I don't feel good about the Canes this morning. The main reason is that Don Chaney and Keontra Smith got hurt. That's the worst part of the sport. Hope they have full recoveries.
The other reason is that we don't look very good. That was a 5-loss performance. The negativity on Manny is earned. My honest take on him is this: I appreciate that he has fixed several leaks. He turned around our defense after a decade of decay, he fixed our QB situation and he fixed our kickers. But he has not shown, to this point, that he is a respected leader for a big-time program. Our performance in big games reflects that. He's also shown a Shannon-like stubborness with his LBs. Plenty of season left, but some ominous signs.
- This was a game of mistakes. Appalachian State is a good G5 program, but our personnel is bigger and better across the board. Look at the drives that died because of controllable errors:
First drive ends with a Mallory drop. After a short-field TD, Chaney's hold and Rivers's false start kills another drive. Then App State's odd-front disrupts all three plays with confusion. Three and out. The next drive, we lose a Cam TD because the WR wasn't lined up correctly. Harley kills another drive with a drop on third down. App State blocks the FG. Next drive, a miscommunication between Donaldson and Oluwaseun (which happened multiple times) leads to a throwaway. Next, King takes a coverage sack holding the ball too long. We were rolling at the end of the 3rd until King forced it to Harley. This led to an OPI to prevent the pick. On the next drive, App State brings heat on the playside and King keeps the read-option for a 5-yard loss. If King hands off, Cam might've housed it.
You get the picture. This wasn't Alabama beating us with talent. This was Miami killing themselves with preventable (and coachable) mistakes. That ultimately falls on the guys in polo shirts.
- I thought the defense was OK, but linebacker is frightening going forward. That position is below-average. Injuries and bad recruiting have decimated the depth chart. We need to move Chase Smith to LB immediately and move Jalen Harrell to replace him at striker. The lack of athleticism is glaring. One play from the first quarter stands out. App State runs outside zone, Jennings shoots right through B gap but #6 bounces off him for an easy first down. A good LB like Shaq gets a TFL, and a great LB like Vilma takes his head off.
- It was a mixed bag for King. He looked healthy running and is tough as nails. He finished his runs with physicality. The negative is that he should've lit App State up with that kind of pass protection. Hard to pinpoint the exact issue without the All-22, but we need more from the passing game.
- Keyshawn Smith made a nice step toward WR1 status. He is the most complete receiver in that group.
- Elijah Arroyo needs to keep expanding his role. We used him at fullback on Chaney's TD and he had an excellent block on a Rambo catch-and-run. He's more physical than Mallory already and even twitchier as an athlete. Andres Borregales is another freshman to be excited about.
- JHH is our best defensive lineman. He carried over the momentum from the Bama game. He has a similar body to McIntosh but plays with more power. Nesta was also excellent, with 2.5 TFLs and hustle to the ball. UNC killed Nesta with the stretch play last year so this performance against an OZ-heavy offense showed growth.
- We can't keep sitting Leonard Taylor. Jordan Miller hasn't given us much and should be the guy to lose snaps.
- Justice Oluwaseun had some tough moments against #9 and #31. We are stronger on the left side than the right.
- Tyrique Stevenson is the best prospect on the team right now. Physical, explosive, instinctive, huge. He was a difference-maker last night.
- Look for more of Cody Brown going forward. He won't replace Chaney's explosiveness, but his toughness and instincts will be a welcome addition to the offense.
- Amari Carter played a solid game. The pick was enormous and he had a beautiful play in the 4th where he took away the TE and then closed on the QB for a loss.
- Pass rush remains a huge concern going forward. One problem is that, for a team that blitzes so much, we don't have many guys with closing speed as blitzers. Shaq and Pinckney combined for 26.5 career sacks. Our current guys don't create that kind of havoc. Keontra Smith is a huge loss here.
- Chantz Williams gets stuck on blocks but he makes things happen with pure athleticism and length. Second week in a row he's caused a turnover.
- The kickoff team was too casual on the TD. The App State guy was a two-time member of Bruce Feldman's All-Freaks team and an elite speedster. To steal a line from Richt on the post-game, "why do you speed up after he's already run past you?"
Michigan State is a good opponent because a lot of people will pick Miami to lose. They are physical and will challenge Miami's toughness. Let's see how the team responds.
