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CanesKO92

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Apr 2, 2026
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It’s concerning that they started the same guards. It shows they will NOT change this lineup going into Clemson. This was our chance to give Congdon and perhaps Merriweather a lot of snaps to get right by that game?

As health improves, we will get DB’s back and fletcher back and so forth. Thankfully O line isn’t banged up, but this is not a winning O-line so what is there for optimism here?

The rest of our team can compete at that Natty level….need to see something from specifically the guards.
 
CanesKO92 said:
It’s concerning that they started the same guards. It shows they will NOT change this lineup going into Clemson. This was our chance to give Congdon and perhaps Merriweather a lot of snaps to get right by that game?

As health improves, we will get DB’s back and fletcher back and so forth. Thankfully O line isn’t banged up, but this is not a winning O-line so what is there for optimism here?

The rest of our team can compete at that Natty level….need to see something from specifically the guards.
Click to expand...

The optimism being that we have a team of great players, exciting to watch.
Are we National Title contenders?
So far, Yes.
But probably not as strong as last year.
Why can't we just enjoy our team and players?
 
MedleyCane said:
The optimism being that we have a team of great players, exciting to watch.
Are we National Title contenders?
So far, Yes.
But probably not as strong as last year.
Why can't we just enjoy our team and players?
Click to expand...
Really don’t think there’s any teams as strong as last year, might only be a handful of undefeated teams at the end.
 
Wake_Cane said:
You should check the snap counts and then edit the post
Click to expand...
Yup. I haven’t seen snap counts yet, but by my eyes Congdon and Meriweather played a lot of snaps. IIRC, 65 played first series and then Congdon came in for second series and he played majority of the game. I wasn’t tracking it but that’s my general impression.
 
Like how the OL was handled. Sent out what had been first group & wasn’t long before seeing Congdon & Merriweather, followed by Cantwell at tackle in second half. Surprised didn’t see Pickett or maybe played later.
 
CanesKO92 said:
It’s concerning that they started the same guards. It shows they will NOT change this lineup going into Clemson. This was our chance to give Congdon and perhaps Merriweather a lot of snaps to get right by that game?

As health improves, we will get DB’s back and fletcher back and so forth. Thankfully O line isn’t banged up, but this is not a winning O-line so what is there for optimism here?

The rest of our team can compete at that Natty level….need to see something from specifically the guards.
Click to expand...
Judging by your comment I'm not sure you watched the game.
 
Last edited:
MedleyCane said:
The optimism being that we have a team of great players, exciting to watch.
Are we National Title contenders?
So far, Yes.
But probably not as strong as last year.
Why can't we just enjoy our team and players?
Click to expand...
Expectations.

The expectation was to takeoff in year five especially after falling short in the national championship game. The expectation was not that our offensive line of all positions would be the weakest link.

I think most fans found SJ playing as a tight end fullback a cute little gimmick last year. No one finds him getting blown up as a full-time offensive line starter at all cute. Especially after the off-season hype of two major offensive line signings.

There was an entire discussion on whether the coaching staff abandoned their offensive line strategy or reverted to being too stubborn.

They seem like valid concerns for a national title contender entering the meat of the schedule.
 
Angry Ibis said:
Expectations.

The expectation was to takeoff in year five especially after falling short in the national championship game. The expectation was not that our offensive line of all positions would be the weakest link.

I think most fans found SJ playing as a tight end fullback a cute little gimmick last year. No one finds him getting blown up as a full-time offensive line starter at all cute. Especially after the off-season hype of two major offensive line signings.

There was an entire discussion on whether the coaching staff abandoned their offensive line strategy or reverted to being too stubborn.

They seem like valid concerns for a national title contender entering the meat of the schedule.
Click to expand...
It was always going to be a rebuilding year - we lost three first rounders in the trenches this offseason.

We're still clearly very good, but we've taken a step back. Fortunately for us so has everyone else - look at how weak Ohio St look now without all their talent on D.
 
Angry Ibis said:
Expectations.

The expectation was to takeoff in year five especially after falling short in the national championship game. The expectation was not that our offensive line of all positions would be the weakest link.

I think most fans found SJ playing as a tight end fullback a cute little gimmick last year. No one finds him getting blown up as a full-time offensive line starter at all cute. Especially after the off-season hype of two major offensive line signings.

There was an entire discussion on whether the coaching staff abandoned their offensive line strategy or reverted to being too stubborn.

They seem like valid concerns for a national title contender entering the meat of the schedule.
Click to expand...
"The expectation was to takeoff in year five especially after falling short in the national championship game"

Not arguing with you but who says we haven't?
 
OldhamA said:
It was always going to be a rebuilding year - we lost three first rounders in the trenches this offseason.

We're still clearly very good, but we've taken a step back. Fortunately for us so has everyone else - look at how weak Ohio St look now without all their talent on D.
Click to expand...
We weren’t replacing those 3 overnight, but no one sold this year as a rebuilding year. That narrative is certainly shifting.

I’m not focused on other teams. That is mostly used to offset the concerns about our own team.
 
Torocane said:
"The expectation was to takeoff in year five especially after falling short in the national championship game"

Not arguing with you but who says we haven't?
Click to expand...
Patterns of play. The question will be do we address the concerning patterns before it costs us like preceding years or do we catch them ourselves and adjust earlier.
 
OldhamA said:
It was always going to be a rebuilding year - we lost three first rounders in the trenches this offseason.

We're still clearly very good, but we've taken a step back. Fortunately for us so has everyone else - look at how weak Ohio St look now without all their talent on D.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you, me, and several other posters knew it was going to be a rebuilding year for the o-line, but many other posters didn’t think we would miss a beat.

I’m sure you remember seeing discussions and arguments pre-season that our o-line might not look as good early in the season, but will be our strongest unit by the end of the season. Trust Mario/Mirabel and their evals, right? Trust their development on the o-line, right? No need to be concerned about O-line play ever again as long as Mario is our coach, right?

We had concerns and were told to shut up. Mario’s got this. Well, maybe he still does, but it’s looking rough so far.
 
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