Assuming/Hoping We Start 3-0...*Knock on Wood*

[TheCusian]

maybe a guy like Zaire Franklin gets national praise after the game. Time will tell...

I doubt it. Remember when Williams and BC strolled into town? Shut the guy down, knocked him out of the game - and the narrative was "if he'd been healthy the whole game we would have lost"...

 

[Scooch]

There should be no hoping, and no knocking on wood.

We MUST start 3-0.

So weird to say that since we haven't started 3-0 since 1991. But when you look at that lineup... 2 teams we beat last year and get them at home this time. And the FCS, which, last year notwithstanding, really shouldn't be a game. URI won 1 game last year, and our nemesis Villanova built a 44-0 lead on them before letting the band play in the 4th quarter.

Zero excuse not to start 3-0. If we don't, this program is probably in shambles.

And the LSU game isn't that important, it's all upside.

What's important, if not critical, is finding 3 more wins after a 3-0 start.

 

[djorange1989]

Zero excuse not to start 3-0. If we don't, this program is probably in shambles.

And the LSU game isn't that important, it's all upside.

What's important, if not critical, is finding 3 more wins after a 3-0 start.

great post. perfectly said. Critical to find those 3 more wins.

 

[Trueblue25]

Zero excuse not to start 3-0. If we don't, this program is probably in shambles.

And the LSU game isn't that important, it's all upside.

What's important, if not critical, is finding 3 more wins after a 3-0 start.

I don't know, I mean if we actually start 3-0 and beat LSU at home... I think that symbolizes us, alongside our recruitment class of '16, as back in the national relevance.

 

[Scooch]

I don't know, I mean if we actually start 3-0 and beat LSU at home... I think that symbolizes us, alongside our recruitment class of '16, as back in the national relevance.

You said the LSU game is "lining up to be our most important in years". So let me ask you... what happens if we lose that game?

To me, the answer is... nothing, really. We'd have lost to a program that is perceived to be light years ahead of us. Big whoop.

For a game to be one that is considered "most important in years", ahead of it being played, it would need to have some element of downside if it is lost.

It could have that level of importance if SU were to win and catapult into a very good season. A season that changes the national perception of the program.

But I think it's impossible to determine that level of potential importance on April 29th.

 

[SUbear]

I'll be pleasantly surprised if we start 3-0 regardless of the schedule. We are the slowest of slow starting teams. Until I see otherwise i expect close games and probably one loss before we get LSU.

And our defense will be in major rebuild mode, we lost a lot of our D. Offense must be better this year or we will again be in trouble(stating the obvious). I expect the offense to improve, but the D will be a question mark, if the D is close to last year we should be alright.

 

[CUSU]

You said the LSU game is "lining up to be our most important in years". So let me ask you... what happens if we lose that game?

To me, the answer is... nothing, really. We'd have lost to a program that is perceived to be light years ahead of us. Big whoop.

For a game to be one that is considered "most important in years", ahead of it being played, it would need to have some element of downside if it is lost.

It could have that level of importance if SU were to win and catapult into a very good season. A season that changes the national perception of the program.

But I think it's impossible to determine that level of potential importance on April 29th.

What I see are two people and two different ways of thinking. Trueblue25 is looking at how much the game "could" help us and you're looking at how much it "could" hurt us, or a combination of the two. Both ideologies have some weight, but in my opinion winning over LSU would hold more absolute value than losing to say Wake. We are coming off a 3-9 season there is only so much a game could hurt us perception wise, there is a lot more head room positive wise. If you could pick either scenario (W vs. Wake & L vs. LSU) or (L vs. Wake and W vs. LSU) which would you pick? For me its the latter.

Also, hypothetically say we (the team) have been top 25 the past few years and are ranked currently I think the how much "could" it hurt us idea would be more prevalent. A loss to work would have more absolute value, or effect on perception, than a win vs. a say #17 LSU.

Now I'm not saying we will beat LSU or lose to Wake just for sake of comparison.

 

[Scooch]

What I see are two people and two different ways of thinking. Trueblue25 is looking at how much the game "could" help us and you're looking at how much it "could" hurt us, or a combination of the two. Both ideologies have some weight, but in my opinion winning over LSU would hold more absolute value than losing to say Wake. We are coming off a 3-9 season there is only so much a game could hurt us perception wise, there is a lot more head room positive wise. If you could pick either scenario (W vs. Wake & L vs. LSU) or (L vs. Wake and W vs. LSU) which would you pick? For me its the latter.

