Next year...

G

Geetee

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I keep hearing how much better we're going to be next year because of Bennett. Bennett played well and with a receiver like CJ who can catch anything thrown near him... well, just see the rankings for WV.

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&div=4&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org


So, is Bennett that much better or would have Ball been able to win the game? Guess we'll never know, but it does look like the pass defense of WV played to Bennett's favor and I'm not sure its a true guage for next year (especially if CJ leaves).
 
We'll be better next year, not necessarily because of Bennett, but because of all the returning starters, the best recruiting class in GT's history, and a new QB whoever he is.

Would we have won with Ball? No, I doubt it, but it's not a forgone conclusion - Ball would have completed only about half of the passes Bennett did, but he would have run for some of the 1st downs that Tater passed for. That might have made a difference in the second half.

Or might not.
 
I realize that WVU doesn't have the best pass defense, so I don't use the plays where our guy was wide open to judge him.

A couple of things give me hope from what I saw. He had poise in the pocket under pressure. Had no problem moving around a bit to buy time for our guys. Didn't mind checking down to the TE or RB out of the backfield if need be. His throws had touch on them, every pass wasn't a 90mph fast ball. Was able to hit WRs even when in good coverage. All this from a guy that had like 10 days to prepare as the starter against one of the top teams in the country in a new years day bowl.

You have to feel good about the improvement we could see after an entire offseason of work and an offense retooled to work off his strong points.
 
GEETEELEE said:
We'll be better next year, not necessarily because of Bennett, but because of all the returning starters, the best recruiting class in GT's history, and a new QB whoever he is.
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Those same starters lost five games this year..including another to a UGA team that lost four games. Can't count on a recruiting class having an impact for an immediate season as true frosh players.

Gailey and Nix and others still in place.
 
He had poise in the pocket under pressure.
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Don't get me wrong, I'm encouraged by what I saw from Bennett (and think he should've seen more playing time in the past, even if it was just a series here or there) but look at the numbers between the 1st and 2nd half. In the first half, very little pressure from hardly any blitzing, and he threw all over the place. 2nd half, WVA started blitzing and forced TB into some mistakes and errant throws. He also had the pressure of a closer game (and being behind by a FG on the last few possessions).
 
You said it GeeTee. The one constant factor in this problem is: Gailey/Nix. If no changes are made with these 2 factors just look for more of the same for 2007.:o
 
THink about if he had 2 years experience, we would have been talking about the Orange Bowl not the freakin Gator Bowl. And maybe just maybe, he would have made even more plays than he did. Its indefensible that our simpleton coach hasnt used this kid.
 
I expect a 10-win season next year, but no more. We have a good number of starters returning with a more consistent QB. He may not be better than Ball's best performances, but he'll always be better than Ball's worst performances. With the way the D kept us in the game for the close-losses (not counting WV of course), TB should be able to pull out the win with the weapons we will have next year. Wake and UGA were more than winnable with the right QB presence. I don't know about ND as it wasn't a bad showing by RB. Clemson was a blowout that I'll chalk up as a loss no matter which QB had been out there (referring to the two Reggie Balls).

Then again my confidence in Gailey/Nix has faded drastically this year.
 
We are getting a QB that's been 3 yrs in the system who's is tall enough to throw it between the hashes, only replacing Wrotto on the line and CJ as a wideout (or maybe he stays) and we will have TC as a preseason 1st team ACC back. The defense is only replacing three (Anoai, Hall and Scott) so we will be fine there. What's there not to like about our prospects?

We will be better coming into 07 than we were coming into 06 and the rest of the ACC will be worse, coaching changes either partial or full at 2 of the 3 conference powerhouses (FSU and Miami), also BC, NCSU, and UNC. Clemson and UMD will be trying to find a QB that has less experience than TB has with us, look for us to be preseason no 2 in the division behind VPI.
 
GTYellowJacket12 said:
We are getting a QB that's been 3 yrs in the system who's is tall enough to throw it between the hashes, only replacing Wrotto on the line and CJ as a wideout (or maybe he stays) and we will have TC as a preseason 1st team ACC back. The defense is only replacing three (Anoai, Hall and Scott) so we will be fine there. What's there not to like about our prospects?

