forums

USF Observations / Game Experience

S

Shogun

Recruit
Premium
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
134
First, and I don't know why, but the USF fans were really confident. In my section, they talked a lot of ---- and thought they were going to control the game.

*Cam Ward in person...look, if you have the chance this year, get to a game. He's something to see. Even missing some early throws, it is clear the game is slow for him and he's confident and relaxed. His ability to move within the pocket was my biggest takeaway - he floats and his movements are subtle (similar to a boxer who knows how to subtly slip a punch). True Superstar.

*USF D - Miami rolled out 2 TEs many times and I believe this forced USF to stack the box. I'm not as concerned about the running game as some bc USF picked their poison - "try to throw on us..." and stacked the box - well, see above regarding Cam. He lit them up. I don't pretend to know Xs and Os, but I'm wondering if the 12 personnel is forcing Ds to stack and we're taking advantage.

*Strength and Conditioning - this team looks different. Someone who jumped out at me in person from a "before and after" standpoint is Chase Smith. He looks big in person and nothing like the 195 lb kid from a few years back. This team is strong and physical.

*My heart sank when I saw Mesidor, Baron, and Barrow down within a few plays of each other - was great to see them all back on the field.

*Nickle position - will be nice, and hoping it happens, to get Damari back. Some struggles here but they buttoned up nicely in the second half.

*Sideline engagement - this team is "together". I didn't see any indication of players moping or not supporting their brothers. Culture matters. The overall vibe is that this is a very unselfish team and they know they can be special.

*We need to see what this DL can do when Bain is back...they were disruptive all night. Prior to this game, and this is what their fanbase was chirping about, USF averaged close to 290 rushing yards per game. Miami held them to 62 and < 2 yards per carry.

*Jaden Harris - I liked what I saw. What a pleasant surprise he's been. It looks like Guidry trusts him because he asked him to do a lot and he responded - he gets defenders to the ground and he had a few really nice TFL.

*Canes fans attended - not an overly loud stadium experience, but it started to feel like a home game and the fans made their presence felt.

I know I'm repeating a lot of what was said already, but it was a great experience for an away game and a very satisfying win. This team is starting to give me anxiety because I look around the country and don't see a team we can't play with....what a bad sentence - here - we can play with anyone.
 
Advertisement
Great write up looking at the game Cam is about as good as we have ever had at Miami, the way he cuts up defenses I have watched , Kosar, Testaverde and all the rest, Cam is just special, I am not worried about the running game cause we keep passing the way we are will open up the running game eventually, the linebackers and the secondary has been pleasant surprises.
 
Trav said:
They're stacking the box even when we go with one TE.
Click to expand...
Even Dawson said USF played into our hands. No need to run into a brick wall when we get 20 yards a pass. Said he was surprised that they loaded the box the way they did. I'm waiting for the team that plays over the top like the NFL does against KC
 
Great write OP...agree on all points.

'This team is starting to give me anxiety because I look around the country and don't see a team we can't play with....what a bad sentence - here - we can play with anyone.'

^
Regarding that quote: I was asked by a usf fan if I was nervous (maybe asked this in between 1st and 2nd quarter.'

No was my reply. I've been watching this thing for quite a while and a random game vs usf doesn't get me worked up. Bigger opponents on bigger stages might be in our near future.
 
Gru said:
Even Dawson said USF played into our hands. No need to run into a brick wall when we get 20 yards a pass. Said he was surprised that they loaded the box the way they did. I'm waiting for the team that plays over the top like the NFL does against KC
Click to expand...

Yup.

Even with the completely fluky interception, Cam still had a 193.64 passer rating and averaged 11.9 yards per attempt on 70.6% completions.

For comparisons sake, here are the numbers that led the entire country last season:

Rating - 205.65 (Daniels, Heisman winner)
YPA - 11.7 (Daniels)
Completion % - 77% (Nix)

So not far off Heisman number for the single game, and again this is with a totally bull**** interception.

I have no idea what these teams are thinking playing straight man against us with a single high safety, but whatever.
 
Advertisement
But I hope our defense has learned the most is to not have dumb penalties or give the refs a chance to have dumb penalties. There was a point in the second quarter where I thought they were going to break the defense because they couldn't get off the field.
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
Yup.

Even with the completely fluky interception, Cam still had a 193.64 passer rating and averaged 11.9 yards per attempt on 70.6% completions.

For comparisons sake, here are the numbers that led the entire country last season:

Rating - 205.65 (Daniels, Heisman winner)
YPA - 11.7 (Daniels)
Completion % - 77% (Nix)

So not far off Heisman number for the single game, and again this is with a totally bull**** interception.

I have no idea what these teams are thinking playing straight man against us with a single high safety, but whatever.
Click to expand...
I hate to even call that an interception.

It was much more like a catch and fumble.
 
Trav said:
No idea. Some coordinators just do things their way and are reticent to change. I know VT plays a lot of heavy box press man as well so we may get more of it on Friday.
Click to expand...

All of that and they're playing us like we're the same team we were a year ago.

It's early in the season. I'd bet going forward we'll see less in the box as it's not a fluke at this point that we can hurt you with the passing game. Even when you get in the back field, Ward is getting rid of the ball and out of danger.

Prevailing thought was also probably based on Ward being sloppy with the ball last year. Get some heat on him and you'll get a turnover or three. He's improved there and our receivers are helping him out as well as rhe TE's.

Overall, there's not much to complain about. The one area we could improve greatly upon is our run blocking. Then again, the stacked boxes don't help.
 
Advertisement
SayWhat said:
All of that and they're playing us like we're the same team we were a year ago.

It's early in the season. I'd bet going forward we'll see less in the box as it's not a fluke at this point that we can hurt you with the passing game. Even when you get in the back field, Ward is getting rid of the ball and out of danger.

Prevailing thought was also probably based on Ward being sloppy with the ball last year. Get some heat on him and you'll get a turnover or three. He's improved there and our receivers are helping him out as well as rhe TE's.

Overall, there's not much to complain about. The one area we could improve greatly upon is our run blocking. Then again, the stacked boxes don't help.
Click to expand...
As far as I can remember Cam has not fumbled once this year. He's has 2 picks and one of them had nothing to do with him.. So essentially after all the freak out about Cam being turnover prone he has 1 in 4 games.
 
SayWhat said:
Prevailing thought was also probably based on Ward being sloppy with the ball last year. Get some heat on him and you'll get a turnover or three. He's improved there and our OL and receivers are helping him out as well as rhe TE's.
Click to expand...

FIFY. Ward had another no sack game despite having dinner and taking a nap back there... I agree that's what they were probably thinking though. It's the one think I was worried about with Ward when watching his film. But they should have realized that ball security is significantly less of a challenge than it was at Wash State.
 
Back
Top