The month of October will define the 2016 team

Each and every one of these games is winnable. Whether or not that can be done all in a row is another story.
 
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Having FSU, UNC and PITT at home is a great benefit this year. If the fans fill the stands - and hopefully the renewed stadium will encourage that. Crowds and noise will be of immense help. In reviewing the schedule I see 7 games that range from near Gimme's to likely. Another few that are at home will at least pull us at even odds or close to it. If we beat FSU, all bets are off, if we are undefeated after the noles we win 10 for sure. Besides the obvious big games of FSU and ND, I see UNC and Pitt as the biggest challenges. Next year we'll be better but the schedule will be less forgiving.
 
@GT: playing GT always comes down to avoiding any turnovers. If we do not turn the ball over and the offense doesn't place the D in compromising positions, then GT cannot beat a well-coached Canes team. Games like these (the ones we are supposed to win) are the epitome of why Richt is stressing turnovers so much. If a QB or any player for that matter, is loose with the ball, U will not play. A lack of turnovers is the way that U avoid loses to teams U are supposed to beat.

FSU (Home): Jimbo is scared now that his mil ticket Golden is gone. FSU was just beginning to shed that lil brother feeling and lump in their throat about playing Us, and being out-smarted no matter their talent advantages. Like others have accurately said, Golden could have beat them with 1 or 2 adjustments the last two seasons. Richt has the ability and awareness to make those adjustments. We are back to defeating them off of their insecurity and our intelligence alone. OC Coley never established play calling rhythm against FSU, so our running game was never sincerely meant to work successfully. It served as a mask or different look for our passing game (which was always the focus). Running the ball, is how U beat FSU, and Richt knows this very well! We win.

UNC (Home): Like previously said, the stadium should be rocking for this one coming off of a FSU win, and I believe that an FSU win is vital to an emotionally charged win against UNC. Emotion will be needed because this is the game where our legs will begin to feel heavy causing our mental focus to sway, and our lack of depth to show. Coaching and direction will be at a premium in this game and if we win it, Richt is definitely the man. Avoid turnovers, everything must be perfect this day. Toss up.

@VT: This is definitely a trap game for me. This is a Kayaa game and I say go deep to Berrios and Coley early to silence Lane Stadium. We'll need a special teams to be lights out as well. Avoiding turnovers is imperative in this game, Kayaa can manage this one to win if the d-line is still effective. I think we lose this one by a field goal, as our lack of depth finally catches up to Us. Very close game and can go either way.

@ND: I believe that any UM team fielded on a Saturday afternoon with adequately capable and intelligent coaching stratagem can only be beaten by a team with superior talent, depth, and similar to better coaching than our own. This is the reason why I believe that the @ND game is the only for sure loss of the season. Our defensive lack of depth, the refs (intangibles), and road atmosphere won't help. Also, the QB and coaching comparisons are even, if not, slightly favored towards ND.

I'm cool with at least a 9-4 season, despite my predictions.

This is a 5-7 at best, season under Golden, so please don't even try to set lofty expectation levels for Richt in his first season just to somehow save Golden's face. Richt doesn't have to do anything to justify Golden's firing. It necessitated itself.
 
Looking over the schedule for this season, a couple of things stand out. First is the fact that we get 2 creampuffs in FAMU and FAU to open the season followed by a strange yet intriguing road trip to Appalachian St. We all know how dominant ASU has been in FCS play and what they did to Michigan in the big house several years ago. As the third game we should have some of the kinks worked out. I'm not going to waste anyone's time trying to overanalyze this matchup. The bottom line is we should win that game handily putting us at 3-0 to start the year.

That brings us to October which features the meat of our schedule in terms of level of competition and "Big games". We will play 5 games in October as follows:

Oct 1 @ GT
Oct 8 vs FSU
Oct 15 vs UNC
Oct 20 @ VT
Oct 29 @ Notre Dame

That my friends is one tough stretch with all having that big game atmosphere. October is the season within a season that will define this the 2016 squad. October will see this team on the big stage all month and I'm very much looking forward to how we respond both as coaches and players. How does everyone view this 5 game stretch? How many games do you guys think we can win and why? Discuss.

Brother Francis...

