I still have nightmares of playing Virginia Tech in 2006, 2007. It soured me on the all white road uni's and made my disdain for all purple Grimace colors very high. I have the most respect for VTech as a program in the ACC. I don't know how they lose to no name teams every year but that fact only has me more worried about this game.
I have been absolutely giddy after the FSU game and haven't been able to do anything other than consume all Clemson info but there has been this unspoken dread as VTech has approached. Post-FSU I was cautiously optimistic but now just cautious. VT blew up our 2006 and 2007 seasons--we fell apart after these games and I don't want that to happen this year. I have always had this game as a big L since its been on the schedule. I thought we would beat Auburn and FSU (just bc of Death Valley) but lose to VT because it is one the road at Lane Stadium. It makes it worse that it is a night game. The problem is that we know so little about VTech this year. I don't know if VT knows exactly what they have.
As Auburn found out--early game play is not exactly representative of overall talent levels. We were holding back against Wofford so how much has VTech been holding back?
How injured are some of the VT players? How bad is that Logan Thomas (VT QB) non-throwing shoulder? He appeared to jam it so bad that he could only hand off with one arm at the end of the game last week. Initially I thought we were going to have the greatest QB injury luck of all-time. The reason this matters is because if the shoulder is really bad then VT is less likely to run much zone read and designed QB runs. Thomas is not elusive but Clemson sucks against running QB's (remember when Maryland's dirt slow QB ran all over us in 2009? Any Dalton TCU?), and it doesn't take much talent to make that happen. Thomas has the 6' 6" frame and is a decent straight line runner. Something to watch.
Speaking of running VT has #4 Wilson and #2 Oglesby who are both plus runners. They aren't exactly bruising punishing runners but Wilson, in particular, has a good burst. They can get to the edge and run up the gut. We haven't been particularly good at stopping either. I don't think FSU is any barometer for claiming we have improved our running D. FSU hasn't been able to run on us for years and Jimbo simply abandoned it last week.
VT receivers have been decent but it remains to be seen how good they will be against elevated competition. We also don't know which will be playing due to injuries but none are world beaters. However, FSU carved up our inconsistent secondary. We have some young talent and supposedly veteran CB's but too many instances of soft coverage against average talent. With Hall missing a step and Meeks being sub-par in pass coverage we are always going to be somewhat vulnerable to the play action bomb.
On defense they are solid but haven't put all the pieces together yet. There second strings suck but they won't play much at all in the Clemson game. The question becomes whether or not we can wear down that first team D. Also Boyd has to be more careful and accurate with the ball. There were three-four passes that easily could have been picked off by FSU. One where Dwayne Allen bailed him out, the tipped ball, a Brown catch and the first pass of the game.
Something that I wanted to post on after the FSU game was how the Tajh to Werner connection was scary. After it happened I felt like I was watching a Bowden/Swinney team. You know, the uber talented team that was weak mentally and prone to making stupid, give the game away errors. I found myself sliding into a defeatist Clemson fan attitude of--well here it comes, I knew this would happen, we suck mentality. The next drive where Boyd was rattled was tough to watch but I was impressed with how he pulled it together. I think that this is Morris's influence.
Hosley is the man and VT will not drop int's so Boyd must be sharp. They will also send pressure that our O-Line hasn't been great at picking up. Last week it was partly Morris's scheme that helped with protection--misdirection and getting the ball out early. Lets hope that continues. The O-Line played well compared to what we thought we had after Wofford. I think Thomas has played pretty well. When Smith gets more healthy I would like to hear talk of him pushing McLain for playing time or for his starting job.
This sounds so cliche but this game will come down to turnovers and special teams. Last time we played VT scored on a punt return, kick return, and a pick 6. The defense played ok in that game but we spotted them 21 points. We can't do that in this game. Beamer ball is talked about too much but they do try to consistently score off of special teams and turnovers. Our coverage and kick units all struggled this past week. We need Crapanzaro to show that he has improved and be able to kick on the road. The sample size is small so far this year to call for a change but he has missed too many xp's and fg's already in his career for my liking. The FSU kicker is amazing and all I want is someone who is perfect on xp's and from within the 40 hits 90-95% of the kicks. My standards have become that low. VT has struggled at punter and have an unproven kicker. They are good at blocking punts though.
