I know it's rough right now, but it will get better. Maybe not today or tomorrow or the next day, but it will get better. For now we just need to keep pressing forward.
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You're living up to your name with this post. The sharks are going to jump all over this. That being said you are spot on.
As spot on as one can be with such a generalized statement as a forum topic. I mean what did this topic offer? Yeah, there's nowhere to go but up after the embarrassments that have occurred this season, I mean that's a given. Oh and one day, not sure when, but some time off in the future, we will be a better team... not sure how much better, but better... what a leap that is.
The topic offers at least some sort of perspective. Everyone is pissed off about a game. That's all it is in the grand scheme a things, a game. A game played by 18-21 year old kids. Life goes on and there is so much more to life than football. When something that is supposed to bring you enjoyment makes you so viscerally angry that you lose all perspective then it's probably time to re-evaluate things. Just my $.02.
My question to you is what does a "Vent Thread" topic offer that differs from this?
IMO this was intended to bring a more positive feel to the future vs what is in the vent thread. Does it open it up to people who disagree? Absolutely, but it's a message board, so it's expected.
Where I stand with this kind of post is that we see this kind of post all the time to make people think its going to be ok, the future is bright, the only way is up, etc. Of course the only way is up when you look like a soft shit on a rainy day (credit: BAG... love that saying) by getting completely embarrassed and dominated in all facets on Defense. It's almost impossible to think you could get worse on a defensive output when you watch last night's game.
Nothing against you, just my .02, but when I see these kind of posts after every bad loss, I roll my eyes and laugh.
No offense taken. When I see the vent threads I do the same.
I get it. My criticism certainly wasn't anything personal. Just didn't think such a generalized and brief statement warranted another thread, could have certainly been a comment in the vent thread or any of the other post-game threads. No biggie.
We have threads about mayo and forks. We have 2 different vent threads going (or 4 if you count the game thread and dcwilson's pre-game vent thread).
You're overall point makes sense, but it's TKP. Where we have threads about threads and the turkey legs don't matter.
Does anybody else miss Micheal Vick?
I wouldn't have said this 3 weeks ago, but....... Put in QPII. Time to light a fire under this offense.
I'd just prefer him to keep his RS at this point. This is a bit of a lost season (the Coastal hopes are probably a pipe dream the way this team is playing, even as bad as the rest of the division is). Maybe play him some more significant minutes for 3 more games, but still stick with Willis the rest of the way.
Offense wasn't the issue last night.
We have 4 games left. He can play in up to 4 games (he's already participated in one) and keep his redshirt. I say if the wheels fall off the bus again next week Fu should seriously consider putting him out there for the final 3 regular season games to see what he can do.
Hell, put him on defense if that'll help. We clearly need something to add a spark there.
I wasn't suggesting offense is the problem. Actually I'm quite with you that the Defense is horrible and that's 90% the problem. At this point I think that the only silver lining in this season is to see what our future star is going to be. That's all.
The offense really hasn't been the problem. Hard to win when you let the other guys score 49.
It's easier if you can get to 50, though. Isn't that basically the underlying premise of the entire BigXIII conference (minus K-State)?
This is GT we're talking about. The best way to beat them is to get ahead and stay ahead. Once the clock is not their friend, their offense changes (and tanks, looking at how well Oliver has thrown). If ST hadn't muffed a punt and the offense had kept scoring, no way they get to 49.
The best defense is a good offense.
Touchdown
Touchdown
Punt - Fumble Recovery
Touchdown
Touchdown
End of Half
Touchdown
Touchdown
Punt
Touchdown
End of Game
That's what GT did to our defense last night. 9 drives, 7 Touchdowns.
But our offense was the problem?
Yeah, I must be missing something about the offense being the problem last night. Three touchdowns on the first three possessions is usually a great thing, especially when you're playing with a typical VT defense.
**someone on the internet is missing the point, viewing a discussion through their own lens, and putting words into my mouth**
**nvm, it's just Alum07 business as usual.
Yes, the defense sucked. I don't think this loss falls on the offense. However, the comment was "hard to win when the other guys score 49 points." And here's my point: if our offense played better, GT doesn't score anywhere close to 49 points.
