Some People Aren't Going to Like Hearing This...

[orangecuse]

Our offense scored 9 points and our defense have up 31 points while forcing 5 turnovers and we played well. It was so bad that Fowler showed a clip from the 1992 Ohio State-Syracuse game that Herbstreit started to show we were relevant in the past. Herbie in a completely fair and respectful way destroyed our lack of talent. He said we need more Erv Philips on offense.

Couldn't agree more.

I was at that game in the Dome, Robert Smith is from Cleveland and played ball with a relative of mine in HS (Euclid). I just remember how huge the Bucks were in stature, and how seemingly small we were in comparison. They thoroughly and completely dominated us in that game.

Herbie indeed was gracious the other night relative to our lack of talent, especially at the skill positions. It's obvious that Phillips belongs on the field...Herbie was quick to make that obvious observation, although it doesn't take his extensive knowledge and expertise to come to such a conclusion...

 

[SmilinBob]

Couldn't agree more.

I was at that game in the Dome, Robert Smith is from Cleveland and played ball with a relative of mine in HS (Euclid). I just remember how huge the Bucks were in stature, and how seemingly small we were in comparison. They thoroughly and completely dominated us in that game.

Herbie indeed was gracious the other night relative to our lack of talent, especially at the skill positions. It's obvious that Phillips belongs on the field...Herbie was quick to make that obvious observation, although it doesn't take his extensive knowledge and expertise to come to such a conclusion...

Syracuse 24 Ohio State 17 the year before in a bowl game. Just saying.

I do not know if there is anything more frustrating than a procedure penalty that makes it 3rd and 9 instead of 3rd and 4 and then SU passes and gets 6 yards. That my friends annoys the living hell out of me in so many ways.

 

[TheCusian]

Honestly, we can't block long enough to not get stopped on a 3rd and 1 and you think our OL can hold on against a run blitz with enough time for Hunt to set his feet and throw? And which WR is the one wide open down the field? If we did a play-action on 3rd and 1 and threw incomplete and then got stopped on 4th and 1, people would be complaining that you only needed 2 plays to get 1 yard and Kool Kid is an idiot. The way some people see the game really, really confuses me.

We've given up one sack in 4 games. Oline was overmatched vs ND. But are otherwise very good.

 

[SmilinBob]

We've given up one sack in 4 games. Oline was overmatched vs ND. But are otherwise very good.

Agree that was a good thing but I haven't re-watched the game, did SU keep a TE and RB in to help block? ND did seem to blitz a lot.

 

[TheCusian]

Agree that was a good thing but I haven't re-watched the game, did SU keep a TE and RB in to help block? ND did seem to blitz a lot.

They mixed it up a lot. They left our WR's in single coverage a lot (lack of break away speed, better athlete at corner) - and got burned a few times.

 

[SmilinBob]

They mixed it up a lot. They left our WR's in single coverage a lot (lack of break away speed, better athlete at corner) - and got burned a few times.

That's what I figured, thanks. Would have loved to have seen Moore or Custis catching the ball over the middle on one of those gap blitzes. Throw it where they were type of thing.

 

[Millhouse]

I'm with you on the penalties. I throw stuff at my TV every procedural penalty.

Shafer thought that they would have to rely on the screen game and that our corners and safeties would be "putting a hit on playmakers in space" (that's what he said after the game anyways). I don't know how sound that is/was. I think when you watch the replay, you'll see us adjust to the the screen - problem was the gaping hole for their run game. I guess I would have preferred to die that way then bubble screened to death.

To me this was a "losing on the recruiting trail thread two years ago" game. They were bigger and faster and that accounted for most of the issues, penalties aside. Our QB is too limited to pull off a magic game through the air. They knew that.
--

I think people mistake accepting a moral victory and seeing the positives as the same thing around here. I hate losing - but can still see improvement. I honestly think the offense is ready to break out. I may get killed for that - but I think we could roll Louisville (unless T.Hunt can't go).

"Shafer thought that they would have to rely on the screen game"

did he say this or is that just your opinion?

because this type of thinking is just crazy and would show that Shafer still just doesn't get why and when rational teams throw screens

 

[orangepassion]

His pick 6 to Eskridge was very accurate

Maybe not fair to compare Hunt to Golson right now but look at the throws Golson delivered. Nearly all of them were right where they needed to be.