We need to get up early so we can force VT to pass more than they would like. If we can stop the run then we can win this game. If not we are going to be relying on our offense to again put up big numbers on the best defense we will face the rest of the year. UNC and the Cocks in a close second and third.
This is the game that pushes you toward greatness. A 5-0 team that has beaten three ranked opponents is big time. No one will be able to say, well you played them injured or x team wasn't as good. 5-0 is 5-0 and two top 15 wins is big time college football. Also remember to tell anyone that Clemson had the toughest schedule in the nation going into the first game. Looking at the currently undefeated teams only LSU has an arguably tougher schedule. Most teams now play 4 cupcake OOC games. So if we win will be in the top ten, maybe ranked as high as seventh in the country. Then it would be about having no letdowns and taking care of GT and UNC (at home).
The question is how far can Boyd, through the Morris offense, carry us and how much can the defense improve. I will be interested to see how the extra linebacker playing in the 4-3 rather than the nickel will help our run D. I think one of the keys to the rest of the season is how good Anthony and Steward turn out to be. If one of them emerges as a dominant Mike or Will then the defense will be improve drastically.
Here is to shaking the Lane Stadium Hokie demons of the past!
Friday, 30 September 2011
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Fat Boy to Phat Boy
There are a ton of things I want to post about and I am seeing the world in all shades of orange. I must post about the Macho Man Dabo soon. You got to believe, you got greatness in you, Oh yeeeah...Dabo Flair on national television. Waaahooo...I have to shake my head and laugh at what an embarrassment that truly is, I mean act like you've been there before, but I was just as jacked up about winning. Maybe we need a cheerleader who hoots and hollars.
Anyway, I had to quickly comment on Tajh Boyd. In the few times I have written since checking out of writing about Clemson I have been very critical of Tajh. He was pretty much amazing on Saturday. I just read a piece where Dwayne Allen, who also played spectacularly Saturday, said last year Boyd weighed over 240 pounds. As an aside Chad Morris has got some strategery to him--Allen was being saved in the first two games. The gameplan went through Allen, Watkins, and Nuk in the air. A lesser offensive coordinator like Spence wouldn't have been flexible enough to integrate Allen into his system. Chad Morris may save Clemson football single handed.
So Boyd weighed over 240 with Jamie Harper. Who was held accountable for that? Sure the player needs to be, and that shows a lack of dedication and commitment from Boyd but seriously. I guy gains twenty-thirty pounds and starts getting called Fat Boy by teammates and no one on the coaching staff picks up on it or does anything? That is a change in uniform size! This has to be partially on Bateson and Napier but is really a larger problem of not cultivating a culture of responsibility from players, coaches, staff and administrators. Back-ups and scout team players are being groomed to be players and I think red-shirts are often wasted at Clemson. Players get fatter, don't learn the offense or defense well enough and become complacent. Is this the kind of thing a Woody McCorvey type of staff member should be on the look-out for and not let happen?
Boyd wasn't ready to be QB in the Spring because he was too heavy. That hurt his footwork which throws off or changes mechanics. That was why I kind of laughed at the dual-threat talk--I thought he was more a fullback than a QB. I still would like him to drop another ten pounds to add a bit more speed but if its muscle now you can't argue with a little bit of durability. If Boyd gets injured we are in serious trouble. At least our back-up doesn't look like an eighth grader who weighs 170 pounds. If I'm EJ Manuel I am pissed off at Jimbo.
Boyd was great! I didn't think he had that in him. The only bad things were that he forced it a couple of times but when you have receivers with the hands of Nuke and Watkins you can afford to do that. Allen made some amazing grabs as well, so much different from the guy who dropped some easy balls last year. That TD catch was a pleasure to watch. We really picked up the blitzing better and Boyd had plenty of time. Auburn didn't do all that much up front because of their own youth so we will probably take some more lumps here, but it was night and day compared to Wofford. Boyd ran well on some broken plays and showed a positive confidence and Leadership! that I didn't know he had in him. We can't get overconfident but if I had to pick between a lack of confidence with no way to ever find said confidence and overconfidence, its not that bad a problem to have. I am now firmly on the Boyd 'Phat Boy' Bandwagon. Yes I just went there with the 'Ph'.