GT games snowball in either direction based on the first few possessions. If they get behind, they can't play grind it out football like they want. They have to get fancy and pitch or (gasp) pass and they make mistakes. If they are allowed to get a lead, they settle in and take their merry time. Look at the drive times for the ones you list and you'll see an offense that THRIVES off of having a lead to protect. Yes the defense needs a stop or two, but the offense needs to do their job, too. When we got the ball back tied at 21, the O needed to put us back up to keep the pressure on. Instead they went 3 and out and that let GT score again before the half. Hell, even if we don't score, but just burn some clock and pin GT back inside their own 20, we probably still go into half time tied because, news flash, GT DOES NOT SCORE QUICKLY.
They averaged 5.5 seconds per yard gained compared to our 3.3. Now that's incredibly simplistic, but if we run with it anyway, it means, this game, GT needs almost 8 minutes of gametime to march 85 yards (assuming a punt is downed at the 15). So I do not blame the offense for this game, but I at least acknowledge that a consistent offensive production completely torpedoes the GT gameplan and makes the defense look a lot better. We started off great, but lost our composure instead of forcing them to lose theirs.
Touchdown - 6:30
Touchdown - 5:37
Punt - Fumble Recovery
Touchdown - 3:33 (but only had to go 36 yards because they got gifted a 42 yard punt muff)
Touchdown - 4:08
End of Half - 0:46
Touchdown - 5:46
Touchdown - 4:42
Punt - 3:48 (and only gained 11 yards)
Touchdown - 3:40 (28 yards because we turned it over on downs)
End of Game - 3:48 (52 yards)
**someone on the internet is missing the point, viewing a discussion through their own lens, and putting words into my mouth**
Haha, man if I donated a nickel to the Hokie Club every time that's happened to me when trying to get a point across I'd be a Diamond Level member.
I mean it's hard to stay ahead if you have to score every single possession to do it lol
GT did it. Just saying...
And because of their extremely long drives it wears down a defense regardless of how good or bad they are.
I can understand both sides of the argument for speeding up or slowing down our offense but I can't help but think if we keep dropping TD's on them instead of trying to run their morale breaks down. I don't think we're playing good psychological football these days. I'm not sure our staff knows that matters.
I could see wanting to slow our offense down to give your defense rest but a panicked GT offense does not perform nearly as well against our tired defense and quite frankly our defense doesn't have to risk penalties as much against a stressed out GT offense. We basically played their game and unsurprisingly they won their game.
I for one look at that first punt as an unconventional long 1st down because that's what it felt like. So 8 of 9.
Can QP play defense?
He damn sure looks like a linebacker.
Naaaa, save QP until we get our defense back. Leonard Nimoy is currently in search of them.
I know we will, but damn I'm tired of taking figurative nut shots every week
We just need more resilient and stronger nuts
I scored a ticket for $20 in Section 14 row V with a surprise cushioned seat back. I caught up with some dear, old ride-or-dies from back in day, and hit the zone with a perfect bourbon blanket buzz at an awesome tailgate with good food..
The GT offense made for a fast game, so that I could ride down the hill and get home to NC at a pretty decent hour. There weren't many trucks on 81S (which was really weird) and I cruised at 80 in good weather. I got 5 hours of good sleep, and don't feel like shit at work, and it's Friday.
So, fuck it. Hokies lost, but Leonard won, and that's more important than anything.
I aspire to go through life with a Leonard perspective.
I wonder if these kind of posts really move anybody? I feel like we see these kind of posts every time we lose... same shit, different game/loss. But last night was a different animal. We got punched in the face on defense from the beginning to the end. A complete embarrassment.
Nothing from yesterday's game and looking forward as we are in year 3 of Fuente has me thinking "Guys we will be ok"
But hey, if these make others feel better and have you saying "THE ONLY WAY IS UP!!! THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!!!", then keep them coming... to each their own.
