Whoa, everyone needs to take their hand off the panic button

[GoSU96]

and step back.

It's the first full scrimmage, and they are rotating a lot of kids in and out to work the depth chart. Big focus on getting stuff on tape and evaluating individuals.

Also, the four best players on this team (Pugh, Thomas, Bromley, and Lemon) are on the sidelines right now.

OL - 3 spots right now with new players. Everyone is getting looked at and thrown in the deep end. By the end of September we will see Pugh, Chibane, Macky, Trudo, and Hickey as the starters. Issue will be who are the next two guys off the bench. As a group the OL unit has better potential than in a long time here, but it's made up of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen behind the starters.

QB - Nassib is the best QB on the team. He might not be the best athlete in the QB unit, but that doesn't matter. Broyld is in no way ready to play QB. He's essentially a wingback and will be responsible for learning the wildcat series. And that's enough. He doesn't need to learn and play multiple positions, he has one unique position in the offense.

And people need to temper their expectations, the kid is not a RGIII, Vick, Dennard Robinson athlete. And he is NOT, I repeat, Cam Newton. Closest comparison I can think of is McNabb. I have no idea if he has the confidence, competitiveness, or intelligence that McNabb has.

RB - it's going to be a committee, it's clear no one running back has seperated himself. Morris is the guy with the biggest upside. RB is a position where a kid can make an impact as a freshman. Depth is going to be needed, it looks like there are four guys who will be called on. It's better than laying all the burden on one. Having multiple backs will allow for a faster tempo.

This is not going to be a light the world on fire offense, but it will be better than last year. People who fixate on Nassib are looking at the wrong thing. The problem is not the pass offense, it's the running game, and it's inability last year to get many long runs. The run offense was 111th in long plays (10+) last year. They had 15 runs of more than 20 yards all year. That has to improve. That's where Broyld and Morris come in.

 

[BORZAK]

WHERE IS YOUR TOLERANCE FOR THE WHINERS?
THAT'S HOW THEY THINK,
THAT'S HOW THEY PREPARE FOR THE SEASON.
THAT'S HOW THEY SUPPORT THE TEAM.
HOW CAN YOU TRY AND STOP THEIR ENJOYMENT.

IT'S HARD TO ESCAPE THEM WITHOUT A PREMIUM BOARD.

(MY LITTLE PART TO HELP THE "WHAT'S WITH THE CAPS" CROWD GET READY FOR THE SEASON.)

LET'S GO ORANGEMEN!

 

[44PRIDE]

I've historically been one of the bigger preseason "glass half empty" prognosticators out there...but even I'm amazed at the level of doom-n-gloom that is present out here. Seriously y'all...take a deep breath and repeat after me.

"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"







(as a side note, let's see how many of the kids get this reference)

 

[CuseLegacy]

 

[rrlbees]

I've historically been one of the bigger preseason "glass half empty" prognosticators out there...but even I'm amazed at the level of doom-n-gloom that is present out here. Seriously y'all...take a deep breath and repeat after me.

"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"







(as a side note, let's see how many of the kids get this reference)

I don't see an over abundance of doom and gloom. Most in the prediction thread see about a 7-5 record. That's not doom and gloom.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[BlackKnight76]

I've historically been one of the bigger preseason "glass half empty" prognosticators out there...but even I'm amazed at the level of doom-n-gloom that is present out here. Seriously y'all...take a deep breath and repeat after me.

"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"







(as a side note, let's see how many of the kids get this reference)

 

[MadNY3]

and step back.

It's the first full scrimmage, and they are rotating a lot of kids in and out to work the depth chart. Big focus on getting stuff on tape and evaluating individuals.

Also, the four best players on this team (Pugh, Thomas, Bromley, and Lemon) are on the sidelines right now.

OL - 3 spots right now with new players. Everyone is getting looked at and thrown in the deep end. By the end of September we will see Pugh, Chibane, Macky, Trudo, and Hickey as the starters. Issue will be who are the next two guys off the bench. As a group the OL unit has better potential than in a long time here, but it's made up of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen behind the starters.

QB - Nassib is the best QB on the team. He might not be the best athlete in the QB unit, but that doesn't matter. Broyld is in no way ready to play QB. He's essentially a wingback and will be responsible for learning the wildcat series. And that's enough. He doesn't need to learn and play multiple positions, he has one unique position in the offense.