We need Boyd to stay healthy and in-shape, the latter not being a problem with drillmaster Chad Morris at the helm. I love his attitude of telling his offensive team that they may not like him but they will be better for it (which must be some kind of reference to how Dabo must need that kind of reciprocal love or something, I don't know). I just hope Dabo doesn't start 'coaching' again. Anytime he makes a call, of any kind, it ends with something poorly executed (like the fake), or everyone yelling at each other. I thought Bowden was a bad end game coach but Dabo must be worse--his record in close games certainly is. I am hoping that Morris will be in total control of the offense all of the time and am not too worried about the end game because we already are constantly in a hurry-up offense. Why does Dabo scribble things down?? That is why the invention of tape recorders was a big deal. I think my high school had a group of 'stats girls' who did that job.
Hey its a new paragraph, how about another random tangent--how scary good were Meyer and Speilman breaking down game footage. I was scared that that opposing defensive coordinators would use what they were saying. That was the gold standard for breaking down footage in real-time. I felt like a football guru just by listening to them. But I thought Speilman got one thing wrong--he said in the fourth that he would slow the game down. I think he was dead wrong. That is how you let a team back into the game. The offense is designed to wear down the defense so that they can take it to you in the fourth and add those points to the scoreboard. If you slow it down, they catch their breath and you are two possessions away from defeat. Best to have your foot on the gas until the three or four minute mark--which is what Morris did beautifully.
Its been ten years since we had a competent offensive mind who could make in-game adjustments. FSU looks vulnerable and the game may hinge on the health of EJ Manuel's shoulder. Or it may hinge on the Clemson offense running down the throat of the FSU defense, while Chad Morris simultaneously stomps that same throat with the back heel of his Texas boot. Yes, you heard it here first--our offense is turning into beast mode this Saturday, Woohoo! Woohoo! (Ric Flair sounds) Then Dabo Hogan rips his breakaway shirt, brother. He is one part preacher, another part pro wrestler but 100% salesman cheerleader coach. Go Dabo! Go Tigers!
PS. The Pac-10 used to suck and still does but they potentially get Oklahoma and Texas and we get Pitt and Syracuse?? You know BC isn't exactly working out for us right? Oh and Barker, you genius, thanks for voting for the 20 million dollar exit fee...Which Big East teams are in the top 25--the ones we didn't pick to join the ACC.
Anyway, I had to quickly comment on Tajh Boyd. In the few times I have written since checking out of writing about Clemson I have been very critical of Tajh. He was pretty much amazing on Saturday. I just read a piece where Dwayne Allen, who also played spectacularly Saturday, said last year Boyd weighed over 240 pounds. As an aside Chad Morris has got some strategery to him--Allen was being saved in the first two games. The gameplan went through Allen, Watkins, and Nuk in the air. A lesser offensive coordinator like Spence wouldn't have been flexible enough to integrate Allen into his system. Chad Morris may save Clemson football single handed.
So Boyd weighed over 240 with Jamie Harper. Who was held accountable for that? Sure the player needs to be, and that shows a lack of dedication and commitment from Boyd but seriously. I guy gains twenty-thirty pounds and starts getting called Fat Boy by teammates and no one on the coaching staff picks up on it or does anything? That is a change in uniform size! This has to be partially on Bateson and Napier but is really a larger problem of not cultivating a culture of responsibility from players, coaches, staff and administrators. Back-ups and scout team players are being groomed to be players and I think red-shirts are often wasted at Clemson. Players get fatter, don't learn the offense or defense well enough and become complacent. Is this the kind of thing a Woody McCorvey type of staff member should be on the look-out for and not let happen?
Boyd wasn't ready to be QB in the Spring because he was too heavy. That hurt his footwork which throws off or changes mechanics. That was why I kind of laughed at the dual-threat talk--I thought he was more a fullback than a QB. I still would like him to drop another ten pounds to add a bit more speed but if its muscle now you can't argue with a little bit of durability. If Boyd gets injured we are in serious trouble. At least our back-up doesn't look like an eighth grader who weighs 170 pounds. If I'm EJ Manuel I am pissed off at Jimbo.
Boyd was great! I didn't think he had that in him. The only bad things were that he forced it a couple of times but when you have receivers with the hands of Nuke and Watkins you can afford to do that. Allen made some amazing grabs as well, so much different from the guy who dropped some easy balls last year. That TD catch was a pleasure to watch. We really picked up the blitzing better and Boyd had plenty of time. Auburn didn't do all that much up front because of their own youth so we will probably take some more lumps here, but it was night and day compared to Wofford. Boyd ran well on some broken plays and showed a positive confidence and Leadership! that I didn't know he had in him. We can't get overconfident but if I had to pick between a lack of confidence with no way to ever find said confidence and overconfidence, its not that bad a problem to have. I am now firmly on the Boyd 'Phat Boy' Bandwagon. Yes I just went there with the 'Ph'.
