our other WR's were non-factors in this game. I think Osborn is going to be a star for us this year. Thomas made some great catches but also dropped a crucial (but very difficult) pass in the endzone that would've likely won us this game. Not to mention the muffed punt. He's got a lot to prove, but the talent to prove everyone wrong.
  
  
• Deejay Dallas is going to have a great year. That one-handed catch and run was a beauty, and he had some great runs on the night. Cam'Ron Davis had a few good runs, one terrific one being called back. With Lingard coming back and Burns being healthy, we've got excellent depth at this position.
  
  
• The OL is going to be a liability all season. While I believe our interior played fairly well yesterday, our tackles will continue to be a weak spot until they get settled. I believe the tackles we saw yesterday will be miles better by the Virginia Tech game. Nonetheless, I think we'll lose another game this season because of bad OL play.
  
  
• Our secondary played great yesterday. Trajan Bandy is elite, and Al Blades held his own on the other side of the field. For the most part, we locked down Florida's supposed top WR room. Frierson had some nice plays but got burned on that go route. Can't wait to see what DJ Ivey can do.
  
  
• Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall played extremely well. Add in Bubba Bolden to the mix, and we've got three safeties that can be stars here. I think Carter silenced anybody that doubted him last night.
  
  
• Romeo Finley is another guy who showed that he has what it takes. Not only did he come up with a crucial INT, but he was in the thick of it most of the game.
  
  
• I don't think our LB play was at an elite level, but it was good. Shaq is the QB of our defense and we adjusted accordingly. He and Pickney had some nice tackles but got easily beat on a few plays. They weren't quick enough to get to Franks. Overall, they will be a headache for any team we play.
  
  
• Our DT play went both ways. On one hand, we stuffed the run. On the other, we couldn't get the interior pressure we needed to disrupt Franks. Losing Nesta was a bigger hit than I thought it would be, and we need him back as soon as possible. I think we'll be fine in ACC play, but I thought we'd push their line a bit more.
  
  
• Louis Hedley had a few ok punts, one very nice one in particular. Of course, there were a few that were not so good. Overall, I think he'll be a solid punter for us as the year goes on. Yesterday was his first game in D1 CFB. He'll only go up from here.
  
  
• Bubba Baxa missed a crucial field goal that no elite CFB kicker would miss. While it was a bad angle, we've got to make those kicks.
  
  
• Tate Martell got too much burn at WR. Two potential reasons for this. First, our other wideouts may not be fully understanding the playbook or concepts, whereas Tate knows it inside out. Second, I'm pretty sure there were some passing options on those wildcats.
  
  
• It's evident our offense isn't fully installed yet. Once we went off script in the first quarter, the number of motions we used fell significantly. There were a few times where Jarren would have to signal 2 to 3 times for the WR's to begin their motion. Some of them just didn't pick it up initially. I believe this offense will only get better, the next few games are crucial.
  
  
• Enos made some really nice play calls and went very conservative at times. It's the first time in years that he's made calls, and he'll only get better as he better understands what he has to work with and our tendencies. All in all, this offense will be better than anything we had under Mark Richt.
  
  
• Diaz's game management wasn't as bad as I originally thought. While I do think it was a mistake not to kick the FG on 4th & 9 (Baxa has enough of a leg to do it) he made some ballsy calls as well. One thing he showed, was fire. I haven't seen a coach of ours since Butch go on back to the benches and get in our guy's faces consistently. Give Diaz time, he's the right guy for the job. Mark Richt, Al Golden, or Randy Shannon would've gotten blown out last night. Diaz will learn, just like Dabo did. Lots of good similarities between those two.

Season Predictions - Reevaluated

• Right now, I think we're a 9-3/10-2 team. I don't believe that we have the offensive line or special teams play to go 11-1. More likely than not, I think we go 9-3 and get to the ACC Championship game. I think UVA is an 8-4/9-3 team themselves, and that they'll have issues getting past Pitt, VT, and us. I'm most worried about our game with UVA, because of the short week we have after our matchup with Virginia Tech.
  
  
• I think, with great recruiting, that we'll need 3-4 seasons before we can compete at an elite level. We've got a lot of holes on this team that we need to fill. Dabo didn't build Clemson in a day, it took him 3-4 seasons to really get things rolling. We need to give Diaz time, there isn't a coach in the country that could come here and make us elite in under 2 seasons.
  
  
• If we somehow manage to win out and go 11-1, we'll be way ahead of schedule and well on our way to a NY6 bowl. Either way, we can still get to double-digit wins even with a 9-3 season. I just don't think we have the pieces to go 11-1.
  
  
• I think over the next two seasons that we'll show flashes. You'll have a window into what we can be, but we won't do it consistently enough. I think that means we will begin to consistently win our division, and at least show that we deserve to be on the same field as Clemson.
  
  
• Bonus Point: Florida isn't a top-ten team. We gift-wrapped that game for them yesterday. With games against LSU, UGA, Auburn, Mizzou, and Kentucky coming up, I don't think they finish better than 9-3. They're not that far ahead of us.

 

[k9cane]

Great analysis, in terms of you win-loss projection, for Miami to have a really good season, can they steal a win or two as they overcome an Oline that will continue to go through growing pains?