And people need to temper their expectations, the kid is not a RGIII, Vick, Dennard Robinson athlete. And he is NOT, I repeat, Cam Newton. Closest comparison I can think of is McNabb. I have no idea if he has the confidence, competitiveness, or intelligence that McNabb has.

RB - it's going to be a committee, it's clear no one running back has seperated himself. Morris is the guy with the biggest upside. RB is a position where a kid can make an impact as a freshman. Depth is going to be needed, it looks like there are four guys who will be called on. It's better than laying all the burden on one. Having multiple backs will allow for a faster tempo.

This is not going to be a light the world on fire offense, but it will be better than last year. People who fixate on Nassib are looking at the wrong thing. The problem is not the pass offense, it's the running game, and it's inability last year to get many long runs. The run offense was 111th in long plays (10+) last year. They had 15 runs of more than 20 yards all year. That has to improve. That's where Broyld and Morris come in.

Not sure where the gloom and doom is coming from, but you are Marrone's best PR person.

 

[anglerman]

Go hit it right on the head. This scrimmage was scripted to see how specific players would react to specific situations. I've heard a lot of good things coming out of of camp

I got a rave report about Walls I guess he's strong as an ox almost impossible to block The team is indeed bigger faster and deeper. The team chemistry is also much better then last year.

Also remember that the defense really does know all the offensive plays and they get a jump on whatever play is run

Heard a lot of other tidbits mostly all positive so no reason to be on the ledge

 

[Millhouse]

I don't see an over abundance of doom and gloom. Most in the prediction thread see about a 7-5 record. That's not doom and gloom.

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Selection bias. 4 wins. Wake me up in 2013

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[anglerman]

Selection bias. 4 wins. Wake me up in 2013

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This team is definitely better then last years team so 7-5 is very realistic.

 

[SoBristol]

Several reasons to believe the defense will be better than last year -- strength and size at DT; pass rusher in MPB; LBs a tad bigger and more experienced; some depth at CB.

On offense, it isn't reassuring that two key players are on the sidelines; that the OL has new starters backed by frosh; that we are waiting for playmakers to step forward. I am not panicing, but hoped for better at this stage. We might be better than last year eventually (when Broyld & Thompson, and possibly AAM or Morris, work into the mix), but how about on Sept 1?

 

[rrlbees]

Selection bias. 4 wins. Wake me up in 2013

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

I said most and the average is about 7-5 and since some said better than that then some must have said worse. No selection bias. Just pointing out that it isn't all doom and gloom.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[bnoro]

 

[Millhouse]

I said most and the average is about 7-5 and since some said better than that then some must have said worse. No selection bias. Just pointing out that it isn't all doom and gloom.

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Pessimists skip that thread

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[PhatOrange]

and step back.

It's the first full scrimmage, and they are rotating a lot of kids in and out to work the depth chart. Big focus on getting stuff on tape and evaluating individuals.

Also, the four best players on this team (Pugh, Thomas, Bromley, and Lemon) are on the sidelines right now.

It is only a scrimmage rotating 80 kids in and out. 20/30 of which who won't see the field this year. And the offense or defense isn't 'gameplanning' to beat the other side.

I am a little worried about the mounting injuries though. The 4 best guys among others could be on the sideline all year. Have to hope the back ups can perform. I wonder how cautious they're being with the injuries - are these kids who'd be out, questionable, probable on gameday?

I'm not sure what a fair expectation is this year. I'm expecting 6-6 and hoping for the best I guess.

 

[GoSU96]

It is only a scrimmage rotating 80 kids in and out. 20/30 of which who won't see the field this year. And the offense or defense isn't 'gameplanning' to beat the other side.

I am a little worried about the mounting injuries though. The 4 best guys among others could be on the sideline all year. Have to hope the back ups can perform. I wonder how cautious they're being with the injuries - are these kids who'd be out, questionable, probable on gameday?

I'm not sure what a fair expectation is this year. I'm expecting 6-6 and hoping for the best I guess.

Based on all the public statements, and I haven't heard anything else one way or another, I expect Bromley, Lemon, and Thomas to be ready to go 9/1, and Pugh a couple of weeks after that.

 

[kingottoiii]

It is only a scrimmage rotating 80 kids in and out. 20/30 of which who won't see the field this year. And the offense or defense isn't 'gameplanning' to beat the other side.

But that really wasn't the case. We were not rotating 80 kids in and out. It was the first team O with the guys who will normally be playing. The 1st O went against the 2nd D and had issues. Sure there was no gameplan but shouldn't the more talented 1st team O do more against the less talented 2nd team D?