Also, hypothetically say we (the team) have been top 25 the past few years and are ranked currently I think the how much "could" it hurt us idea would be more prevalent. A loss to work would have more absolute value, or effect on perception, than a win vs. a say #17 LSU.

Now I'm not saying we will beat LSU or lose to Wake just for sake of comparison.

My fixation, really, is on the "most important in years" claim. I'm not sure why the LSU game this season would be the most important in years. We play Florida State and Clemson every season, would beating LSU be significantly bigger than beating either of them? We played Notre Dame, coming off their appearance in the title game, in a prime time national TV broadcast. Would beating LSU be significantly bigger than had we done that?

It's the scope that I'm skeptical of.

 

[CUSU]

My fixation, really, is on the "most important in years" claim. I'm not sure why the LSU game this season would be the most important in years. We play Florida State and Clemson every season, would beating LSU be significantly bigger than beating either of them? We played Notre Dame, coming off their appearance in the title game, in a prime time national TV broadcast. Would beating LSU be significantly bigger than had we done that?

It's the scope that I'm skeptical of.

I would say any of those games mentioned could have the same effect, I should have went with Team X and Y in my post above. The thing it comes down to is the common perception of the SEC being king, whether true or not. I think a win over a common household name in LSU and them being in the SEC could open some eyes. More so than say a win over Clemson, maybe not significantly but enough. Now a top 10 FSU would warrant the same consideration, but our schedule hasn't lined up in a way for us to be 3-0 going into a game with FSU I don't believe.

I'm not sure what our last most important game would be? Maybe the win over BC in 2013, or the win over Louisville or WVU in 2012? (See I remember the wins)

To me a win over a ranked LSU (this year) would be greater or equal to those, leaning towards greater. It would make a lot of people forget that 3-9 season. Purely my opinion, others may vary.

 

[anomander]

And our defense will be in major rebuild mode, we lost a lot of our D. Offense must be better this year or we will again be in trouble(stating the obvious). I expect the offense to improve, but the D will be a question mark, if the D is close to last year we should be alright.

I still think our defense will be the unit we rely upon this year. If we have to count on our offense to win games we may be in some trouble. Everybody loses kids to graduation/early entry, or what have you. We have some really talented kids coming up on that side of the ball. I actually think this years defense has the potential to be better then last year. They will be young, but I think they will give you some things last years defense couldn't. There may be some bumps along the road early in the schedule, but that's where have 3 very winnable games to start the season helps.

 

[Chip]

Zero excuse not to start 3-0. If we don't, this program is probably in shambles.

And the LSU game isn't that important, it's all upside.

What's important, if not critical, is finding 3 more wins after a 3-0 start.

Right. I would also say that 4-1 is probably critical as well. Need to beat USF. Then you're looking for 2 wins.

LSU, if we're 3-0 and we at least get some ounce of buzz over our record, it doesn't really matter what happens. They crush us, everyone expected it. We hang tough for 2-3 quarters, great confidence builder. We (gulp) win, and we're all invited to the pants party.

But even if we lose, we can bounce back against a bad USF program, and go from there.

I say all of that knowing full well we're coming off a 3 win season where, by the end, we were only good for one offensive drive per game.

 

[TheCusian]

I still think our defense will be the unit we rely upon this year. If we have to count on our offense to win games we may be in some trouble. Everybody loses kids to graduation/early entry, or what have you. We have some really talented kids coming up on that side of the ball. I actually think this years defense has the potential to be better then last year. They will be young, but I think they will give you some things last years defense couldn't. There may be some bumps along the road early in the schedule, but that's where have 3 very winnable games to start the season helps.

Ding. Ding.

This is spot on. I feel a little wobbly on the dline - and safety. But the kids coming in might provide enough depth.

 

[javadoc]

Ding. Ding.

This is spot on. I feel a little wobbly on the dline - and safety. But the kids coming in might provide enough depth.

I'm not as worried about DL since that is Daoust's unit and he puts out a decent group every year. The interior seems fine - strong, actually - with Raymon, Williams, Slayton, Samuels, and Clark/Cross. DE looks like a possible concern - do we have anyone on scholarship there other than Thompson and Simmons now? Pickard and Ealey will probably play this year.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I still think our defense will be the unit we rely upon this year. If we have to count on our offense to win games we may be in some trouble. Everybody loses kids to graduation/early entry, or what have you. We have some really talented kids coming up on that side of the ball. I actually think this years defense has the potential to be better then last year. They will be young, but I think they will give you some things last years defense couldn't. There may be some bumps along the road early in the schedule, but that's where have 3 very winnable games to start the season helps.

