Biggest challenges for this season

[Jmonty71]

Face it. We have a lot of challenges, heading into this season. My question is, what is the biggest challenge that you see, this year? While I don't think there is one single issue, I do think mistakes will either help us win or completely bury us. So, my vote is mistakes/turnovers. Our defense got burnt on mistakes versus over all play, last year. We threw some boneheaded INTs, last year. So, I think this is the single biggest challenge, this year. What is your opinion?

 

[midatlantech]

We haven't been able to breathe the past three years with very tough schedules. It's the biggest impediment to get a young program moving forward.

 

[originalwombat]

Surprised to see "Coaching" as the number one. That tells me most of you think the talent is there, but the instruction is not.

Also surprised that defense is so low, especially since we probably win 6-7 games last year if had "stopped teams."

 

[BrentwoodJacket]

We haven't been able to breathe the past three years with very tough schedules. It's the biggest impediment to get a young program moving forward.

We are playing UCF and Ole Miss this season because our AD is a push over. Both backed out of their commitments.

 

[GTWannaBee]

Pretty close between mistakes/turnovers and defense stopping teams (specifically pass defense).

 

[smokey_wasp]

The schedule is the elephant in the room for me. Our coastal counterparts have been making bowls for years with padded records (looking at VPI).

Yes, I am aware we have lost easy games under Collins.

 

[PM Gold]

IMO coaching is the biggest question mark for this team. Consistency and mistakes are a subset of coaching. I think we have reasonable talent but I am not sure how well they will perform together. Again coaching. During camp there was some banter about Key shuffling players around. Given Key's past performance I can see where this would cause concern. I am hoping his reason for this is seeing who plays and communicates well with each other.

 

[jdubjacket]

Trying to pick just 1 answer...

 

[agt45]

Hopefully coaching has improved overall. I’ll remain skeptical about the Defense’s ability to get off the field on 3rd down

 

[JoeCakeEater]

Fan vitriol


This sounds like a joke, but it's not. The team needs to go full on band of brothers. Must block out any fan noise and focus on playing their best brand of football for the player to their left and right. The September schedule is brutal. High probability that fans are losing their mind if we start 1-3... I personally would be excited with a 2-2 start and 2 competitive losses.

 

[Technician]

I voted other because I think our biggest challenge will be youth/inexperience on both lines. The DL isn't in terrible shape with a handful of guys with a year or two of playing experience. But the OL will likely be starting 3 or 4 guys who have never seen the field. There may be better talent on both lines than we've had in a while, but it's been shown time and again that for linemen, experience is supremely important.

 

[Jmonty71]

Surprised to see "Coaching" as the number one. That tells me most of you think the talent is there, but the instruction is not.

Also surprised that defense is so low, especially since we probably win 6-7 games last year if had "stopped teams."

I voted for errors, just FYI.

 

[jacket67]

Lots of concerns, but how can we only play 5 home games with a 12 game schedule? What kind of AD doesn't at least apologize for this and address the situation going forward?

 

[00Burdell]

I said schedule. The difference between winning 6 and going bowling or winning 4 and our program imploding is our schedule.

 

[manjano mdudu]

You've gotta have the Jimmys and Joes. Great talent overcomes most everything else. Ours is paltry at best.

 

[WracerX]

Maintaining composure after boat racing Clemson in the opener.

 

[AlaGold]

Too many holes in the dike and not enough fingers.

 

[clapper]

Could be a trap game. I hope we're not looking ahead to WCU.

 

[siggy]

We have to be better on the back end of the defense. By most of the good metrics I can find, we were the worst pass defense in the country last year, especially later in the year. We allowed 0.48epa/pass, 173.3 QB rating, and 9.49 yards per pass, all worst in the nation. That must get better. It doesn't even have to be good, just don't be the literal worst team in the nation against the pass.

 

[YellowJacket4Life]

Quality 1st team starters, depth, coaching, fundamentals.......The trenches is where we have been bullied the most last few seasons aside from horrific 2ndary play.