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So, did the MSU game change our trajectory?
Posted on 9/24/23 at 11:36 am
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?
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
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Posted on 9/24/23 at 12:00 pm to scrooster
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.
I didn't mind this. Loggains was up the the box the whole night, it was his first shot at congratulating him.
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 on 9/24/23 at 12:23 pm to PrezCock
We were trying TOO HARD to establish the run last night. We were torching their DB's and still insisted on running up the middle for 2-3 yard gains. Sure a few of them popped. Many of them didn't.
Still it was our best offensive game of the year.
Still it was our best offensive game of the year.
Posted on 9/24/23 at 12:55 pm to scrooster
quote: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 -
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.
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 on 9/24/23 at 3:31 pm to Lonnie Utah
quote:
We were trying TOO HARD to establish the run last night.
Completely agree. With Rattler playing out of his mind like he is, we need him to throw the ball more. More intermediate routes. Having a balanced offense with a respectable running game would help open it up, but they seemed to try and force the run game, like you said.
Posted on 9/24/23 at 6:17 pm to scrooster
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.
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 on 9/24/23 at 9:47 pm to 1801
quote:
Rattler is the best pure passing arm we've ever had at Carolina - Taneyhill & Bobby Fuller probably next
I dunno .... Anthony Wright was probably the best pure passing arm we've ever had it's just that he was poorly coached and he had no support whatsoever. He also had some off field issues but he was a good kid under bad leadership (fat bradstard scott). Crazy thing was Brad Scott was supposed-to-be a QB guru after coaching Charlie Ward to a Heisman at FSU.
Wright spent a number of years, as a journeyman QB, in the NFL.
Trivia of the day. Last night they mentioned Rattler was on pace to break Connor Shaw's 20 consecutive completions mark and maybe even Tee Martin's 27 game completion mark which is the SEC record.
What they didn't mention was that Martin set the record against us in 1998 in Williams-Brice. I was there, not sitting in the press box for that one but rather in the stands with my Dad. Anthony Wright was QBing for us and he got caught on camera laughing and joking around on the sidelines while we were taking an arse beating .... which led to Phil Petty starting much of the rest of the season. Tennessee went on to win the MNC that year by beating FSU.
I remember speaking to Spurrier after the Shrine Bowl game Wright's senior HS season and Spurrier wanted Wright at UF but Wright (a NC Native) was recruited by Scott, first at FSU and then to SC when he got the job here.
Six degress of separation fwiw.
Wright threw the most perfect spirals, next to my Dad's, that I have ever seen. What an arm Wright had.
Posted on 9/25/23 at 8:58 am to scrooster
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.
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 on 9/25/23 at 1:15 pm to Soda City Spur
quote:
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?
I think, if Wells and AB were healthy, you'd see a plan based around airing it all over the place. The offense has to score points, and a lot of them, to overcome the defensive deficiencies.
Now that we know what thr D can (and cannot) do, I think you'll see more deep shots, more crossers, and hopefully more wheel routes for Mario. Rattler has to be kept clean - and thr OL has done well the past few games. If he has time, he's the most accurate QB in the country.
In short, TOP is nice, but no one is going to blink twice if we can get big plays like we did against State.
Posted on 9/25/23 at 5:39 pm to scrooster
quote:I can't disagree with ya about A1 - he was special too - easily the best athlete to go along with passing arm we've had - some of the houdini acts he had to pull off in the pocket just to stay alive - and then get the ball out - he carved out a very nice NFL career too -
I dunno .... Anthony Wright was probably the best pure passing arm we've ever had it's just that he was poorly coached and he had no support whatsoever.
Posted on 9/25/23 at 6:07 pm to scrooster
We have done anthony wright wrong. He deserves far more recognition than he gets. I always think of how our players look back at their careers. I think guys like Garcia, Shaw, Jeffrey all would say it was the best move. Then you have guys like Newton, and Wright that probably wouldnt share that same sentiment.
Posted on 9/25/23 at 9:58 pm to PrezCock
quote:
Completely agree.
The only thing I can think of is we were trying to give Tenner tape for this weekend.
And then have Spenc drop bombs on them all night...
Posted on 9/29/23 at 6:11 pm to scrooster
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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