We -might- be OK in a couple years, maybe not. Let's see how recruiting goes. Let's see if we can sign some higher caliber defensive tackles that are over 6'01. Let's see if we can sign some DE's that can get off blocks. Will VT have a football team and great fans? Yep. Will Whit and Fuente work their tails off to find the best staff? Yep. Will we be much better next year on defense? I seriously doubt it- looking at the depth chart. If you can't crack the 2 deep on this year's defense, unless you are an august true freshman- you are likely not a difference maker for VT. Sorry, just the truth. I'm quite certain Bud would have played any DE/DT last night that could get off a block- any one. I don't see some stud gem on the DL we are trying to redshirt to preserve eligibility. Don't see it. So we'll see. Let's see if Fuente and his staff can improve recruiting of certain positions to the point where we can consistently beat ACC teams at home again.
This is peak dcwilson40 positivity. I'll take it!
If this DC level optimism is the result of a pre-game vent thread, I'm down for that type of thread happening every season.
Honestly based on what?
The team is worse year 3 than it was year 1, but more worrisome, the team is worse week 7 than we were week 1.
Recruiting hasn't moved the needle at all, we're consistently unprepared and undisciplined, we've not seen this offense we were sold, and maybe most concerning out of all of it, the coach is so stubborn with the players we do have, I'm not convinced we've even got the best roster on the field which we CAN field (continuing to play JJ over Willis, starting Colt Pettit over Wyatt, the surge of guys leaving the program early)...It seems like Fuente wants to be 'right' more than he wants to win.
I just struggle to know what the 'trust the process' crowd is basing it on. I'm happy to listen, though.
I say 'worse week 7' but Willis has been an upgrade at QB. Unfortunately, that required a season ending injury to realize.
I agree about Willis. IMO he has opened the passing game a little more and is definitely much quicker running the ball on the scrambles
That might be what scares me the most. Willis is CLEARLY better than Jackson to me, and QB's are supposed to be Fuente's specialty more than anything else. People have even been saying he clearly looked better as early as the spring game. How was JJ ever starting over him?
We've been told since he got here that Fuente is good at talent evaluation and isn't afraid to replace incumbent starters if they're not the best player like he did with Paxton Lynch. Well we seem to have a pretty clear case where he made the wrong choice with JJ/Willis and that doesn't instill a ton of confidence that the same problem doesn't exist elsewhere on the roster as well.
If we're going to go over issues with the QB position, can I just say that it still really bothers me that we haven't seen Hooker or QP2 throw a pass yet this year, despite them both getting meaningful minutes in close games? Like, I get it if they really are bad at passing, but they were good QBs in high school, and there's no reason they can't at least be allowed to attempt something.
I agree. Every time one of them has come in they hand it off or run it.... If I was coach defending against VT and saw Hooker or QPII come in, I would stack the box.
Change it up, do a jump pass at the very least. I swear to god we could easily catch some defenses off guard.
Fuente has said... his whole deal is that when he calls a play there is one certain "outcome".. one place where the ball should go based on the defense. That's his MAIN criteria for QB. Apparently Josh Jackson does that correctly more than the other QBs on the roster.
Maybe he makes the right "decision" more often, but he sure as hell doesn't get the desired "outcome" as often as Willis.
And that's my issue with him being stubborn and wanting to be right.
His main criteria should be playing the guy that gives us the better chance to win, and that's Willis over JJ 99/100 times.
I would take issue with the assertion that Willis is CLEARLY better than Jackson. He obviously has a better arm and has looked much better running the ball than I expect from a dude his size. However, there's more to playing QB than that. He does appear more error prone than JJ, which is apparently something that Coach Fu weighs heavily in evaluating QBs. I was one of those who was very impressed with RW's arm in the spring game, but even then, ball security was obviously an issue. He had 2 or 3 fumbles, if memory serves me. With a typical VT defense, I'd rather have the much more consistent, if unspectacular, JJ at the helm of the offense. However, given our defensive struggles, I'm glad we have a guy like RW, with his substantial upside. I think he does give us a better chance of winning if a game becomes a shootout.
