Well, heck. At least we won the damn game...

[bugboy]

Been looking at all the posts on the Hive and some over here...lots of people seem down and out. I can understand that. But seriously, 3-1 aint that bad and we still have a shot at a really good year. Let me make a few points:

1) This coaching staff is good at making halftime adjustments. I like that, particularly after all the 2nd half defensive debacles we had last year. We have upgraded our defensive coaching and we can thank Chan for that.

2) These boys don't quit. We've finished strongly in the last 2 games in the all-important 4th quarter. This team fights and doesn't give up. That will help us win more games down the line.

3) Our defensive pass rush without a sick Gathers was pretty darn good. Let's hope we keep this up.

4) ACE ran pretty hard when he was in there Saturday. Maybe he'll be an awesome contributor in TH's absence.

5) Suggs throws a good ball. I like his passes. His problem has been decision-making, but that'll come as he gets more comfortable. As I've said before, if we establish a running game early, it'll really loosen things up for Suggs and he's more effective.

Let's keep our heads up. As long as we play tough defense, we can beat anyone. That's gonna be the key to this team...defense. They'll keep us in the game while our O tries to get things going.

I'm as crushed as anyone about the loss of Hollings, but life goes on.

Go Jackets.

 

[TeamBuzz]

Great post!

Nice to read something positive! I like the chances of being 7-1 heading into Raleigh!

Win or loose, we drink the booze!

 

[kirbee]

Yes, I can make positive posts. Bright spots on Saturday:

1) Ruben Houston and Eric Henderson were all over the field. Those two added a nice spark to the defense.

2) Mangnet's kick-offs reminded me of Janakowski when he was a FSU. Deep and not returnable.

3) Watkins had 2 great KO returns.

4) The secondary played very well - 3 INTS.

5) Rhino had a great and timely punt return to set up a scoring drive.

6) I love that the defense is creating turnovers.

7) I think Glover may have scored on that option reverse had the referee not triped him. Bummer - we set that up all day.

8) The 3rd and 2 pass play to Watkins was a great call and well executed.

9) Chan's decision to go on 4th and 1 and put the game away was 100% correct. Yes I would say that even if we didn't get it.

10) Penalties were down - mostly the stupid costly ones.

 

[ahsoisee]

In my previous post regarding Saturday's game, I praised Hargrove and Hollings for standout a standout game. How could I have left Manget off for those booming kickoffs? Best series of kickoffs into the end zone at Tech in a lot of years.

 

[GTCrew]

Agree completely.

I thought Parker made some big time plays. If he keeps it up we could be pretty good.

I have never been a big Muyres fan but he played like his press clippings Saturday. His interception was a thing of beauty.

Sometimes we showed the Blitz too early and BYU picked some of them up beautifully. We mixed it up well but we can improve some here.

We play with a lot of emotion. I like it but we might be on the edge of the celebration penalty sometimes. I do think the emotion factor is a reason we are playing well in the fourth. We are not folding up when the going gets tough (see November 2001).

The scary thing is I would give all aspects of our game on Saturday A grades except the QB, the WR and the OLine (Bplus for the OL). Other than the QB and the WR we have seen marked improvement by all our players. If the passing cogs get it together we will make some noise yet!

 

[jacketguy]

Originally posted by kirbee:
Yes, I can make positive posts. Bright spots on Saturday:

2) Mangnet's kick-offs reminded me of Janakowski when he was a FSU. Deep and not returnable.

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">I actually made that comment to someone... great kickoffs

 

[ContactBuzz]

There were also 2 passes to Heller that resulted in 1st downs. There's the use of the TE that everyone has been calling for.

Bugboy - good job pointing out the coaching halftime adjustments. That's something that has been overlooked by most of us. I think the coaching staff deserves more credit than they're being given to this point.

 

[GT98]

Good thread and points by all...

IF our defense continues to play like it did Sat., then there is no reason that we cannot have a good record heading into the November stretch run. We might be playing no frills, Baltimore Ravens (from previous years, not this one

) style football--great defense, good special teams and conservative offense.

Regarding the offense, I agree w/the assessment of Suggs thus far--good arm, not so good decision making at times. I am sure that the coaching staff will scale down the offense for him and use a lot of high percentage type plays early--3 step drops, out patterns, etc. for his confidence to stay up. Also, it is incumbent to get the WR's into the mix in other ways like we did Sat. w/the motion option and reverses that were setup nicely.

Looking forward to Sat.'s game, hope to see some of you there...

 

[ncjacket]

Good points everyone. I still think we need to turn the WRs loose and stop running 2 patterns (at least it feels like it) the outs, and the fly. What happened to the slants we use to burn people with? Also don't seem to be running the LEGAL picks anymore. Am I missing something when I watch or am I on target with this?

 

[ramblinwise1]

Originally posted by ncjacket:
Good points everyone. I still think we need to turn the WRs loose and stop running 2 patterns (at least it feels like it) the outs, and the fly. What happened to the slants we use to burn people with? Also don't seem to be running the LEGAL picks anymore. Am I missing something when I watch or am I on target with this?

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">You are right on the money NC. Quick slants toward the middle would help AJ's confidence and soften the coverage a bunch.

 

[kirbee]

GTCrew - good call on Parker. I now recall he did make some big plays on D.

 

[bellyseries]

Good post, bug. The staff has made the proper halftime adjustments. We could be 4-0, easily. I thought before the season that RB was where we needed a breakout. Well, we got it, didn't we! But now we need it again. We also are suddenly thin at DE. If CG can pull off 8 or 9 wins under these new circumstances he will have done a helluva first year job. I'm still thinking 9 or 10, but I love my gold glasses.