Post Louisville Game Discussion 9.2.2023

[GTLiebs]

We lost this in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
giving up 39 points isn't a sign of a strong defense.
seems like we haven't had strong defense now in 5th straight year....
i wonder if there's any common denominator over these past four years?

Wasn't last years defense ranked the highest overall since 2008? We've had a weak defensive line for way longer than 5 years.

I should add, its not like the defense played great for 4 quarters or anything, just commenting against the method of call out lol.

 

[LagrangeJacket]

We lost this in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
giving up 39 points isn't a sign of a strong defense.
seems like we haven't had strong defense now in 5th straight year....
i wonder if there's any common denominator over these past four years?

Did you not see the difference in pre- and post-Gef Thacker?

 

[Supersize that order mutt]

Didn’t think the offense played bad at all. Even OL was ok against a really good front. It wasn’t like King was getting assaulted. We lost because we missed a FG and had a very poorly timed fumble.

Also, not sure why you guys are questioning the playcalling. We scored 35 and had 400 yards of offense against a good team.

Defense struggled, but we had our two best guys out.
There was some weird clock management by Key at the end of the first half; only glaring coaching mistake I saw

Because, especially in the first quarter, there were way too many attempts to run up the middle or off tackle. I mean, Faulkner called 4 such plays inside the red-zone that essentially went nowhere before he finally tried the short pass to the TE that scored our first TD. There were more (TOO MANY) such plays in the second half. King was good, so don't take this as a criticism of him, but based on what I saw last year, Pyron would have made something happen on those plays, and I think that's one of the big differences between King and Pyron.

 

[USCJacket]

The reality is this. You win and lose along the LOS on both sides of the ball. GT has lacked a great OL since probably 2016, and in reality GT has always had (regardless of HC) a hard time getting top level DL talent.

If you have a solid OL the offense always looks like a well oiled machine. Same on D with a sold DL. You can see the programs who have both pieces annually. Michigan, tOSU, Alabama, Clemson, uga, etc.

Overall the team on offense at the skill positions has really good talent and speed. UofL is a good team, and the game could have gone either way.

GT has 6-7 winnable games left, and that doesn’t include UNC who GT somehow has owned during this down period. The game at Wake in 3 weeks is really going to set the table for the remainder of the season. 2-2 after 4 games gives GT real shot at 6-7 wins, a loss at Wake spells a 5-6 win season.

 

[BuzzinWreck78]

Wasn't last years defense ranked the highest overall since 2008? We've had a weak defensive line for way longer than 5 years.

last years defense was not among the top 100 in points allowed

 

[coit]

Hey @Akinji07, next time don’t öööö up tradition by stealing @MEwreck02 ’s OFFICIAL game thread. Bad Karma.

 

[The Champ]

Because, especially in the first quarter, there were way too many attempts to run up the middle or off tackle. I mean, Faulkner called 4 such plays inside the red-zone that essentially went nowhere before he finally tried the short pass to the TE that scored our first TD. There were more (TOO MANY) such plays in the second half. King was good, so don't take this as a criticism of him, but based on what I saw last year, Pyron would have made something happen on those plays, and I think that's one of the big differences between King and Pyron.

Pyron would have made plays where?

I like how you criticize red zone playcalling on drivers where we scored a TD

 

[stinger78]

Was at the game and watched the replay late to confirm in person game observations.

1. our OL has quality depth issues. After Williams and Robinson went out with injuries, our pass protection and running lanes suffered.

2. After losing Brooks and Sims after the first half, our secondary imploded. The 2ndary was supposed to be our strong suit.

3. The offense can score with the first team intact. We aren’t lacking in skilled position firepower thanks to SEC transfers.

4. King is solid but he took some hits. We’ll need the other QBs before it’s all said and done this season.

5. Departure of K White on the DL really shows. His impact made our defensive front better and to pressure the QB consistently.

6. No C Thomas/Eley showed in run stop defense. Tatum will be a good one in time.

7.Kicking is still an issue in clutch situations.

8.Buster knows what he’s doing but there is serious drop off in OL depth in terms of pass coverage and interior run game.

9. Louisville had quality DL/OL. Probably one the top opponents we’ll face this year. They were very successful in the portal. They’ll be successful in their rebuild.

10. we can score points when everyone is healthy offensively.

11. we’re going to have to score over 35 points a game to stay in games unfortunately.

12. TEs are finally being used!

14. We did beat the spread.

Very well said and I agree in most all of it. The main point being that Louisville may be pretty good this year if they can keep their QBs head straight.

Also thought an important point was King’s durability. He’s a smaller dude than I thought he would be. I’d bet a lot of the play selection in the second half had to do with a couple of (cheap) shots he took. One the guy got ejected for, but there were a couple of others that he just didn’t get down quick enough. He’s a gamer though like both Zachs. We’re good at QB finally.

As for CBF, I am approaching this game as a preseason game, considering that he was looking to see what we could do. He called a LOT of different stuff, even to try to get the FR WR into the mix. He used a crapton of players on O last night: 5-6 WRs, 4 RBs, 3 TEs. A lot of guys got touches.

We will win games this season.

 

[Supersize that order mutt]

Pyron would have made plays where?

