Where we stand this season

Sep 26, 2014, 1:47 PM

Now that the pain and dust has settled from the FSU loss, I think we can see just where we stand this season. Here are my thoughts:

1) The ESPN guys had a great point about injuries. If Watson had not gotten hurt in the spring, one has to wonder if he would not have won the starting job or at least been called on sooner in the season, and how would that have affected the outcomes of our games. What the ESPN guys didn't mention is that Charone Peake's injury hurt us as well. He may be the best receiver we have, experience and talentwise, and he was just barely able to get ready to go for the start of the season. If Charone and Watson had been able to practice together in the off season, that could have helped us tremendously.

2) We just do not have a Nuk or Sammy style playmaker on offense, at least not yet. That is huge. Think about FSU - our defense has to account for #35 and #80 the whole game, every play. We don't have the equivalent on our team. Sammy especially always got the other team's attention, and that freed up other plays.

3) As David Hood said, we are not mentally tough. We do not have the killer instinct on offense and we have not since the last season under Danny Ford. Until we can convert 4th and ones and until we can execute when we're under pressure (we had TWO walk-in TE Touchdowns, or at least one and another one that would have been close against FSU), we will not be an elite team.

4) The defense is lights out awesome. That said. FSU was an anomaly. Other teams we will face this year will have mobile QBs and be able to have more varied gameplans than what we saw last Saturday night. Don't expect many repeats of that awesome performance.

5) Our special teams continue to be worse than average in general (poor coverage and sure hands, but no return threat on punts) but the PK situation in particular will cost us again if we don't get it straightened out.

6) We only scored 21 points at UGA and 17 at FSU. That will not win many games in today's era.

So what does it all mean? This season's big prizes are all but gone. A lot of people are talking about winning out, but I see that as highly unlikely, given our kicking situation. FSU will not lose 2 ACC games, so that prize is very likely out of reach. The big remaining prize, bigger than any bowl game, is to beat the coots in November and to do it in convincing fashion. A big win that embarrasses OBC will go a long way to making the winter and Dark Territory more bearable as we wait for a full season under Watson, facing ND, and another year of opportunity to get into the playoffs.

I still think Dabo is the man to get it done and he has made tough personnel choices in the past. This off season he may have to make some more.

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1. DW was brought along right on time according to his HS coach and out HC and OC alike. The idea was to try his shoulders before the entire load was place upon him.

2. The advantage of having two or three who can run routes keeps a defensive secondary guessing, an often surprised as to who gets the pass and what part of the field it will end up on. Not to say I don't miss Sammy and Nuk but everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going if Tajh dropped back to pass. They just beat their defenders, we don't have to depend on that every play this year.

3. It's just as likely that nerves or lack of focus is to blame instead of lack of mental toughness. Our skill position is littered with freshmen and RS freshmen. I think Tajh lead a team of tough minded players anytime he could maintain his composure.

4. The first statement here is 100% accurate. I actually expect more defense when we don't face an offense as powerful as FSU's and UGAy's. I'd rather have the wrong QB than changing QB constantly. When do you think we'll face one that compares to FSU or UGAy?

5. We're getting better and better at covering kicks. Right about the return game.

6. I wonder how many more top defenses we will face this season. It's also likely that our QB and WR's will get more versed in our playbook and our offense will get better and better each game.

What does this mean? We've got plenty of football left to play and the OB awaits if we develop our team chemistry as I expect. Remember, we just had a change of leadership.

Sorry to be so contentious, it's bob's fault. I was happy to just disagree.

Where we stand this season

Re: Where we stand this season

Good observation. The lack of killer instinct....

Re: Where we stand this season

#6 says it all. Gotta score more points, time for Chad to

Wrong or partly wrong on every point.***

Well why don't you correct him?***

Okee Dokee.***

Waiting...

You know york and dsp had their way with me already today.

RE: Okee Dokee, bob

On the precipice of greatness is where we stand

On the precipice of greatness is where we stand BEST!

Tigerron

TigerBoard POTD

Where we stand this season

Re: Where we stand this season

Good observation. The lack of killer instinct....

Re: Where we stand this season

#6 says it all. Gotta score more points, time for Chad to

Wrong or partly wrong on every point.***

Well why don't you correct him?***

Okee Dokee.***

Waiting...

You know york and dsp had their way with me already today.

RE: Okee Dokee, bob

** On the precipice of greatness is where we stand **

** On the precipice of greatness is where we stand **BEST!

Tigerron

TigerBoard POTD

On the precipice of greatness is where we stand

On the precipice of greatness is where we stand BEST!