 

[Millhouse]

and step back.

It's the first full scrimmage, and they are rotating a lot of kids in and out to work the depth chart. Big focus on getting stuff on tape and evaluating individuals.

Also, the four best players on this team (Pugh, Thomas, Bromley, and Lemon) are on the sidelines right now.

OL - 3 spots right now with new players. Everyone is getting looked at and thrown in the deep end. By the end of September we will see Pugh, Chibane, Macky, Trudo, and Hickey as the starters. Issue will be who are the next two guys off the bench. As a group the OL unit has better potential than in a long time here, but it's made up of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen behind the starters.

QB - Nassib is the best QB on the team. He might not be the best athlete in the QB unit, but that doesn't matter. Broyld is in no way ready to play QB. He's essentially a wingback and will be responsible for learning the wildcat series. And that's enough. He doesn't need to learn and play multiple positions, he has one unique position in the offense.

And people need to temper their expectations, the kid is not a RGIII, Vick, Dennard Robinson athlete. And he is NOT, I repeat, Cam Newton. Closest comparison I can think of is McNabb. I have no idea if he has the confidence, competitiveness, or intelligence that McNabb has.

RB - it's going to be a committee, it's clear no one running back has seperated himself. Morris is the guy with the biggest upside. RB is a position where a kid can make an impact as a freshman. Depth is going to be needed, it looks like there are four guys who will be called on. It's better than laying all the burden on one. Having multiple backs will allow for a faster tempo.

This is not going to be a light the world on fire offense, but it will be better than last year. People who fixate on Nassib are looking at the wrong thing. The problem is not the pass offense, it's the running game, and it's inability last year to get many long runs. The run offense was 111th in long plays (10+) last year. They had 15 runs of more than 20 yards all year. That has to improve. That's where Broyld and Morris come in.

part of the reason they're so low in the running game is that so many QBs are running so much.

i don't look at the zone read as zero sum where every carry from the QB takes away yards from the RB - the RB might get fewer carries, but will get more YPC

combo of a lot of things. stanford wisconsin get big plays from dominant blocking which we don't have. other teams are able to get big plays from reading defenders more which we don't have. i just don't think the problem was bailey but i can't prove it

 

[SUFan44]

I am a little worried about the mounting injuries though. The 4 best guys among others could be on the sideline all year. Have to hope the back ups can perform. I wonder how cautious they're being with the injuries - are these kids who'd be out, questionable, probable on gameday?

No need to jump off the deep end with the "could be on the sideline all year" talk. That's ludicrous. Lemon and Thomas would be playing if game day were tomorrow I'd bet. Bromley would be 50/50 at this point. Pugh is a known quantity.

 

[billsin01]

i just don't think the problem was bailey but i can't prove it

Yeah, I have no idea where this comes from. If people want to argue that Bailey wasn't as good as Carter that's fine, but I tend to think he an absolutely adequate RB even from a big play standpoint.

 

[billsin01]

Also, the four best players on this team (Pugh, Thomas, Bromley, and Lemon) are on the sidelines right now.

OL - 3 spots right now with new players. Everyone is getting looked at and thrown in the deep end. By the end of September we will see Pugh, Chibane, Macky, Trudo, and Hickey as the starters. Issue will be who are the next two guys off the bench. As a group the OL unit has better potential than in a long time here, but it's made up of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen behind the starters.

QB - Nassib is the best QB on the team ... Closest comparison I can think of is McNabb. I have no idea if he has the confidence, competitiveness, or intelligence that McNabb has.

This is not going to be a light the world on fire offense, but it will be better than last year. People who fixate on Nassib are looking at the wrong thing. The problem is not the pass offense, it's the running game, and it's inability last year to get many long runs. The run offense was 111th in long plays (10+) last year. They had 15 runs of more than 20 yards all year. That has to improve. That's where Broyld and Morris come in.

This is a good post in that I agree with the general message (chill out, it's August) as well as your outlook on McNabb, the issues with the offense, etc.

But I'd quibble with a couple points:

1) It's hard not to be a bit concerned about the offensive line and, by extension, the offense as a whole. Not saying people need to be trying to spot the grim reaper in photos of the scrimmage, but it's been a while since we've had a truly good offense. And the problem is that this OL was put together by this staff (mostly) and two of our four most important coaches (DM and Adkins) are supposed to be offensive line guys. So the fact that we enter Year 4 with the OL not only being the likely weak link on offense, but very likely below average in general just blows. And it gives you a bit of concern going forward.

