CPJ Radio Show

As long as we've got our excuses ready for why we're probably going to finish 5-7 in a year where we were the odds on favorite to win the division and a dark horse playoff team.
 
As long as we've got our excuses ready for why we're probably going to finish 5-7 in a year where we were the odds on favorite to win the division and a dark horse playoff team.

I'm praying for 5 wins at this point.
 
I'm praying for 5 wins at this point.


3 wins out of UVA, VPI, Pitt, UGA, and Miami.

So...


3 wins out of UVA, Pitt, and Miami.

It's doable. But probably not. It's sad that 5-7 is probably best case at the moment.
 
Go to DEFCON 2. I'm not defending or endorsing anything, just pointing out the facts.

And technically, we did "make it up immediately" although I'm not sure what that means. In 2014, we took 22 guys including 5 DL and a number of guys who could've wound up at AB/QB/BB including Qua Searcy(now hurt), Matthew Jordan(moved back to QB due to Tim Byerly injury) and CJ Leggett(now hurt).

In 2015, we "made it up" again by taking 27 guys (including 4 DL and 6+/- RB's).

Who did we lose out of Snoddy's class that would be Seniors now? Just seems like we'd have at least a couple.
 
As long as we've got our excuses ready for why we're probably going to finish 5-7 in a year where we were the odds on favorite to win the division and a dark horse playoff team.


Injuries not a good enough excuse?
 
Who did we lose out of Snoddy's class that would be Seniors now? Just seems like we'd have at least a couple.

Snoddy's class was 2011 and looking over the list, the only back that was in that class was Laskey, who's graduated. I agree with you on that, only taking one other back in a class is inexcusable. In 2012, we took:

Marcus Allen (Hey, active & healthy! Knock on wood.) &
Dennis Andrews (Kicked Out)

Aaaand, with that I think we figured out our problem: 2 BB's and 2 AB's in two years. Not sure how that happens in a run-based offense. But what do I know?
 
Who on the OL is injured that is making the rest of them flop on the ground in front of their intended blocks like fish out of water?

We saw that in a few plays of the ND game, but I don't recall seeing it in the other games.

In fact, until proven wrong I would go so far to say as they played very well against UNC. I seem to remember JT having a reasonable amount of time to set his feet and throw the ball. The fact that teams are daring us to beat them outside and we can't do it is not on the OL. Do you not agree?
 
Snoddy's class was 2011 and looking over the list, the only back that was in that class was Laskey, who's graduated. I agree with you on that, only taking one other back in a class is inexcusable. In 2012, we took:

Marcus Allen (Hey, active & healthy! Knock on wood.) &
Dennis Andrews (Kicked Out)

Aaaand, with that I think we figured out our problem: 2 BB's and 2 AB's in two years. Not sure how that happens in a run-based offense. But what do I know?

PJ early seemed to take an extra "pony A-back" in a class (like Zenon )but forgot to get DLs .So we ended up with lots of backs that culminated in SIX SR backs last yr,then kicked off Andrews.So we end up screwed--we are always short something.
 
PJ early seemed to take an extra "pony A-back" in a class (like Zenon )but forgot to get DLs .So we ended up with lots of backs that culminated in SIX SR backs last yr,then kicked off Andrews.So we end up screwed--we are always short something.

If we had four Jr./Sr. A-backs and one B-back, we would be feeling much better and the edge blocking wouldn't be such a disaster.
 
johncu,

Do you not see the problem with this list you provided?

Lost RB's
Andrews
Leggett
Weimerskirch
Cottrell
Benson
Searcy
Snoddy
Marshall


We shouldn't be relying on true freshmen for a variety of reasons. We did not have enough upperclassmen to start with. That, I lay on the coaching staff. 18 year olds who haven't been in the S&C and dietary programs, are much more likely to get hurt, be fumble prone, and miss assignments.

Plenty of teams rely on freshmen, especially when they are good players (see UGA RB every other year). Searcy is as talented as any A-back we've had, IMO, and I was pretty excited about Cottrell's speed.

PJ said himself - when we hit on a play, we've gotta make it count, i.e. turn those 5-10 yard gains into long touchdowns. Snoddy has shown the ability to do that. I believe Andrews could and Searcy can as well. Cottrell at least has the speed to do so. Now all of those guys are injured, and we're left with guys who play hard but were not ever expected to play starter's minutes or be relied on to make game winning plays.

Whereas preseason we probably had the most players with big play potential on our roster since 2009, now we're down to only JT, and teams are clearly gameplanning to make him give up the ball.
 
Plenty of teams rely on freshmen, especially when they are good players (see UGA RB every other year). Searcy is as talented as any A-back we've had, IMO, and I was pretty excited about Cottrell's speed.

PJ said himself - when we hit on a play, we've gotta make it count, i.e. turn those 5-10 yard gains into long touchdowns. Snoddy has shown the ability to do that. I believe Andrews could and Searcy can as well. Cottrell at least has the speed to do so. Now all of those guys are injured, and we're left with guys who play hard but were not ever expected to play starter's minutes or be relied on to make game winning plays.

Whereas preseason we probably had the most players with big play potential on our roster since 2009, now we're down to only JT, and teams are clearly gameplanning to make him give up the ball.

We should have three to four A-back upperclassmen. We missed in 2011 and 2012 and now we're paying the price. The vast majority of true freshmen are not physically ready to play. We had to rely on them.
 
We should have three to four A-back upperclassmen. We missed in 2011 and 2012 and now we're paying the price. The vast majority of true freshmen are not physically ready to play. We had to rely on them.

THIS.

We haven't had one AB really contribute as a true freshman in this offense for a reason. There is a real difference than taking a handoff and running with the ball (like most offenses) and blocking in space. We ask more from our AB than most offenses do. This problem was entirely predictable (even before injuries) if you looked at our track record of not playing true freshmen at AB. Heck, very few 2nd year guys have made meaningful impacts.
 
yet everyone bitches when he signs 5 AB's every february.
 
This is one of the those years where if we can beat the dawgs we can imagine vindication. Waytogo CPJ! Waytogo in your recruiting 1AA talent "to fit your system." Hasn't worked out so well has it, Paul? Run it up the middle?
 
Back
Top