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Message: [QUOTE="TheCusian, post: 763599, member: 2585"] The O-line is not as good as last years line, that featured Justin Pugh (1st round starter for the NY Giants). Hickey will be lined up against Beasly and is a 2nd/3rd round talent. We expected to be better running the ball - but it might be a function of the new OC, rather than anything about O-line's ability to block. Our OC McDonald (coached at Miami last season) started out with Drew Allen (transfer from Oklahoma) and way too many plays installed vs. Penn State and 1st 1/2 vs NW. Since then, he's scaled way back and we've replaced the indecision and bad throws with T.Hunt and if eligible (#of plays) would lead the country in QBR. He's scored on nearly every drive. The O-line isn't asked to block for very long, as Hunt gets the ball out quickly. He's also sped up the entire offense and wants to go faster. Last year we were in the top 10 in amount of plays per game. Hunt is accurate, quick, and see's the field really well. He can be a nifty runner when the line breaks down. The player Dabo and Morris mentioned specifically (they sounded kind of scared of him, honestly) was #45, Jerome Smith. The guy is huge runs hard, fast and leads the ACC in rushing TD's. If we choose to run it with him more than we have, it will be to keep your offense off the field. He can carry a team; and he and Gulley literally ran over WVU in a blizzard last season. He's fresh as his # of runs have been down so far. I wouldn't be shocked to see us test Beasly and run right at him. Our WR's are probably the weakest spot on the O. They've been better against poor competition - but it's a concern. We may hold off your defenders and not be able to take advantage of your secondary. Overall - I'd say you guys have an edge on both sides of the ball. But we just don't know what we have in Hunt, Smith is due, and they are a really confident bunch. McDonald has scaled back the playbook to great affect. We don't know how good we are, as Wagner and Tulane were awful - but most of us are really excited for the next three years with Hunt and our RB's. [/QUOTE]

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