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VT - Post Game Thoughts and Observations

Shooter McGavin said:
Give me the 2017 or 2018 defense with this offense and they are beating everyone. The secondary will cost them a game this year. **** it almost cost them on that last play lol.
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It's a shame how wasted that 2018 defense was. Top 5 unit in the country but our offense was historically bad.

Yeah, this offense with our 2018 defense would be a scary team.
 
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FL Cane said:
The Defense was awful. What I don't think will look as bad on re-watch is the DL, specifically. Drones avoided about 3-4 sacks with last minute heaves. Most QBs we're going to play can't do that, for what it's worth.
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I think the DL pass rush wasn't so bad. We would have had a lot more Sacks/TFLs if Drones hadn't gotten the ball out at the last minute. And Alston as a spy was an abysmal failure, Drones turned sacks into gains due to our inability to contain him.

Whoever was the edge setter on running downs was terrible. Not as bad as UNC under Manny. But felt a little like that at times. I put that more on the coaches than the DEs/LBs that had that responsibility.
 
I’m honestly surprised people thought this was a championship level team
 
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Idk where you guys got the idea that this team was a national title caliber team to begin with. We are plenty good enough to beat every team on the schedule. That gets you to the playoff. Beat Clemson in the ACC title and you get a bye. Lose and you’re still in at 12-1. Depending on the matchup(s) you can get to the final four, which IMO was always the ceiling. And that’s a **** of a season.

You’re gonna have off nights, like tonight. But there’s no reason to not be able to outscore everyone once both lines back to 100%. Louisville is this team’s Super Bowl. That’s the obstacle that could make or break your year. No other offense can keep up, unless Cam has another 3-4 turnover game.
 
" Damian Martinez was unimpressive (for the most part) tonight. I don't understand why we don't try to bounce anything outside or run a counter every now and then.".

I feel like we are starting the polar opposite rotation of talent with our RB room. In my humble opinion AJ seems to have the best vision and ability to get something out of nothing. Fletcher would be my second. Then Martinez would be 3rd string.
 
FL Cane said:
Here are some thoughts on today's complete rollercoaster of a game as we escape the Rock with a win and head into Cal week:

Offense
  • Nothing in the world is more frustrating than watching an offense beat itself, and Miami's offense did that routinely today. The fact of the matter is that we did not have a problem moving the ball down field. We just self destructed inside the VT 20 twice. We had one terrible unlucky pick that got bobbled inside the 20, and another pick that Cam just whiffed on. All in all, there are very few games that you'll win with 3 turnovers.
  • We spotted VT 14 points on offense. It's inexcusable. Could've been another blowout, but we helped them start quick (they've started slow all season).

  • The Run game is a problem. It got going more in the second half, but it is not reliable enough. Too much inside zone; ground and pound football. We're not opening up lanes, and Damian Martinez was unimpressive (for the most part) tonight. I don't understand why we don't try to bounce anything outside or run a counter every now and then.

  • Say what you will about our Sloppy O, but this was yet again another fantastic performance from our WRs and TEs. Our TE group won us this game.

  • Despite the mistakes Cam made, he had Heisman moments. Elite players find ways to win, and he is ELITE. This was Cam Ward on a bad day. That's how good he is.

  • Coming back down 10 is no small feat. Prior Miami teams would've mailed it in. Like last year, this team fights. We do not go down easy.

  • Our OL got manhandled. We need Jalen Rivers back ASAP. Markell Bell is going to be an excellent OL, but he was outmatched today and got beat multiple times. Cam got hit a lot (not many hard hits thankfully), and we gave up three sacks. Thankfully, VT has one of the more talented DLs in the conference, but we need to tighten the ship quickly.

  • All in all, this was a bad night on O, and we still scored 38.
Defense
  • I think on re-watch, our DL won't look as bad as perceived tonight. Yes, we missed too many tackles, but we had about 3-4 sacks that Drones saved himself from by heaving the ball at the last second. Most QBs can't do that or don't have the awareness to. Props to him, it was frustrating to see him do that.

  • I'd also add that VT was holding or committing a block in the back on just about every play. Hard to push back an OL when they can manhandle you like that.

