Recent Comments
....interesting, but the effect is lost with that last graph. It's really hard to pull a bunch of data together to present a factual analysis then show your agenda in a joke like that.
Secondly, I would prefer to see the Top 20 teams, not offenses. I'm not inspired to be Baylor, Fresno, Marshall or Houston.
...does Carlis Parker stand a decent shot of eventually beating out Bucky?
It's not that WR screens are inherently bad, but we obviously are not capable of effectively executing on them this year. They are so slow to develop that we saw a Clemson player jump it too fast and run past the ball.
Would love to have you do a study of why we're failing at them since they are such a point of contention among the fanbase!
Play action? Draws?
Would you say Miami will give us an offense more akin to Pitt than Clem, Duke, UNC or Cincy? I can't shake either Miami or Pitts gigantic OL manhandling us up front over and over again.
If you can excute the screen I always think it's good (if used sparingly) to get the QB's confidence up. Something we saw in the Sugar Bowl as the first play in the game. Key word in this post is sparingly.
Wyatt's ability to block from an H back position while moving to go with his pure drive blocking ability.
At the same time, I can deal with a so-so offensive line if a Hand-Harley-Maddy-Teller DL wreaks SEC style havoc.
I'll have to come back to read the rest. It's like a novel, almost can't put it down.
Still disagree. Screens won the UNC game last year, and were critical in several other games. Without good blocking (see Corey Fuller/Dyrell Roberts) it isn't a good call, but what play is a good call without blocking at the point of attack?
Now, if you want to criticize the diamond formation that basically identifies the play call and who is getting the ball before the snap, by all means tear them to pieces.
Obviously I am not present at closed practices. And I never said the coaches "aren't worried", just that since they are so loaded talent-wise, they have the luxury of not being pressed against the wall if they lose a starter/contributor.
Don Kausler, Jr. handles Alabama coverage for the Birmingham News. A quick scan from his preseason (Not counting Spring) write-ups showed the following injuries:
For anything that the players were not in no-contact jerseys I will put minor. Note that it may indicate that the players were otherwise limited in practice.
Chris Black (shoulder, season)
Wilson Love (ankle, minor)
Dee milliner (knee, minor)
Jarrick Williams (torn ACL, season)
Adrian Hubbard (elbow, limited to no-contact)
Eddie Lacy (ankle & foot sprains, minor)
Ryan Kelly(ankle, limited)
Amari Cooper (foot, no-contact)
Bradley Sylve (fractured hand, limited)
Compared to Virginia Tech during the preseason:
Nick Acree (ACL, season)
Ethan Keyserling (hip, minor)
David Wang (ankle, minor)
James Gayle (ankle, limited)
Tariq sustained his injury last season in March, so I will not be counting him. Similar story with DJ Coles, who injured his knee during the regular season last year.
Please correct me if I missed anyone from either team--I'm sure there is at least one either not-reported or brushed over.
I do not have statistics that show Alabama per year has more players hurt than other teams. I do have somewhat compelling evidence that a program with a S&C program perhaps better than ours (which is very good) had more injuries as well as higher instances of more severe injuries from preseason practices up until week 1 of the season.
I understand Football injuries are not an exact science. It is a full-contact sport and with bodies flying around full speed. Injuries are bound to happen. But don't act like you are blind to the fact that many SEC programs, Alabama in particular, take pride in a physical, smash-mouth style of play. They get that way through practice, which, going back to my original point, is why they can execute so well from the get go. And they can afford to practice like that because of the caliber of players throughout the roster.
I completely agree that Saban does not have tolerance for dead-weight on his staff or team. I agree we need staff changes, especially on the Offensive side of the ball. I tentatively agree with your point of being able to recruit better, as long as you are not implying we are capable of recruiting at the same level as Alabama.
And a +1. Well done.
Just seemed like all last year we were missing that one guy who could step up at the end of a game and close the door. Green is a great scorer but I question how clutch the guy really is. It'll be interesting to see if he can fill that role
That last chart is good enough to be someone's avatar. Please mail that to the coaching staff while you're at it!