We need Boyd to stay healthy and in-shape, the latter not being a problem with drillmaster Chad Morris at the helm. I love his attitude of telling his offensive team that they may not like him but they will be better for it (which must be some kind of reference to how Dabo must need that kind of reciprocal love or something, I don't know). I just hope Dabo doesn't start 'coaching' again. Anytime he makes a call, of any kind, it ends with something poorly executed (like the fake), or everyone yelling at each other. I thought Bowden was a bad end game coach but Dabo must be worse--his record in close games certainly is. I am hoping that Morris will be in total control of the offense all of the time and am not too worried about the end game because we already are constantly in a hurry-up offense. Why does Dabo scribble things down?? That is why the invention of tape recorders was a big deal. I think my high school had a group of 'stats girls' who did that job.
Hey its a new paragraph, how about another random tangent--how scary good were Meyer and Speilman breaking down game footage. I was scared that that opposing defensive coordinators would use what they were saying. That was the gold standard for breaking down footage in real-time. I felt like a football guru just by listening to them. But I thought Speilman got one thing wrong--he said in the fourth that he would slow the game down. I think he was dead wrong. That is how you let a team back into the game. The offense is designed to wear down the defense so that they can take it to you in the fourth and add those points to the scoreboard. If you slow it down, they catch their breath and you are two possessions away from defeat. Best to have your foot on the gas until the three or four minute mark--which is what Morris did beautifully.
Its been ten years since we had a competent offensive mind who could make in-game adjustments. FSU looks vulnerable and the game may hinge on the health of EJ Manuel's shoulder. Or it may hinge on the Clemson offense running down the throat of the FSU defense, while Chad Morris simultaneously stomps that same throat with the back heel of his Texas boot. Yes, you heard it here first--our offense is turning into beast mode this Saturday, Woohoo! Woohoo! (Ric Flair sounds) Then Dabo Hogan rips his breakaway shirt, brother. He is one part preacher, another part pro wrestler but 100% salesman cheerleader coach. Go Dabo! Go Tigers!
PS. The Pac-10 used to suck and still does but they potentially get Oklahoma and Texas and we get Pitt and Syracuse?? You know BC isn't exactly working out for us right? Oh and Barker, you genius, thanks for voting for the 20 million dollar exit fee...Which Big East teams are in the top 25--the ones we didn't pick to join the ACC.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Orange Marshmallows
Yeah I thought I was pretty much done posting. I thought my time for rants and raves would be up. I was going to post in the Spring about how bad we looked but Morris beat me to the punch. I was going to post in the fall about my doubts about Tajh as a runner, leader, and hard enough worker but he seemed to have an excellent fall camp.
I thought that Troy was a good team and that the first half jitters could be accounted to first game, freshman stuff. Yesterday has got me back in vomit mode. I was laughing watching the game yesterday. I was laughing at how soft we have become and I remembered that I used to laugh like this about the cluckers...
It wasn't until I heard Dabo in his post-game comments that I went from lethargic and depressed to upset and motivated to actually blog. Yes, I want to be that vocal 5% duck, clucking about what is wrong with our head cheerleader when he acts incompetent and what is wrong with our program (his media talk today was less upbeat than what he said post-game, however, so I will give him that). Once we win at least an ACC Championship I have every right to wail and moan as loud as I want. Especially when South Carolina is dominating us...(yeah I hate writing it but you need to 'man up' and admit when you are inferior)
We have the recruiting talent, we have an overall good coaching staff now, we have a loyal fan base...
Here are my main concerns going forward.
1. We are soft. The last time we hit really hard was the game against Auburn last year. Since then it has been all orange marshmallows all the time. After the first half against Troy some players were quoted as saying, oh no here we go again. The Clemson mentality is weak. Auburn feels like they can win no matter what--you can see it in their demeanor and how they act and perform. Clemson doesn't really believe in itself.
I don't honestly know if it is Batson or not hitting enough in practice but this has been a problem for at least ten years now. Caldwell is the right coach but the players aren't responding as of now. Morris is saying the things I want to hear so we all can collectively hold our breath.
