Ekanem, Mihota, Hill, Baron, Williams, Walker, and Settle have played at an all ACC level since the Battle at Bristol. The change in personnel has, as predicted, allowed the linebackers to move around without the impediment of blockers.
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"Not to toot my own horn or anything but I'm fucking awesome!!" - French, probably
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I will say this- being right about good stuff is a damn good feeling. The last couple of years have been torture because you knew what the weaknesses were and then you had to sit back and watch teams exploit them like watching a good HS team beat up a bad one.
Having spent a little time with you, I believe you aren't surprised when you're right. You expect to be. What surprises you is when you're wrong. Not sure when/if that has occurred, though. Keep up the stuff, man. You're the real deal.
excuse me
I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we are very glad you are no longer tortured. Unless of course you like that kind of thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
" "Not to toot my own horn or anything but I'm fucking awesome!!" - French" - VPIhokieME
-Michael Scott
I just stared at this gif for a min or 2 don't mind me...
Oh and nice job French, some badass analysis!!!
Edit: if you are currently reading this, I'm probably still staring at the gif....
sooooo hottt
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Looks like this is also Foster approved.
Please, oh please let this signal a shift toward larger DEs on Wiles' lines.
You probably said something about Hill being really, really, really good some day also. Because that's going to happen.
He did. When he was being recruited pre-injury.
I said I would have taken Hill over Josh Sweat. Sweat has been better than I thought he would be. But, Hill is showing times of having some special ability on the edge.
Of note: Hill is having a better season than Sweat (although Sweat injured his meniscus this past Saturday), Da'Shawn Hand and arguably Derrick Nnadi.
Can you imagine if we landed those 3 with Hill?
French is also #TeamPie, in which is also correct.
French is the epitome of #TeamPie. He likes pies nobody else on the team would touch with somebody else's lips.
Must...not...make...yo mamma...joke...
But he also hates cheese. So, he isn't infallible.
But he is up front and unapologetic about it. That's gotta count for something.
Cheese is milk that has gone bad. Do you eat rotten apples? Nope. There you go.
I don't eat them, but I do drink them sometimes.
I would eat fermented rotten apples in the form of alcohol.
Apple Brandy?
Yes. Apple Brandy is delicious.
Just to be clear, aged beef and sour cream are also off the table?
Sour cream is cheese level vile. As is ranch dressing, egg yolks, and mayonaisse. Aged beef has not gone bad, so no discrepancy there. The only reason people eat cheese is because they've been eating cheese. Once you step away from it for a while it starts to taste as it should, rotten nasty crap.
Must. Not. Downvote. Opinions.....uuuuuuuuugh!
I mean....stupid question. If we upvote opinions we like, why can't we downvote opinions we dont?
Theoretically I think opinion shouldn't really matter. We should upvote anything that we feel contributes to discussion regardless of what our or the commenters opinions are. Realistically, it's extremely difficult to not upvote things you agree with more than things you don't.
Conversely, we downvote things that shouldn't be on here: trolling, pointless bickering, condescension, comments that just add noise and nothing else. Simple differences of opinion, to me, don't meet any of those criteria so I don't downvote them.
upvoted
It says nothing about not upvoting opinions you agree with. In fact, I'd say that's covered by striving to upvote more than you downvote.
I mean of course you upvote things you agree with, I wasn't arguing that you shouldn't. All I was trying to say was that it's not just the opinions we agree with that contribute to discussions. It takes two to tango, right? Differences in opinion and our ability to discuss those differences in a rational manner are some of the things that make this site great. I don't need to agree with someone to give them a leg
* insert obligatory message to join The Key Players Club here* Which, no, I haven't done yet but my paycheck on the 16th will be larger than normal so expect to see a key next to my name then. Hold me to this, guys.
There in fact three choices to make.
Up Vote (Leg)
Down Vote
and
No Vote
Exercise your right not to walk. ( la Charlie Dalton)
Nailed it on the cheese. Once you stop, even the smell makes you turn green.
Hard Cider is rotten apples. Not as good as beer, but far better than Zima.
Actually, aged beef is spoiled, they jut cut the mold and nastiness off of the outside before barely cooking it.
Beer is simply barley or other grain that's spoiled. Then rinsed and packaged.
Whiskey is the same but then set out in the weather before final packaging.
Whiskey is put in rotting trees, which may or may not have been burnt, until it looks and tastes more like a tree. Unless you get white whiskey (unaged). A lot of those can be really tasty and have some super interesting flavors.
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Leg for W&G
What about Switzer? Do we have an answer?
Switzer? I barely know her
YAY! Everyone go join The Key Player's Club as fast as you can!!
