Canes were 7-0 in 2013, finished 9-4

Haven’t turned the corner till you see multiple nfl high value our guys as top 20 first round players regularly. And do perform at a high value on Sundays. You will know then we possibly winning at a high level at that time.
Agreed. And I’ll add that we have not turned the corner until our 2s are just as dangerous to opponents as our 1s.

Literally no drop off, and in some cases you don’t want to see our backups - they are that good.

Two more Top 5-7 classes and we will be there.
 

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Actually not to find, but to afford. I agree that the Country isn’t littered with them, especially plug and play from the get go.

Pre-NIL, I would argue true punishing bullies at Nose Tackle or DT were as expensive as the top QBs…so it wasn’t surprising most of them ended up at $EC schools.
Yes to find as well. I'm not talking about pointing at the 6'6" 320 lb kids that old people can see without their glasses. It's easy to "see" them. I'm saying that there aren't that many of them that are elite. We got two 5 star DTs last cycle which is super rare. I'm talking separate of NIL. I'm talking sheer numbers. Same applies for DBs (specifically corners). DJ Pickett is the top CB this year and there aren't many more like him in the class.

The rest of what you said is pretty spot on. Specifically about the $EC schools (lthough I question the term "school" being used at those places).

Yes, I'm nitpicking. Slow day at work coupled with excitement for the road trip I'm taking the Bay tomorrow evening. I hear what you're saying.
 
Yes to find as well. I'm not talking about pointing at the 6'6" 320 lb kids that old people can see without their glasses. It's easy to "see" them. I'm saying that there aren't that many of them that are elite. We got two 5 star DTs last cycle which is super rare. I'm talking separate of NIL. I'm talking sheer numbers. Same applies for DBs (specifically corners). DJ Pickett is the top CB this year and there aren't many more like him in the class.

The rest of what you said is pretty spot on. Specifically about the $EC schools (lthough I question the term "school" being used at those places).

Yes, I'm nitpicking. Slow day at work coupled with excitement for the road trip I'm taking the Bay tomorrow evening. I hear what you're saying.
Have a great trip and I don't want any DTs that are 6'6...just saying. lol
 
And UGA almost lost to Kentucky.
And Bama almost lost to USF at home.
And Tennessee only put up 25 points against mediocre Oklahoma team.

We'll see how we respond. I expect us to dominate the ACC the rest of the season like we did UF and USF rather than for the rest our games to look like VT.
This is what I’m looking to see. Are we going to finish the year strong and use the VT game as a wake up call, or are we going to crawl to the finish line?

The Cal game will tell me a lot.
 
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The absolutely astonishing way our fans view our flaws as a team and refuse to acknowledge other teams is actually beautiful to watch

I mean it’s painful, but **** you almost gotta respect it
It all IMO ties back to PTSD. A lot of people here are waiting for the bottom to fall out like it has some many of the previous years in Miami. Don’t think it’s really about the other teams
 
Having authored this thread, I couldn't agree with you more. This team has quality talent and can be very good, especially because of Cam. But we also have a lot of concerns that need to be addressed, and we aren't good enough (yet) to win without some luck.

Our run game is the biggest issue on offense. All NFL guys and we can't generate a push and dictate the game? That's primarily on Dawson and secondarily on Cam given he calls a lot of plays at the line. Cam also needs to protect the football better. He acknowledged that was his Achilles heel headed into the season, he needs to show he can do it.

On defense, we now have multiple concerns. But by far most important IMO are tackling and setting the edge. The DBs are going to have good plays and bad plays. But if the front seven do their part, we'll win a lot of games.

I'm looking for more young talent to step up to help out the more senior guys. We have a deep bench at LB, need to use it. Patterson and Williams need to play more at S, maybe allows Meesh to move to nickel and takes Richard off the field more often. Our younger DTs and Campbell should rotate in a lot more. More Ray Ray, JoJo, CJ, Lyle and Allen.
I agree especially with your last paragraph. Because those young guys will determine our success in 2025 and 2026. We desperately need them to take the next step and then replenish with strong 2025 and 2026 classes.

Getting those young guys ready to contribute will be critical.
 