I like how you criticize red zone playcalling on drivers where we scored a TD

Pyron would POSSIBLY have done better in short yardage situations.
Yes, we scored a TD AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO RUN IT OVER THE MIDDLE OR OFF TACKLE. THAT was the atrocious play calling. Just like P'Nut and Chip Long, except Faulkner did at least finally wake up to the reality that those plays were never going to work.

 

[GTLiebs]

Very well said and I agree in most all of it. The main point being that Louisville may be pretty good this year if they can keep their QBs head straight.

Also thought an important point was King’s durability. He’s a smaller dude than I thought he would be. I’d bet a lot of the play selection in the second half had to do with a couple of (cheap) shots he took. One the guy got ejected for, but there were a couple of others that he just didn’t get down quick enough. He’s a gamer though like both Zachs. We’re good at QB finally.

As for CBF, I am approaching this game as a preseason game, considering that he was looking to see what we could do. He called a LOT of different stuff, even to try to get the FR WR into the mix. He used a crapton of players on O last night: 5-6 WRs, 4 RBs, 3 TEs. A lot of guys got touches.

We will win games this season.

With SC St and Bowling Green on the schedule, I should hope we hit plural.

 

[GTLiebs]

last years defense was not among the top 100 in points allowed

Even if it were bad, doesn't mean it wasn't our best in a long time. Don't know if that's true or not, just pointing out the flaw in argument lol.

 

[GTLiebs]

Agreed, the history is there to cause concern, but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt to make the changes needed late in games now that he isn't coaching for his job security. The progress in many areas is evident but this is one he needs to grow in immediately.

Wanted to circle back to this too, cause while Key isn't directly coaching for his job security this year, he needs good will from wins this year. Some sort of steady progression where we maybe expect a bowl game in year 2 would make getting to year 3 pretty hard for him from what I remember of his contract.

 

[USCJacket]

Pyron would POSSIBLY have done better in short yardage situations.
Yes, we scored a TD AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO RUN IT OVER THE MIDDLE OR OFF TACKLE. THAT was the atrocious play calling. Just like P'Nut and Chip Long, except Faulkner did at least finally wake up to the reality that those plays were never going to work.

You realize UofL has a pretty damn good front 7 on D, right? UofL was very good last year along the front 7 and got even better through the Portal. Faulkner was trying to take control of the LOS and did in the 2nd quarter. Had GT played like they did in the 2nd quarter beginning in the middle of the 1st quarter, I have zero doubt GT would have scored 42 by the half. GT had UofL on the ropes.

A play missed was Rutherford dropping a perfect deep ball in the 1st quarter.

In the end UofL regrouped at the half and their front 7 on D regained control. Doesn’t matter who was at QB last night when you’re getting hit almost every time in pass plays. King is a very good QB and showed touch last night. The OL has to improve going forward, and hopefully the injuries last night aren’t anything serious. Losing Jordan Williams had a significant impact in the 2nd half. GT does not have enough depth on OL to have injuries mount.

 

[Supersize that order mutt]

I agree on all you said, but to take 4 plays inside the redzone before figuring out that we had not taken control of the LOS before trying something else, that actually worked, is just more of the same that we have seen the past 3 years. As I previously said, I am not knocking King at all. He has the making of a very good QB, but last year Pyron showed a will to get things done in spite of lack of control of the LOS, and he MIGHT have done better in those short yardage situations.

 

[YellowJacket4Life]

Wanted to circle back to this too, cause while Key isn't directly coaching for his job security this year, he needs good will from wins this year. Some sort of steady progression where we maybe expect a bowl game in year 2 would make getting to year 3 pretty hard for him from what I remember of his contract.

Totally agree there. Pretty much why I said it needs to be an immediate change or the good will, will dry up quickly.

 

[The Champ]

Pyron would POSSIBLY have done better in short yardage situations.
Yes, we scored a TD AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO RUN IT OVER THE MIDDLE OR OFF TACKLE. THAT was the atrocious play calling. Just like P'Nut and Chip Long, except Faulkner did at least finally wake up to the reality that those plays were never going to work.

You must have been drunk. The sequence was,
7 yard run to the 5 yd line
Incomplete pass on 2nd and 3
4 yard run to the 1-yd line for a 1st down
No Gain
No Gain
TD on PA pass set up be previous run.


Nothing wrong with that series. The runs were smart calls.

 

[OptionJacket]

Keeping Thacker still has me baffled. 39 points in game 1. You can paint it any way you want but 39 points don’t lie.

 

[stinger78]

Keeping Thacker still has me baffled. 39 points in game 1. You can paint it any way you want but 39 points don’t lie.

Not a fan of Thacker, but I do think we have significant personnel issues on D. The DB should be real good, and It was in the 1st half.

 

[stinger78]

With SC St and Bowling Green on the schedule, I should hope we hit plural.

I still think we win 6.

 

[YellowJacket4Life]

Keeping Thacker still has me baffled. 39 points in game 1. You can paint it any way you want but 39 points don’t lie.

According to my Uncle (the good one on my dad's side who is a Tech alum/donor with connections) he said feelers were sent out for DC but ultimately not enough quality interest so Thacker is being given a "prove me right" type of year away from Clown Shoes to prove his metal.

Again, that could be way off, just what he heard.