A game where the defense creates 17 points in a situation where the offense only produces a TD or two. Something of that nature

 

[For_The_U]

Rewatching the number of opportunities we blew in last night's game was sobering, but I think a few key observations and takeaways could be made. For the most part, this team is on a good long-term trajectory. That's what matters at this stage in our development. Here's what I saw:

• Last night in my "Post Game Thoughts (For the Rational Fans)" thread, I criticized Scott Patchan for his play. I think that was unwarranted. In rewatching the game, he was in the thick of it almost every play and was a major reason why we shut down their run. While I do think Hill and Rousseau could ultimately pass him, and have a higher ceiling, he's got a motor and will be hard to unseat.
  
  
• Jarren Williams still needs to adapt to the speed of the game. At times he was slow, and some of the sacks were completely on him. Over the next few games, he has a chance to get tuned to it. Overall, I think he'll be a very good QB by the end of the year.
  
  
• Zion Nelson played worse than my initial impression of him. I expect him to only get better, especially the way he's been practicing as a true freshman, but he wasn't ready. He was unplayable at times. I think the Zion you see at the end of the season will impress.
  
  
• John Campbell was bad. Arguably worse than anyone else on that line. I believe that he'll only get better, as with Zion. The next 3 game stretch is perfect for him and Zion to get settled.
  
  
• Beyond KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, all our other WR's were non-factors in this game. I think Osborn is going to be a star for us this year. Thomas made some great catches but also dropped a crucial (but very difficult) pass in the endzone that would've likely won us this game. Not to mention the muffed punt. He's got a lot to prove, but the talent to prove everyone wrong.
  
  
• Deejay Dallas is going to have a great year. That one-handed catch and run was a beauty, and he had some great runs on the night. Cam'Ron Davis had a few good runs, one terrific one being called back. With Lingard coming back and Burns being healthy, we've got excellent depth at this position.
  
  
• The OL is going to be a liability all season. While I believe our interior played fairly well yesterday, our tackles will continue to be a weak spot until they get settled. I believe the tackles we saw yesterday will be miles better by the Virginia Tech game. Nonetheless, I think we'll lose another game this season because of bad OL play.
  
  
• Our secondary played great yesterday. Trajan Bandy is elite, and Al Blades held his own on the other side of the field. For the most part, we locked down Florida's supposed top WR room. Frierson had some nice plays but got burned on that go route. Can't wait to see what DJ Ivey can do.
  
  
• Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall played extremely well. Add in Bubba Bolden to the mix, and we've got three safeties that can be stars here. I think Carter silenced anybody that doubted him last night.
  
  
• Romeo Finley is another guy who showed that he has what it takes. Not only did he come up with a crucial INT, but he was in the thick of it most of the game.
  
  
• I don't think our LB play was at an elite level, but it was good. Shaq is the QB of our defense and we adjusted accordingly. He and Pickney had some nice tackles but got easily beat on a few plays. They weren't quick enough to get to Franks. Overall, they will be a headache for any team we play.
  
  
• Our DT play went both ways. On one hand, we stuffed the run. On the other, we couldn't get the interior pressure we needed to disrupt Franks. Losing Nesta was a bigger hit than I thought it would be, and we need him back as soon as possible. I think we'll be fine in ACC play, but I thought we'd push their line a bit more.
  
  
• Louis Hedley had a few ok punts, one very nice one in particular. Of course, there were a few that were not so good. Overall, I think he'll be a solid punter for us as the year goes on. Yesterday was his first game in D1 CFB. He'll only go up from here.
  
  
• Bubba Baxa missed a crucial field goal that no elite CFB kicker would miss. While it was a bad angle, we've got to make those kicks.
  
  
• Tate Martell got too much burn at WR. Two potential reasons for this. First, our other wideouts may not be fully understanding the playbook or concepts, whereas Tate knows it inside out. Second, I'm pretty sure there were some passing options on those wildcats.
  
  
• It's evident our offense isn't fully installed yet. Once we went off script in the first quarter, the number of motions we used fell significantly. There were a few times where Jarren would have to signal 2 to 3 times for the WR's to begin their motion. Some of them just didn't pick it up initially. I believe this offense will only get better, the next few games are crucial.
  
  
• Enos made some really nice play calls and went very conservative at times. It's the first time in years that he's made calls, and he'll only get better as he better understands what he has to work with and our tendencies. All in all, this offense will be better than anything we had under Mark Richt.
  
  
• Diaz's game management wasn't as bad as I originally thought. While I do think it was a mistake not to kick the FG on 4th & 9 (Baxa has enough of a leg to do it) he made some ballsy calls as well. One thing he showed, was fire. I haven't seen a coach of ours since Butch go on back to the benches and get in our guy's faces consistently. Give Diaz time, he's the right guy for the job. Mark Richt, Al Golden, or Randy Shannon would've gotten blown out last night. Diaz will learn, just like Dabo did. Lots of good similarities between those two.

Season Predictions - Reevaluated

• Right now, I think we're a 9-3/10-2 team. I don't believe that we have the offensive line or special teams play to go 11-1. More likely than not, I think we go 9-3 and get to the ACC Championship game. I think UVA is an 8-4/9-3 team themselves, and that they'll have issues getting past Pitt, VT, and us. I'm most worried about our game with UVA, because of the short week we have after our matchup with Virginia Tech.
  