We will be better coming into 07 than we were coming into 06 and the rest of the ACC will be worse, coaching changes either partial or full at 2 of the 3 conference powerhouses (FSU and Miami), also BC, NCSU, and UNC. Clemson and UMD will be trying to find a QB that has less experience than TB has with us, look for us to be preseason no 2 in the division behind VPI.
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He was there last year and this year! What happended to these years is the real question. And not a single thing Ball has done well versus bad could convince me that Bennett should not have been in the game. Maybe we win the UGA and Wake games- who knows- all I know is that I believe overall a QB like he is gives teams a better chance to win- not a hard headed, yapper, interception thrower, 45% completion, no touch, 5'10 qb- and its not Ball's fault.Its the moron who stubbornly didnt have the guts to try.
 
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Geetee said:
I keep hearing how much better we're going to be next year because of Bennett. Bennett played well and with a receiver like CJ who can catch anything thrown near him... well, just see the rankings for WV.

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&div=4&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org


So, is Bennett that much better or would have Ball been able to win the game? Guess we'll never know, but it does look like the pass defense of WV played to Bennett's favor and I'm not sure its a true gage for next year (especially if CJ leaves).
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Ball would NEVER had the game Taylor did.His run backward 20 yards and throw it out of bounds style would have led to a WVU blow out. TB showed he is and was our best option at QB. he is tall could see the whole field and with our receivers that is what you need. Ball only looked for one receiver and if he was not there he would try to run or toss it out of bounds. When you have a receiver as good as Calvin Johnson you need a QB that can stay in the pocket and pass him the ball. If our idiot coach would have pulled Ball after his awful performance in the Duke game we would have beat UGay and won the ACC. All that is water under the bridge now but TB made CG look like the god awful coach he is for sticking with Ball. It is sad that it took something like this to prove that to him when anyone who watched a Tech game all season could see.Great game Taylor!
 
PreventOffense said:
all I know is that I believe overall a QB like he is gives teams a better chance to win- not a hard headed, yapper, interception thrower, 45% completion, no touch, 5'10 qb- and its not Ball's fault.Its the moron who stubbornly didnt have the guts to try.
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Can't disagree with that, given what we know today TB should've started since the Ugag game. I just wonder how internal the debate was leading into the Ugag and ACCC games and how close we were to pulling that trigger, if closed at all. Guess we will never know, this is a black eye for Chan and will serve as precedence for every important personnel decision he makes from now on.
 
Geetee said:
Those same starters lost five games this year..including another to a UGA team that lost four games. Can't count on a recruiting class having an impact for an immediate season as true frosh players.

Gailey and Nix and others still in place.
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Four of those 5 games were 3 point losses. Just marginally improved QB play would have resulted in 3 more wins. Just marginally improved special team play would have resulted in 3 more wins. We don't need drastic changes, just marginal improvements that we can expect from the QB position and from special teams.

But HEY! Let's look on the dark side, why don't we? We could have just as easily lost 3 more games. Except I don't believe that.
 
WVU's pass defense is rated 100 in yards per game. However they are 49th in pass defense efficiency which measures more than just yards. Taylor threw for 100+ more than they normally give up and we scored 14 more than they typically give up (45th ranked). While I'm at it, their offense scored right at their average (3rd in scoring nationally) and was just under their average for offensive output (5th).

So yeah, Taylor wasn't facing the best pass defense in the world. But the numbers would suggest they give up lots of yardage but normally not that many points. That would be consistent with a team that has a lead and takes the other team's running game out of the picture. Also sounds like a bend but don't break group. So Taylor's performance, while not Heisman material or even nailing down a starting job (at least imo) was a very good outing for essentially a rookie QB on a big stage.

Of course, far be it from geetee to have a logical, even view of anything, right?
 
GEETEELEE said:
Four of those 5 games were 3 point losses. Just marginally improved QB play would have resulted in 3 more wins. Just marginally improved special team play would have resulted in 3 more wins. We don't need drastic changes, just marginal improvements that we can expect from the QB position and from special teams.

But HEY! Let's look on the dark side, why don't we? We could have just as easily lost 3 more games. Except I don't believe that.
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EXACTLY. We aren't that far off. We just need some minor tuneups in a few areas IMO, MAJOR work on kickoff team, and we could be a top 15 team easy.
 
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