It all IMO ties back to PTSD. A lot of people here are waiting for the bottom to fall out like it has some many of the previous years in Miami. Don’t think it’s really about the other teams
We could win the **** National Championship this season and we would still have "fans" stuck on nearly losing to VT rather than celebrate our title. So yes, PTSD plays into it, but also, we have a lot of idiot "fans"........
* I am not claiming we are winning the title this year, so don't @ me.
 
It all IMO ties back to PTSD. A lot of people here are waiting for the bottom to fall out like it has some many of the previous years in Miami. Don’t think it’s really about the other teams
Agreed. Which that’s cool I can’t say I blame people

Would be a shame to not let yourself enjoy this season fully since we are gonna be in a tough spot this offseason.
 
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So which bottom & middle tier teams in the SEC would beat us? And again, aren't you assuming that those SEC teams are incapable of having a bad game as well?
Never said would. I said odds were better at losing to a TAMU. LSU. OU. Kentucky. South Carolina. Mizzou (don't care what they're ranked), not top tier then a VT/Duke.

Top tier (UGA, Bama, UT, Ole Miss, Tennessee) are probably more of a would scenario for me.


Fully understand any given day.. Not my point. I'm speaking on the grind of a schedule and not being able to have down weeks as often. It's just baffling to me to have explain this.

If you really think SEC isn't far superior to the ACC, there's no need in even debating it. We just disagree.
 
It all IMO ties back to PTSD. A lot of people here are waiting for the bottom to fall out like it has some many of the previous years in Miami. Don’t think it’s really about the other teams
Personally, it's not the case for me. I have a very blessed life. Football has taken a back seat to that. Whether we go 15-0 or 5-7, I honestly am good either way. I'm just an objective person.

I've attended 3 games so far & thoroughly enjoyed myself each time. (VT was a bit stressful) Really enjoyed myself this season. It's nice not to be mediocre again.

Having some doubts doesn't change any of that. Tempering expectations isn't to protect my heart. It's just me being a realist.

Cam can win us a ship if he plays perfect football & we can stay healthy. Crazier things have happened.
 
I've explained my stance in depth. Nobody really has responded to my reasoning. I'm not saying I'm correct. It's just how I feel and why I feel that way. The only response I keep getting is "Nuh-uh".

One more time.

We have been one dimensional on offense all year. Struggled to run the football. Against poor opponents. We've struggled against the pass the last several weeks against poor passing opponents. This causes me concern. So does our 2 deep.

I think in a conference with so many quality teams, it could & would eventually bite us. Maybe I'm wrong.

**I'm not panicking. I'm not down on our team. Not battered wife. Enjoy Cam. Enjoy how hard we play. I just think we are a Top 25 team with a playoff ceiling due to one player. Just need a lot of good fortune. (as do most)

I digress.

I'll keep this opinion to myself moving forward.

Let's Go Canes!
That's definitely not the only response you've gotten from me.

I literally layer all the losses SEC teams have had against non-SEC teams this season & have asked you multiple times which of these mid-tier SEC juggernauts do you think would beat us?

As far as us being one-dimensional, you can make the exact same argument for Kentucky, Miss ST, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Florida & Arkansas, except their one-dimension is running the ball.
 
Never said would. I said odds were better at losing to a TAMU. LSU. OU. Kentucky. South Carolina. Mizzou (don't care what they're ranked), not top tier then a VT/Duke.

Top tier (UGA, Bama, UT, Ole Miss, Tennessee) are probably more of a would scenario for me.


Fully understand any given day.. Not my point. I'm speaking on the grind of a schedule and not being able to have down weeks as often. It's just baffling to me to have explain this.

If you really think SEC isn't far superior to the ACC, there's no need in even debating it. We just disagree.
We already beat TAMU pretty handily last year, with a much worse team.

LSU would likely be a shootout, but given the "Big Game" Brian Kelly factor, would probably be a W for us on a neutral field.

Have you seen Oklahoma's passing Offense this season? Neither Jackson Arnold or Michael Hawkins have had more than 175yds in a game this year. What exactly do they do that would make them such a formidable threat?

South Carolina, same thing. Their QB's are purr garbage. Lanorris Sellers & Robby Ashford, I encourage you to look up their passing numbers & watch any of the games they've played this year, they'd easily be 2 of the worst QB's in the ACC.

Mizzou is legit, that'd actually be a tough game.

