The Downside - Virginia Tech

[SWC75]

- Eric Dungey carried the ball 24 times. Our nominal “running back”, Dontae Strickland, only carried it 16 times. Dungey now has more carries on the season than Strickland, 104-102. He’s also been sacked 18 times and has often been hit hard on many of the 308 passes he’s gotten off. Babers has stated he prefers a pocket quarterback over a running quarterback because a running quarterback gets subjected to too much punishment. We all know Dungey’s history. He seems like a ticking time bomb. Can Babers find a way to play offense the way he really wants to, with minimum risk to the quarterback?

- I find it completely in conceivable and completely unacceptable that we have no power running package for goal line situations. Our attempts to get the ball into the end zone from the one in the empty backfield set were pathetic. And I’m still not sure Dungey got in on that go-ahead score. Every team in America ought to have a running back with enough thump to score and a guy who can be a lead blocker. That was the worst goal line stand against us since the Iowa debacle of 2006.

- 31 points is still not a lot to get off of 561 yards. We still haven’t really had that offensive explosion we have been waiting for yet.

- And 468 yards is still too many to give up, even if we kept them out of the end zone for the most part.

- We had less than 34,000 there for the 17th ranked team in the country. It was our largest crowd of the season. Fans used to come to the Dome to see Syracuse paly. Then they would come to the Dome to watch the other team if they were good. Now they don’t come at all, beyond the die-hards. Hopefully that will change if we can get some more wins like this.

 

[MSOrange]

I like Downsides that are this length as opposed to the War and Peace of last week.

 

[SWC75]

I like Downsides that are this length as opposed to the War and Peace of last week.

So do I.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

The goal line package ... that must just not be an easy fix at this time b/c I cannot fathom how we don't have that - and have not had that since ... ? Thump Belton?

 

[85SUAlum]

Also, give the crowd some credit - it may have not been a huge crowd but they were making some noise today!

 

[Chip]

Hard to look at the downside in games like today, but I appreciate that you do it. No story is ever perfect.

Couple other things, since we're on the topic.

I wanted to drive the point home of how awesome Babers was when Mahoney had to come in for that play. Convert the 3rd down and keep the drive going without missing a beat. Byrne apparently thought we were going fast. Mahoney thought we were surveying the D and looking to the sideline. Lucky that wasn't worse.

That blocked XP showed me why Rodney Williams is on defense. There was only one guy who could stop him and there was a blocker there to do it. Not much end zone instinct.

I can't believe Dungey only had to take 1 play off. Earlier in the first half, I thought for sure there was no way he was finishing the game. What a competitor.

 

[SWC75]

The goal line package ... that must just not be an easy fix at this time b/c I cannot fathom how we don't have that - and have not had that since ... ? Thump Belton?

Those were the die-hards. And I am one of them.

 

[bcubs9497]

Penalties. And Dungey with more carries than the running backs. But mostly the penalties.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Penalties. And Dungey with more carries than the running backs. But mostly the penalties.

Yes, way too many penalties putting us in the hole. I believe #65 had 4 penalties by himself.

 

[orangeinohio]

Hard to look at the downside in games like today, but I appreciate that you do it. No story is ever perfect.

Couple other things, since we're on the topic.

I wanted to drive the point home of how awesome Babers was when Mahoney had to come in for that play. Convert the 3rd down and keep the drive going without missing a beat. Byrne apparently thought we were going fast. Mahoney thought we were surveying the D and looking to the sideline. Lucky that wasn't worse.

That blocked XP showed me why Rodney Williams is on defense. There was only one guy who could stop him and there was a blocker there to do it. Not much end zone instinct.

I can't believe Dungey only had to take 1 play off. Earlier in the first half, I thought for sure there was no way he was finishing the game. What a competitor.

I meant to check back but I forgot - who actually blocked that VT PAT?
I know Rodney recovered the ball but who got the block?

 

[TDTOrange]

I meant to check back but I forgot - who actually blocked that VT PAT?
I know Rodney recovered the ball but who got the block?

Josh Black was credited with the block.

 

[Chris02M]

- Eric Dungey carried the ball 24 times. Our nominal “running back”, Dontae Strickland, only carried it 16 times. Dungey now has more carries on the season than Strickland, 104-102. He’s also been sacked 18 times and has often been hit hard on many of the 308 passes he’s gotten off. Babers has stated he prefers a pocket quarterback over a running quarterback because a running quarterback gets subjected to too much punishment. We all know Dungey’s history. He seems like a ticking time bomb. Can Babers find a way to play offense the way he really wants to, with minimum risk to the quarterback?