  • Kiko Mauigoa had about his worst game as a cane. Bad in pass coverage, missed multiple tackles, and he absolutely whiffed on the first drive where VT scored.

  • Tackling was an issue most of the night. Lots of arm tackles and terrible angles.

  • The Secondary was bad tonight. We gave up so many chunk plays to an average WR group. They had us on the ropes all night and we couldn't get a stop.

  • We struggled and failed to contain their running game. We couldn't adapt to their misdirection and motion. We were out of position constantly.

  • Guidry has a lot of work to do with this defense.
Overall
  • Miami was extremely lucky to come out with this W. After watching the last play 40 times, I believe they made the wrong call on the field. No way anyone could've ruled that complete. The guy bobbled the ball all the way down and did not have possession. Should've been incomplete to begin with but the incompetent refs tried one more gimmick.

  • We have an elite, CFP caliber offense. This was a bad night for us, and we still scored 38. That's good enough to beat about any team in the country. Cam Ward had a bad game, and even then threw for 300+, 4 TDs, and made Heisman plays that kept our undefeated season alive.

  • We do not have an elite, CFP caliber defense. We got absolutely worked by VT today. Yes, there were terrible calls on our D and our offense gave them two short fields, but that's no excuse. They did come through on that second to last drive, but they came within a review of blowing this game on a hail mary. Guidry has a lot of work to do with the defense top to bottom. Any top Ten team would light us up on D with the performance we had tonight.

  • The officiating was god awful. It would've turned into a Miami boat race if not for the Markell Bell phantom holding call. That call completely swung the momentum of the game.

  • This team needs to use this game as a wakeup call. We travel to a very hostile environment next weekend against a team that has talent. Late game and our first long trip of the year.

  • Also, shout out to Brent Pry who corched away this game. Worst clock management I've ever seen in my life, and went for a fake FG instead of a kick that would've given his Lou Groza reincarnation of a kicker a chance to win the whole thing.
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Definitely agree Kiko did not play well at all, which is unusual. Jadeis Richards also did not play well, but that's not so unusual. We need Brown back from injury
 
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FL Cane said:
Here are some thoughts on today's complete rollercoaster of a game as we escape the Rock with a win and head into Cal week:

Offense
  • Nothing in the world is more frustrating than watching an offense beat itself, and Miami's offense did that routinely today. The fact of the matter is that we did not have a problem moving the ball down field. We just self destructed inside the VT 20 twice. We had one terrible unlucky pick that got bobbled inside the 20, and another pick that Cam just whiffed on. All in all, there are very few games that you'll win with 3 turnovers.
  • We spotted VT 14 points on offense. It's inexcusable. Could've been another blowout, but we helped them start quick (they've started slow all season).

  • The Run game is a problem. It got going more in the second half, but it is not reliable enough. Too much inside zone; ground and pound football. We're not opening up lanes, and Damian Martinez was unimpressive (for the most part) tonight. I don't understand why we don't try to bounce anything outside or run a counter every now and then.

  • Say what you will about our Sloppy O, but this was yet again another fantastic performance from our WRs and TEs. Our TE group won us this game.

  • Despite the mistakes Cam made, he had Heisman moments. Elite players find ways to win, and he is ELITE. This was Cam Ward on a bad day. That's how good he is.

  • Coming back down 10 is no small feat. Prior Miami teams would've mailed it in. Like last year, this team fights. We do not go down easy.

  • Our OL got manhandled. We need Jalen Rivers back ASAP. Markell Bell is going to be an excellent OL, but he was outmatched today and got beat multiple times. Cam got hit a lot (not many hard hits thankfully), and we gave up three sacks. Thankfully, VT has one of the more talented DLs in the conference, but we need to tighten the ship quickly.

  • All in all, this was a bad night on O, and we still scored 38.
Defense
  • I think on re-watch, our DL won't look as bad as perceived tonight. Yes, we missed too many tackles, but we had about 3-4 sacks that Drones saved himself from by heaving the ball at the last second. Most QBs can't do that or don't have the awareness to. Props to him, it was frustrating to see him do that.

  • I'd also add that VT was holding or committing a block in the back on just about every play. Hard to push back an OL when they can manhandle you like that.