Every snap of every game will define the Canes' 16 tilt.

Under Golden, I would have said all those tough Oct games was a very likely loss.

Under Richt, the Canes are headed in tje right direction, but we need a few early regular season games to get a feel how any of those teams might perform.

Big tests on opening night for FSU and UNC obviously...Miami's big test is how efficient, dare we say dominating, can the squad look against FAMU thru App St...

More to follow by mid-late Sep...
 
Looking over the schedule for this season, a couple of things stand out. First is the fact that we get 2 creampuffs in FAMU and FAU to open the season followed by a strange yet intriguing road trip to Appalachian St. We all know how dominant ASU has been in FCS play and what they did to Michigan in the big house several years ago. As the third game we should have some of the kinks worked out. I'm not going to waste anyone's time trying to overanalyze this matchup. The bottom line is we should win that game handily putting us at 3-0 to start the year.

That brings us to October which features the meat of our schedule in terms of level of competition and "Big games". We will play 5 games in October as follows:

Oct 1 @ GT
Oct 8 vs FSU
Oct 15 vs UNC
Oct 20 @ VT
Oct 29 @ Notre Dame

That my friends is one tough stretch with all having that big game atmosphere. October is the season within a season that will define this the 2016 squad. October will see this team on the big stage all month and I'm very much looking forward to how we respond both as coaches and players. How does everyone view this 5 game stretch? How many games do you guys think we can win and why? Discuss.

Brother Francis...

Every snap of every game will define the Canes' 16 tilt.

Under Golden, I would have said all those tough Oct games was a very likely loss.

Under Richt, the Canes are headed in tje right direction, but we need a few early regular season games to get a feel how any of those teams might perform.

Big tests on opening night for FSU and UNC obviously...Miami's big test is how efficient, dare we say dominating, can the squad look against FAMU thru App St...

More to follow by mid-late Sep...

Amen brother J!

Under Folden I would also be chalking up the entire month of October minus GT as a big losing skid.
Yes it would very much seem as if our Canes are finally headed in the right direction after 13 years of running in place. I'm starting to get the feeling that if we have all hands on deck we could shock people. I am cautiously optimistic about the potential of this squad with my overall view of the program being extremely bullish. We will see what kind of hand we are dealt by our friends in compliance and if we can avoid the injury bug. We will see!
 
i know miami is on the road to being back when they start dominating famu, fau et al. and not struggle with these teams during any part of the game, like we have the last decade or so, particularly the last 5 years. we dont necessarily have to be winning 42-0 at half like we use to, but if we dont have second and third stringers in by the fourth quarter, then my confidence will slip and i will be worried about october. if we are winning these games easily and dominating, i know we can win-out in october or at worse lose 1 game.
 
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i know miami is on the road to being back when they start dominating famu, fau et al. and not struggle with these teams during any part of the game, like we have the last decade or so, particularly the last 5 years. we dont necessarily have to be winning 42-0 at half like we use to, but if we dont have second and third stringers in by the fourth quarter, then my confidence will slip and i will be worried about october. if we are winning these games easily and dominating, i know we can win-out in october or at worse lose 1 game.

Pretty much this. App State's the only game of the 3 that shouldn't be decided by halftime. Richt really needs to at least go 9-4. Since we might have done that last year if it weren't for a halfback pass in the snow.

After Golden and Shannon I am not willing to give a coach a pass for their 1st year anymore. And for every Saban who turns things around after losing to La Monroe their 1st year, I honestly think there are about 5 Goldens and Shannons who don't get things turned around after a bad year 1.
 
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...we dont necessarily have to be winning 42-0 at half like we use to, but if we dont have second and third stringers in by the fourth quarter...

I havent researched Richt's UGA squads to get a sense if he allowed the Dawgs to run up scores on overmatched opponents.

My take of his personality is that he is not inclined to do that and goes with H-back dives to slow down the blowouts.

Does anyone here know how UGA blowout games went? WGDawg...you there???

As for back bench personnel playing late in the game, Im thinking for the first few Richt leaves starters in longer than not if just to keep getting them live action reps as an entire squad in preparation for later in the season. Could be (probably) wrong on that...who knows...
 
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