But the info that he has improved, but not in any major way, is disconcerting for those who saw us drop 4 of our last 5 games in 2010 under TW. We only beat Dook after JN went down, and that was a tough win. This hardly inspires confidence in the incumbent QB, who has shown he can run the offense, but needs to show he can win.
FWIW, I'm all for giving him the chance. However, PJ's rope is shorter than most due to lingering skepticism about his O. Honestly, I'm not sure he can survive another year like last year and keep the home base happy with his system. Not saying he'd get fired, just that he'd create a lot of serious perception problems if that happened - problems with media, fans and recruits. That would be bad. He needs to have a very good year in 2011.
First, I don't know how anyone can credibly blame Tevin for losing those games. VT sure, but he was a backup coming in for the first time in a real game on the road in one of the most intimidating environments in the ACC (and maybe even in college football). He did an admirable job in leading us to nearly two game tying drives in the last 5 minutes.
Miami we got our clocks cleaned. But Tevin had 122 yards rushing and a pretty stout average. He had a nice TD pass to bring us within 14-10 early in the 3rd quarter. After Miami responded with a 79 yard pass, Tevin led us right back to Miami's 6 yard line before Orwin lost the ball. After Miami made it 28-10 going into the fourth we had to change up our game plan on offensive to score 18 points in a quarter. If Orwin doesn't fumble and our D bows up starting with 12 minutes left in the third, we're likely down 21-17 or 24-17 in the 4th with the ball. Neither of those can be laid on Tevin.
Likewise, against UGA we threw up 5 TDs. Had Orwin not fumbled our first possession, we probably win. Had our defense not gotten thrashed for a 66 yard TD by Durham or a 32 yard TD by Charles the next possession, we probably win. If our defense stands tall with 2 minutes left in the first half, we probably win. If Roddy doesn't fumble with 10 minutes left in the third, we probably win. If Roddy doesn't miss the pitch at the end of the third quarter, we probably win.
Again, that loss has very little to do with Tevin.
Tevin did have a hand in the Air Force loss, but really you expect more out of Allen against a D like Air Force's. A 3.8 ypc average just isn't good enough.
Second, PJ's rope is shorter than most? Lingering skepticism about his O? Where can I get what you are smoking?!?!?! Yeah the passing game is terrible, but that's not CPJs offense, that's not having a QB who can throw and a WR who can catch. I think that problem will get solved.
Regardless, we had the best rushing attack last year and the number five or six yards per rush in the country. Up there with Oregon and Auburn. You know, those two teams that played for all the marbles. Maybe you have a short memory, but we struggled on defense last year because we switched defensive systems. You know, we fired the old guy because he wasn't any good, even though we won our conference. CPJ wouldn't settle for Wommack. That change comes with some growing pains, which you saw last year.
As for the offense, well, the results speak for themselves. We were fifth in the ACC last year in scoring, the stat that counts. We were first the year before. Fourth the year before that. Under Gailey we were no BETTER than fifth, and that was with a cupboard loaded with Calvin and Tashard. Most years with Gailey we were at the bottom of the ACC, putting up less than 20 points a game. Gailey lasted at GT for six years, even though he only won more than 7 games ONCE and never won the ACCCG. CPJ has already bested each of those stats in only three years. The thought that he somehow has a short leash or on the hot seat because he went 6-7 after going 11-3 is nothing short of ridiculous.
