Figure I can dump lingering questions and storylines here as well as some other observations instead of having one massive 9,000 word post. Here we go ...
Early season standouts
1. Andre Smyzt/Sterling Hoftrichter
There is no overstating how good special teams have been thus far on the season. Our ability to be essentially flawless here is a pretty tough standard to uphold, but Hoftrichter is averaging close to 45 ypp, just one touchback in 16 punts, 9 inside the 20, 8 have been fair caught and no one has put together a return on him that I can recall. Just crazy good performance thus far. I have no idea where Smyzt came from but I'm thrilled he's in my life. So he hasn't been tested thus far with too many pressure kicks or 40+ kicks (just three, he's 2-for-3), but he's been rock solid all season and that's really promising from a young kicker.
2. Nykeim Johnson
Four games into the season I really think our WR corps remains, if we're choosing to describe it kindly, a 'work in progress.'Custis is a nice weapon but has two inexplicable and potentially really damaging drops (the FSU one could have been huge, the UConn one not as much). Riley has been really good against essentially FCS competition (sorry UConn), but non-existent against FBS comp and still has a lot to prove, IMO. Butler ... I'm rooting for him, but so far the biggest compliment is that he's a good blocker. in short, we're desperate for young receiver to step up. Johnson is that guy. He's looked dangerous every time he's touched the ball. The biggest thing is that he's strong enough to shake that first tackler pursuing from the inside on that bubble-screen type play, then he accelerates quickly and has moves to make others miss. Really exciting player who's just scratching the surface.
3. Alton Robinson/Kendall Coleman
These two guys (with the help of some friends up front) won the FSU game and dominated the UConn game. Really impressive pair and we DESPERATELY need them with the creaky LB/DB groups behind them. Clemson will be a tall task but it's really fun to have a pass rush again.
4. Andre Cisco
Yes, Cisco's debut season has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride but it's really fun to see him flying around the field. He's going to be a good one and as frustrating as some of the mistakes might be, I think he's talented enough and aggressive enough to make some plays against better teams as well. Fun player.
5. Jarveon Howard
I don't think Howard is going to be Jim Brown when all is said and done here, but it doesn't take a football expert to see how much more dangerous he is with the ball in his hands than the top two guys. Not sure he'll pass those guys (though maybe he's already passed strick) on the depth chart but he's on his way to being the type of RB that can finally give us a bit of balance on the offensive side of the ball. Not going to be a fun back to defend with WRs spread all over the place and QB that can run and pass.
Other observations
Need to appreciate Dungey while we have him. There are flaws in Dungey's game ... hard to ignore that fact. Noticed last weekend that he gets antsy in the pocket even when he has time, largely b/c I think he knows he can tuck it and make a positive play almost at will. But even with some of the inconsistency in the passing game, Dungey is brilliant at the read option. I watch Notre Dame quite a bit and their QB makes the right read about 50% of the time and it constantly stalls their offense. Dungey is outstanding here and hopefully DeVito/Amie are watching closely.
Need to give Babers credit for this team's execution. We've left points on the field at times and I'm not necessarily saying everything has been military precision for 60 mins, but to me there are four main areas to judge a college football coach: Game plan/play-calling, execution in all three phases (regardless of what systems you want to run or what the talent level), talent acquisition, off-field stuff (S&C program, donor relations, media/fan interactions, player retention, disciplinary stuff, etc).
There are some questions about the defensive philosophy, there may be a few lingering questions about talent acquisition (though some of the younger players look pretty promising), and the off-field stuff seems decent, but I think the execution in the main aspects so far has been pretty impressive and the key to being 4-0 for the first time since '91 (even if the sked has been extremely favorable).
The offense has moved the ball and put up points, the defense has been inconsistent but done a really nice job on third down getting off the field and the specials have been close to flawless while producing some big plays. We've just seemed to do a lot of the little stuff really well. That credit has to go to Babers.