Whatever was the plan with Willis? He is a R-Jr and if this wasnt his year and next year is QP....whats the transfer salesman? I understand the role of backup but did he really transfer to Tech to be given a back up role.
More to the point if he was brought here to challenge JJ why was the QB 'competition' over so fast
Also just learned RW and Syracuse's Eric Dungy were both 3* in the 2015 signing class
RW passer rating is 141 with a 171 performance vs GT
Last year JJ was 135
Offense passing per game
2017 239
2018 262 (+9.6%)
Rushing game is better by a yard and a half per game (+0.85%)
Points per game
2017 28..2
2018 32.1 (+13.8%)
The Defense
Opponents Scoring per game
2017 14.8
2018 28.0 (+89.2%)
I will pitch the more optimistic (what I consider realistic) view point - the Hokies are victim to unfortunate timing, and thus far have been unable to build depth at the same rate that talent was graduating/leaving for the NFL. Fuente's decision to kick Mook, Adonis, and Hill off the team probably cost us between 1 and 4 wins, but Fuente chose to sacrifice short term success to build a long term culture (I hope part of this culture is disapline). This year is Fuente's 'year zero'.
Now, the optimistic part - as far as the offense goes, it is improving. We're a top 40 offense with youth at every position. Our receivers, QB, and OL are all improving. Now we just need find an RB and build depth.
As far as defense goes, I don't think we've ever had a defense this young at EVERY position. If one or two players on the field are inexperienced, Foster can mask it and be creative. That's much harder to do when there 8 players on the field are inexperienced. With time, I think we'll see improvement. That said... I am a little concerned that our highest ranked defensive recruit in a few years is red shirting. And, as others have mentioned, in the past, we've see young players be too aggressive, but this year, they seem to have a different problem.
The next 15 months are crucial for Fuente & Co. to prove that they can recruit and develop players. We've seen Foster do this in multiple seasons. If Fuente can do it in Memphis, I think he can do it here.
The title of the thread is in future tense.
like LOL...OMG...
Edit: whoops
Counterpoint: nothing is or will be okay.
But we're all going to die one day.
Now this is my kind of post.
The heat death of the universe will get after ya.
You are like the anti-DCWilson
Here is a stat for you. The Clemson win-loss record under Dabo. I know, since I live in Clemson country:
2008 Clemson 7-4
2009 Clemson 9-5
2010 Clemson 6-7
2011 Clemson 10-4
2012 Clemson 11-2
2013 Clemson 11-2
2014 Clemson 10-3
2015 Clemson 14-1
2016 Clemson 14-1
2017 Clemson 12-2
2018 Clemson 7-0
Clemson actually went backward in year three. Look familiar? It was not until year 5 when they started really winning.
How dare you use truth and statistics to prove a point....
Well if it happened to Clemson it will happen to us!
Now lets look at all the coaches that ended up regressing each year for the first three years and then see how their tenure played out. I'm guessing a large majority ended up with no success.
Can't look at one data point and draw conclusions.
Anyone want to look back at CFB's record? He almost got fired early on.
Now post their recruiting rankings....
Was going to say the same thing.
The Clemson comparisons are beyond ridiculous at this point. Its crazy to me they're still cited.
Seriously. Clemson was recruiting like a top 10 team long before they started playing like one. And once they took the next step on the field, they took the next step on the recruiting trail.
We recruit like we're a Top 25-30 team, maybe peaking around #20. Even if we jump back to where we should be, unless we absolutely nail it with some under the radar kids, we're not going to contend for what we want and where we want to be. And, heaven forbid, if Miami ever gets their act together and plays like they recruit, our path only becomes that much harder.
Until we recruit better, and I don't mean bringing in a couple guys every year, I mean really start to bring in the big hauls with Top 15 classes, its a fools errand to point to Clemson on how we're ok. They did the work we aren't willing to do. That's why they are at the top and we are... here.
