VT - Post Game Thoughts and Observations

You think we lose 3-4 games because of the D? That's a huge overreaction to a rough defensive performance.
We will need to make the other teams one dimensional and try and throw to keep up with our offense

We almost got the score to 21-7. Not saying the game would have changed but our defense was on its heels against VT and it may have changed if VT was trying to play catch up

Games like Louisville and maybe GT we will just need to be crisper on offense and trade field goals for TDs like we did USF
 
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As I stated previously, we need to figure out how we can run the football. If we don't, a couple losses are ahead.

Cam is a heck of a player, but he is not elite. I wish y'all would quit saying that. He can make accurate throws, but he isn't an accurate thrower. All that running around behind the line is going to cost us at some point when he makes a bad decision to throw a side arm knuckle ball. He is one **** of a playmaker though. Fun to watch and is a leader.

We still need a lot more good players. We have talent, but not enough.

Defense is average and played below average tonight.

Always happy for a win. The team showed a lot of heart tonight. We have some tough games ahead and we need to get better fast.
Cam is elite
 
One of Cam's INTs was off a deflection. The first was a terrible decision where he somehow didn't see the defender right there
And the only reason that was a deflection was b/c X made a great effort on a ball thrown behind him. If X hadn't reached back to deflect it, it almost certainly would have been picked off by the safety. Unfortunately it got picked off anyway, but still the right thing for X to do for a ball that was thrown behind him.
 
I don't think they found a way to win. Finding a way to win would have been shutting down VT on the final drive. They got lucky.
Interesting theory. In my universe we kept them out of the end zone when they needed a TD to beat us and the game ended with us having more points so that means finding a way to win but you do you bro.
 
I was highly critical of Ward through three quarters last night. He was holding the ball way too long, and often honing in on what he wanted out of the play, instead of taking what the defense was giving us.

We had receivers running open for EASY 8-12 yard gains all night if he just channeled his inner Marino and got rid of the ball quicker.

Dawson talks about "taking what the defense gives us" constantly, and I can see why: it's a psychological play to his QB.

We will go as far as he, and this offense, take us.
The wheel to 24 was bad. They were in zone and he's lucky it didn't get picked. X and another guy were wide open underneath sitting down. But then Cam made like 8 heisman plays in the 4th quarter so....
Season 2 Thumbs Up GIF by Twin Peaks on Showtime
 
They got the W. Definitely some luck involved. There usually is(VT 2000). Cal is another sneaky team. Traveling across country. Night game. Get W and a well needed bye week will do us good. No game is a gimme. I’ll take three anyway it comes. Granted I prefer 50-15 type games. Too old for the Hail Mary stuff.

Go Canes!
 
He isn't. He would have gone to the NFL if he was. They told him to go back to college.
So, only Elite QB’s go to the pros. That’s some BS right there. He’s a COLLEGE QB, and right now he’s in the rarified air of being Elite. Will that continue, TBD, but not many of his COLLEGE, D1, Top 25, Undeated QB’s are in that room. Just pointing that out.🙌🏽
 
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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.
We can breakdown this game ad infinity. It’s all good. But what I want to know is WTF, is with VT players dropping to the ground every GD time we get some momentum with a positive play or two. Is this designed or coincidence. I get players get hurt, but last night that was ridiculous. Seemed only the defensive players got hurt, dont remember any of their O players hurt and slowing their momentum. Could just be me, but it looked choreographed. Just sayin’
 
Who’s better in college football? This is such an asinine statement
I don't think there are any Elite QBs in college this year. Michael Vick was elite. Peyton Manning was elite.

I can't call Cam elite because I don't think he's an accurate passer. I'm aware of his stats, but my eyes have seen some really bad throws in the first 5 games. I'm very happy that he's our QB and I think he's really good. He isn't elite
 
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?
You do realize Georgia almost lost to Kentucky two weeks ago?
 
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I don't think there are any Elite QBs in college this year. Michael Vick was elite. Peyton Manning was elite.

I can't call Cam elite because I don't think he's an accurate passer. I'm aware of his stats, but my eyes have seen some really bad throws in the first 5 games. I'm very happy that he's our QB and I think he's really good. He isn't elite
Watch more football is all I’ll say
 
The Canes must learn to run the ball effectively in the red zone.

I want to see Cam post great stats and win the Heisman too, but there is no excuse for not calling run plays and executing near the goal line.

The Red zone run game is the foundation of every elite championship team. Alabama, Georgia, OSU, etc, all run the ball effectively close to the goal line. The Canes must do the same.
 
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