2) Nassib to McNabb is an interesting comp in terms of neither guy being too delicate with short throws and quick slants, but not a great comp in terms of McNabb being an elite level athlete and qb. The comp I'd actually go with is more like a Ron Powlus. Before you laugh, he put up big numbers but always had huge critics. At the end of the day he was solid but just had the misfortune of not being Joe Montana while the talent around him began to drop off.

3) The offense won't light the world on fire. I just think after all the years of that same refrain, people are just sort of fed up with not having an offense that can light the world on fire.

Again, I agree with the overall point, but I don't think it's too crazy that people are pessimistic. My prediction, by the way, is 6-6. I guess that makes me Switzerland.

 

[SoBristol]

Yeah, I have no idea where this comes from. If people want to argue that Bailey wasn't as good as Carter that's fine, but I tend to think he an absolutely adequate RB even from a big play standpoint.

Bailey, Lemon and Provo weren't the problem. These were the good guys.
The issue was the lack of a decent second back to share the load (after Gulley went out); and lack of a frosh or soph WR good enough to supplement the upperclassmen.
If you look around the conference, did any team get less from skill players recruited in 2010 and 2011?

 

[SoBristol]

1) ...And the problem is that this OL was put together by this staff (mostly) and two of our four most important coaches (DM and Adkins) are supposed to be offensive line guys. So the fact that we enter Year 4 with the OL not only being the likely weak link on offense, but very likely below average in general just blows. And it gives you a bit of concern going forward.

...

Again, I agree with the overall point, but I don't think it's too crazy that people are pessimistic. My prediction, by the way, is 6-6. I guess that makes me Switzerland.

I wonder if the OL will be the weak link, once Pugh returns. People who say that (and many do) don't seem to compare our backfield to other backfields in the league, or our WR unit to others. Our FBs are untested and not highly recruited. Our RBs may be OK by committee, but we don't have a proven RB other than Smith. Our WRs enter the season with a lot of question marks.

We have some promise in the OL (good size, young guys fighting for roles); pretty much on a par with what we have in other units.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

This is a good post in that I agree with the general message (chill out, it's August) as well as your outlook on McNabb, the issues with the offense, etc.

But I'd quibble with a couple points:

1) It's hard not to be a bit concerned about the offensive line and, by extension, the offense as a whole. Not saying people need to be trying to spot the grim reaper in photos of the scrimmage, but it's been a while since we've had a truly good offense. And the problem is that this OL was put together by this staff (mostly) and two of our four most important coaches (DM and Adkins) are supposed to be offensive line guys. So the fact that we enter Year 4 with the OL not only being the likely weak link on offense, but very likely below average in general just blows. And it gives you a bit of concern going forward.

2) Nassib to McNabb is an interesting comp in terms of neither guy being too delicate with short throws and quick slants, but not a great comp in terms of McNabb being an elite level athlete and qb. The comp I'd actually go with is more like a Ron Powlus. Before you laugh, he put up big numbers but always had huge critics. At the end of the day he was solid but just had the misfortune of not being Joe Montana while the talent around him began to drop off.

3) The offense won't light the world on fire. I just think after all the years of that same refrain, people are just sort of fed up with not having an offense that can light the world on fire.

Again, I agree with the overall point, but I don't think it's too crazy that people are pessimistic. My prediction, by the way, is 6-6. I guess that makes me Switzerland.

I think people are just tired of watching average teams, with average talent get decent or average production on the offensive side of the ball, why is that? Why does it have to be rocket science? That is what people are tired of. We talk about playmakers, beating press coverage, stacking the box, qb accuracy, systems, scheme, etc etc but why has it been so hard for us and not other programs the past 13 years? That is the question

There are plenty of teams with average talent scoring plenty of points versus average teams like the Big east conference and clearly what we have tried does mot work very well but every year we say THIS is the year, as Cuseregular said, it's the definition of insanity

 

[PhatOrange]

But that really wasn't the case. We were not rotating 80 kids in and out. It was the first team O with the guys who will normally be playing. The 1st O went against the 2nd D and had issues. Sure there was no gameplan but shouldn't the more talented 1st team O do more against the less talented 2nd team D?

Didn't the offensive score a bunch of touchdowns ? I thought the paper said there were 5 TD passes?

It may have been 1s against 2s but the rest of kids weren't standing on the sideline watching the game - or were they?