- I find it completely in conceivable and completely unacceptable that we have no power running package for goal line situations. Our attempts to get the ball into the end zone from the one in the empty backfield set were pathetic. And I’m still not sure Dungey got in on that go-ahead score. Every team in America ought to have a running back with enough thump to score and a guy who can be a lead blocker. That was the worst goal line stand against us since the Iowa debacle of 2006.

- 31 points is still not a lot to get off of 561 yards. We still haven’t really had that offensive explosion we have been waiting for yet.

- And 468 yards is still too many to give up, even if we kept them out of the end zone for the most part.

- We had less than 34,000 there for the 17th ranked team in the country. It was our largest crowd of the season. Fans used to come to the Dome to see Syracuse paly. Then they would come to the Dome to watch the other team if they were good. Now they don’t come at all, beyond the die-hards. Hopefully that will change if we can get some more wins like this.

Left at least 10 pts on the table with international in the end zone and the feeble 4 tries from the 1

 

[Ish88888]

I thought i remember us having a JUMBO package with a lineman in the backfield??? Clark was it? Against colgate.

 

[tbonezone]

Yes, way too many penalties putting us in the hole. I believe #65 had 4 penalties by himself.

LINE NOT SET. how about drilling this particular rule into these kids heads. it's cost us a bunch of yards.

 

[orangeinohio]

Josh Black was credited with the block.

Helluva play for a freshman

 

[JoeSU]

-
- I find it completely in conceivable and completely unacceptable that we have no power running package for goal line situations. Our attempts to get the ball into the end zone from the one in the empty backfield set were pathetic. And I’m still not sure Dungey got in on that go-ahead score. Every team in America ought to have a running back with enough thump to score and a guy who can be a lead blocker. That was the worst goal line stand against us since the Iowa debacle of 2006.

Passing the ball 3 times reminded me of the Seahawks attempting to throw the ball in a similar situation at the end of the Superbowl a couple of years ago. We may not have a big, power back, but Babers is a creative coach and there are ways around this... like when the Bears used "the Fridge" Perry in these situations. Or at least put a big body as the up-back to block. And if you're going to throw it, how about a bootleg run/pass option, where Dungy can tuck it an run, or throw the ball out of the back of the endzone if nobody is open?
At least we didn't attempt a "toss sweep" and lose yardage.

 

[bcubs9497]

LINE NOT SET. how about drilling this particular rule into these kids heads. it's cost us a bunch of yards.

It'll get better as the OL becomes more cohesive.

 

[bcubs9497]

I meant to check back but I forgot - who actually blocked that VT PAT?
I know Rodney recovered the ball but who got the block?

It was a stunt. Black was lined up in front of the center. He stunted to his right, and ran right through the hole opened up by whoever flat-backed their left guard.

 

[Ish88888]

LINE NOT SET. how about drilling this particular rule into these kids heads. it's cost us a bunch of yards.

Aahhh, first and 15 is nothing for this offense. Add to the downside the students and uniforms.

 

[SWC75]

Left at least 10 pts on the table with international in the end zone and the feeble 4 tries from the 1

We have an international end zone?

 

[IDOC]

I guess if "throwing bricks" instead of "building with bricks" is your thing then you will enjoy this post. Me, I will graciously enjoy the win and look forward to the next game.

 

[SWC75]

I guess if "throwing bricks" instead of "building with bricks" is your thing then you will enjoy this post. Me, I will graciously enjoy the win and look forward to the next game.

The Upside- Virginia Tech

 

[Chris02M]

We have an international end zone?

 

[Chris02M]

Auto correct from interception

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Passing the ball 3 times reminded me of the Seahawks attempting to throw the ball in a similar situation at the end of the Superbowl a couple of years ago. We may not have a big, power back, but Babers is a creative coach and there are ways around this... like when the Bears used "the Fridge" Perry in these situations. Or at least put a big body as the up-back to block. And if you're going to throw it, how about a bootleg run/pass option, where Dungy can tuck it an run, or throw the ball out of the back of the endzone if nobody is open?
At least we didn't attempt a "toss sweep" and lose yardage.

Didn't HCSS try this with his short lived "tank package"? I forget the lineman who was assigned the dubious task of being the eponymous tank ... anyway, that didn't work either. If there is no push up front it doesn't matter who you out behind the line.