  • Kiko Mauigoa had about his worst game as a cane. Bad in pass coverage, missed multiple tackles, and he absolutely whiffed on the first drive where VT scored.

  • Tackling was an issue most of the night. Lots of arm tackles and terrible angles.

  • The Secondary was bad tonight. We gave up so many chunk plays to an average WR group. They had us on the ropes all night and we couldn't get a stop.

  • We struggled and failed to contain their running game. We couldn't adapt to their misdirection and motion. We were out of position constantly.

  • Guidry has a lot of work to do with this defense.
Overall
  • Miami was extremely lucky to come out with this W. After watching the last play 40 times, I believe they made the wrong call on the field. No way anyone could've ruled that complete. The guy bobbled the ball all the way down and did not have possession. Should've been incomplete to begin with but the incompetent refs tried one more gimmick.

  • We have an elite, CFP caliber offense. This was a bad night for us, and we still scored 38. That's good enough to beat about any team in the country. Cam Ward had a bad game, and even then threw for 300+, 4 TDs, and made Heisman plays that kept our undefeated season alive.

  • We do not have an elite, CFP caliber defense. We got absolutely worked by VT today. Yes, there were terrible calls on our D and our offense gave them two short fields, but that's no excuse. They did come through on that second to last drive, but they came within a review of blowing this game on a hail mary. Guidry has a lot of work to do with the defense top to bottom. Any top Ten team would light us up on D with the performance we had tonight.

  • The officiating was god awful. It would've turned into a Miami boat race if not for the Markell Bell phantom holding call. That call completely swung the momentum of the game.

  • This team needs to use this game as a wakeup call. We travel to a very hostile environment next weekend against a team that has talent. Late game and our first long trip of the year.

  • Also, shout out to Brent Pry who corched away this game. Worst clock management I've ever seen in my life, and went for a fake FG instead of a kick that would've given his Lou Groza reincarnation of a kicker a chance to win the whole thing.
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Let's be honest. When a team lets the refs determine the outcome at the end of the game, it is not a championship team. VT is no where full of talent like UM, but came close to winning on a desperate play at the end and the arbitrary, crazy definition of what constitutes a catch. (I hate the Hail Mary; it's just a desperation play by teams that are legitimately beat.) Championship teams don't let refs determine the outcomes. Teams that have risen to the elite of college football crush 2-2 teams like VT. This is not to say that UM is a bad team, or a team unworthy of national attention. But, Georgia and Ohio State don't let the likes of VT even sniff victory.

Another question. Were UM's best WRs defending on that final play? Watch a NFL team in a similar situation, and it has its best jumpers and hands WRs playing defense against a Hail Mary. Did UM do that?

I'm so glad UM got the call at the end. But honestly, should I be encouraged by this performance?
 
I'm ready to move on from Martinez as the lead back. Not sure what his NIL/promises are, but he is neither thunder or lightning. I'd rather roll with Fletcher/Lyles then rotate AJ/Martinez in.
 
miamiphd said:
Let's be honest. When a team lets the refs determine the outcome at the end of the game, it is not a championship team. VT is no where full of talent like UM, but came close to winning on a desperate play at the end and the arbitrary, crazy definition of what constitutes a catch. (I hate the Hail Mary; it's just a desperation play by teams that are legitimately beat.) Championship teams don't let refs determine the outcomes. Teams that have risen to the elite of college football crush 2-2 teams like VT. This is not to say that UM is a bad team, or a team unworthy of national attention. But, Georgia and Ohio State don't let the likes of VT even sniff victory.

Another question. Were UM's best WRs defending on that final play? Watch a NFL team in a similar situation, and it has its best jumpers and hands WRs playing defense against a Hail Mary. Did UM do that?

I'm so glad UM got the call at the end. But honestly, should I be encouraged by this performance?
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In defense Georgia did beat Kentucky 13-12 last week.

Honestly, I am glad this happened. Part of playing good competition is being able to see from a coaches perspective your team being challenged to see where you need to improve. If your team is sooo much better than the other team, it is hard to see because your guys can cover up scheme/ream issues with just pure athleticism. Now Guidry and Mirabal have alooot of tape to analyze and go over to improve this team.
 
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