I agree, our defense under Shafer hasnt really had to rebuild. Our defensive staff knows how to get the job done, and are working with more talent then we've had in a long time.
I think the defense is strong again regardless of the losses.

 

[SUbear]

I still think our defense will be the unit we rely upon this year. If we have to count on our offense to win games we may be in some trouble. Everybody loses kids to graduation/early entry, or what have you. We have some really talented kids coming up on that side of the ball. I actually think this years defense has the potential to be better then last year. They will be young, but I think they will give you some things last years defense couldn't. There may be some bumps along the road early in the schedule, but that's where have 3 very winnable games to start the season helps.

I think the offense will improve, if we can get some stability on the offensive line, if we have the same whack a mole substitutions on the line, it would again be an adventure.
As for the D it will be a wait and see, potential is a dangerous word, known for the unknown until the new players prove themselves. I will as always be hoping for the players to step up to the task.
A couple less demanding games to start will benefit this edition greatly, in my opinion.
As always GO ORANGE!

 

[cusefan12]

If we are not 3-0 next year, thats scary. Being 3-0 against LSU will be a great atmosphere. Think, we have nothing to lose in that game, everyone will have us counted out. Just make it a game and maybe we can pull together the unlikely. If we do somehow someway beat LSU... I think that will be our turning point back to the program we used to be.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I still think our defense will be the unit we rely upon this year. If we have to count on our offense to win games we may be in some trouble. Everybody loses kids to graduation/early entry, or what have you. We have some really talented kids coming up on that side of the ball. I actually think this years defense has the potential to be better then last year. They will be young, but I think they will give you some things last years defense couldn't. There may be some bumps along the road early in the schedule, but that's where have 3 very winnable games to start the season helps.

Oh man, I hope we're not relying on our defense. That's a loser's game that leads to passive decisions.

 

[TheCusian]

Oh man, I hope we're not relying on our defense. That's a loser's game that leads to passive decisions.

If we end up relying on our defense again, it will be (like last year) because our offense isn't as good. Nothing wrong with that in the moment, as it's happening.

In other words - if you make decisions based on having a good offense, but really you blow chunks - you just lose faster.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

If we end up relying on our defense again, it will be (like last year) because our offense isn't as good. Nothing wrong with that in the moment, as it's happening.

In other words - if you make decisions based on having a good offense, but really you blow chunks - you just lose faster.

I would take losing faster over making decisions to punt from the 32 or whatever it was.

I think if you make too many decisions in the interests of helping your defense it just seems way too easy to make losing decisions you feel good about, and I think that happened way too much last season. I don't trust the way decisions are evaluated when they're focused on making choices that help the defense. Way too easy to get comfortable "keepin' it close" instead of capitalizing on chances that can put you ahead or extend a lead.

 

[TheCusian]

I would take losing faster over making decisions to punt from the 32 or whatever it was. I think if you make too many decisions in the interests of helping your defense it just seems way too easy to make losing decisions you feel good about, and I think that happened way too much last season. I don't trust the way decisions are evaluated when they're focused on making choices that help the defense. Way too easy to get comfortable "keepin' it close" instead of capitalizing on chances that can put you ahead or extend a lead.

In a vacuum, I agree with this. And I won't defend those punts. But you have to factor the ineptness of the offense into the equation. The worse the offense the harder it is to make those decisions.

I'd bet if we're avg 400 yds and 27pts a game, you'd see Shafer go for the jugular more. In fact a Sr. QB and a semi-functional line might do the trick.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

In a vacuum, I agree with this. And I won't defend those punts. But you have to factor the ineptness of the offense into the equation. The worse the offense the harder it is to make those decisions.

I think the worse the offense is the more you need to make those decisions.:noidea:

 

[TheCusian]

I think the worse the offense is the more you need to make those decisions.:noidea:

I'd agree that coaches, esp D HC can be overly cautious. I just think with a freshman QB and banged up line is a fine excuse to play that way in the last half of the season.

 

[TheCusian]

I think the worse the offense is the more you need to make those decisions.:noidea:

Also - the worse your offense the higher the probability something bad will happen, no? If you believe the main fault with the offense all season was that they played too tentative - then maybe the solution was to be more aggressive. I just think the problems were more in the bad system, mediocre to bad QB play, inept play calling, and injury vein.

 

[PhatOrange]

Biggest concernto me is the OL and the OL coach. Very worried about it

 

[Chip]

Biggest concernto me is the OL and the OL coach. Very worried about it

Which one?