No way NC is 23 points better than SU

[Marroniac]

Trill Williams is our best player since Chandler Jones and Jordan is our best weapon since Marvin Harrison. Bring it on, Vegas.

 

[Wrinkle]

Anyone who has heard Mack Brown commentate knows he is a fool of fools. Yeah they have talent, so what Mack is a baboon

 

[bnoro]

Anyone who has heard Mack Brown commentate knows he is a fool of fools. Yeah they have talent, so what Mack is a baboon

Mack Brown has a BCS national championship, definitely not a baboon. It's crazy to me that people can look at Texas's program trajectory since he left and say he wasn't a good coach.

 

[elimunelson]

Mack Brown has a BCS national championship, definitely not a baboon. It's crazy to me that people can look at Texas's program trajectory since he left and say he wasn't a good coach.

He's a damn good coach. He's not the concern. The first game is always a wild card of sorts. Syracuse with Devito should be able to put up some points. I smell a 45-28 type game where we are down 38-7 and then a stupid back door cover because UNC is playing not to lose

 

[bnoro]

He's a damn good coach. He's not the concern. The first game is always a wild card of sorts. Syracuse with Devito should be able to put up some points. I smell a 45-28 type game where we are down 38-7 and then a stupid back door cover because UNC is playing not to lose

Oh I agree with you 100% here, hence why I'm not touching the line. I just don't understand the Mack Brown hate.

 

[Wrinkle]

Mack Brown has a BCS national championship, definitely not a baboon. It's crazy to me that people can look at Texas's program trajectory since he left and say he wasn't a good coach.

Cuse 45-34

 

[Janner]

Anyone looking to bet this game would be wise to read SWC75's The Dino Baber's Show post, I found it informative

 

[reedny]

Just a wild guess, but I suspect that the game plan on D is going to center on trying to take away or limit the running game and hope that our secondary talent can make plays and create turnovers. I expect press man coverage from the CBs and in the slot.

There will likely be a lot of run blitzs and sending 6-7 at Howell in passing situations. Howell's strength (besides his arm talent) is his poise in the pocket. It will be interesting to watch how this plays out.

If we can limit the run game, hit Howell often, and create INTs, this game might be closer than people think. That's a really big ask though, especially in game 1.

These strategies that would take advantage of the 335. We don't have a lot of size or depth on the DL, but we have experienced, athletic guys and good rush ends. I also like our coverage guys, assuming the freshmen hold up (they'll be targeted early and often). If they do, press coverage will give our ends/LB's time to get in Howell's face. The 335 will also confuse blocking assignments.

Personally, I hated zone coverage ... too often we were defending space and not guys in space. So I love the idea of M2M. But UNC knows our personnel - and they'll test us with a lot of second-level stuff (dump off to their TE's, wheel routes, sweeps, screens, etc) ... to exploit our young LB's. This (along with the power rush) was what sunk us early last year (UM). This year, I'm hopeful that our size and talent at LB will be different. Offense ... could do well if our (mostly) experienced OL can protect and open up holes for our replacement RB's. We have weapons if Tommy has time.

 

[Steelerswan]

I thought I saw somewhere on here that UNC is missing people on both lines, and that their OL depth is worse shape than ours

Both lines and UNC had 3 dbs opt out.

 

[Steelerswan]

Why all the OL Swiss cheese comments all the projected starters are there except
For Rhino (who I think will hold his own due to his strength and experience)
As long as there are no injuries Saturday I think you all are going to be surprised.
I am expecting a strong running game to surprise NC tomorrow

Great points and will happen. If we get down 2,3 scores. this could be negated.

 

[Steelerswan]

Mack Brown has a BCS national championship, definitely not a baboon. It's crazy to me that people can look at Texas's program trajectory since he left and say he wasn't a good coach.

Agree, UNC is supposed to be another basketball school, playing fb...like us. Imagine that. Pulling off a top 15 class at UNC is monumental and says alot about his charisma and understanding of today's youth.

 

[Cuse'91]

Looking at their 2-deep; on paper, their players weigh in like SEC players.
Significantly heavier across the board, and probably faster than us too...

 

[Briancuse]

I think unc is overrated but I am very concerned about our defense and oline. I hate this opening game. Think it could be a 2 or 3 td loss.

 

[721Comstock]

I think unc is overrated but I am very concerned about our defense and oline. I hate this opening game. Thinks it could be a 2 or 3 td loss.

So does Vegas. Actually, 3+ TD’s.
If it’s “only” 2 or 3 TD’s, we cover.

