I just hope Rickie can settle in and get the ball to our top wideouts and playmakers, because the talent is there on the outside. If he can distribute the ball and trust those guys to make plays in space, this offense takes on a whole new level of danger. At the same time, we’ve got to lean into our identity and run the football with authority. Pound it, wear defenses down, and let the ground game open everything else up. When we’re running the out of the football, everything starts to click—play-action, deep shots, and even tempo control.
The best part is, I actually trust this defense now. They’ve shown grit, toughness, and the ability to step up when it matters. That’s not something we’ve always been able to say, but with the way they’re playing, it gives the offense room to breathe. If Rickie can manage the game, hit the weapons outside, and the run game keeps rolling, we’ve got the perfect formula: an offense that punishes teams on the ground, takes its shots when they’re there, and a defense that can lock it down and get stops.
That’s how you win games in the ACC. That’s how you start stacking wins, building momentum, and proving that this program isn’t just on the rise—it’s ready to compete week in and week out.