We just hit 265 members, which is one more than Mihota's weight of 264. The next biggest guy on the D-line is Woody Baron at 280. To commemorate French's excellence and the excellence of the D-line, let's make 280 our goal by the UNC game. I bet we can do it. Who's with me?
So if we get to Bucky's height in inches we meet the goal?
We should always strive to reach Bucky's height in inches.
Well boys, it looks like we're going for *infinity symbol* Key Player's Club members!
I think Joe would be satisfied if the ongoing membership of the Key Play matches the ongoing number of days that Tech has been in possession of the Commonwealth Cup.... currently at 4324..... and yes, infinity is the number we shoot for there too..... I'm not sayin ..... but just sayin.
Isn't this about the time MsSusieCue logs in to put you back in your place?
Tony Reali still has a job?
Haha, my wife always says he looks like the guy you'd see front row and center at the strip club.
No, he looks nothing like me.
seems like whether you recognize that guy by the back of his head or from his face would kinda tip your hand as to what you're doing at said strip club...
French...probably.
1) yep, it's that time again.
2) he is often wrong, but rarely concedes without two things: a long diatribe and a preponderance of evidence that all parties are also wrong.
3)I tend to let him toot his own horn--in the grand scheme of tooting this is the safest in regards to air quality.
Carry on...
Is it true French doesn't like Ranch?
Yep. Needless to say, his stock was in a downward spiral when we first met. Cheese was almost a deal breaker.
I do like the buttermilk ranch from Sweetwater Tavern
Sweetwater Tavern is my jam. My family would make weekend trips to Nova just to hang out, and we'd make a point to go there just about every time. Best food ever, period.
Are strawberries your jam too?!
My wife hates eggs. I love them. Souffle, quiche, omeletes, scrambled, fried, poached, whatever.
You make it work.
Like I've said before, I would subscribe to Leonard's Weekly Email Digest
My wife is the same way. I won't eat cheese, ranch, sour cream etc, she won't eat eggs. The difference of course is all of the former are a supremely unhealthy waste of calories, whereas eggs are the perfect breakfast food. I still somehow lose this argument constantly and I become the weird one.
Eggs are merely the condiment to the perfect breakfast food. Bacon.
and the best breakfast? cook your bacon and pour the grease off into a jar. Then make pancakes, using said grease instead of butter for the pan. Then do the same thing with your scrambled eggs. Then enjoy.
Do it in a cast iron and you've got some true Southern cooking going on
and speaking of bacon:
clicky
Looks pretty good, but what's that rabbit food doing in the middle?
That's stuffing and if you don't want it, I'll happily eat your share!
Nah, that's ok. Stuffing (even with the green stuff in it) cooked in pork, marinated in bacon drippings qualifies as "edible" in my book. Pass it on over, I'll have some right now!
Sounds like more eggs for you!
French dipped (fully)
So this French guy appears to be pretty good... but how has he been on the QB v. TE predictions and analyses over the years? Has he achieved Nostradamus or Miss Cleo level yet?
How about a little Flair to go with your Arn?!
Mihota would be way down on my list of reasons why the defense is better.
The biggest IMO would be to look at the number of [career] snaps the current defensive contributors have played vs the previous two years.
Better play all across the defensive line is a big reason why the defense is much improved. Pressure on the QB makes life easier for the secondary and the D-Lineman eating blocks gives the Linebackers freedom to attack downhill and aggressively fill gaps. Everyone loved Dadi, and for good reason, he was a dynamic pass rusher, but he was over running plays left and right last season. Mihota is much stronger at the point of attack and that's a big help.
And good coverage makes it easier for the line to get pressure. Nothing happens in a vacuum.
There were 3 frosh running all around in the secondary last season after game 2. Those guys now have an extra year of college football experience, experience with each other, and physical maturity.
Then throw in a MLB playing with one leg and an OLB who was more shit than sugar. That makes a huge difference.
I don't disagree with you. I'm just saying the Defensive line is a huge reason why we have seen improvement. The only thing I would say is that we haven't played anyone that has consistently dropped back and waited to get rid of the football. We have been getting consistent pressure very quickly using just 4, which has certainly been lacking in the past.
Do you mean total plays defended by the defense, or how many snaps each player is in for?
Collective experience. How many collective snaps the defensive players have taken in the careers?
There is a lot more of it on this year's team than last yr's team and a whole lot less reliance on players that lack it.
Come on... don't let facts get in the way of your argument.
The starting DL was Maddy, Marshall, and Dadi- all had a ton of experience and reps.
Watch the tape. Look at the space that the linebackers have to fill. Watch Mihota take away that side. Watch him rush the passer in a controlled manner that produces early throws instead of broken contain. You can't seriously watch the tape and not feel like he is an upgrade.
