Winnable Games

[Crusty]

Looking at stats so far this year our remaining games look like this (I think):

• FSU - no way, Even though we will probably be able to run a bit on them their passing game will kill us.
• Clemson - leads the ACC is passing offense. This may be a case of bad match-up of their passing game and our secondary.

Winnable

• Duke - Passing game (9th in ACC) about the same as ours. Blue Devils can run the ball 225 ypg 4th in ACC. Duke's rushing defense is dead last in the ACC and their passing defense is pretty good 5th in ACC. Hopefully, our running game can control this game and give our D a little rest. If so, our run D should fair ok. I like the way this game sets up at home.
• Pitt - is third in ACC in rushing. Pitt is 12th in ACC in passing. The Panther pass D is excellent 2nd in ACC and their rushing D is about the same as ours. This may prove to be a tough road win. We'll be in it.
• BC - Once again Addazio is playing the ground and pound game - leading the ACC is rushing but is 13th in passing. BC ranks in the middle of the ACC in both pass ans rush defense. This is going to be a real rock fight.
• Wake - Demon Deacons offense is virtually non-existent. Averaging only 15.7 ppg. Passing is 11th in ACC and rushing is dead last in ACC with only 31 ypg. Wake's passing D is middle of the pack and their run D is 11th. We have to win this game.
• NC State - running game a bit better than ours (5th) and a decent passing game (6th in ACC). State's defense is not very good - 10th in rushing and 11th in pass d in the ACC. This is a better team than we beat last year but we match up pretty well and are playing at home. I like our chances.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

I think there is a chance we can still finish 6-6.

 

[Doctor44]

Agreed - But the team is going to have to play a lot better. We've played good competition in Maryland, ND and Louisville. Hopefully, the team can get something going against FSU and keep that momentum going.

We'll have to go 4-2 through the rest of the season, including Clemson

 

[upperdeck]

we dont need to play a lot better. maryland was fine just didnt win. ND was OK against a top 10 team, UL has the best D we have seen yet and still should have been leading in the 4th with the 2 TD drops. We need to play better, but the leap is not huge to make, if play calling is the answer we should know after the wake game. if its execution maybe we never figure it out. I think we are closer to being solid than we want to think and playing 4 top 20 type teams in a row might make it seem worse than it really is.

If we score 20 pts and get 350-400 yds this week thats a good sign going forward no matter what the D does. I think you can scheme everyone else on the schedule but Clemson.

 

[NineOneSeven]

we dont need to play a lot better. maryland was fine just didnt win. ND was OK against a top 10 team, UL has the best D we have seen yet and still should have been leading in the 4th with the 2 TD drops. .

 

[Crusty]

we dont need to play a lot better. maryland was fine just didnt win. ND was OK against a top 10 team, UL has the best D we have seen yet and still should have been leading in the 4th with the 2 TD drops. We need to play better, but the leap is not huge to make, if play calling is the answer we should know after the wake game. if its execution maybe we never figure it out. I think we are closer to being solid than we want to think and playing 4 top 20 type teams in a row might make it seem worse than it really is.

If we score 20 pts and get 350-400 yds this week thats a good sign going forward no matter what the D does. I think you can scheme everyone else on the schedule but Clemson.

Pretty much agree with everything in this post, except the first sentence. We have got to figure out our red zone issues and do much better. I think your are correct that we will know after the Wake game whether it was play calling or execution, but we may also get a decent hint on Saturday.