But, initially you actually did say we would lose 3+ games if we played a SEC schedule which is what started this whole debate. That's what I've been trying to get at from the start.

The idea that even the bad & the average teams from the SEC are just so far superior to the ACC or any other conference has already been proven to not be true. The bad teams in the SEC would be bad teams in every other P4, there's literally no delineation between bad to average teams across the board.

The separation happens at the top. The best teams in each conference are roughly about the same in terms of talent, with disparities at key positions like QB, WR, etc..

But no, there is no conference that's far superior to any other. It's just some are more top heavy than others.
 
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Agreed. And I’ll add that we have not turned the corner until our 2s are just as dangerous to opponents as our 1s.

Literally no drop off, and in some cases you don’t want to see our backups - they are that good.

Two more Top 5-7 classes and we will be there.
That’s why I always stuck to 25 as the year we would arrive but Cam sped that process up. And I changed stances when we landed him pause
 
As far as us being one-dimensional, you can make the exact same argument for Kentucky, Miss ST, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Florida & Arkansas, except their one-dimension is running the ball.
No argument. My 3 game loss claim was basically losing to 1 of those 4 mid teams (it happens) & then two to a UGA/Bama/UT/Ole Miss/Tennessee.

Fwiw I'm not sucking off SEC as much as I'm blasting ACC. I think it's a mid conference.
 
Personally, it's not the case for me. I have a very blessed life. Football has taken a back seat to that. Whether we go 15-0 or 5-7, I honestly am good either way. I'm just an objective person.

I've attended 3 games so far & thoroughly enjoyed myself each time. (VT was a bit stressful) Really enjoyed myself this season. It's nice not to be mediocre again.

Having some doubts doesn't change any of that. Tempering expectations isn't to protect my heart. It's just me being a realist.

Cam can win us a ship if he plays perfect football & we can stay healthy. Crazier things have happened.
Can we just NOT with the “realist” **** though?

That’s such a stupid word
 
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In fairness to @grover & his OP:

Here are our best starts since joining the ACC (2004):

2004. 6-0 (Finished 9-3)
Opponents included #4 FSU & #20 UL
Team featured 21 draft picks:
-5 1st-Rd Draft Picks
-5 2nd-Rd Draft Picks
-5 3rd-Rd Draft Picks
-4 4th-Rd Draft Picks
-1 5th-Rd Draft Pick
-1 6th-Rd Draft Pick

2013. 7-0 (Finished 9-4)
Opponents include #12 UF
Team featured 17 draft picks:
-3 1st Rd Picks
-1 2nd Rd Pick
-3 3rd Rd Picks
-3 4th Rd Picks
-2 5th Rd Picks
-3 6th Rd Picks
-2 7th Rd Picks

2017. 10-0 (Finished 10-3)
Opponents included #13 VT & #3 ND
Team featured 15 draft picks:
-1 3rd Rd Pick
-5 4th Rd Picks
-3 5th Rd Picks
-3 6th Rd Picks
-3 7th Rd Picks

2024. 5-0 (Finished ??)
Opponents include:
2-2 UF, 2-2 FAMU (FCS), 1-3 BSU, 2-3 USF, 2-3 VT

Now, here’s the thing: In 2004, 2013, & 2017 despite the draft capital on these teams, not one featured a draftable QB. I believe that will be the difference between the 2024 version of the 5-0 Canes vs. their predecessors. For the 1st time, we have a QB who will not only be drafted, but most likely w/in the 1st 2-rds. We’ve not had that since…NINETEEN EIGHTY-SEVEN. That season, we went undefeated in the regular season, playing for a Nat’l Title. The last time we had a QB drafted before the 5th-Rd was 1992 (Craig Erickson). We won a Nat’l Title that season.

So while it can be reasonable to feel a bit of cautious optimism based upon our history since joining the ACC, the other factor is we haven’t had the caliber of QB during that time. Our history shows, if we can field a highly drafted QB, good things happen. Hopefully the latter trend continues.
 
You’re a realist in your own mind so it’s purely an ego play You sound ridiculous when you say it but hey…keep going
So your hardline stance in this discussion is that realist don’t exist? That’s quite the take. Do you have any other off the wall theories? Weird quirks fascinate me.
 
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