As if anyone wants a "dwag's" opinion...he "lost" the team 1) when the schedule turned out even harder than it looked--and 2) when a couple of aspects of execution that had been taken for granted weren't there.
1) Duke is better than expected. UNC is 5-1. Even Pitt is pretty good. All of three of these seemed like automatic wins. Clemson didn't have the expected falloff on defense.
2) Execution: The defense was improved last year because the offense could keep it off the field. I discounted the effect of losing experienced running backs, who, I didn't understand, where just as important for their blocking assignments. Freshmen don't do that well. I figured RBs were just plug-and-play in this offense. But one thing that IS true of this offense--it's a very tight machine that can't be missing any parts. Too many years one thing or another hasn't been there. In years like last year or '09 it was a thing of beauty. If Tech could have gotten by FSU and into the playoffs, it would have done some real damage.
But this year I think JT is trying to take the team on his shoulders since other aspects aren't working well, and it makes his own game weaker. Offense actually showed sparks against Pitt (which has a strong D) but still, you can see there isn't that slow, steady ability to wear the other team down in the second half. Instead the Tech D gets worn down.
But #1 is the biggest deal, and it's not an excuse. FPI showed Tech with the hardest remaining schedule in America at one point. Just a rough year that seems rougher because last season was so promising. The challenge now is to keep a team focused as some of the goals can't be reached. That's hard for any coach.