2. The less Dabo coaching the better. The fake punts and kicks and garbage were Dabo's calls. He seriously can't help sticking his finger in and trying to change something. He was scared on Saturday, dressed up to play army man, and I think it starts to rub off on a team. I am not a Dabo hater per se, but the man needs to remember his strengths are not the whole coaching thing. I'm always worried about his end game coaching for example.
3. Kicking game. I have never had faith in Cat man (as opposed to Catwoman) as a legit kicker. I will believe it when I see it. I am willing to give him a chance since Benton is a waste of a scholarship as far as I am concerned (although he does tackle as well as our defense) and Lakip is the same untested freshman. Zimmerman is the best punter since Chris Gardocki, and if you don't know that name you should look it up.
4. Tackling. We have problems wrapping up. Its funny that we like to hit more than we like to tackle, but the hitting isn't sustained for four quarters.
5. Secondary. Yes, I think this is more worrisome than the D-Line. With Hall out I am more worried about the busted assignments and blown coverages. Breeland isn't turning any heads and I have little faith in Brewer and Sensabaugh as elite shutdown corners. They can play zone but on an island I get worried. Auburn is going to expose some of these flaws and we will be caught not covering someone wide open. Gus Malz has his QB Trotter performing very well and far ahead where I thought he would be coming into the third game.
6. MacLain and the O-Line. If we can't create some openings for Ellington then its going to be a long season. He needs creases not holes and we can't do it for him. MacLain has been pathetic, no way around it and that interior line must be solid for us to have a chance. Can we go for a fourth down against the D-line of Auburn or South Carolina? Have we even converted a third and short yet?? Again, at least Morris is aware and visibly upset about this. These lines have grown up lazy because they had CJ and elite RB's that made up for their inability to blow people off the line. This is tied to point number one and unless changed will result in three straight losses.
7. Tajh. I am not sold on Mr. Boyd yet. I really hope he proves me wrong. He is still inaccurate with some throws (throws to Hopkins in the flat) and throws it to the other team a couple of times. What I am really worried about is his ability to read defenses and pick up blitz's. It is primarily the responsibility of the QB. That comes with time but Auburn and especially FSU will eat him and the oline alive. The defense just can't deliver wins for us this year. Also what happens if he gets hurt? Could we win a game with Cole Stoudt?
This list is too long so I will digress into some bullet points and more random thoughts.
I hope you have been saving Mike Bellamy. Even if you ran him for the same four plays to different sides I would be happy. He is that quick that I doubt it would matter. Ten touches a game please. Even if he looks at you funny when you say the word protection he should be in there. Also don't remove him from the return game. He is faster than Watkins. Watkins was good in the return game but I think Bellamy will be better.
I would like to see Hawkins lose his starting job to Anthony. Hawkins plays tentatively and too far from action. Watch a play against Wofford and you will see how slow he is to react. He is not a bad player but this defense needs a game changer in the middle and I am hoping it is Anthony.
Anyone saying wait till next year is stupid--we have no Oline next year. This is the year, its always the year. If not, you sound like a delirious chicken. Remember that...
We have lost some serious in-state recruiting battles along the trenches and overall. Clowney, Cann, Gilmore, Holloman, Lattimore, and the biggest recruit that has turned USC around--Alshon Jeffrey (who was taken from Southern Cal). Now we didn't have a chance with most of these but it just shows the talent is there in our backyard to win natl championships. Watching the coots is getting depressing. They finally look like winners.
Watkins will be and already is special and Hopkins has amazing hands. We will score points this season.
Ellington has looked gassed to me these first couple games. He is not used to being the lone workhorse but it is great to see him used properly. I think he is still trying to find that elite gear he had last year and I hope it comes this saturday. Stone hands Hot Rod is not the answer at back-up. Time for Bellamy and Howard.
How many other schools miss as many xp's as we do?
Our D-line will be ok if no one gets injured. Goodman and Crawford, Brown and Branch are all above average. Thompson is elite when he wants to be and Moore is good. Shatley showed me something this week and we need some other guys to step up. We have time before GT and the need to play assignment football. Disappointed in guys like Josh Watson and Barnes.
Well I feel better already. Yes I am being negative but its better than being a homer. I just want to quit being embarrassed when I watch my tigers. We fans invest a lot and we deserve some winning every twenty years...