Love the creativity offensively. One of the fun things to watch with Babers is how the game plan varies from game-to-game. Against UConn, for example, we knew we were more physical so we just pounded them all game and then hit quick, safe throws on the outside and in the slot. Inside the red zone we just pile-drived Dungey into the middle of the line and used Elmore as a battering ram right next to him. Pretty interesting to see how different that game plan was from the heavy dose of read option vs. WMU and then a bunch of opportunities over the top to Custis outside. Fun to see that it's a maleable system.
Lingering questions/storylines
How quickly can the young kids come along?
It's weird because we're 4-0, averaging basically 50 a game and winning by 30 ppg, though even that could probably be even higher if we don't do the weird DeVito for a healthy Dungey thing in a game that wasn't quite wrapped up in the opener.
Yet, bit really feels like the younger players on this roster could potentially be our best players. I really feel like Howard is already our best runner (maybe not best overall RB based on blocking/catching/knowledge of the playbook/ball security) and Johnson is at least pushing Custis for the most dangerous WR spot. Cisco has been uneven but the dude has made a ton of plays and you can just see the potential there. Is it crazy to think we could see some other guys join the aforementioned group? We have to feel like DeVito will continue to get chances -- can he find the range on the deep ball and show a bit more command of the offense? What about Sharrod Johnson (got open for a deep ball last week) and Taj Harris? Trill? Will be interesting to watch.
Can our LBs/CBs/Safeties step up as the competition steps up?
Specials have been great and at least as long as Dungey is healthy it's hard to imagine our offense not at least moving the ball fairly effectively in most games we play. The DL has been great and I wouldn't be surprised if they can be even better. So the question to me is the back 7 -- can we get better play from that group? They really haven't been bad but LB is the one position that seems lacking a bit. There are some names here and some guys who've made some plays -- whitner, Guthrie and armstrong -- but it still feels we're a playmaker short. The secondary has talent but just seems really green and inconsistent. Clemson could be a tough one.
What will we get from the vets?
I'm really interested to see how the season goes from here with the vets. For good teams, you see glimpses of young guys that get you excited when you play weaker teams particularly early in the season. We haven't been good in a while but if this team is a legit threat to put up an 8+win season then maybe we are at least pretty solid. We've seen the exciting young guys but as the sked gets tougher it's usually those vets that you rely on (Nassib/Lemon/Sales, etc.).
Custis and Riley have had weird seasons -- huge games and games where they've completely disappeared. Neal has been solid but could improve. Strick has been pretty decent as well. Pierce has an opportunity, the vets on the OL (can they hold their own or dominate the line), can Dungey grow as a passer, can Cordy be a stabilizing presence, can Frederick be a true no. 1 CB, do we see Butler emerge after the struggles ... We're going to need these guys or at least some of them.
What's our ceiling?
It's a really weird spot right now for us and really for the rest of the ACC. FSU looks awful, Wake got trucked by ND, BC had a bad loss to Purdue, UNC looks pretty bad, L'ville ... you get the idea. Cuse, meanwhile, has looked pretty competent but it's hard not to feel like our best days are still in future seasons with some of the young guys. I'd love to sit here and say this is a team poised to push for 8 or more wins but at the same time you get the vibe we've beaten two teams that had zero chance to beat us in terms of their rosters (UConn and Wagner), one team that is a hot mess and can't get out of it's own way (FSU) and a fourth team that has some playmakers but has two meaningless wins and two blowout losses to us and Michigan (WMU).
It's just interesting to think about. I mean, let say, for the sake of argument, that Clemson is an ugly loss but we come out healthy. If we beat pitt and get a week off, I'm not really sure there's a game that's all that daunting on the sked. Wake and BC are solid but not unbeatable by any means. NC State is good and ND is a pretty darn talented team but I'm not sure I look at those as definite losses and you could argue that L'ville and UNC should be wins at this point.
Clemson is what it is, but if you get the Pitt game you really set yourself up for a potentially exciting season b/c if you win the games you should (L'ville/UNC) you're at 7 wins and you have BC/Wake/ND/NC State as tough/toss-up type games. There's a not-inconceivable path to 9 or more wins. That's pretty exciting.