  
• I think, with great recruiting, that we'll need 3-4 seasons before we can compete at an elite level. We've got a lot of holes on this team that we need to fill. Dabo didn't build Clemson in a day, it took him 3-4 seasons to really get things rolling. We need to give Diaz time, there isn't a coach in the country that could come here and make us elite in under 2 seasons.
  
  
• If we somehow manage to win out and go 11-1, we'll be way ahead of schedule and well on our way to a NY6 bowl. Either way, we can still get to double-digit wins even with a 9-3 season. I just don't think we have the pieces to go 11-1.
  
  
• I think over the next two seasons that we'll show flashes. You'll have a window into what we can be, but we won't do it consistently enough. I think that means we will begin to consistently win our division, and at least show that we deserve to be on the same field as Clemson.
  
  
• Bonus Point: Florida isn't a top-ten team. We gift-wrapped that game for them yesterday. With games against LSU, UGA, Auburn, Mizzou, and Kentucky coming up, I don't think they finish better than 9-3. They're not that far ahead of us.

Solid

 

[caneholic88]

Good stuff dude

 

[6ix Natty's]

Honestly I feel bad for those tackles. Being that it was their first game in such a tough environment, I thought the staff would've done a better job protecting them. Some max protect, more quick passes, outlet receivers, TE helping to block, slide protection, rollouts, more shotgun formations, there are so many ways to help a struggling O-line. But instead they were just left out there to get eaten alive. The players deserve their fair share of the blame, but some of that has to go on the coaching staff.

 

[FL Cane]

Great analysis, in terms of you win-loss projection, for Miami to have a really good season, can they steal a win or two as they overcome an Oline that will continue to go through growing pains?

A game where the defense creates 17 points in a situation where the offense only produces a TD or two. Something of that nature

It could definitely happen. I believe we'll have another elite defense this year. We won't lose another game this year where we create 3+ turnovers. The fact that we only had 3-points off of four turnovers yesterday is infuriating.

I could see how we could go 11-1, I just don't think we're at a level to compete there yet. Manny talked about a disease in this team that still needs to be wiped out. I think that disease, our OL, and our special teams limit us to an at best 10-2 schedule.

The next three games should help our OL grow substantially before we go up against VT. We've got UNC, Bethune, and Central Michigan to sort things out.

Also, we never gave up and were in a good mental place all game. That goes a long way.

 

[k9cane]

It could definitely happen. I believe we'll have another elite defense this year. We won't lose another game this year where we create 3+ turnovers. The fact that we only had 3-points off of four turnovers yesterday is infuriating.

I could see how we could go 11-1, I just don't think we're at a level to compete there yet. Manny talked about a disease in this team that still needs to be wiped out. I think that disease, our OL, and our special teams limit us to an at best 10-2 schedule.

The next three games should help our OL grow substantially before we go up against VT. We've got UNC, Bethune, and Central Michigan to sort things out.

Also, we never gave up and were in a good mental place all game. That goes a long way.

There were time last night where I felt this team would pack it in, bend, but honestly, they fought through it till the end. Last year vs LSU it felt like they capitulated in the 2nd quarter

What this team needs right now are some confidence building wins, some blowouts, where you can really see progress being made. Last night, the nature of that game, was never going to be that

 

[filmcane]

Rewatching the number of opportunities we blew in last night's game was sobering, but I think a few key observations and takeaways could be made. For the most part, this team is on a good long-term trajectory. That's what matters at this stage in our development. Here's what I saw:

• Last night in my "Post Game Thoughts (For the Rational Fans)" thread, I criticized Scott Patchan for his play. I think that was unwarranted. In rewatching the game, he was in the thick of it almost every play and was a major reason why we shut down their run. While I do think Hill and Rousseau could ultimately pass him, and have a higher ceiling, he's got a motor and will be hard to unseat.
  
  
• Jarren Williams still needs to adapt to the speed of the game. At times he was slow, and some of the sacks were completely on him. Over the next few games, he has a chance to get tuned to it. Overall, I think he'll be a very good QB by the end of the year.
  
  
• Zion Nelson played worse than my initial impression of him. I expect him to only get better, especially the way he's been practicing as a true freshman, but he wasn't ready. He was unplayable at times. I think the Zion you see at the end of the season will impress.
  
  
• John Campbell was bad. Arguably worse than anyone else on that line. I believe that he'll only get better, as with Zion. The next 3 game stretch is perfect for him and Zion to get settled.
  
  
• Beyond KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, all our other WR's were non-factors in this game. I think Osborn is going to be a star for us this year. Thomas made some great catches but also dropped a crucial (but very difficult) pass in the endzone that would've likely won us this game. Not to mention the muffed punt. He's got a lot to prove, but the talent to prove everyone wrong.
  
  
• Deejay Dallas is going to have a great year. That one-handed catch and run was a beauty, and he had some great runs on the night. Cam'Ron Davis had a few good runs, one terrific one being called back. With Lingard coming back and Burns being healthy, we've got excellent depth at this position.
  
  
• The OL is going to be a liability all season. While I believe our interior played fairly well yesterday, our tackles will continue to be a weak spot until they get settled. I believe the tackles we saw yesterday will be miles better by the Virginia Tech game. Nonetheless, I think we'll lose another game this season because of bad OL play.
  