I thought that Troy was a good team and that the first half jitters could be accounted to first game, freshman stuff. Yesterday has got me back in vomit mode. I was laughing watching the game yesterday. I was laughing at how soft we have become and I remembered that I used to laugh like this about the cluckers...
It wasn't until I heard Dabo in his post-game comments that I went from lethargic and depressed to upset and motivated to actually blog. Yes, I want to be that vocal 5% duck, clucking about what is wrong with our head cheerleader when he acts incompetent and what is wrong with our program (his media talk today was less upbeat than what he said post-game, however, so I will give him that). Once we win at least an ACC Championship I have every right to wail and moan as loud as I want. Especially when South Carolina is dominating us...(yeah I hate writing it but you need to 'man up' and admit when you are inferior)
We have the recruiting talent, we have an overall good coaching staff now, we have a loyal fan base...
Here are my main concerns going forward.
1. We are soft. The last time we hit really hard was the game against Auburn last year. Since then it has been all orange marshmallows all the time. After the first half against Troy some players were quoted as saying, oh no here we go again. The Clemson mentality is weak. Auburn feels like they can win no matter what--you can see it in their demeanor and how they act and perform. Clemson doesn't really believe in itself.
I don't honestly know if it is Batson or not hitting enough in practice but this has been a problem for at least ten years now. Caldwell is the right coach but the players aren't responding as of now. Morris is saying the things I want to hear so we all can collectively hold our breath.
2. The less Dabo coaching the better. The fake punts and kicks and garbage were Dabo's calls. He seriously can't help sticking his finger in and trying to change something. He was scared on Saturday, dressed up to play army man, and I think it starts to rub off on a team. I am not a Dabo hater per se, but the man needs to remember his strengths are not the whole coaching thing. I'm always worried about his end game coaching for example.
3. Kicking game. I have never had faith in Cat man (as opposed to Catwoman) as a legit kicker. I will believe it when I see it. I am willing to give him a chance since Benton is a waste of a scholarship as far as I am concerned (although he does tackle as well as our defense) and Lakip is the same untested freshman. Zimmerman is the best punter since Chris Gardocki, and if you don't know that name you should look it up.
4. Tackling. We have problems wrapping up. Its funny that we like to hit more than we like to tackle, but the hitting isn't sustained for four quarters.
5. Secondary. Yes, I think this is more worrisome than the D-Line. With Hall out I am more worried about the busted assignments and blown coverages. Breeland isn't turning any heads and I have little faith in Brewer and Sensabaugh as elite shutdown corners. They can play zone but on an island I get worried. Auburn is going to expose some of these flaws and we will be caught not covering someone wide open. Gus Malz has his QB Trotter performing very well and far ahead where I thought he would be coming into the third game.
6. MacLain and the O-Line. If we can't create some openings for Ellington then its going to be a long season. He needs creases not holes and we can't do it for him. MacLain has been pathetic, no way around it and that interior line must be solid for us to have a chance. Can we go for a fourth down against the D-line of Auburn or South Carolina? Have we even converted a third and short yet?? Again, at least Morris is aware and visibly upset about this. These lines have grown up lazy because they had CJ and elite RB's that made up for their inability to blow people off the line. This is tied to point number one and unless changed will result in three straight losses.
7. Tajh. I am not sold on Mr. Boyd yet. I really hope he proves me wrong. He is still inaccurate with some throws (throws to Hopkins in the flat) and throws it to the other team a couple of times. What I am really worried about is his ability to read defenses and pick up blitz's. It is primarily the responsibility of the QB. That comes with time but Auburn and especially FSU will eat him and the oline alive. The defense just can't deliver wins for us this year. Also what happens if he gets hurt? Could we win a game with Cole Stoudt?
This list is too long so I will digress into some bullet points and more random thoughts.
I hope you have been saving Mike Bellamy. Even if you ran him for the same four plays to different sides I would be happy. He is that quick that I doubt it would matter. Ten touches a game please. Even if he looks at you funny when you say the word protection he should be in there. Also don't remove him from the return game. He is faster than Watkins. Watkins was good in the return game but I think Bellamy will be better.
I would like to see Hawkins lose his starting job to Anthony. Hawkins plays tentatively and too far from action. Watch a play against Wofford and you will see how slow he is to react. He is not a bad player but this defense needs a game changer in the middle and I am hoping it is Anthony.
Anyone saying wait till next year is stupid--we have no Oline next year. This is the year, its always the year. If not, you sound like a delirious chicken. Remember that...
