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So, did the MSU game change our trajectory?

Posted on 9/24/23 at 11:36 am
Posted by scrooster
Resident Ethicist
Member since Jul 2012
37766 posts
Posted on 9/24/23 at 11:36 am
I still see glaring weaknesses such as lack of depth in the threnches and backfield as well as issues defending the long ball, but .... but ....

There are signs of improvement. Our OLine is starting to get the hang of it, our LBs are excellent. Our Running game, with the kid from Newberry, looks much better (there was nowhere to-go but up) and our WRs are getting it done. They look really good.

We're going to have issues against a good running team strictly because of lack of depth on the DLine. And our DBs need to get their act together. They're talented enough but they're making some rookie mistakes back there and they're going-to see better WRs in coming weeks.

I've been getting texts all night and this morning. The general consensus seems-to-be that this win over MSU changed our trajectory. One friend even said that, if we beat Tennessee, we'll go undefeated the remainder of the season. Others now have us winning 8 games.

It was a must win game and we won it but ... I'm not sold yet. I'm still at 6-6 IF things go our way.

Our remaining schedule is tough. One bad loss and it could just as easily send our trajectory spiraling downward.

Something else, well, two things actually.

We can't keep riding Rattler's coattails (we're going to need some defensive scores and special teams scores in coming weeks) and ... I wasn't a fan of Loggains running up to Rattler in the middle of the post game interview. Seemed like an attempt at attention-grabbing to me and coaches, especially coordinators, should lay low.

Still, it was a must win and we won. We'll see how Miss State does the remainder of the season before we can call it a good win.

Winning at Tennessee ... that would be an upward trajectory changing win imho.

What are our chances?
This post was edited on 9/24/23 at 11:43 am
Posted by PrezCock
Florida
Member since Sep 2019
603 posts
Posted on 9/24/23 at 12:00 pm to
All good points. After our loss to UNC my thoughts were that we would be lucky to get to a bowl game this season. Over the last few games it seems like we have turned a corner some.

Our OL and RB groups have been putting in some hard work and it seems like they are starting to come around, which is promising.

DBs, like you said, are young and have a ton of talent. They need more experience and they need to be a bit more consistent. They get burned on stupid plays because they forget their assignments.

Rattler has been fantastic this year, but I don't really think it's because of anything he's changed. I think he is almost the exact same QB he was last year. The difference is we have a competent OC now.

Overall I think our team is young and inexperienced. I'm proud of how they have been playing, even though they are 2-2.

quote:

I wasn't a fan of Loggains running up to Rattler in the middle of the post game interview. Seemed like an attempt at attention-grabbing to me and coaches, especially coordinators, should lay low.



I didn't mind this. Loggains was up the the box the whole night, it was his first shot at congratulating him.

Posted by 1801
Charleston
Member since Aug 2012
6341 posts
Posted on 9/24/23 at 12:55 pm to
quote:

It was a must win game and we won it but ... I'm not sold yet. I'm still at 6-6 IF things go our way.
same here - the defensive side of the ball overall is a huge problem - there are individual players and moments where the defense flashes - but unless turnovers come our way - we can't get off the field - that's a big deficiency with the teams we have left to play -

Rattler threw 2 incompletions last night (1 should've been a DPI) with 3 TD and we won by a single touchdown against a team that lost 41-14 at home the week prior - the offense has to be damn near perfect and score every possession - that's not feasible with where the 3 road games remaining are and UF/UK/CU coming to W-B -

this staff has moments where it wants to show everyone its the smartest staff across football too - see the failed 2PAT attempt - for no logical reason -

until the defense can collective start getting off the field it's gonna be a struggle to win any of the road games and the home games not against Jax State -

Rattler is the best pure passing arm we've ever had at Carolina - Taneyhill & Bobby Fuller probably next - and this staff needs to find a way to get the defense somewhat serviceable to not waste Spencer's talent over his final 8 regular seasons games in a Gamecock jersey -

also Leggette is better than Wells and both together on the field (healthy) would take a back seat to no other WR tandem in the SEC this fall -

Posted by RoyalAir
Detroit
Member since Dec 2012
5896 posts
Posted on 9/24/23 at 6:17 pm to
I agree with your friend, RE Tennessee.

If they can win that game (and it is winnable) they get a chance to get well. From there, sky is the limit. It's a crucial game. Win it, and you can be as good as you want to be. Don't, and we will rue the day we wasted this much offensive ability.

Anderson needs to be the Guy.
Posted by Soda City Spur
Coastal Plains
Member since Mar 2017
969 posts
Posted on 9/25/23 at 8:58 am to
Hard to say what this game means for our season considering we still have to play UTk, UF, Mizzou, UK which have been toss ups for the last several years.

Seems like our staff is still trying to figure out what our best gameplan is knowing what the deficiencies are. Passing game is great as long as Rattler has time, but running game has been terrible. Defense can make plays but can just as easily give up a big play against the run and pass.

So do you try to play defense by having your offense possess the ball longer or do you commit to stopping the pass or rush on defense and hope you can bend but don't break? Saturday felt like we committed to stopping the run and not sure what the offensive gameplan was but we rushed the most we have all year (47) and threw the ball the fewest we have all year (20) We also possessed the ball 3 min longer than Miss St. did.
Posted by SOSFAN
Blythewood
Member since Jun 2018
12262 posts
Posted on 9/29/23 at 6:11 pm to
I feel much better about Loggains but Clayton White experiment has to end. This is his 3rd year and the defensive statistics have gotten worse.
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