  
• Our secondary played great yesterday. Trajan Bandy is elite, and Al Blades held his own on the other side of the field. For the most part, we locked down Florida's supposed top WR room. Frierson had some nice plays but got burned on that go route. Can't wait to see what DJ Ivey can do.
  
  
• Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall played extremely well. Add in Bubba Bolden to the mix, and we've got three safeties that can be stars here. I think Carter silenced anybody that doubted him last night.
  
  
• Romeo Finley is another guy who showed that he has what it takes. Not only did he come up with a crucial INT, but he was in the thick of it most of the game.
  
  
• I don't think our LB play was at an elite level, but it was good. Shaq is the QB of our defense and we adjusted accordingly. He and Pickney had some nice tackles but got easily beat on a few plays. They weren't quick enough to get to Franks. Overall, they will be a headache for any team we play.
  
  
• Our DT play went both ways. On one hand, we stuffed the run. On the other, we couldn't get the interior pressure we needed to disrupt Franks. Losing Nesta was a bigger hit than I thought it would be, and we need him back as soon as possible. I think we'll be fine in ACC play, but I thought we'd push their line a bit more.
  
  
• Louis Hedley had a few ok punts, one very nice one in particular. Of course, there were a few that were not so good. Overall, I think he'll be a solid punter for us as the year goes on. Yesterday was his first game in D1 CFB. He'll only go up from here.
  
  
• Bubba Baxa missed a crucial field goal that no elite CFB kicker would miss. While it was a bad angle, we've got to make those kicks.
  
  
• Tate Martell got too much burn at WR. Two potential reasons for this. First, our other wideouts may not be fully understanding the playbook or concepts, whereas Tate knows it inside out. Second, I'm pretty sure there were some passing options on those wildcats.
  
  
• It's evident our offense isn't fully installed yet. Once we went off script in the first quarter, the number of motions we used fell significantly. There were a few times where Jarren would have to signal 2 to 3 times for the WR's to begin their motion. Some of them just didn't pick it up initially. I believe this offense will only get better, the next few games are crucial.
  
  
• Enos made some really nice play calls and went very conservative at times. It's the first time in years that he's made calls, and he'll only get better as he better understands what he has to work with and our tendencies. All in all, this offense will be better than anything we had under Mark Richt.
  
  
• Diaz's game management wasn't as bad as I originally thought. While I do think it was a mistake not to kick the FG on 4th & 9 (Baxa has enough of a leg to do it) he made some ballsy calls as well. One thing he showed, was fire. I haven't seen a coach of ours since Butch go on back to the benches and get in our guy's faces consistently. Give Diaz time, he's the right guy for the job. Mark Richt, Al Golden, or Randy Shannon would've gotten blown out last night. Diaz will learn, just like Dabo did. Lots of good similarities between those two.

Season Predictions - Reevaluated

• Right now, I think we're a 9-3/10-2 team. I don't believe that we have the offensive line or special teams play to go 11-1. More likely than not, I think we go 9-3 and get to the ACC Championship game. I think UVA is an 8-4/9-3 team themselves, and that they'll have issues getting past Pitt, VT, and us. I'm most worried about our game with UVA, because of the short week we have after our matchup with Virginia Tech.
  
  
• I think, with great recruiting, that we'll need 3-4 seasons before we can compete at an elite level. We've got a lot of holes on this team that we need to fill. Dabo didn't build Clemson in a day, it took him 3-4 seasons to really get things rolling. We need to give Diaz time, there isn't a coach in the country that could come here and make us elite in under 2 seasons.
  
  
• If we somehow manage to win out and go 11-1, we'll be way ahead of schedule and well on our way to a NY6 bowl. Either way, we can still get to double-digit wins even with a 9-3 season. I just don't think we have the pieces to go 11-1.
  
  
• I think over the next two seasons that we'll show flashes. You'll have a window into what we can be, but we won't do it consistently enough. I think that means we will begin to consistently win our division, and at least show that we deserve to be on the same field as Clemson.
  
  
• Bonus Point: Florida isn't a top-ten team. We gift-wrapped that game for them yesterday. With games against LSU, UGA, Auburn, Mizzou, and Kentucky coming up, I don't think they finish better than 9-3. They're not that far ahead of us.

Good overall analysis, but I will respectfully disagree regarding them not having the ability to win the next 11. UVA is overrated and is coming to our house. I don't believe that Diaz will allow the OL to just continue to cost the team. From day one, he's been all about accountability and I believe that Manny and his coaches are going to continue to coach, teach and improve this team. FSU, not UVA is our biggest loss threat. That will be a monster game and they have one of the best DT's in the country.

Anyway, good observations and hopefully, the team lives up to my expectations and not yours

 

[Handsome Squidbum]

Rewatching the number of opportunities we blew in last night's game was sobering, but I think a few key observations and takeaways could be made. For the most part, this team is on a good long-term trajectory. That's what matters at this stage in our development. Here's what I saw:

• Last night in my "Post Game Thoughts (For the Rational Fans)" thread, I criticized Scott Patchan for his play. I think that was unwarranted. In rewatching the game, he was in the thick of it almost every play and was a major reason why we shut down their run. While I do think Hill and Rousseau could ultimately pass him, and have a higher ceiling, he's got a motor and will be hard to unseat.
  
