Make no mistake about it, last night hurt like **** and the manner in which we lost is a microcosm of the 'disease' that has inflicted our program the past 15+ years. There are a lot things to be rightfully upset about and I, like many of you, have considerable questions about this coaching staff just two games in. With that said, I have seen enough to be encouraged as well and with the next 5 games of our schedule at home, we have a chance to get momentum back going again:
- I like the adjustments Enos made week over week and the growth Jarren has made from game 1 to game 2 was really encouraging. Our receivers were utilized properly and Brevin continues to eat. This is the best i've felt about QB play since Kaaya was here and JW's ceiling is considerably higher than that.
- Kicking Scaife out to RT and sliding Clark into the starting lineup paid dividends. Our 1-2 punch of Dallas and Harris ran hard and effectively and Jarren was under pressure far less. UNC dominated an SEC o-line in week one, and at the very least, last night was a stalemate. I'm hopeful this is a formula for success moving forward.
- We continue to struggle in the red zone but just south of 500 total yards should put you in a position to win games most of the time.
- Defensively is where my concerns lie at the moment. We played really well as a unit in the 2nd and 3rd quarters but spotted them 17 points in the 1st and completely imploded down the stretch. That's a sign of poor preparation and not being mentally tough enough to finish teams off.
- The strength of our defense is along the defensive line and our guys aren't getting up the field as much as they have the past two years. With that said, I refuse to believe that Baker is running a different scheme and perhaps this is simply being out-schemed. Again, that goes back to coaching.
- Our Linebackers have always been a bit overrated nationally but the lack of east-west speed is extremely evident. Finley is the only guy out there that looks like a true Miami backer.
- Our Secondary ultimately cost us on the final drive, and while it's easy to pile on Rumph, Banda, etc., let's not forget how young we are back there. Bandy is the only upperclassman that was out there (with Carter's ejection) and he probably had the worst game of any of the DB's. Hall and Ivey are true sophomore with limited reps, Knowles should be playing at FAU and Bolden still hasn't seen time yet. I'd like to see Williams and Couch continue to get snaps and Keontra Smith get worked in more as well.
- Don't get me started on Special Teams. I have no idea how/why Baxa was ranked as high as he was and Patke has no business coaching this unit. Major mistake by Diaz to give him this responsibility and something he probably needs to be reconsidering.
Overall, it probably doesn't help that we started the year with a neutral site game against a top 10 team and then played an emotional road night game in-conference Say what you want about UNC and how much of a dumpster fire they were the last two years, but Howell is a legit QB and they may very well be ranked and 4-0 going into their matchup with Clemson. Ultimately, we are -7 after two games and could easily be 2-0 and ranked in the top 20 if our kicker makes two chip shot FG and we don't give up 4th and 17.
