beej67
new around here
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2002
- Messages
- 56,571
We know a lot more than we did before:
We now know with 100% certainty that we don't need a new OC, that Nix is completely capable of putting together a high powered offensive game plan, and that the problems with the offense so far this year are 100% on the head of Reggie Ball.
We now know with 90% certainty that Taylor Bennett will be our starting QB next year, and that we'll be able to redshirt one or both of our incoming QB recruits. That's good, IMO.
Furthermore, we know that Bennett will be a good quarterback, and may end up being a great quarterback.
We can be reasonably sure that we'll keep Tenuta this year, after his D gave up an 18 point lead, twice, on national TV.
We know that if CJ stays, we will be obvious favorites to win the ACC next year. Even if he doesn't, we look to be as good a team next year as this year. We also know TB showed CJ that his stock isn't going to go down by staying, which is a glimmer of hope.
We know we still need a kickoff guy.
What we don't know is pretty obvious - why Reggie started in the first place - but there's enough anecdotal evidence for why. TB's previous sub 50 completion percentage, Reggie elected captain, Reggie senior, Reggie physically superior. Whatever. Yes, we all would have benched him earlier, (me too) but we're just fans, not in practice, and don't know everything.
My assessment of the game:
TB was everything Reggie wasn't, and the future for him looks bright. Our offensive gameplan was awesome, nigh perfect. We never abandoned the run. We never abandoned CJ. We never forgot about Grant. We threw the ball to essentially every position, at every spot on the field, and we ran the ball superbly. Backs out of the backfield, backs in the slot, TEs over the middle, backs on delayed releases, WRs on screens, WRs down the field, TEs down the field, you name it, we completed a pass there. Anyone who complains about Nix after the Gator Bowl needs to be shot in the face.
Our D Line got manhandled all game, by a vastly superior O Line. Our linebackers were not prepared to play assignment defense to neutralize the option, because Tenuta relied on defensive ends to assume part of the role, and they got beat head-to-head by superior players. As such, we were only in a position to make the tackle about half the time, and when you give up more than 10 yards on 50% of the other team's running plays, you're pretty well screwed. We blitzed ourselves out of the game, just like we did vs Clemson.
That said, we still easily could have won, on the backs of good offensive playcalling and gutsy HC decisions, if it weren't for a few screwy plays. Them recovering the squib was screwy, and that sleeper-play touchdown thing was screwy. Take those two away and it's our game. Hell, take the clipping call on 3rd down away and it's probably our game.
At the time, I thought the fieldgoal attempt was really really dumb, but seeing how our D played afterwards, I can understand wanting to try and make the 3 points with the wind at our back. It was only short a few feet, and the D looked like total crap all game, so I can see why Chan wouldn't have faith in it. So I give Gailey the nod over me, and yall, on that. I thought the onsides kick to start the second half (even with a lead) was gutsy, well timed, and worked, and everyone must give Gailey the nod on that.
We now know with 100% certainty that we don't need a new OC, that Nix is completely capable of putting together a high powered offensive game plan, and that the problems with the offense so far this year are 100% on the head of Reggie Ball.
We now know with 90% certainty that Taylor Bennett will be our starting QB next year, and that we'll be able to redshirt one or both of our incoming QB recruits. That's good, IMO.
Furthermore, we know that Bennett will be a good quarterback, and may end up being a great quarterback.
We can be reasonably sure that we'll keep Tenuta this year, after his D gave up an 18 point lead, twice, on national TV.
We know that if CJ stays, we will be obvious favorites to win the ACC next year. Even if he doesn't, we look to be as good a team next year as this year. We also know TB showed CJ that his stock isn't going to go down by staying, which is a glimmer of hope.
We know we still need a kickoff guy.
What we don't know is pretty obvious - why Reggie started in the first place - but there's enough anecdotal evidence for why. TB's previous sub 50 completion percentage, Reggie elected captain, Reggie senior, Reggie physically superior. Whatever. Yes, we all would have benched him earlier, (me too) but we're just fans, not in practice, and don't know everything.
My assessment of the game:
TB was everything Reggie wasn't, and the future for him looks bright. Our offensive gameplan was awesome, nigh perfect. We never abandoned the run. We never abandoned CJ. We never forgot about Grant. We threw the ball to essentially every position, at every spot on the field, and we ran the ball superbly. Backs out of the backfield, backs in the slot, TEs over the middle, backs on delayed releases, WRs on screens, WRs down the field, TEs down the field, you name it, we completed a pass there. Anyone who complains about Nix after the Gator Bowl needs to be shot in the face.
Our D Line got manhandled all game, by a vastly superior O Line. Our linebackers were not prepared to play assignment defense to neutralize the option, because Tenuta relied on defensive ends to assume part of the role, and they got beat head-to-head by superior players. As such, we were only in a position to make the tackle about half the time, and when you give up more than 10 yards on 50% of the other team's running plays, you're pretty well screwed. We blitzed ourselves out of the game, just like we did vs Clemson.
That said, we still easily could have won, on the backs of good offensive playcalling and gutsy HC decisions, if it weren't for a few screwy plays. Them recovering the squib was screwy, and that sleeper-play touchdown thing was screwy. Take those two away and it's our game. Hell, take the clipping call on 3rd down away and it's probably our game.
At the time, I thought the fieldgoal attempt was really really dumb, but seeing how our D played afterwards, I can understand wanting to try and make the 3 points with the wind at our back. It was only short a few feet, and the D looked like total crap all game, so I can see why Chan wouldn't have faith in it. So I give Gailey the nod over me, and yall, on that. I thought the onsides kick to start the second half (even with a lead) was gutsy, well timed, and worked, and everyone must give Gailey the nod on that.
