Most overrated team?

[JeremyCuse]

I'm cautious about this season because of 2 reasons. We have no idea how this OL is going to do yet and I'm extremely worried about the interior DL. RF has assured me there is nothing to be worried about but so far I'm right in my concerns as 1 of the 3 got hurt and is now out. There's no way we can hold up inside with only two guys. I don't care to hear about the warm body backups they've shown zero in 2 seasons including springs. We may be extremely susceptible to power running inside and then pray our LBs can hold up at the point of attack.

I'm thinking 8-4 ceiling but could see 7-5 or 9-3 depending on how things break. Beating FSU at their place will still be a tall order.

I tend to lean toward your take on the current team. I think this is again a very good team but when your breaking in a new QB, 3 new starters on the OL, all new LB's and until McKinley gets back two new starters at DL that is a steep hill to climb in a very challenging conference. I think 8-4 is doable for sure but its likely going to be difficult for SU to go 5-1 against the Atlantic again, not impossible but Wake BC and FSU are all toss up games barring injuries either way. You also have to factor in a potential WTFFF loss like we had last year to Pitt and nearly had another against UNC. I think 8-4 would be another building for the staff and team and allows to continue to grow and hopefully take that next step the following year.

 

[Trueblue25]

It’s hard to call any of the ACC teams overrated, besides the wolfpack, while the Cornhuskers exist in this world.

 

[PhatOrange]

I tend to lean toward your take on the current team. I think this is again a very good team but when your breaking in a new QB, 3 new starters on the OL, all new LB's and until McKinley gets back two new starters at DL that is a steep hill to climb in a very challenging conference. I think 8-4 is doable for sure but its likely going to be difficult for SU to go 5-1 against the Atlantic again, not impossible but Wake BC and FSU are all toss up games barring injuries either way. You also have to factor in a potential WTFFF loss like we had last year to Pitt and nearly had another against UNC. I think 8-4 would be another building for the staff and team and allows to continue to grow and hopefully take that next step the following year.

Agree with all this. It’s a lot of toss ups and we were in some close games last year. I’m thinking 7-5 as an expectation. 8-4 I’d be shooting for.

I do think our DEnds are elite combined with an above average secondary could really wreak havoc on people (as we saw with the freeney season) and win us games alone. Hopefully our running game clicks to take some pressure off the passing game. We’ll have to avoid any What losses.

 

[hungrychuck]

I think many outsiders are cautious about our team. Those who don’t follow closely see the loss of Dungey as monumental. We also came off back to back 4-8 seasons before winning 10 games last year. These experts like to point out the fact the ACC was down last year.

It’s not their fault, but I can understand the view.

The loss of Dungey IS monumental.

It’s not something that’s only noticed from a distance.

And I worry that it may be viewed more accurately from a distance.

The question is how quickly Tommy can fill the gap.

I seriously hope it’s this year.

It’s the single biggest determinant of our success.

 

[sufandu]

The loss of Dungey IS monumental.

It’s not something that’s only noticed from a distance.

And I worry that it may be viewed more accurately from a distance.

The question is how quickly Tommy can fill the gap.

I seriously hope it’s this year.

It’s the single biggest determinant of our success.

The question regarding Dungey/Devito is, first, how did Dungey's ability to make plays with his legs balance with his tendency to miss reads from time to time, leave the pocket when he didn't need to, and occasionally miss some easy throws, and second, how will Devito's assumed strengths of making better reads and throwing with more accuracy balance with an assumed reduction in creativity with his legs.

Dungey was our entire offense, and had to be, when he initially stepped on the field, but there could be some questions with whether he consistently maximized the personnel around him last year. Can Devito dump the ball off to WR/RB in situations where Dungey would have taken off? Will we see the screen game used more effectively? Will we see some sacks where Dungey may have made a play? I think the answer to all of those will be yes. We'll see how that translates to our offenses success.

 

[Trueblue25]

Im not worried about the transition at QB.

Im only worried about LB and the OL

 

[Hokie Mark]

I think many outsiders are cautious about our team. Those who don’t follow closely see the loss of Dungey as monumental. We also came off back to back 4-8 seasons before winning 10 games last year. These experts like to point out the fact the ACC was down last year.

It’s not their fault, but I can understand the view.

The best way to silence the "only because the ACC was down" talk is to sweep your non-conference games, especially if you beat them soundly, and especially Maryland. Then hope the Terps win a decent number of games in the Big Ten and all of a sudden you're not being compared to the ACC, you're being compared to the Big Ten...

 

[All4SU]

On paper, this team is every bit as good as last year. It comes down to how hard they’re willing to work, and intangibles. No season ever goes the way you expect it to go - unless, you’re JO. Then apparently it goes exactly the way you expect.