I blame JacketFan77. MIND NOT RITE GONNA WIN THE NEXT 8,000 GAMES INAROW AMIRITE?!
But seriously though ... the one thing PJ had right in his tenure was the offense. Even that is flying out the window this year. Is it really just a ton of injuries? Well yea, somewhat. But I can't help but feel that even at full power this season would have still landed somewhere in the area of .500. I also don't buy the "we've been so close" argument either. This may be the worst ACC since Chan and Wake Forest won their divisions. I mean it is a total **** show out there conference wide except Clemson. And GT is still racking up the biggest loss count in a generation.
The team chemistry seems fine. But this team is much older and experienced than they're given credit. Which lends itself to some conclusions:
- Last year had some exceptionally good fortune in the turnover department
- Last year had some key blockers on the edge who went largely under-appreciated
- At skill positions I think the PLAYMAKER gap is hugely underrated and talent/stars is overrated. I actually think GT has at least on offense some good playmakers. But...
- At OL/DL positions, there I think talent and stars REALLY matters. There's a reason all serious fighting sports organize in weight divisions. There is only so much you can ask perpetually outweight outsized people to do for you. Gotsis has an unusually good motor for his size. Freeman has unusually good burst speed for his size. It's a lot of no bueno out there beyond that.
I want to see how the defense looks after four years of Roof before I render judgement. But I will say that 5 years of .500 ball for one 10 win season, going 2 for 7 against the tards ... I don't think I'm happy with that. But I think The Hill is aye-OK with that, as are some GT fans (the same, no doubt, who thought Gailey just needed more time...)
TL;DR: I realize the tendency is to go "we're so close!" but I have a feeling in my stomach things are worse than that, based upon how poorly they've done against the worst ACC since at least 2006, and maybe even double digit years beyond that.