Regardless, should be fun to watch, which is something that's been tough to say about SU football for much of the past 17 years.
Early season standouts
1. Andre Smyzt/Sterling Hoftrichter
There is no overstating how good special teams have been thus far on the season. Our ability to be essentially flawless here is a pretty tough standard to uphold, but Hoftrichter is averaging close to 45 ypp, just one touchback in 16 punts, 9 inside the 20, 8 have been fair caught and no one has put together a return on him that I can recall. Just crazy good performance thus far. I have no idea where Smyzt came from but I'm thrilled he's in my life. So he hasn't been tested thus far with too many pressure kicks or 40+ kicks (just three, he's 2-for-3), but he's been rock solid all season and that's really promising from a young kicker.
2. Nykeim Johnson
Four games into the season I really think our WR corps remains, if we're choosing to describe it kindly, a 'work in progress.'Custis is a nice weapon but has two inexplicable and potentially really damaging drops (the FSU one could have been huge, the UConn one not as much). Riley has been really good against essentially FCS competition (sorry UConn), but non-existent against FBS comp and still has a lot to prove, IMO. Butler ... I'm rooting for him, but so far the biggest compliment is that he's a good blocker. in short, we're desperate for young receiver to step up. Johnson is that guy. He's looked dangerous every time he's touched the ball. The biggest thing is that he's strong enough to shake that first tackler pursuing from the inside on that bubble-screen type play, then he accelerates quickly and has moves to make others miss. Really exciting player who's just scratching the surface.
3. Alton Robinson/Kendall Coleman
These two guys (with the help of some friends up front) won the FSU game and dominated the UConn game. Really impressive pair and we DESPERATELY need them with the creaky LB/DB groups behind them. Clemson will be a tall task but it's really fun to have a pass rush again.
4. Andre Cisco
Yes, Cisco's debut season has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride but it's really fun to see him flying around the field. He's going to be a good one and as frustrating as some of the mistakes might be, I think he's talented enough and aggressive enough to make some plays against better teams as well. Fun player.
5. Jarveon Howard
I don't think Howard is going to be Jim Brown when all is said and done here, but it doesn't take a football expert to see how much more dangerous he is with the ball in his hands than the top two guys. Not sure he'll pass those guys (though maybe he's already passed strick) on the depth chart but he's on his way to being the type of RB that can finally give us a bit of balance on the offensive side of the ball. Not going to be a fun back to defend with WRs spread all over the place and QB that can run and pass.
Other observations
Need to appreciate Dungey while we have him. There are flaws in Dungey's game ... hard to ignore that fact. Noticed last weekend that he gets antsy in the pocket even when he has time, largely b/c I think he knows he can tuck it and make a positive play almost at will. But even with some of the inconsistency in the passing game, Dungey is brilliant at the read option. I watch Notre Dame quite a bit and their QB makes the right read about 50% of the time and it constantly stalls their offense. Dungey is outstanding here and hopefully DeVito/Amie are watching closely.
Need to give Babers credit for this team's execution. We've left points on the field at times and I'm not necessarily saying everything has been military precision for 60 mins, but to me there are four main areas to judge a college football coach: Game plan/play-calling, execution in all three phases (regardless of what systems you want to run or what the talent level), talent acquisition, off-field stuff (S&C program, donor relations, media/fan interactions, player retention, disciplinary stuff, etc).
There are some questions about the defensive philosophy, there may be a few lingering questions about talent acquisition (though some of the younger players look pretty promising), and the off-field stuff seems decent, but I think the execution in the main aspects so far has been pretty impressive and the key to being 4-0 for the first time since '91 (even if the sked has been extremely favorable).
The offense has moved the ball and put up points, the defense has been inconsistent but done a really nice job on third down getting off the field and the specials have been close to flawless while producing some big plays. We've just seemed to do a lot of the little stuff really well. That credit has to go to Babers.