With so many similarities between Logan and Bucky, what better teacher for a year for him to learn the offense.
Just a heads up; whatever they donate will be minuscule. I worked there when it was first being set up, so I worked closely with the owner. I also got to see how the business was set up. The owner is extremely... let's say, cheap. He also uses several sneaky tactics to make money off the process of buying and selling books. The most troublesome of which was, as a cashier, we were told to offer to "donate" books that didn't have expected cash value (either up front or through their selling program). These "donations" were then sold by the company, which pocketed the full profits. Granted, they were small, but I had been under the impression that these "donations" went to something charitable. Enough of a rant - I can't blame the guy for making a profitable business, even if I think he's a little shady about it. Also, the people who run the store itself are usually local and good people.
Raines' biggest issue is staying healthy. The poor guy's been plagued by foot problems since he stepped on campus.
I read the final statement before even looking at the graph, thinking...wow I wonder what this analysis will show. And now I laugh, mostly because i was gullable enough to believe that the WR screen might be a decent call sometimes.
Well done sir. I appreciate humor in statistics.
VT is capable of winning a national title under Frank Beamer and a HC change is not something I feel should be looked at or considered. We have all the right pieces in place except for on the offensive side of the ball. We've heard it a million times: fire Stinespring. Hire someone who shows promise---Tony Franklin is a name that jumps out. The man was a running back at Murray State right before Beamer coached there and played along side Bud Foster; his offense is ranked 2nd in the nation currently. Find a guy like him with VT ties or someone who has a track record of success and knows their offensive blueprint like the back of their hand. Franklin runs an effective spread---not that we need to pick the flavor of the month--but just find a guy who really knows his offense and will stick it out for Beamer's remaining years. Newsome, sir, it made sense at the time to hire you but you've shown us 7 or so years now of very poor results. Thank you for your efforts but please step down and insert Mr (anyone out there...there are probably a dozen men who can improve the o-line...and recruit).
I would say in two years with a talented and effective HC, line coach and Bud FOster amped up with all of the success in defensive recruiting we've had recently, along with a capable QB and improved line...we can really begin to whip teams and turn heads and get into the play offs and get Frank and the rest of us our trophy.
Or we can continue to rank in the 80s in offense and maybe win the ACC and possibly an orange bowl once or twice....or sink in the ACC.
Figured I would check out to see how this game was going. Turned it on, no more than two seconds later this happened. I laughed out loud and turned it off.
At UVA... The players are taught to fear the football.
Not only that, but that was at the end of they game when they were down 6 points with little time remaining. That is #souva.
It does make my Monday better watching this guy trying to catch that punt with his face
I would be shocked if Bucky won the job as a true freshman.
The last first time winner of a national championship, I belive, was Florida State many years ago. In the eyes of the media you are not a powerhouse until you win a NC. You don't get recognition and thus enough big recruits if you are not a powerhouse. You can't "be back" in the national picture.
We don't have a 80,000+ stadium, a big enough national following (band wagon), good enough coaching staff, recruits, money, and positive media to be considered a top 10 team every year. We need to be a consistent top ten team to be in the mix.
Sure, we could have a lucky year where everything clicks and the talent peaks, a favorable schedule, losses by enough top ten teams, and no coaching blunders when the pressure is on. I don't think the odds favor it though.
The telling sign is that we are having a bad year but the national press isn't making a huge deal out of it. There is not a national expectation that we should be contending for a national title every year. If there was then we would truly be a powerhouse.
We have been exceeding expectations in many ways but under performing at critical times. Can we win it all with the current staff? I doubt it but I am always hopeful. They make too many mistakes and can't adjust when the pressure is on. Could we ever get a staff that was good enough? Not likely since we are not a national powerhouse.
We have not yet arrived.
I wish every game wasn't a nail bitterso we could get Leal in there just in case LT does leave after this year. Although are we sure he'd start for sure next year or would Bucky Hodges get a shot at it?
...at VT, it's a key component to many of the top offenses in the country. If you block it correctly, it is a play that causes all kinds of defensive adjustments to stop.