Step back from the ledge...

[TheCusian]

I don't get it. We're 2-2. Most had us pegged at 3-1 (including the syracuse.com media guys). So why the outrage? Here's my list of why we need to just breathe and step back from the ledge (nunes bloggers, syracuse.com writers too):

1. Our offense has been widely criticized and in some cases, rightly so. But we're #4 in yards in the ACC (playing a better OOC slate than just about everyone), are winning the TO margin battle (we're in the top third of the ACC in TO margin), and we've given up 1 sack (tops in the league). We're also a very good running offense (#25) with the fewest attempts (hat tip to Millhouse). Are there things to fix and get better at? Yes, of course. But not worth the venom spewed this week.

2. Somehow the self-inflicted penalties have become something unfixable. Procedural penalties are the very epitome of a "controllable" ... It's worrisome that we haven't so far - but it is fixable.

3. While special teams has been a mixed bag this season, Dixon's game saving TD vs Nova and his big run vs ND are seen as a negative. Axe: "How is he our leading rusher!!!! Hottake!!!" Um - how about credit to Shafer for making those calls. Not easy to make.

4. We are #18 in the country in sacks and #51 in tackles for a loss.

5. Last year we got smoked by the top ten teams on our schedule. This year we hung with ND enough to give me hope that we're getting better. Most had us losing to ND anyways - but now with 5 TO's and some missed opportunities we get a week of over reaction and mocking posts (looking at you nunes/syracuse.com). You didn't think we could win anyways!

6. I think the MetLife angst and the Uni-talk has upped the negative feedback loop to a higher level than it should be at. One's over and the other is unchangeable this season. Live with it. Stop the posting. Make it stop. I'm attempting to not post on either topic.

7. We are 0-0 in the ACC.

8. We are neither as good as we hoped in August OR as bad as we are making them out to be after 4 games.

 

[Crusty]

I don't think the "venom" has been bad at all. Actually most has been fairly objective. Any reasonable observer would be concerned that we could easily be 1-3 and have played rather poorly on offense. Scoring points is all that matters and we have not done that very well at all. As for mistakes, I keep waiting for the staff to fix the supposedly fixable - going on at least 10 years now.
This team can only go as far as Hunt can take us and that is now a reasonable concern.

 

[Pat Kelly]

I don't think the "venom" has been bad at all. Actually most has been fairly objective. Any reasonable observer would be concerned that we could easily be 1-3 and have played rather poorly on offense. Scoring points is all that matters and we have not done that very well at all. As for mistakes, I keep waiting for the staff to fix the supposedly fixable - going on at least 10 years now.
This team can only go as far as Hunt can take us and that is now a reasonable concern.

We could also be 3-1. Outplayed Maryland, and that Villanova game we played without Hunt. I'm not worried!

 

[Ozcuse]

I'm reserving this spot till after tommorow night's game.

 

[SmilinBob]

ACC game...what is there not to like about that? How soon they forget or maybe the Big East stinks crew just used that as a lame excuse to not go. Playing with the big boys now and this is the start of the next stage. LGO!

 

[Ozcuse]

We could also be 3-1. Outplayed Maryland, and that Villanova game we played without Hunt. I'm not worried!

Please explain how being down 18 at halftime and 21 one minute before the end of the game we outplayed MD?

 

[Pat Kelly]

Please explain how being down 18 at halftime and 21 one minute before the end of the game we outplayed MD?

220 more yards

 

[GoSU96]

Three out of four scored 20 or less in regulation.

It's a consistent issue the last two seasons and so far doesn't show any sign of improvement, that's why people are worked up.

 

[xc84]

I don't get it. We're 2-2. Most had us pegged at 3-1 (including the syracuse.com media guys). So why the outrage? Here's my list of why we need to just breathe and step back from the ledge (nunes bloggers, syracuse.com writers too):

1. Our offense has been widely criticized and in some cases, rightly so. But we're #4 in yards in the ACC (playing a better OOC slate than just about everyone), are winning the TO margin battle (we're in the top third of the ACC in TO margin), and we've given up 1 sack (tops in the league). We're also a very good running offense (#25) with the fewest attempts (hat tip to Millhouse). Are there things to fix and get better at? Yes, of course. But not worth the venom spewed this week.

2. Somehow the self-inflicted penalties have become something unfixable. Procedural penalties are the very epitome of a "controllable" ... It's worrisome that we haven't so far - but it is fixable.

3. While special teams has been a mixed bag this season, Dixon's game saving TD vs Nova and his big run vs ND are seen as a negative. Axe: "How is he our leading rusher!!!! Hottake!!!" Um - how about credit to Shafer for making those calls. Not easy to make.

4. We are #18 in the country in sacks and #51 in tackles for a loss.

5. Last year we got smoked by the top ten teams on our schedule. This year we hung with ND enough to give me hope that we're getting better. Most had us losing to ND anyways - but now with 5 TO's and some missed opportunities we get a week of over reaction and mocking posts (looking at you nunes/syracuse.com). You didn't think we could win anyways!

6. I think the MetLife angst and the Uni-talk has upped the negative feedback loop to a higher level than it should be at. One's over and the other is unchangeable this season. Live with it. Stop the posting. Make it stop. I'm attempting to not post on either topic.

7. We are 0-0 in the ACC.

8. We are neither as good as we hoped in August OR as bad as we are making them out to be after 4 games.

but but but... the uniforms... the uniforms! They are killing the team! Oh the humanity!