  
• Jarren Williams still needs to adapt to the speed of the game. At times he was slow, and some of the sacks were completely on him. Over the next few games, he has a chance to get tuned to it. Overall, I think he'll be a very good QB by the end of the year.
  
  
• Zion Nelson played worse than my initial impression of him. I expect him to only get better, especially the way he's been practicing as a true freshman, but he wasn't ready. He was unplayable at times. I think the Zion you see at the end of the season will impress.
  
  
• John Campbell was bad. Arguably worse than anyone else on that line. I believe that he'll only get better, as with Zion. The next 3 game stretch is perfect for him and Zion to get settled.
  
  
• Beyond KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, all our other WR's were non-factors in this game. I think Osborn is going to be a star for us this year. Thomas made some great catches but also dropped a crucial (but very difficult) pass in the endzone that would've likely won us this game. Not to mention the muffed punt. He's got a lot to prove, but the talent to prove everyone wrong.
  
  
• Deejay Dallas is going to have a great year. That one-handed catch and run was a beauty, and he had some great runs on the night. Cam'Ron Davis had a few good runs, one terrific one being called back. With Lingard coming back and Burns being healthy, we've got excellent depth at this position.
  
  
• The OL is going to be a liability all season. While I believe our interior played fairly well yesterday, our tackles will continue to be a weak spot until they get settled. I believe the tackles we saw yesterday will be miles better by the Virginia Tech game. Nonetheless, I think we'll lose another game this season because of bad OL play.
  
  
• Our secondary played great yesterday. Trajan Bandy is elite, and Al Blades held his own on the other side of the field. For the most part, we locked down Florida's supposed top WR room. Frierson had some nice plays but got burned on that go route. Can't wait to see what DJ Ivey can do.
  
  
• Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall played extremely well. Add in Bubba Bolden to the mix, and we've got three safeties that can be stars here. I think Carter silenced anybody that doubted him last night.
  
  
• Romeo Finley is another guy who showed that he has what it takes. Not only did he come up with a crucial INT, but he was in the thick of it most of the game.
  
  
• I don't think our LB play was at an elite level, but it was good. Shaq is the QB of our defense and we adjusted accordingly. He and Pickney had some nice tackles but got easily beat on a few plays. They weren't quick enough to get to Franks. Overall, they will be a headache for any team we play.
  
  
• Our DT play went both ways. On one hand, we stuffed the run. On the other, we couldn't get the interior pressure we needed to disrupt Franks. Losing Nesta was a bigger hit than I thought it would be, and we need him back as soon as possible. I think we'll be fine in ACC play, but I thought we'd push their line a bit more.
  
  
• Louis Hedley had a few ok punts, one very nice one in particular. Of course, there were a few that were not so good. Overall, I think he'll be a solid punter for us as the year goes on. Yesterday was his first game in D1 CFB. He'll only go up from here.
  
  
• Bubba Baxa missed a crucial field goal that no elite CFB kicker would miss. While it was a bad angle, we've got to make those kicks.
  
  
• Tate Martell got too much burn at WR. Two potential reasons for this. First, our other wideouts may not be fully understanding the playbook or concepts, whereas Tate knows it inside out. Second, I'm pretty sure there were some passing options on those wildcats.
  
  
• It's evident our offense isn't fully installed yet. Once we went off script in the first quarter, the number of motions we used fell significantly. There were a few times where Jarren would have to signal 2 to 3 times for the WR's to begin their motion. Some of them just didn't pick it up initially. I believe this offense will only get better, the next few games are crucial.
  
  
• Enos made some really nice play calls and went very conservative at times. It's the first time in years that he's made calls, and he'll only get better as he better understands what he has to work with and our tendencies. All in all, this offense will be better than anything we had under Mark Richt.
  
  
• Diaz's game management wasn't as bad as I originally thought. While I do think it was a mistake not to kick the FG on 4th & 9 (Baxa has enough of a leg to do it) he made some ballsy calls as well. One thing he showed, was fire. I haven't seen a coach of ours since Butch go on back to the benches and get in our guy's faces consistently. Give Diaz time, he's the right guy for the job. Mark Richt, Al Golden, or Randy Shannon would've gotten blown out last night. Diaz will learn, just like Dabo did. Lots of good similarities between those two.

Season Predictions - Reevaluated

• Right now, I think we're a 9-3/10-2 team. I don't believe that we have the offensive line or special teams play to go 11-1. More likely than not, I think we go 9-3 and get to the ACC Championship game. I think UVA is an 8-4/9-3 team themselves, and that they'll have issues getting past Pitt, VT, and us. I'm most worried about our game with UVA, because of the short week we have after our matchup with Virginia Tech.
  
  
• I think, with great recruiting, that we'll need 3-4 seasons before we can compete at an elite level. We've got a lot of holes on this team that we need to fill. Dabo didn't build Clemson in a day, it took him 3-4 seasons to really get things rolling. We need to give Diaz time, there isn't a coach in the country that could come here and make us elite in under 2 seasons.
  
  
• If we somehow manage to win out and go 11-1, we'll be way ahead of schedule and well on our way to a NY6 bowl. Either way, we can still get to double-digit wins even with a 9-3 season. I just don't think we have the pieces to go 11-1.
  