 

[eddie in nc]

Honestly, we can't block long enough to not get stopped on a 3rd and 1 and you think our OL can hold on against a run blitz with enough time for Hunt to set his feet and throw? And which WR is the one wide open down the field?

If we did a play-action on 3rd and 1 and threw incomplete and then got stopped on 4th and 1, people would be complaining that you only needed 2 plays to get 1 yard and Kool Kid is an idiot.

The way some people see the game really, really confuses me.

I realize and admit that the talent gap is wide but that is why you have to take those chances if you want to win the game. I don't mind if they don't work and will never complain about an aggressive play call but if we are out talented so much how can you win playing 'regular' football? You have to mix it up and be creative against better teams, especially when they give you the ball so often early in a game. You can't beat a more talented team playing it safe.

 

[Crusty]

I realize and admit that the talent gap is wide but that is why you have to take those chances if you want to win the game. I don't mind if they don't work and will never complain about an aggressive play call but if we are out talented so much how can you win playing 'regular' football? You have to mix it up and be creative against better teams, especially when they give you the ball so often early in a game. You can't beat a more talented team playing it safe.

BC did.

 

[Crusty]

Honestly, we can't block long enough to not get stopped on a 3rd and 1 and you think our OL can hold on against a run blitz with enough time for Hunt to set his feet and throw? And which WR is the one wide open down the field?

If we did a play-action on 3rd and 1 and threw incomplete and then got stopped on 4th and 1, people would be complaining that you only needed 2 plays to get 1 yard and Kool Kid is an idiot.

The way some people see the game really, really confuses me.

Nothing confusing about it when you realize they are idiots with no attention span.

 

[Crusty]

I'll preface this by admitting I have yet to watch the replay on television, and admit sometimes the view from the stands, and television is a bit different. I actually felt a little better watching the Maryland game back, then I initially had from the stadium, but my live take wasn't too great. I felt the defense game plan was to not get embarrassed on national television. There were no adjustments to their bubble screen. We literally let Golston complete pass after pass for 5-7 yards a pop. We did do a good job of forcing turnovers, but what did we do with it? Every game is going to have a some bright spots, and not so bright spots, but I felt we were at the point where the overall performance is what matters? The icing is the penalties. It's been a problem for a while now, and for a program fighting an uphill battle we can't afford to give yards away. A lot seem to happen in crucial situations as well (inside 30).

I am mostly just frustrated right now. I guess my expectations were a bit too high.

I keep thinking if they didn't have 5 turn overs they might have put 6o+ up on us. Two or three of them were on them rather than caused by us.

 

[TheCusian]

"Shafer thought that they would have to rely on the screen game" did he say this or is that just your opinion? because this type of thinking is just crazy and would show that Shafer still just doesn't get why and when rational teams throw screens

Watch the post game presser.

 

[Millhouse]

Watch the post game presser.

i was hoping but not confident that it was just you saying that.

ugh

 

[eddie in nc]

BC did.

So why can't we? It hasn't worked for us yet.

 

[eddie in nc]

Nothing confusing about it when you realize they are idiots with no attention span.

No need for the name calling. Just a difference of opinion on the nuances of the game.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I keep thinking if they didn't have 5 turn overs they might have put 6o+ up on us. Two or three of them were on them rather than caused by us.

Precisely. People need to look at this side of the 'what if's' scenarios.

 

[Crusty]

So why can't we? It hasn't worked for us yet.

We make too many mistakes that kill drives and prevent us from chewing up the clock. A better team can be beaten if you can keep them off the field. We just can't sustain drives.

 

[Crusty]

No need for the name calling. Just a difference of opinion on the nuances of the game.

Poor attempt at humor born of frustration!

 

[Millhouse]

So why can't we? It hasn't worked for us yet.

BC threw the ball 14 times against BC

they lost to colorado state?!? how am i just seeing this. sarkisian stinks

 

[CusefanATL]

I watched the game with a very, very, very knowledgable NFL front office person tonight. Despite all of our laments about referees, missed fields goals, GMac, and Hunt, we as fans over looked one other aspect of this game -- talent. He has personally evaluated a lot of players on this year's team.