That said, Vegas told that Top 25 VaTech they were a 20-21pt favorite, and how did that work out for them?

 

[Briancuse]

So does Vegas. Actually, 3+ TD’s.
If it’s “only” 2 or 3 TD’s, we cover.

That said, Vegas told that Top 25 VaTech they were a 20-21pt favorite, and how did that work out for them?

I.thought about taking us and the points couldn't do it. The Tech game was at home and it wasn't an opening game.

 

[SoBristol]

Our OL and TE are more experienced and collectively bigger than entering 2019. Our QB last year had 0 starts entering the season and should be much better in his year 2 as a starter.

We may not win (NC has a top QB, WRs and RBs), but we should be better than last season. On D we have a strong secondary (best in years) and an all senior DL.

Take the points and go Orange.

 

[Briancuse]

Our OL and TE are more experienced and collectively bigger than entering 2019. Our QB last year had 0 starts entering the season and should be much better in his year 2 as a starter.

We may not win (NC has a top QB, WRs and RBs), but we should be better than last season. On D we have a strong secondary (best in years) and an all senior DL.

Take the points and go Orange.

I think we will be better too but this is as tough a game as you can have. I'd rather open at Clemson and get that out of the way.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Howell threw for 3600 and 38/7 as a freshman last season and is now playing a syracuse team that is instituting a new defense and lost nfl talent from the edge.

I expect him to light us up. Our hope rests in the hands of our O guys, think we will see quite early how the game will go. If devito takes a sack on the first possession, buckle up.

 

[Steelerswan]

Trill Williams is our best player since Chandler Jones and Jordan is our best weapon since Marvin Harrison. Bring it on, Vegas.

Wow! Big words, big comparisons! Love it. Chandler played with shamarko, correct? If he shows skills similar to shamarko in terms of instincts then we have something there. I get it, they are 2 different players. Shamarko was shorter at 5'10" ish and nobody will ever be the missile and hitter he was. That said, trill is already a better coverage safety, where shamarko overtakes him as the comparison gets closer to the LOS. trill is in a great trajectory and this is great fb talk. Ty.

Regarding our offensive weapon comparison , love Jordan and I believe he will be mentioned with the greats, but a slight downshift on that comparison, guys like AET and Ishmael are great starting points. All a great discussion.

 

[Acesn8s]

I love Syracuse Football I truly do, and I want nothing more then a victory tomorrow, but I see a blow out. UNC QB is outstanding, receivers are outstanding and RB is outstanding. I would not use those adjectives to describe any of our offense. Throw in a highly suspicious offensive line, I see 45-17 type game. I hope I am wrong, only chance is to win turnovers margin by at least 2 probably need 3. And preferably have those happen on their side of the field. Syracuse really needs to throw everything plus the kitchen sink at UNC tomorrow to have a chance.

 

[FloridaFan]

I refuse to belive in any chance of defeat. There’s no point watching the game if you don’t expect to win. Syraxuse wins 42-34

 

[TheCusian]

I love Syracuse Football I truly do, and I want nothing more then a victory tomorrow, but I see a blow out. UNC QB is outstanding, receivers are outstanding and RB is outstanding. I would not use those adjectives to describe any of our offense. Throw in a highly suspicious offensive line, I see 45-17 type game. I hope I am wrong, only chance is to win turnovers margin by at least 2 probably need 3. And preferably have those happen on their side of the field. Syracuse really needs to throw everything plus the kitchen sink at UNC tomorrow to have a chance.

Different way of looking at it: If Howell has Tommys OL from the first 9 games do we call Howell, his RB or WR outstanding?

I think it’s likely that the difference in offensive output could at least be *partially* explained by poor OL play. And then maybe a bit more by the old OC.

We might be closer than we think. Like I’ve been saying, there is no world where we should be favored based on last year. But - that doesn’t mean we are that far away either

 

[upperdeck]

you mean the same way Buff/UCF/SMU did to temple last yr?

 

[Steelerswan]

Howell threw for 3600 and 38/7 as a freshman last season and is now playing a syracuse team that is instituting a new defense and lost nfl talent from the edge.

I expect him to light us up. Our hope rests in the hands of our O guys, think we will see quite early how the game will go. If devito takes a sack on the first possession, buckle up.

Good post and yes, the key is keeping the game close early inside 14 pts. To allow us to stay in our offensive mindset.

 

[Steelerswan]

He's a damn good coach. He's not the concern. The first game is always a wild card of sorts. Syracuse with Devito should be able to put up some points. I smell a 45-28 type game where we are down 38-7 and then a stupid back door cover because UNC is playing not to lose