Ok here you go: (Dabo started in 2009)
2006: 14th
2007: 16th
2008: 9th
2009: 36th
2010: 27th
2011: 10th
2012: 20th
2013: 15th
2014: 16th
2015: 9th
2016: 11th
2017: 16th
2018: 7th
VT rankings:
2014: 28th
2015: 29th
2016: 42nd
2017: 26th
2018: 24th
Basically, Clemson had the cupboard somewhat full with talent when Dabo started, and regressed in rankings before they started winning. However, Clemson has still performed as a top 5 school while recruiting in the top 15, so they are developing talent.
VT had decent recruiting before Fuente, and his first class was so low due to him coming in immediately before signing day. Since 2016, recruiting has improved, but it's too early to tell what the real trajectory is.
I also don't like the Clemson comparisons but the recruiting rankings and winning percentages aren't exactly damning of Fuente's coaching or recruiting at this point.
Man, that 2016 class is really coming home to roost.
Helps explain the number of r-Fr and t-Fr starting right now.
It usually takes 2 years for a recruiting class to make it's impact (or lack of impact) on a team. So yeah, from that perspective the on the field results makes sense.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
National recruiting rankings:
2008: 9
2009: 36
2010: 27
2011: 10
2012: 20
2013: 15
2014: 16
2015: 9
2016: 11
2017: 16
2018: 7
I was curious too so I compiled it from 247.
In comparing the Clemson results, I am not saying we are en route to the National Championship game. I completely agree that Clemson had better talent when Dabo came on the scene and had (and still has) better recruiting. My point is this: even with all that going their way, it took 4 years to kick into gear.
There is a reason for this. Players who were already on the team had to learn a new system, and many were not recruited for the new system (look at FSU this year ...). Four years is the number because the Freshman class in year one of a new coach become seniors in year 4. All players in year 4 are pretty much on the same page.
However, I will say this situation does not apply to our defense. Bud has been there and there is no system change. The defensive problems are due to lost players and not recruiting acceptably to replace them. Clemson has lost 8 defensive players for two years in a row, and it has not hurt them a bit. The reason is obvious. They are recruiting better talent.
This. The whole microwave society in college football is ridiculous. There are going to be down years in the transition. We got spoiled as shit and Fuente made things happen year 1/2 to field a team. We lost a lot of those things. Slightly concerning we haven't really improved at all since week 1 but we can hold off on the fire everyone things till year 4-5
I don't believe that your point isn't fully valid because Dabo went through some pretty significant staff changes after that 2010 season (when he realized he wasn't the best X's and O's coach). So unless you are alluding to/hoping for significant changes to Fuente's staff, then the results for Clemson shouldn't be expectations for Virginia Tech.
Fuente has a steep hill to climb. My point is that it took 4 years for Dabo, given everything he had going his way. Are we to expect Fuente to do it even quicker?
I'd feel a lot better about this list if we had commitments from Nuke Hopkins, Stephon Anthony, Sammy Watkins, Clellin Ferrell, etc, etc, etc. Our recent stud defensive recruit is redshirting because he can't crack the 2 deep on a defense ranked in the 100's... Clemson started recruiting at a level VT has never seen or will see. THATS the difference.
It doesn't look familiar because Cornelson will still be our OC.
Dabo fired Napier and brought in Chad Morris in 2011.
There's a nice splash of cold water
Beamer's record in his first six seasons was 24-40-2, a win percentage of .385. After the team went 2-8-1 in 1992, athletic director Dave Braine believed in Beamer and thought he deserved more time, which proved to be a wise decision. 1993 VT went 9-3. CFB did not have a losing season ever again.
Fuente is way ahead.
You're right, it will be.
I would argue it's not ok ....and could get alot worse.....
1. Recruiting falls off because we suck now
2. Bud leaves for a head coaching gig because the mojo is gone at blacksburg
We hang on for 3 more years with a coaching staff that cant get us over the hump....and the program runs even further into the ground.
3. we break both streaks this season .
4. Money stops flowing in to improve the program bc we suck now
5. Uva wins the coastal
6.
Lots left to go wrong from here.
I agree it could get worse. This year, to be honest, is lost. I had no expectations at all coming into it. I got this false hope when we rocked FSU. But now the expected outcome is here -- mediocrity and hopefully squeak into a bowl game.
