Canegrad89
Recruit
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,197
A really tough loss for the Canes. Very disappointing after the magical 9-0 start to the season but serious progress has been made in this program and there's a lot still to play for this yr.
Some random observations:
1) Missed Holding Calls on Ga Tech DBs: FSU showed other ACC teams how to slow down Miami's O. One way FSU did it was by their DBs being very physical with our WRs...and holding a lot. Ga Tech copied that part of FSU's playbook & the terrible ACC refs missed some highly impactful holding calls. There was a blatant hold on the shoulder pad of our WR in the 1H that should've been an easy call and, at minimum, advanced us 15 yards. We were marching on that drive. Instead, Ga Tech got the ball & had an 8-minute drive and scored a TD (which completely changed the complexion of the game as that might have been a 14-pt swing). I believe every questionable play should be reviewable by the ACC's Command Center in NC (regardless of the call or non-call on the field) as the refs are amateurs and this one major miss alone may have cost the ACC a serious challenger for a Natty. If the ACC wants greater respect, it has to come up with a better approach.
2) Need a Lot More Throws to the TEs: Out of the known quantities on both squads, Arroyo is likely the 2nd or 3rd best pro prospect on the field (behind Cam & Francis). He looks like a future all-pro. Mismatch nightmare. Huge catch radius (perfect if Cam is a little off or needs a miracle play to be made). No-one on Ga Tech can stop him or any of the other teams we'll play. He should be routinely catching 5-7 balls per game...and gaining over 120 yds per game. Who made the biggest impact play in this game? The TE room is LOADED (Cam has performed at a high level this season, Williams has made some really big plays & is a huge target, and Lofton is just a straight baller & can make big plays in crunch time as we saw against Cal). No-one can hang with these dudes. Please make them a bigger part of the O & we'll have greater success as the weather cools & the comp stiffens. If teams are holding the heck out of our WR (and they are not getting open), this is a big part of your answer.
3) Need More Variety in the Run Game: Yes, the run game was looking good the last few games but ACC defensive coordinators (and DCs in the playoffs) are way too good to run the same stuff repeatedly. Need some runs to the outside. Need some of the explosive players to get some touches (CJ on a reverse or toss sweep would have been nice in this game as they can't hang with his speed). Allen & Lyle should be getting some carries as well. There's a ton of film out on the run game this year & it needs some variety to succeed the rest of the way.
4) Take the Points Early: I'm often a fan of going for it on 4th down because the odds are typically in your favor (and we've had a lethal offense this yr). Today when we were not that crisp in the 1H, it was a mistake not to take that FG (and it felt like it before the ball was even snapped on 4th down). If you're in desperation mode in the latter stages of the game, you go for it on fourth 100% of the time. Generally, I'd much rather Mario be aggressive than ultra-conservative but that early decision to forgo the FG was a miss.
5) Ga Tech is Fairly One-Dimensional w/ Haynes King Recovering from Injury: Yes, Philo came in & completed some passes but they only had 99 passing yds. There was ZERO MYSTERY as to what kind of O they were going to be running & yet we couldn't stop it. In that context, disappointing that we could not limit them to less than 271 yds of rushing & almost 35 mins of T.O.P. (10 mins more than us). Baron crashing inside fairly often left some big open areas for them to run in. Jaden went completely the wrong direction on the 1st drive & missed a tackle (TD). Our great teams would have done what '01 did to Nebraska in the Rose Bowl & completely suffocated this one dimensional O. Guidry succeeded in part by manufacturing big plays on D last year (with creative blitzes etc). I get that the D likely needs to be more vanilla this yr but I feel like he's not dialing up nearly enough plays that could end a series due to a negative play so offenses are really getting in rhythm against us.
6) Some Check-Downs Were Dropped: RBs need to put in work catching the ball. Not their finest day today. That's got to be there for Cam to keep drives alive.
7) Jacolby George: Has really developed under KB's tutelage & came through big time today when we needed him. Major props on some huge plays. He needs to continue to assert himself. He was the most effective of all of our WRs today (with X right behind him).
8) Alderman: Would like to see more of him. I thought he played well. Was 2nd on the team with 5 tackles & 4 assists.
9) OJ FrederFREAK: Great to see the young man straight balling. Huge addition to the team. Love his technique & physicality. Impressive as a freshman. Keep working hard & getting better.
There wasn't much to like about this game (the start time, that ugly field, their play style, our inability to stop their run game, and their holding). Time to turn the page on that one and focus on winning out as there is still much to play for.
