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Message: [QUOTE="anomander, post: 2693044, member: 2766"] I think your dead on with people being beaten down for so long they can't actually believe it's possible. The thing is it is very possible. I think it's abundantly clear by using the eye test that this team is heads and shoulders above past teams. The only team in the last 15 years you can think was this good was the 2012 team, but i think this one has an edge in depth at key positions. As you said we have all the things that typically lead to break out seasons. A season 4th year QB, a elite HC in his 3rd year with a top of the line scheme, 2 senior OT's, a solid DL, and a greatly improved secondary. Hell we even have an excellent kicker out of no where. I think a lot of people are so hung up on how a rebuild "should look". Like there is no possible way they can go from back to back 4-8 seasons to flipping that and going 8-4 or better. There is no set rules that say you have to incrementally improve. Year 3 of new coaching staffs are typically the years where totally new systems click. Our offense hasn't even really played their B+ game yet and they are still averaging in the mid 40's ppg. On top of all that you throw in one of the easiest remaining schedules that we have seen in i don't know how many years and everything is coming together. My projection is actually more about who we play and where then it is about us. Sure we have depth like we didn't have in past years to keep us at the same level if we do experience some injuries, but getting our crossover as someone like UNC who is awful is a lot easier then playing at Miami when they're undefeated . Even the road games vs Wake you get a defense that has been leaking all year and a Freshman qb. Louisville who is usually better then us doesn't have a QB. Pitt is down. Even ND hasn't looked all that great the first 3 weeks and we get them in Yankee stadium. Clemson and BC will be tough, but it's not like BC has much more talent then us top to bottom. We are really set up to have a special season. You can just tell listening to the interviews with the guys. I LOVE them picking up the phrase of wanting to annihilate the opponent. I also loved Dungey's comment of them having a chip on their shoulder and this isn't just a basketball scoll anymore. He's been around the block. He has seen 3 previous installements. Obviously he sees something with this team that he likes and had the confidence to come out and say that. Last year was basically our notice to the league. Beating Clemson, and playing LSU, Miami, and FSU on the road to a 1 possession game when the whole team was healthy gave the guys confidence that they can play with and beat the best of the best. Just because we didn't finish 6-6 doesn't mean we didn't learn a ton. Injuries are very much a part of the game, but we sustained them. We didn't have the depth. We do now. Last season was basically taking the next step. This year is just following up on that. I am so confident that this team will get more than 6 wins i can't stress it enough. Time will tell, but I think some people are going to be surprised. [/QUOTE]

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