A down year 3 is not yet a reason to panic and start demanding Fuente's head. We have to wait and see about years 4 and 5. To be honest I am not optimistic about next year either, given the current team. If Fuente is still stuck in the mud in year 5, then people can start legitimately questioning his tenure. Right now it is still too early.
Fear not. Bud doesn't recruit well enough to be a head coach anywhere that he would want to be a head coach. This is why he never has been and never will be a head coach (unless he lowers his expectations quite significantly).
We control our own destiny in the coastal so that's good.
At this point, I'll take 7-5 with a win against UVa.
I'd honestly take 5-6 with a win against UVA.
Losing the bowl game streak would be disheartening man.
I agree, but to me personally, keeping the streak alive against UVA outweighs keeping our bowl streak alive. Hopefully, we get both accomplished, but if I could only pick one or the other, I'd pick UVA.
Does Whit schedule a 12th game if we go 5-6?
I would think/hope so if it meant a chance to become bowl-eligible.
We may want to go ahead and get Southern Miss' AD on the horn.
I suspect he'll be working the phones heavily the moment we're eliminated from ACCCG contention, unless we've already reached 6 wins by that point.
Real classy whoever downvoted me for this statement. Jeesh...
Some people want to only beat UVA
Some people want to only extend the streak
Some people want both
And to some people (me) are Playoffs/National Championship or bust /s
Lol. I want it all too, but if I had to pick between the UVA streak or the bowl streak, you know Hoo I'm picking.
Pro tip: Dont bitch about downvotes.
DE:
Travon HillE Balmer, T GarbuttDT:
Tim SettleJ HewittDT: Ricky Walker
V Mihota, (inj)DE: H Gaines, Z Debose
LB:
T EdmundsD Rivers, Dax Hollifield,Alan TosdaleLB: R Ashby
WHIP:
M Reynolds,K Ladler (targeting),D Hunter (RS)CB:
A Alexander,J Webb, B WattsFS:
Te Edmunds,D Deablo, Tyree RodgersRover: Reggie Floyd
CB: Caleb Farley
That guy was invisible last night.
Who?
Edit: Oh, I think I get it.
As far as last night goes you can strike Hewitt and half strike Vinny. I don't think we saw Hewitt much at all in the second half, and you could tell we were protecting Vinny's knee by having him line up even further from the LOS than the rest of the linemen.
I saw Hewitt come back in for 1 play after the injury and get blowed out. He was pulled and walked the sideline. I saw him throw his mouthpiece in the trash and knew he was not going back in.
I fucking hate GT.
via GIPHY
Thank you Sharkbait.
I try to stay off this forum after losing a game as it is so depressing. I didn't attend Virginia Tech but was born and raised in central VA and this team means a lot to me. I went into the military and have been California for the last 18 years. I have a VT flag flying in my front yard and a sticker on the back of my car. Being a fan is about being there during the highs and lows and supporting your team. Has this year been disappointing yes but is it unexpected not at all. We were 6-6 three years ago and Fuente has raised expectations but what we're seeing is attrition and unforeseen issues that have plaqued this team from the the NFL Draft, Suspensions and injury's all at one time creating a perfect storm and that is on full display this year. We're not loaded with 5* and 4* players so when we lose players it has a greater effect on us then a blue blood program. I think we will be ok in the next year or two once this group grows and develops. We're going to be basically returning 17 to 18 starters the next two seasons. Experience means a lot and someone will eventually step up and take the leadership role on the field. Go Hokies and I will be watching as always next week.
There were some positives in the midst of the dumpster fires. Watching R Willis making the right decisions and placing the ball in the right spots to extend drives was great to watch. Out of all of his passes last night there were only 2 bad plays (pass was a little behind but had the zip and hit the receiver in the chest, threw the ball in the dirt in the 4th).
2 really bad drops by Tre Turner and a drop by Savoy were all drive extenders that the Hokies squandered. Kumah extending his arm on the push off was another first down that we gave away. The option keeper on 3rd and short would've worked but why no one blocks the play side DE is baffling. In my opinion Jackson's skill set would of limited the offense even further and the wins against Duke and UNC would have been L's.