We have lost some serious in-state recruiting battles along the trenches and overall. Clowney, Cann, Gilmore, Holloman, Lattimore, and the biggest recruit that has turned USC around--Alshon Jeffrey (who was taken from Southern Cal). Now we didn't have a chance with most of these but it just shows the talent is there in our backyard to win natl championships. Watching the coots is getting depressing. They finally look like winners.
Watkins will be and already is special and Hopkins has amazing hands. We will score points this season.
Ellington has looked gassed to me these first couple games. He is not used to being the lone workhorse but it is great to see him used properly. I think he is still trying to find that elite gear he had last year and I hope it comes this saturday. Stone hands Hot Rod is not the answer at back-up. Time for Bellamy and Howard.
How many other schools miss as many xp's as we do?
Our D-line will be ok if no one gets injured. Goodman and Crawford, Brown and Branch are all above average. Thompson is elite when he wants to be and Moore is good. Shatley showed me something this week and we need some other guys to step up. We have time before GT and the need to play assignment football. Disappointed in guys like Josh Watson and Barnes.
Well I feel better already. Yes I am being negative but its better than being a homer. I just want to quit being embarrassed when I watch my tigers. We fans invest a lot and we deserve some winning every twenty years...
Friday, 15 July 2011
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Making Sense of Selection Sunday
The highlights:
- 5 teams with 14 losses get in(only 6 teams with 14 losses let in from 1985-2010)
- Colorado and Virginia Tech snubbed
- UAB and VCU in the tournament
- Georgia a 10 seed??
- ACC is the most disrespected of the major conferences
I think that about covers it. There were 30 at-larges for power conferences and 7 for mid-majors. At first I was really upset that Clemson was in the play-in game and as the 12 seed. But then I realized we were probably the last team in. Which means that if Dayton or possibly even UTEP win their conferences then we are on the chopping block. How did USC in the pathetic Pac 10 jump us??
That means that the ACC got a 1 seed, a 2 seed, a 10 seed and a play-in. Practically 3 teams were put in. We made it in because we beat BC and VT in the head to head or we would have been out. Had we not beaten BC we would have been out. We need to win the ACC/Big Ten challenge and quit losing by one game so that we can wag that in people's faces--7 teams for the Big Ten?? Two of them with 14!!!!!!!!!!!! losses. Wow. Getting to the semi's in the ACC meant nothing this year. You do remember that the reigning national champs came from our conference right??
Here is my rational behind the snubs. The committee used the extra seeds as a chance to reward mid majors. That is partly why the push was made for expansion and so they were set on delivering. It would have been 32 majors and 5 mid-majors. However, if you are going to put Kansas State as a 5 seed and then not include a team that beat them 3 times then you are being stupid or stubborn. Now I am not saying Colorado doesn't have its flaws but VCU lost 6 Colonial division games and UAB was ousted from its conference tourney by East Carolina.
The committee had a mission and they fulfilled it. The last major takeaway is for anyone who wants to expand anything. Whenever you have a cut-line and whenever someone is left out there will be controversy and moaning and groaning. Its inherent to selection. This is the stupid argument made in football. If we only have an 8 team play-off then teams will be left out--well duh. And if you have a 64 team tourney then people will complain and a 68 and even a 96. (In football it is better to give eight teams a chance over just two, however)
Don't think that expansion somehow solves these kinds of problems. Go back to a 64 team tourney. How fair is it to play in Dayton and then fly to the next spot for the first game?? I thought we were having all the silly 16 seeds play each other so that first round game against the 1 seed might mean something. Oh well, Clemson will play UAB and have to break the press--something we don't do horribly well. At least this way we can win one game in the tourney!
West Virginia here we come!! (11 Big East teams...ugh)
Friday, 11 March 2011
Let's Dance
Oh yeah. Who thought that at the beginning of the season we would be in the semis of the ACC tourney, playing our best basketball and pretty much a lock for the NCAA tourney. Now the only question is whether or not we get the Bye game. (I really hate the play-in 12 seed game, so dumb especially for everyone who loves to fill out brackets--at least this expansion should shut up further expansion talk for awhile) (Sorry, have to continue rant--what would 96 teams mean?? South Carolina would be on the bubble, teams at or below .500 would be in consideration, I guess I shouldn't be surprised at how stupid the NCAA can be, Jim Sweatervest and THE Ohio State rule breakers deserve some serious punishment. You know that the NCAA let them off easy and had a wink/nod situation where they allowed Pryor to play in that BCS game. Now they better come down hard)
So we won. When Stitt is on we can match-up against some of the best teams in the country. I am so impressed with how he has matured as a player in the past month. Well not emotionally but as a player. He hits threes, drives to the basket with authority, finishes plays, has become an elite defender, rebounds well for a guard, has that fire and leadership this team needed. I am so glad Trapani is gone. He is a match-up nightmare for us.