  
• I think over the next two seasons that we'll show flashes. You'll have a window into what we can be, but we won't do it consistently enough. I think that means we will begin to consistently win our division, and at least show that we deserve to be on the same field as Clemson.
  
  
• Bonus Point: Florida isn't a top-ten team. We gift-wrapped that game for them yesterday. With games against LSU, UGA, Auburn, Mizzou, and Kentucky coming up, I don't think they finish better than 9-3. They're not that far ahead of us.

Peterson at UW took his blue chip ratio from 24 to 40 to 54% in about a 3 year span. Miami cracked the 50% mark because the awful 2015 class finally cycled out and that brought up the ratio, rather than Miami actually filling up the roster with blue chips.

Regarding your future predictions:

Recruiting is still going to be a problem. Diaz let his ace recruiter walk. Richt was abysmal at recruiting OL, so here we are. You don't normally find quality OL in the transfer portal so Diaz isn't fixing it that way. Many HS teams in S Fl run a spread O variation, so if we'd brought in a spread OC we might be able to find underrated talent in our backyard. For example, Oregon looks for quick, smaller OL which you can find lots of around the country, the big 5 star maulers who fit the pro style get SEC bags and we have zero chance. Then we end up settling for project guys like Zion who we hope to turn into pro style OTs. Then we act shocked when it doesn't pan out. Its like Golden insisting on a 3-4. The schools in S FL produce players far better suited a 4-3. With a different offense, we could have fixed the OL issues in 2 years with homegrown talent. Unfortunately, as long as Enos runs his playaction pro style, I think we are going to find ourselves woefully deficient on the OL.

 

[Miami04]

Rewatching the number of opportunities we blew in last night's game was sobering, but I think a few key observations and takeaways could be made. For the most part, this team is on a good long-term trajectory. That's what matters at this stage in our development. Here's what I saw:

• Last night in my "Post Game Thoughts (For the Rational Fans)" thread, I criticized Scott Patchan for his play. I think that was unwarranted. In rewatching the game, he was in the thick of it almost every play and was a major reason why we shut down their run. While I do think Hill and Rousseau could ultimately pass him, and have a higher ceiling, he's got a motor and will be hard to unseat.
  
  
• Jarren Williams still needs to adapt to the speed of the game. At times he was slow, and some of the sacks were completely on him. Over the next few games, he has a chance to get tuned to it. Overall, I think he'll be a very good QB by the end of the year.
  
  
• Zion Nelson played worse than my initial impression of him. I expect him to only get better, especially the way he's been practicing as a true freshman, but he wasn't ready. He was unplayable at times. I think the Zion you see at the end of the season will impress.
  
  
• John Campbell was bad. Arguably worse than anyone else on that line. I believe that he'll only get better, as with Zion. The next 3 game stretch is perfect for him and Zion to get settled.
  
  
• Beyond KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, all our other WR's were non-factors in this game. I think Osborn is going to be a star for us this year. Thomas made some great catches but also dropped a crucial (but very difficult) pass in the endzone that would've likely won us this game. Not to mention the muffed punt. He's got a lot to prove, but the talent to prove everyone wrong.
  
  
• Deejay Dallas is going to have a great year. That one-handed catch and run was a beauty, and he had some great runs on the night. Cam'Ron Davis had a few good runs, one terrific one being called back. With Lingard coming back and Burns being healthy, we've got excellent depth at this position.
  
  
• The OL is going to be a liability all season. While I believe our interior played fairly well yesterday, our tackles will continue to be a weak spot until they get settled. I believe the tackles we saw yesterday will be miles better by the Virginia Tech game. Nonetheless, I think we'll lose another game this season because of bad OL play.
  
  
• Our secondary played great yesterday. Trajan Bandy is elite, and Al Blades held his own on the other side of the field. For the most part, we locked down Florida's supposed top WR room. Frierson had some nice plays but got burned on that go route. Can't wait to see what DJ Ivey can do.
  
  
• Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall played extremely well. Add in Bubba Bolden to the mix, and we've got three safeties that can be stars here. I think Carter silenced anybody that doubted him last night.
  
  
• Romeo Finley is another guy who showed that he has what it takes. Not only did he come up with a crucial INT, but he was in the thick of it most of the game.
  
  
• I don't think our LB play was at an elite level, but it was good. Shaq is the QB of our defense and we adjusted accordingly. He and Pickney had some nice tackles but got easily beat on a few plays. They weren't quick enough to get to Franks. Overall, they will be a headache for any team we play.
  
  
• Our DT play went both ways. On one hand, we stuffed the run. On the other, we couldn't get the interior pressure we needed to disrupt Franks. Losing Nesta was a bigger hit than I thought it would be, and we need him back as soon as possible. I think we'll be fine in ACC play, but I thought we'd push their line a bit more.
  
  
• Louis Hedley had a few ok punts, one very nice one in particular. Of course, there were a few that were not so good. Overall, I think he'll be a solid punter for us as the year goes on. Yesterday was his first game in D1 CFB. He'll only go up from here.
  
  
• Bubba Baxa missed a crucial field goal that no elite CFB kicker would miss. While it was a bad angle, we've got to make those kicks.
  
  
• Tate Martell got too much burn at WR. Two potential reasons for this. First, our other wideouts may not be fully understanding the playbook or concepts, whereas Tate knows it inside out. Second, I'm pretty sure there were some passing options on those wildcats.
  