Defensively seemed like the scheme was not to give up the big play. Not being aggressive with a quick, agile defense really played to the GT strength, allowing their lineman to get free shots to the second level and a lot of space for momentum to push on our smaller defensive line. This should've been addressed and adjustments made but the defense remained.
I have not been a fan of Cornelsen but overall this game was well called. I was relieved to not see them lineup in the shotgun on the 1 yard line. In my opinion, the play calling in the other games this season were conservative and mind numbing to watch at times.
I'm just happy that I can reset all of my gameday superstitions. Apparently it doesn't matter what I wear, what I drink, how I tailgate, what color my underwear is, etc, etc.
Who's at DT behind Mihota, Walker and Hewitt ? Xavier Burke, Darius Fullwood, Porcher? Hewitt's probably gonna be out next week, and Mihota still looks hobbled, did any of the second group get playing time at GT? Also wasn't Fullwood a pretty highly rated recruit, and weren't people high on Porcher?
I wouldn't expect anything out of D Fullwood at this point. If we weren't deathly thin at DT, he'd likely have been processed by now.
Porcher was a DE and wanted to play DE. The biggest things for him are full buy-in on DT and gaining weight.
2nd string line was in on a few of the possessions against gt. Sometime dts went in,sometimes des were in when first team was on the field for extended periods of time.
We basically had a Senior-ish high school team playing defense for us against GT. Way too much youth on D and way too many misses on DLine recruiting.
Our LBers and Secondary will be really good in 2 years. We need to land some help on the DLine though...a lot of it. Once Ricky is gone, we are basically swiss cheese.
In two years and hopefully after landing a stud RB this year or next, the offense could be really really good.
This year is a true rebuilding year. We've done a lot of learn by fire this year and it's showing. It'll pay off for the next few years though.
I don't know where we find our wins to get bowl eligible this year and I really hope we dont lose to UVa, so I've prepared myself that this year will end really really bad for us. BUUUTT, I am hopeful for the next few years.
So I believe the "Vent thread" over under was set at 4.5 during the official game thread. I took the over. Have we reached a final count yet....?
"Everything will turn out ok. Unless it doesn't."
Things my Dad says
2 and a half weeks ago I made this post hoping the day I was referring to would come quickly. The day hasn't come yet, but the hope is still there. The day will come and we will be better off having gone through this to get there.
It's not coming this year. This team is too young, too hurt to suddenly become a better team. What will come is next year, where all these freshman have another year of experience, practice, and strength and conditioning.
I'd say our best bet for the future is if the NCAA gets on the bandwagon and outlaws tackling to the ground in favor of "touch" tackling.
(I mean this in fun. I'm past the point of lamenting this year's team. For me, it has reached the point of humor and I'm just enjoying wondering what fresh hell our defense will discover the next game.)
I agree that another year can only make things better, as they couldn't be much worse currently. My biggest concern is how much better this roster can get. Fuente said in his postgame presser yesterday that he knows where this program is headed, but it's hard to see the trajectory we all expected when he and his staff was hired. I don't know what kind of a leap you can expect from this year to next. DT is going to be absolutely abysmal, and I agree with French that JUCO is no way to build a roster. At this point it may be more about getting warm bodies at the spot.
I don't see this team on its current path being much better than 6-8 wins over the next several years. The offensive scheme is proving to be bad and I don't think will work long term at this level. The staff has put everything into QP as the savior, and things are bleak if he doesn't pan out. I also think our OL is nothing more than window dressing and can't run block for an effective running attack. I think major philosophical change is needed here.
The entire secondary on D is in disarray. Farley needs to be moved back to O yesterday, and every position needs to be up for grabs in the offseason. The troubling thing is, not only is it obvious we just don't have the horses, but tackling and other basic fundamentals seem to be missing. I can understand this early in the year, but we seem to be getting progressively worse. Coaching is a serious concern right now on this team. I honestly don't know if they have any answers at this point, which is alarming moving forward.