 

[Full_Rebar]

Three out of four scored 20 or less in regulation.

It's a consistent issue the last two seasons and so far doesn't show any sign of improvement, that's why people are worked up.

Exactly and only one game against a top-25 caliber team. Need to see these yards turn into points.

 

[Ozcuse]

220 more yards

The only thing we did was beat them in rushing yards and Time of Possession

We were -2 in turnovers

Worse on special teams (blocked punt, missed field goal, avg. starting field position)

Worse passing game (yards, completions, yards per pass)

Worse on 3rd down conversion

Tied on penalties but ours stalled drives and took us out of red zone

And last but not least:

 

[RF2044]

Just win, baby.

If you want to see a reduction in negativity, then we need to win in front of the home crowd on Friday. A win rights the ship to an extent, and gives the fanbase something to get excited about. Posts expressing criticism of the players / coaches [many of which are valid concerns] will lose a bit of their edge with a "W."

A loss will exponentially magnify the doom and gloom.

 

[Alsacs]

Please explain how being down 18 at halftime and 21 one minute before the end of the game we outplayed MD?

Our offense scored 9 points and our defense gave up 31 points to Notre Dame and that was competitive as well.

People want to forget we are missed 25 yard field goal from being 1-3.

This team has been mediocre and people want to be idealists when if you are a realist your realize winning 4 more games this year will be tough. I had UMD as a win and 7 wins overall. Which means we will need to beat Louisville. NC State, Wake Forest, and one of Duke/Boston College/Pitt.

 

[Ozcuse]

Our offense scored 9 points and our defense gave up 31 points to Notre Dame and that was competitive as well.

People want to forget we are missed 25 yard field goal from being 1-3.

This team has been mediocre and people want to be idealists when if you are a realist your realize winning 4 more games this year will be tough. I had UMD as a win and 7 wins overall. Which means we will need to beat Louisville. NC State, Wake Forest, and one of Duke/Boston College/Pitt.

We have had some bright spots over the 4 games: 5 turnovers created against ND, a million rushing yards against MD, a dominating defense against CMU, and luck of the Irish against Nova. Problem is we haven't really had a game where we put everything together. The only thing we have consistently done is shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties and poor execution on 3rd down.

If we have ONE game where we flat out kick butt against a peer opponent I will be an optimistic realist.

 

[NKR1978]

Our offense scored 9 points and our defense gave up 31 points to Notre Dame and that was competitive as well.

People want to forget we are missed 25 yard field goal from being 1-3.

This team has been mediocre and people want to be idealists when if you are a realist your realize winning 4 more games this year will be tough. I had UMD as a win and 7 wins overall. Which means we will need to beat Louisville. NC State, Wake Forest, and one of Duke/Boston College/Pitt.

Every single one of those games is winnable...unfortunately they're also all losable.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Three out of four scored 20 or less in regulation.

It's a consistent issue the last two seasons and so far doesn't show any sign of improvement, that's why people are worked up.

It's been a consistent issue since McNabb was starting.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Every single one of those games is winnable...unfortunately they're also all losable.

I'm ok with that. I want a good record, but I want a good football team. If we're tested to find out if we're a good football team, that's ok. If we fail, we still have a ways to go. If we don't, I'm cheering for a good football team.

 

[GoSU96]

It's been a consistent issue since McNabb was starting.

Scoring Games 0 -10 10 to 19 20 to 29 30+
2000-2004 59 5% 12% 19% 20% 44%
2005-2008 47 4% 15% 62% 17% 15%
2009 12 0% 25% 17% 25% 33%
2010 13 0% 15% 31% 23% 31%
2011 12 0% 0% 42% 25% 33%
2012 13 0% 0% 23% 23% 54%
2013-2014 17 6% 6% 29% 35% 24%


Tough to argue that it isn't regressing.

 

[Alsacs]

Every single one of those games is winnable...unfortunately they're also all losable.

I agree this is a fair statement but right now I am from Missouri and this team needs to Show Me they are a bowl team.

 

[AAM62]

I agree that all cuse needs to do is win. This will be incredibly different tomorrow considering injuries. They will have to play winfield and Lville has some serious skill guys (even without parker). It will take a dominating run game and an inspired effort in pass D to win.

I just hope cuse comes out healthy.

 

[Chip]

Off the ledge for now, but if we lose tomorrow night, I'm jumping.

 

[anomander]

Just give me a semi-disciplined, turnover free game, and I will accept the result.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Just give me a semi-disciplined, turnover free game, and I will accept the result.

Dont hold your breath

 

[upperdeck]

Our offense scored 9 points and our defense gave up 31 points to Notre Dame and that was competitive as well.

People want to forget we are missed 25 yard field goal from being 1-3.

This team has been mediocre and people want to be idealists when if you are a realist your realize winning 4 more games this year will be tough. I had UMD as a win and 7 wins overall. Which means we will need to beat Louisville. NC State, Wake Forest, and one of Duke/Boston College/Pitt.

we were also a missed FG away from having the ball at the 40 to tie ND..

 

[Alsacs]

we were also a missed FG away from having the ball at the 40 to tie ND..

???? are you serious? After the second TD by Notre Dame that game was over. Our offense didn't sustain a drive till the late 3rd quarter and we didn't make ND punt after the first quarter. That game was not competitive on the field. The ND turnovers prevented it from being 40+ to 15.