The key to this team is that players have developed roles. I feel like everyone knows more or less where they fit into the scheme, so players play within the system and themselves. I don't see ill advised drives from Tanner Smith--I see him hustling, playing good D, passing the ball well and knocking down the occasional outside shot. Jerai knows he can knock down a mid-range jumper. The ball goes inside-out more often than ever before.
The team is gaining confidence in itself at the right time. This season has been a huge success and I think this is the time as fans that we sit back and enjoy. I know we want to win championships but it is not very often that we can say that our basketball team has overachieved. Jay Bilas should eat a big pile of crow(he had us dead last). TDP did something right (although he tried to do something wrong before stumbling into the right decision) and I think Brownell is fantastic. Lets hope we can win a few recruiting battles from this but for now I am all smiles.
If we lose to UNC, it won't matter. All I want is a first round victory in the big dance and my wishlist for this season is fulfilled. Thank you seniors! Go Tigers!
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Brad BrownLEE?? Does it
Note to ESPN--the man is a major college coach and potentially the ACC Coach of the Year. Lets get his name right. Brad Brownell...Brad Brown(like the color) ell(like the french word she elle), at least Mike Patrick apologized to the student body. Then it gets repeated on Sportscenter.
The orange blazer was in full effect as the team played some very good team basketball. How refreshing is it that our team is, for once, finishing strong! The team had some rough patches where we turned the ball over a ton but overall we passed the ball better than I have seen in like six years. This team is playing a walk-on Zavier and Narcisse for long periods of time--and winning. Who would have said that at the beginning of the season. I thought we had the talent this year to go 20-10 and 8-8 in the league, potentially make the tourney. Those were my best case numbers and after that rough patch where we lost three straight I was prepared for the worst. I just didn't see how after the loss of Johnson and Donte Hill this team could coalesce around Brownell's system.
Then the defense picked up. I think Tanner's injury gave some players quality minutes that ultimately helped the team. Stitt has been a fiery leader and Grant developed that outside shot. Now we still have our flaws. Grant has been shutdown. Booker and Milt have talent but are hit or miss in some games. Lack of depth.
Good thing we have Brownell. We have cut down on turnovers, learned how to pass the ball, and can actually run some offense. We consistently rotate well and play very good defense. And no we don't use a gimmick defense that can be scorched by good teams. Tanner Smith plays within himself. Narcisse provides defensive length. Bobo can even have a role. Anderson is utilized for his defensive pressure. Brownell magnifies the ability of each of his players.
A word on the tourney. Lunardi had us as the last team in before the VT win. Today bubble competitors Richmond, Alabama, Michigan(who beat us), Colorado, Butler(hopefully wins tourney), Missouri St(really hope they win tourney), Illinois, Memphis and UAB.
Those who lost are Baylor, Colorado St, Washington(now 20-10), Washington St, Marquette, Michigan St. and Georgia, Nebraska, Wichita St, Dayton and Drexel.
The Alabama win really hurts us as well as the Michigan win and possibly the Colorado win. It will be hard to keep Alabama out now and Georgia still has a good resume. Michigan is on the edge but the committee is likely to still favor a big name team like Michigan St (not to mention mid major darlings Butler and Gonzaga) and Michigan has the head to head win against us.
What we have going in our favor is the fact that the ACC will not be a three big league. That means that the fourth big would have to go to either BC or VT ahead of us and we have the head to head match-ups against them. Certainly, that is comforting.
The other thing no one is talking about is how the committee will approach the extra 4 teams. We have no precedent and so it is all guess work. They could just extend the cut line from 64 to 68 which would be in our favor but they also might be more inclined to give them to mid majors, so as to appear impartial and not turning these picks into more of the same. We shall see.
I think in a match-up against BC in the 4/5 game we need that win to be in the tourney. How lame are the 12 seed games?? Way to try to ruin something good NCAA--96 teams--really??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)