Positives Only Thread

[GoSU96]

1) The oline was Ok. Not great. But really two key sack plays were on the QB. They struggled with some exotic blitzes. That can get cleaned up over time

2) Agree WR did pretty well. Whether they can be press coverage we will need to hang with the better teams we will find out.

3) Lots of good play calls. A couple big plays were left on the table.

4) Dline wasnt gashed, they were mauled. Not every team will do that so lets hope thats a positive.

5) We will see how many mistakes were mistakes vs talent.

Collins stays at home and two sacks don’t happen

 

[TheCusian]

Wouldn’t call them an elite sec defense.

Hmm. Think they will be proven to be top 2-3 in the SEC. We’ll see.

 

[TheCusian]

Willis ran over and hurt the entire DT room for TN. Some dudes will see that tape and not want any part of him. My boys and I were like “interior run, let’s see who is laying on the ground in a creamsicle jersey” after every run

 

[Niastri]

Willis ran over and hurt the entire DT room for TN. Some dudes will see that tape and not want any part of him. My boys and I were like “interior run, let’s see who is laying on the ground in a creamsicle jersey” after every run

You mean DB? I saw a lot of Tennessee safeties flying backwards, but not defensive tackles.

I loved watching Willis be the aggressor on those hits.

 

[Cusefan69]

Positives:

1. The oline played with some physicality in the run game. That will help as the season continues.
2. Our Freshman who started on defense flashed some good stuff at times yesterday. A game like that with Tennessee helps quicken the adjustment for those guys.
3. I still believe our WRs, RBs and TEs on offense are as equally as good as any others we will play against this year.
4. Stonehouse averaged 49 yards a punt yesterday and flipped the field a few times for us.
5. Special teams didn't negatively impact us yesterday which is a plus from last year.
6. Some may challenge this but we did get some pressure on the QB yesterday. Antoine absolutely nailed the QB on one play as he released it. There was some other times as well. Need sacks obviously but some potential there.

 

[blizz]

The play in the trenches on both sides is vastly improved. Not to mention we've got solid rotations with both of those groups but mainly the dline. That is a huge improvement and will pay dividends throughout the season.

Not only did we match their physicality up front but the Oline was the one swinging the hammer and dropping bodies. Some good stuff from Nixon and Willis but the line isn't getting enough credit for improvement in the run game. It's night and day.

 

[djorange1989]

Hmm. Think they will be proven to be top 2-3 in the SEC. We’ll see.

Agree, 7 starters back(I think it’s 8 if/when their stud kid who didn’t play yesterday is reinstated) from a 2024 elite D should be pretty elite again.

 

[Qbobby]

It showed to me that we should run the ball about 30+ times against UConn. With those two horses in the backfield running fairly effectively against a very good defense, we should be able to jam it down their throats and break the will of their defense.

 

[richmondcuse03]

It showed to me that we should run the ball about 30+ times against UConn. With those two horses in the backfield running fairly effectively against a very good defense, we should be able to jam it down their throats and break the will of their defense.

Agree.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Agree, 7 starters back(I think it’s 8 if/when their stud kid who didn’t play yesterday is reinstated) from a 2024 elite D should be pretty elite again.

Absolutely. The poster who doesn’t think so is clueless.

 

[Cuse On 3]

Willis’s first run literally shattered that white dline guys arm into pieces lol

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Willis’s first run literally shattered that white dline guys arm into pieces lol

Wouldn’t be surprised if Willis ended his season.

 

[MSOrange]

Others have already mentioned but:

Special teams didn't do anything to seriously hurt us, a marked improvement from last season.

While I love his potential, I wasn't sure Willis was quite ready to carry the lead back load. I'm not worried now.

I was very concerned about Villari as the top TE option, but loved what he did yesterday, except the penalties.

 

[grepal]

We're all annoyed and posting lots of complaints. Let's focus on some positives only for a change...

Few thoughts:

1) Antoine did a pretty good at MLB. Was talking with a former player after the game who thought he did really well for it being his first collegiate game. Really liked how he attacked the running game. Thinks he's going to be a special player.

2) We have talent at WR. Russell even did a nice job filling in for Cook.

3) Cook. Enough said. He's going to drive ACC defenses crazy.

4) Nixon is healthy and did a nice job out of the backfield.

5) Willis can be a beast.

6) It was nice to see a lot of recent players at the game. Helped it being an off week for the NFL but saw Bergeron, Zaire, Lequint, and Bullock, plus a bunch of players from the 90s and early 2000s, too. Lot of support for what Fran is doing. They all noticed the size difference and the talent influx.

Glass is way more than half full!

 

[OttoinGrotto]

It's not often a guy has 22 carries and 3 TDs and I think we might have underused him a little bit, but that was the story with Willis yesterday.

It took Villari all of one game to match his receiving contribution from last season.

Cook's the real deal. Russell looked good too.

 

[bigmike]

Not sure if mentioned, but forgetting all else, this team fought and kept fighting throughout. The culture Fran is building seems to have taken root. That is my take. On to UCONN.

 

[blizz]

Not sure if mentioned, but forgetting all else, this team fought and kept fighting throughout. The culture Fran is building seems to have taken root. That is my take. On to UCONN.

Kept their head and played with increased intensity after some very bad setbacks early. Matched their intensity and physicality through the whole game.

Agreed this is markedly different from these types of games and match ups from years past.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Willis’s first run literally shattered that white dline guys arm into pieces lol

Derrick Henry esque. Ran with anger.

 

[GoSU96]

It's not often a guy has 22 carries and 3 TDs and I think we might have underused him a little bit, but that was the story with Willis yesterday.

It took Villari all of one game to match his receiving contribution from last season.

Cook's the real deal. Russell looked good too.

A pinched nerve and limited mobility will do that

 

[UnknownOrange]

Got punched in the mouth in the first quarter

The next three quarters Tenn outscored us by 2

I feel pretty strongly we’re never going to see a Fran team quit.

UConn is no slouch, but i think this team should be 2-1 going to little brother’s Death Valley

 

[Marroniac]

Willis might be my favorite back since Walter Reyes.

 

[djorange1989]

It showed to me that we should run the ball about 30+ times against UConn. With those two horses in the backfield running fairly effectively against a very good defense, we should be able to jam it down their throats and break the will of their defense.

This

 

[Idiocuse22&]

Takeaway our 3rd qtr Int and we only give up 7 2nd half points on 132 yards.
Wouldve been a completely different game if we drove down and got 3 or 7 pts there.

Alot of missed tackles etc but our Def was not as bad as we are saying.

 

[ECE '76]

Angeli's pooch punt.

It couldn't have been executed any better!

He said in the press conference that he learned how do do it in high school.

 

[ECE '76]

Wouldn’t call them an elite sec defense.

I suppose one could debate the definition of elite, but they were among the best in the nation last year.

Scoring Defense: 7th nationally
Total Defense: 6th nationally
Yards Per Play Allowed: 5th nationally
Pass Rush: 1st nationally
Negative Play Rate: 2nd nationally
Total Defensive Efficiency: 6th nationally

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks is the real deal.