Your thoughts?
Some random observations:
1) Missed Holding Calls on Ga Tech DBs: FSU showed other ACC teams how to slow down Miami's O. One way FSU did it was by their DBs being very physical with our WRs...and holding a lot. Ga Tech copied that part of FSU's playbook & the terrible ACC refs missed some highly impactful holding calls. There was a blatant hold on the shoulder pad of our WR in the 1H that should've been an easy call and, at minimum, advanced us 15 yards. We were marching on that drive. Instead, Ga Tech got the ball & had an 8-minute drive and scored a TD (which completely changed the complexion of the game as that might have been a 14-pt swing). I believe every questionable play should be reviewable by the ACC's Command Center in NC (regardless of the call or non-call on the field) as the refs are amateurs and this one major miss alone may have cost the ACC a serious challenger for a Natty. If the ACC wants greater respect, it has to come up with a better approach.
2) Need a Lot More Throws to the TEs: Out of the known quantities on both squads, Arroyo is likely the 2nd or 3rd best pro prospect on the field (behind Cam & Francis). He looks like a future all-pro. Mismatch nightmare. Huge catch radius (perfect if Cam is a little off or needs a miracle play to be made). No-one on Ga Tech can stop him or any of the other teams we'll play. He should be routinely catching 5-7 balls per game...and gaining over 120 yds per game. Who made the biggest impact play in this game? The TE room is LOADED (Cam has performed at a high level this season, Williams has made some really big plays & is a huge target, and Lofton is just a straight baller & can make big plays in crunch time as we saw against Cal). No-one can hang with these dudes. Please make them a bigger part of the O & we'll have greater success as the weather cools & the comp stiffens. If teams are holding the heck out of our WR (and they are not getting open), this is a big part of your answer.
3) Need More Variety in the Run Game: Yes, the run game was looking good the last few games but ACC defensive coordinators (and DCs in the playoffs) are way too good to run the same stuff repeatedly. Need some runs to the outside. Need some of the explosive players to get some touches (CJ on a reverse or toss sweep would have been nice in this game as they can't hang with his speed). Allen & Lyle should be getting some carries as well. There's a ton of film out on the run game this year & it needs some variety to succeed the rest of the way.
4) Take the Points Early: I'm often a fan of going for it on 4th down because the odds are typically in your favor (and we've had a lethal offense this yr). Today when we were not that crisp in the 1H, it was a mistake not to take that FG (and it felt like it before the ball was even snapped on 4th down). If you're in desperation mode in the latter stages of the game, you go for it on fourth 100% of the time. Generally, I'd much rather Mario be aggressive than ultra-conservative but that early decision to forgo the FG was a miss.
5) Ga Tech is Fairly One-Dimensional w/ Haynes King Recovering from Injury: Yes, Philo came in & completed some passes but they only had 99 passing yds. There was ZERO MYSTERY as to what kind of O they were going to be running & yet we couldn't stop it. In that context, disappointing that we could not limit them to less than 271 yds of rushing & almost 35 mins of T.O.P. (10 mins more than us). Baron crashing inside fairly often left some big open areas for them to run in. Jaden went completely the wrong direction on the 1st drive & missed a tackle (TD). Our great teams would have done what '01 did to Nebraska in the Rose Bowl & completely suffocated this one dimensional O. Guidry succeeded in part by manufacturing big plays on D last year (with creative blitzes etc). I get that the D likely needs to be more vanilla this yr but I feel like he's not dialing up nearly enough plays that could end a series due to a negative play so offenses are really getting in rhythm against us.
6) Some Check-Downs Were Dropped: RBs need to put in work catching the ball. Not their finest day today. That's got to be there for Cam to keep drives alive.
7) Jacolby George: Has really developed under KB's tutelage & came through big time today when we needed him. Major props on some huge plays. He needs to continue to assert himself. He was the most effective of all of our WRs today (with X right behind him).
8) Alderman: Would like to see more of him. I thought he played well. Was 2nd on the team with 5 tackles & 4 assists.
9) OJ FrederFREAK: Great to see the young man straight balling. Huge addition to the team. Love his technique & physicality. Impressive as a freshman. Keep working hard & getting better.
There wasn't much to like about this game (the start time, that ugly field, their play style, our inability to stop their run game, and their holding). Time to turn the page on that one and focus on winning out as there is still much to play for.
Your thoughts?
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