Love the creativity offensively. One of the fun things to watch with Babers is how the game plan varies from game-to-game. Against UConn, for example, we knew we were more physical so we just pounded them all game and then hit quick, safe throws on the outside and in the slot. Inside the red zone we just pile-drived Dungey into the middle of the line and used Elmore as a battering ram right next to him. Pretty interesting to see how different that game plan was from the heavy dose of read option vs. WMU and then a bunch of opportunities over the top to Custis outside. Fun to see that it's a maleable system.
Lingering questions/storylines
How quickly can the young kids come along?
It's weird because we're 4-0, averaging basically 50 a game and winning by 30 ppg, though even that could probably be even higher if we don't do the weird DeVito for a healthy Dungey thing in a game that wasn't quite wrapped up in the opener.
Yet, bit really feels like the younger players on this roster could potentially be our best players. I really feel like Howard is already our best runner (maybe not best overall RB based on blocking/catching/knowledge of the playbook/ball security) and Johnson is at least pushing Custis for the most dangerous WR spot. Cisco has been uneven but the dude has made a ton of plays and you can just see the potential there. Is it crazy to think we could see some other guys join the aforementioned group? We have to feel like DeVito will continue to get chances -- can he find the range on the deep ball and show a bit more command of the offense? What about Sharrod Johnson (got open for a deep ball last week) and Taj Harris? Trill? Will be interesting to watch.
Can our LBs/CBs/Safeties step up as the competition steps up?
Specials have been great and at least as long as Dungey is healthy it's hard to imagine our offense not at least moving the ball fairly effectively in most games we play. The DL has been great and I wouldn't be surprised if they can be even better. So the question to me is the back 7 -- can we get better play from that group? They really haven't been bad but LB is the one position that seems lacking a bit. There are some names here and some guys who've made some plays -- whitner, Guthrie and armstrong -- but it still feels we're a playmaker short. The secondary has talent but just seems really green and inconsistent. Clemson could be a tough one.
What will we get from the vets?
I'm really interested to see how the season goes from here with the vets. For good teams, you see glimpses of young guys that get you excited when you play weaker teams particularly early in the season. We haven't been good in a while but if this team is a legit threat to put up an 8+win season then maybe we are at least pretty solid. We've seen the exciting young guys but as the sked gets tougher it's usually those vets that you rely on (Nassib/Lemon/Sales, etc.).
Custis and Riley have had weird seasons -- huge games and games where they've completely disappeared. Neal has been solid but could improve. Strick has been pretty decent as well. Pierce has an opportunity, the vets on the OL (can they hold their own or dominate the line), can Dungey grow as a passer, can Cordy be a stabilizing presence, can Frederick be a true no. 1 CB, do we see Butler emerge after the struggles ... We're going to need these guys or at least some of them.
What's our ceiling?
It's a really weird spot right now for us and really for the rest of the ACC. FSU looks awful, Wake got trucked by ND, BC had a bad loss to Purdue, UNC looks pretty bad, L'ville ... you get the idea. Cuse, meanwhile, has looked pretty competent but it's hard not to feel like our best days are still in future seasons with some of the young guys. I'd love to sit here and say this is a team poised to push for 8 or more wins but at the same time you get the vibe we've beaten two teams that had zero chance to beat us in terms of their rosters (UConn and Wagner), one team that is a hot mess and can't get out of it's own way (FSU) and a fourth team that has some playmakers but has two meaningless wins and two blowout losses to us and Michigan (WMU).
It's just interesting to think about. I mean, let say, for the sake of argument, that Clemson is an ugly loss but we come out healthy. If we beat pitt and get a week off, I'm not really sure there's a game that's all that daunting on the sked. Wake and BC are solid but not unbeatable by any means. NC State is good and ND is a pretty darn talented team but I'm not sure I look at those as definite losses and you could argue that L'ville and UNC should be wins at this point.
Clemson is what it is, but if you get the Pitt game you really set yourself up for a potentially exciting season b/c if you win the games you should (L'ville/UNC) you're at 7 wins and you have BC/Wake/ND/NC State as tough/toss-up type games. There's a not-inconceivable path to 9 or more wins. That's pretty exciting.
Regardless, should be fun to watch, which is something that's been tough to say about SU football for much of the past 17 years.