We as fans tend to overestimate our talent or somehow believe that a perfectly coached game can lead us to a win. Sometimes the other team is just better. And ND was just better. We are also a damn slow football team.

He actually put some plays on rewind and slowed them down. Our WR's really struggle getting consistent separation. West has nice hands but he made the comment that he is painfully slow and should have had multiple steps on the guy given his release. He likes Gulley but he just isn't fast enough. In his words, "how can you not beat a DE around the edge at this level" on that swing pass.

Our interior OL got blown up by ND's 94 on multiple occasions. He single handedly hurt our run game. Kelly made a poor play on Hunter Jr's TD catch. He hesitated on that route -- he could have blown him up or made a play on the ball. Instead he thought about it and did neither. Also said both our corners are a bit stiff and need to get better.

There were some silver linings I guess. He loved how hard we played for Shafer and co tonight. We played through every whistle and fought hard. He actually likes Hunt as a college QB. He made some decent throws and probably paid in a boatload of pain. In his words, "he's noa top 10 QB, but you could do a hell of a lot worse." He said we'd think differently about him if we had a WR that scared anyone else.

We just have to get better folks. We can nitpick calls all day long, but at the end of the day we do not have the horses to play with top 20 teams yet. Our DL still fails to get push without sending the house, and our skill guys aren't quite skilled enough.

I loved the way these kids competed today. I hope estime and Moore are ok and we get better from here.

Who overlooked the talent discrepancy? Especially after watching Maryland look like all world speedsters last week?

And the WR look like they run in quicksand.

I agree with everything your buddy saw... but werent they kind of obvious?

 

[SoBeCuse]

BC threw the ball 14 times against BC

they lost to colorado state?!? how am i just seeing this. sarkisian stinks

As a Trojan I'll tell you. Sarkisian doesn't stink either. He is super respected amongst his peers. They responded and routed a pretty good Oregon St. team Sat. In the BC game they definitely thought the game was over after the 10-0 start. With the depth/sanctions issues their DLine was worn out by BC with tempo and their physicality. Leonard Williams was maybe at 50% and they couldn't sub. BC's lead back and their OL is better than people think. BC's defense isn't very good. USC gained tons of yards and they let CSU back in the game.

 

[timkay99]

I realize and admit that the talent gap is wide but that is why you have to take those chances if you want to win the game. I don't mind if they don't work and will never complain about an aggressive play call but if we are out talented so much how can you win playing 'regular' football? You have to mix it up and be creative against better teams, especially when they give you the ball so often early in a game. You can't beat a more talented team playing it safe.

You have to make plays with your talent level though. That is how BC beat USC. Its hard to upset more talented teams and we didn't have anything to exploit from a playmaker perspective.

We are in the process of transitioning from a run-first offense into a finesse/spread offense. We just don't have playmakers on the outside yet to account for it and we really shouldn't be putting the ball in the air on 3rd and 1 anyways. People were complaining about that just last week! Then Kool Kid puts in Moore and tries to run it, gets stopped and now people are all like, you need to throw there!

The staff has shown they aren't playing it safe and fans have ripped them some for it (such as the onside kick). We ran a fake punt. I didn't see anything in that game about playing it safe. I saw an offensive line get decimated off the line consistently. No playbook can alter that.

 

[Millhouse]

As a Trojan I'll tell you. Sarkisian doesn't stink either. He is super respected amongst his peers. They responded and routed a pretty good Oregon St. team Sat. In the BC game they definitely thought the game was over after the 10-0 start. With the depth/sanctions issues their DLine was worn out by BC with tempo and their physicality. Leonard Williams was maybe at 50% and they couldn't sub. BC's lead back and their OL is better than people think. BC's defense isn't very good. USC gained tons of yards and they let CSU back in the game.

seven win steve

i don't know how he turned his washington record into a USC gig

 

[SoBeCuse]

seven win steve

i don't know how he turned his washington record into a USC gig

He probably underacheived a little at UW. Didn't have USC talent there but some very good players still. Couple of bowl games. He's GREAT with QBs and Haden as well as Pete Carroll love him.