Mostly just Bama fans because we got to show ours first. A million national championships and that void still can’t be filled.
I don't think anyone is as good as Bama in terms of having four receivers like they have. Clemson's receivers are bigger and more physical though. Lawrence has a higher ceiling than Tua but right now Tua is playing far better than Lawrence. TLaw throws a bunch of shit up for grabs these days. I guess what I don't understand is why our perceived offensive deficiencies are worse than their defensive counterparts in teams like LSU and Bama. We are a flawed team, but so are all the other schools cited. I could make a pretty compelling argument that we are the least flawed of the bunch. The only glaring weakness has been at outside receiver and I'm not sure that's the case now.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-man-front/id1472787147?i=1000450927252 Disagree with his opinion about the lights, but agree with most of the rest
The frustrating thing is, I'm not sure we are flawed. I think we are pretty limited offensively by our coaches, but our players are fucking good. I don't think it's necessarily a coordinator thing either, I'm not sure Kirby wants to fly up and down the field like Bama/Oklahoma/osu.
Thoughts on Tae Crowder? I love him and hate him a lot throughout a game. I think he's inconsistent but he makes some great flash plays too. Also very obvious Nakobe isn't anywhere near 100% with the ankle. I'm liking the progression of Quay Walker as well.
Can't really figure out Crowder. He made a couple of great plays. One on a screen he read was fucking phenomenal. I think he's not great in coverage. Prob has good straight line speed but not great laterally.
I was ready for somebody to take over for Tae, but I thought he played really well against ND. He’s definitely our best option there right now. We can win ballgames with Tae there. Same cannot he said for Monty. Hopefully he gets phased out as the year goes on.
I thought Tae played one of his best games Saturday. Nakobe still looks lost to me. Quay looks good but he still doesn’t take on blocks as well. Plays too high. I think it’s pretty clear Tae and Monty are our best 2 right now. Need the young guys to keep developing
I know it’s PFF and their grades can be bullshit but they had Dean down for like a 26 tackling grade the other night
I don’t get this either. Our fans didn’t like Tae first couple of games and Monty last couple. Monty’s been our best ILB
Crowder is overthinking stuff instead of just playing. When he recognizes a play and can just react he's good. The rest of the time seems like he disappears or gets taken out of a play.
To me, he appears to be a totally reactive player. He doesn't diagnose plays before they break and stop them from happening. He sees plays unfolding and gets to the correct spot after the fact. He's not bad; just that we have an elite team now, and he isn't an elite LBer. He has 0 TFL and 0 pass break ups. I don't mind him getting snaps, but I think we'll be a better team if/when one of the younger LBers take the next step. I also don't disagree that he's the best player currently. I just want somebody to pass him.
I'm torn. He looked super slow against Vandy but has gotten progressively better every week. I'm sure he's still getting used to playing the position at game speed, maybe he'll hit his stride by the middle of the season.
Dean is a long way off. No idea if it's his ankle or being a freshman (prob both) but he's not ready.
I feel like you could take any 3 star LBer, coach them for 2 years and they could equal Monty Rice. Very forgettable player.
Roquan was a baller as a sophomore too. He just got all the hype his JR year because he did it back to back years, we were a better team, and Rueben Foster and Zach Cunningham both left for the NFL
I'm not writing him off or anything. I just don't understand him getting all the hype in the preseason... which they hype half the team in the offseason
Well I agree that none of them are elite ILBs, but I’d say his instincts and physical play are his best traits. He’s not a great coverage backer either, but anyone judging our ILB play off not locking down a NFL level TE the other day is doing it all wrong. Hell, Roquan got toasted one of the first plays of the game last night down the seam by a 3rd string TE I wouldn’t be mad about a younger, more talented guy passing him, but none of them look close
I said it in the game thread but I wanted to come here and say good game and thanks for all the hospitality over the weekend. People went out of their way to make sure we were having a great time and the atmosphere and experience was amazing. Now kick ass the rest of the year and if a lot of shit falls right for us, we can dance again.
I don't really see another loss on your schedule. Bad games happen but on paper I'd think you'd be a favorite and probably a significant favorite in the rest of your games.
Virginia Saturday could be a trap, USC is USC plus Michigan is on the road. If we can get healthy at RB (our top 2 rb are out) and better QB play we can run it. Doubt there are enough quality wins to displace other one loss teams but hey, college football.
I was looking at it and I think Virginia could be a trap if it were on the road. Seems like you guys don't really think much of your home field advantage but it's better than traveling. USC also at home or I'd worry more about that one. Michigan seems really bad.
I like Bronco but Virginia is not good. I'd be very surprised if you guys don't beat them by at least two touchdowns.
Feel the same. He's a good coach but their on paper talent is at such a deficit that it's hard to see them over coming that.
USC could potentially give you trouble but that really depends on which USC shows up and Navy always presents a challenge if they can dominate time of possession. I don't see another loss on your schedule either though. I may very well be wrong but I think Michigan is in for a rough season after Saturday. To me Book is a lot better than you guys are giving him credit for. His accuracy and ability to improvise and pick up first downs was pretty terrifying all night Saturday.
The conventional wisdom on Crowder is he's better in coverage and better laterally than Rice. He's obviously plenty fast and he's long as well. I haven't watched him closely enough to make a judgment this year. My guess is he will be sort of like Ramik Wilson - a guy you didn't love in college who turns into a good NFL LB.
Virginia is not going to beat ND unless ND has a massive hangover. With that said, Bronco can coach with the best of them.
Walker is the guy we need to figure it out soon. I think he's close. My guess is Dean will be solid by the tail-end of the season. Tindall is a mystery to me. Nobody looks better in pads and the kid runs like a deer but something isn't clicking clearly.
Seems like Walker has even passed Tindall. I don't know if he's just not picking up the defense or what.
Not taking this shot at you personally, but Wilson was another guy that was unfairly shit on here. He was a good player here too before having a NFL career. I remember people hating him because he wasnt running down WR's on crossing routes and getting tons of TFLs
Walker looked like he was shot out of a cannon a couple of weeks ago on a delayed blitz. His length would seem to give teams fits in zone coverage
He has become a pass rush specialist and he's very good in that role but I was hoping he would be an every-down LB by now. He clearly hasn't picked things up - I can't think of any other explanation other than maybe he's stiff? He looks like an absolute beast in his uniform.