  
• It's evident our offense isn't fully installed yet. Once we went off script in the first quarter, the number of motions we used fell significantly. There were a few times where Jarren would have to signal 2 to 3 times for the WR's to begin their motion. Some of them just didn't pick it up initially. I believe this offense will only get better, the next few games are crucial.
  
  
• Enos made some really nice play calls and went very conservative at times. It's the first time in years that he's made calls, and he'll only get better as he better understands what he has to work with and our tendencies. All in all, this offense will be better than anything we had under Mark Richt.
  
  
• Diaz's game management wasn't as bad as I originally thought. While I do think it was a mistake not to kick the FG on 4th & 9 (Baxa has enough of a leg to do it) he made some ballsy calls as well. One thing he showed, was fire. I haven't seen a coach of ours since Butch go on back to the benches and get in our guy's faces consistently. Give Diaz time, he's the right guy for the job. Mark Richt, Al Golden, or Randy Shannon would've gotten blown out last night. Diaz will learn, just like Dabo did. Lots of good similarities between those two.

Season Predictions - Reevaluated

• Right now, I think we're a 9-3/10-2 team. I don't believe that we have the offensive line or special teams play to go 11-1. More likely than not, I think we go 9-3 and get to the ACC Championship game. I think UVA is an 8-4/9-3 team themselves, and that they'll have issues getting past Pitt, VT, and us. I'm most worried about our game with UVA, because of the short week we have after our matchup with Virginia Tech.
  
  
• I think, with great recruiting, that we'll need 3-4 seasons before we can compete at an elite level. We've got a lot of holes on this team that we need to fill. Dabo didn't build Clemson in a day, it took him 3-4 seasons to really get things rolling. We need to give Diaz time, there isn't a coach in the country that could come here and make us elite in under 2 seasons.
  
  
• If we somehow manage to win out and go 11-1, we'll be way ahead of schedule and well on our way to a NY6 bowl. Either way, we can still get to double-digit wins even with a 9-3 season. I just don't think we have the pieces to go 11-1.
  
  
• I think over the next two seasons that we'll show flashes. You'll have a window into what we can be, but we won't do it consistently enough. I think that means we will begin to consistently win our division, and at least show that we deserve to be on the same field as Clemson.
  
  
• Bonus Point: Florida isn't a top-ten team. We gift-wrapped that game for them yesterday. With games against LSU, UGA, Auburn, Mizzou, and Kentucky coming up, I don't think they finish better than 9-3. They're not that far ahead of us.

Perfect. On point.

 

[canesmh18]

Magically after getting a new coach every 3 or 4 years - we are constantly " 3 or 4 years away from being elite"

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Magically after getting a new coach every 3 or 4 years - we are constantly " 3 or 4 years away from being elite"

At least it wasn't 2 years. That jumped out at me immediately. The standard claim here and on any fan site is that the team is 2 years away...

I'll believe it if the recruiting ranking gets into the top 10 and stays there for a few years. I don't believe in adjustments or claims that Florida kids are worth an extra half star, crap like that. We've blamed coaching for so long we've got posters and administrators who actually believe it. Meanwhile the schools playing for national titles are sending multiple kids into the first round while we've got touted defensive tackles who either get drafted late or not at all.

I still believe that defensive tackle position is the litmus test. We are nowhere close to where we need to be. Hodge podge central. It doesn't matter if a kid flashes here and there. He'll be exposed the next game. That was a mistake Herbstreit made last night. He was too high on Ford and didn't point out our weakness in general at that position. Defensive line is our most overstated position right now. That Wisconsin game would unfold the same way again versus the wrong opponent. It seems like every time we play Florida in an opener -- 2008, 2013 -- the defensive front looks better than it really is and Canes fans place too much stock in what they just witnessed as opposed to big picture talent level logic.

 

[954cane]

Rewatching the number of opportunities we blew in last night's game was sobering, but I think a few key observations and takeaways could be made. For the most part, this team is on a good long-term trajectory. That's what matters at this stage in our development. Here's what I saw:

• Last night in my "Post Game Thoughts (For the Rational Fans)" thread, I criticized Scott Patchan for his play. I think that was unwarranted. In rewatching the game, he was in the thick of it almost every play and was a major reason why we shut down their run. While I do think Hill and Rousseau could ultimately pass him, and have a higher ceiling, he's got a motor and will be hard to unseat.
  
  
• Jarren Williams still needs to adapt to the speed of the game. At times he was slow, and some of the sacks were completely on him. Over the next few games, he has a chance to get tuned to it. Overall, I think he'll be a very good QB by the end of the year.
  
  
• Zion Nelson played worse than my initial impression of him. I expect him to only get better, especially the way he's been practicing as a true freshman, but he wasn't ready. He was unplayable at times. I think the Zion you see at the end of the season will impress.
  
  
• John Campbell was bad. Arguably worse than anyone else on that line. I believe that he'll only get better, as with Zion. The next 3 game stretch is perfect for him and Zion to get settled.
  
  
• Beyond KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, all our other WR's were non-factors in this game. I think Osborn is going to be a star for us this year. Thomas made some great catches but also dropped a crucial (but very difficult) pass in the endzone that would've likely won us this game. Not to mention the muffed punt. He's got a lot to prove, but the talent to prove everyone wrong.
  