I don't think hes saying Vinny isn't an upgrade, just that the defense took a much larger step forward more because of the increased experience overall rather than mostly Vinny. And to use your facts, Woody and Nigel returned a good amount of starts from last year. Not exactly green
Nope, just better technique, better effort, and more size.
and better results
Precisely.
Yeah and inexperience or injuries at virtually every position behind that - not to mention Marshall only started 6 games and Dadi played with a broken hand all season.
I'm not saying the defense hasn't played much better or Mihota hasn't played well. It and he clearly have (although frankly BC & an overrated ECU offense - particularly the OLs - aren't exactly massive tests). But IMO it's largely because the D is collectively deeper, more experienced, and healthier with fewer holes - leading to more options available to Bud Foster. That can be a pretty lethal combo.
You don' think having a more experienced Mook in the nickel and a steadier, bigger Sam doesn't allow the DE's to narrow down some of their responsibilities? Or a healthy, more mature MLB? Or that pressure is often a consequence of good coverage -- and vice versa? I would say this D is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. And the same can be said of the offense. And that's the predominant reason why this team is clicking right now.
Can't argue with that. Well put. Depth is also a huge really important going forward and it's nice we have been able to jump way ahead and consistently get the 2's and 3's valuable game reps.
Maybe should have just said this to begin with. ;)
Sometimes you don't know how to articulate an idea until you hash it out in conversation.
Yea Ken doing this with 3 and 4 man rushes certainly helps
I really like this uni combo.
One case in which the shoulder strips go perfectly with that helmet.
Yeah, those are slick as hell.
Minolta is the Engleburger of this D. He makes Ken better by drawing attention. He makes the LBs better by his fundamentals allowing them to have space to operate (and not having to be heros). His pressure (along with the other DLs) allows the DBs to be aggressive.
He's almost been picture perfect.
Would be interested to see how many snaps he's playing compared to hill. Seems like they are playing about the same amount the last few games.
Pepperidge Farm remembers
Speaking of things remembered... I remember French eating a big ol' piece of Pepperidge Farms CAKE last night. #transparency
Only because there was no pie in the house. Cake is better than empty gurgling stomach.
#teamclosetcake.
Cake...It'll get after ya.
Green shits today. Cake punishment.
I'll take "Things I Never Expected to Read on TKP" for $800, Alex.
FTFY
French why you betray us???
I will be having some cherry pie this evening to balance the Force.
No. No. No. That's a cop out.
Drink a glass of water and pull yourself together, man.
Pepperidge Farm cake?
I immediately regret the decision. However, I am rapidly falling back in love with freeze pops/flavo-ice.
Beef cake?
Also speaking of those things, IIRC, he copped to eating at least two slices of pizza with CHEESE on it recently. Starting to wonder about that fellow.
It was crisis management. You have seen me turn green. That was the pizza effect as well.
#CHUMMING
Truly not a pretty picture, but I must also admit I did feel pretty sorry for you at the time. Then again, we did end up getting a cobia on, so...
I don't eat cheese due to preference......unless it's pizza, pizza is just too damn good.
Kudos to your lady. She has commented and gotten more legs than most of us with our catchy phrase-ology. You are a lucky man.
A turn of the tongue, she is adept at, yes.
A whole different direction, I thought this was going in.
You are a lucky man
Vinny Mihota makes this defense better.
Back at it again...
And there's French on the misdirection, taking it to the house!!!
I've had my eye on Vinny this year and he certainly hadn't disappointed. In the Liberty game he looked like the best player on the D-Line, and they had no answer for him (other than to false start.)
In particular I was worried he wasn't fast enough. After just the first quarter of the Liberty game it was clear he's plenty fast.
Makes me question Wiles' appraisal skills, TBH.
Watching Mihota, he seems very eager and get after it.
Also seems very quick to the ball.
Since we want to make sure you stay grounded through this exciting time, what would you say, French, is the one thing you've been most blatantly wrong about posting on TKP?
Hmm... RVD, Javon Harrison, the kid from the 757 who didn't qualify, went to Temple, and fizzled out.
Oh, and I saw Adonis Alexander play in high school the night before the win over Ohio State. If you told me that night he would be our starting corner, I would have laughed at you. He has been much better than I ever expected. But, once I saw him working at corner that spring, you knew he had the potential to be a difference maker.
Now if only he could hang on to some of these interceptions thrown his way!
Top Gun
I said it first! I said it first!
I think most of this board did. Look back at the threads from the 2015 spring game and the ensuing DT/DE switching that Wiles was doing to Vinny. Most people were dying for dline size like this.
From the article:
I think the past 2 games have really shown how effective this pairing can be.
But how much did they play together? Was it a significant amount, or can we dismiss it due to a small sample size?
Back to decomposing food: it'll get after ya!