  
• Deejay Dallas is going to have a great year. That one-handed catch and run was a beauty, and he had some great runs on the night. Cam'Ron Davis had a few good runs, one terrific one being called back. With Lingard coming back and Burns being healthy, we've got excellent depth at this position.
  
  
• The OL is going to be a liability all season. While I believe our interior played fairly well yesterday, our tackles will continue to be a weak spot until they get settled. I believe the tackles we saw yesterday will be miles better by the Virginia Tech game. Nonetheless, I think we'll lose another game this season because of bad OL play.
  
  
• Our secondary played great yesterday. Trajan Bandy is elite, and Al Blades held his own on the other side of the field. For the most part, we locked down Florida's supposed top WR room. Frierson had some nice plays but got burned on that go route. Can't wait to see what DJ Ivey can do.
  
  
• Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall played extremely well. Add in Bubba Bolden to the mix, and we've got three safeties that can be stars here. I think Carter silenced anybody that doubted him last night.
  
  
• Romeo Finley is another guy who showed that he has what it takes. Not only did he come up with a crucial INT, but he was in the thick of it most of the game.
  
  
• I don't think our LB play was at an elite level, but it was good. Shaq is the QB of our defense and we adjusted accordingly. He and Pickney had some nice tackles but got easily beat on a few plays. They weren't quick enough to get to Franks. Overall, they will be a headache for any team we play.
  
  
• Our DT play went both ways. On one hand, we stuffed the run. On the other, we couldn't get the interior pressure we needed to disrupt Franks. Losing Nesta was a bigger hit than I thought it would be, and we need him back as soon as possible. I think we'll be fine in ACC play, but I thought we'd push their line a bit more.
  
  
• Louis Hedley had a few ok punts, one very nice one in particular. Of course, there were a few that were not so good. Overall, I think he'll be a solid punter for us as the year goes on. Yesterday was his first game in D1 CFB. He'll only go up from here.
  
  
• Bubba Baxa missed a crucial field goal that no elite CFB kicker would miss. While it was a bad angle, we've got to make those kicks.
  
  
• Tate Martell got too much burn at WR. Two potential reasons for this. First, our other wideouts may not be fully understanding the playbook or concepts, whereas Tate knows it inside out. Second, I'm pretty sure there were some passing options on those wildcats.
  
  
• It's evident our offense isn't fully installed yet. Once we went off script in the first quarter, the number of motions we used fell significantly. There were a few times where Jarren would have to signal 2 to 3 times for the WR's to begin their motion. Some of them just didn't pick it up initially. I believe this offense will only get better, the next few games are crucial.
  
  
• Enos made some really nice play calls and went very conservative at times. It's the first time in years that he's made calls, and he'll only get better as he better understands what he has to work with and our tendencies. All in all, this offense will be better than anything we had under Mark Richt.
  
  
• Diaz's game management wasn't as bad as I originally thought. While I do think it was a mistake not to kick the FG on 4th & 9 (Baxa has enough of a leg to do it) he made some ballsy calls as well. One thing he showed, was fire. I haven't seen a coach of ours since Butch go on back to the benches and get in our guy's faces consistently. Give Diaz time, he's the right guy for the job. Mark Richt, Al Golden, or Randy Shannon would've gotten blown out last night. Diaz will learn, just like Dabo did. Lots of good similarities between those two.

Season Predictions - Reevaluated

• Right now, I think we're a 9-3/10-2 team. I don't believe that we have the offensive line or special teams play to go 11-1. More likely than not, I think we go 9-3 and get to the ACC Championship game. I think UVA is an 8-4/9-3 team themselves, and that they'll have issues getting past Pitt, VT, and us. I'm most worried about our game with UVA, because of the short week we have after our matchup with Virginia Tech.
  
  
• I think, with great recruiting, that we'll need 3-4 seasons before we can compete at an elite level. We've got a lot of holes on this team that we need to fill. Dabo didn't build Clemson in a day, it took him 3-4 seasons to really get things rolling. We need to give Diaz time, there isn't a coach in the country that could come here and make us elite in under 2 seasons.
  
  
• If we somehow manage to win out and go 11-1, we'll be way ahead of schedule and well on our way to a NY6 bowl. Either way, we can still get to double-digit wins even with a 9-3 season. I just don't think we have the pieces to go 11-1.
  
  
• I think over the next two seasons that we'll show flashes. You'll have a window into what we can be, but we won't do it consistently enough. I think that means we will begin to consistently win our division, and at least show that we deserve to be on the same field as Clemson.
  
  
• Bonus Point: Florida isn't a top-ten team. We gift-wrapped that game for them yesterday. With games against LSU, UGA, Auburn, Mizzou, and Kentucky coming up, I don't think they finish better than 9-3. They're not that far ahead of us.

Agree with mostly everything. Very good post. Our offense will not be as good as Mark Richt’s first 2 years though. Think our offense will be ranked 40-50s area. Very concerning.

 

[prinmemo]

Agree with mostly everything. Very good post. Our offense will not be as good as Mark Richt’s first 2 years though. Think our offense will be ranked 40-50s area. Very concerning.

In that case, if we have another top 25 defense then we should be good for a 10-2 season or better.