Here are my (honest) thoughts (11 games into year 3)

[Consigliere]

You seem to forget we lost Duke and Dorsett we win VTech and Duke with the both of them. Many factors change how seasons go. I had us winning 10 games this yr with losses to FSU and VTech. I also had us winning the ACC to tho. But **** 10 wins is 10 wins.

That is possible but we didn't have Duke and Dorsett and neither of those guys play defense. We had enough talent to contain Duke and VT to 60 points combined, we laid an egg. It is over and injuries happen.

 

[Consigliere]

We don't have a 5-3 conference record.

My post clearly indicates that "if we get there."

 

[Jassid82]

Yeah, I think he was talking about me. My mistake.

 

[Consigliere]

Consigliere, I was prepared to totally disagree with your post (especially the "ugly" 10 wins thing) but you got my attention when you mentioned that we have the same ACC record as we did last year. (5-3). I agree that alone in itself kills the "improvement" argument. And this was supposed to be a DOWN year for conference! (UNC/Vtech/Gtech/MD/UVA all had down years)

Im not a fan of the "weak schedule" argument. Look how that is benefitting OSU right now. If you play in a 3 team conference like the ACC (FSU/Clemson/Vtech) you HAVE to schedule one TOUGH OOC game (a top 20 opponent. you pick'em) and one quality BCS level OOC opponent (Like maybe a Wash St or Vandy) . JMO.

As far as the season, I will be happy with 9 or 10 wins. That will allow Al to mentally note what the FLOOR is for expectations around here. Like the analysts use to say about the Miami Heat and the Big 3. The 2010 team should have been the worst team and the worst season for them. I think this should mark the "X" for Al as far as being his worst team and record. THIS YEAR. From here on out it should be MINIMUM 10 wins. IMO.

I tried to remove the weak schedule argument and talk strictly about ACC Play (in terms of improvement) in terms of improvement but I hear what you are saying.

It depends what you mean with 10 wins going forward. Pre-bowl game?

 

[OBLIVION]

There was no progress in the process this season.

With a weak *** schedule. We still managed to find ways to make ourselves look a long ways off from being a top tier team again.

It doesn't get much easier schedule wise, and returning almost all your starters. To at the very least look like some improvements are being made from beginning to end.

The only thing you could count on this season, was the punting game. Knowing O'Donnell would crush the ball, pinning the opponent back.

From players to coaches. This team looked lost all season long on both sides of the ball.

 

[fivecent]

It is astute of you to look a conference opponents to determine improvement. One of Goldens cons (I say this while still being a supporter of the guy in general) is to try and book weak non conference opponents so that he can claim improvement. We have Cincinnati on the schedule next year only because they couldn't get 0-11 southen mississippe to take the bait http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2013/11/18/

Honestly, I don't care about the Non-Conference schedule. For those focused on that, you are focused on the wrong thing. If Golden doesn't win the **** ACC then the easiest conference schedule will not save him. He still need results IN CONFERENCE.

FYI: When we scheduled Notre Dame and Kansas State, there was no indication that both were going to BCS games. Things happen and things change. This is not the problem with this team, the schedule in conference is what matters most.

1.I would have had a problem with ND and KS even if they hadn't improve to BCS status because at least they still had D-1 atheletes to compete against. I just can't stand the idea that they tried to schedule a quarter of the season against glorified high school teams.

2. I agree with the importance of the in-conference schedule.

 

[@KingLew88]

You seem to forget we lost Duke and Dorsett we win VTech and Duke with the both of them. Many factors change how seasons go. I had us winning 10 games this yr with losses to FSU and VTech. I also had us winning the ACC to tho. But **** 10 wins is 10 wins.

You seem to forget we lost Duke and Dorsett we win VTech and Duke with the both of them. Many factors change how seasons go. I had us winning 10 games this yr with losses to FSU and VTech. I also had us winning the ACC to tho. But **** 10 wins is 10 wins.

That is possible but we didn't have Duke and Dorsett and neither of those guys play defense. We had enough talent to contain Duke and VT to 60 points combined, we laid an egg. It is over and injuries happen.

Yes but duke would keep drives alive. Maybe Stephen isn't forced into those 3 and longs. Also that's duke returning that kickoff instead of burns IJS. Duke was HUGE LOSS the only thing that truly hurt us coming out of that FSU game. That loss didn't bother me until I seen our best player getting carted off after having 1000 lbs falling on top of him from a play that shouldn't have even been called.


Stephen Morris regression also has to be taken into account. He's been downright awful on every level and you can miss me with that injury bs.

 

[rok]

Achieving 10 wins, however pathetic it might seem, is one **** of an accomplishment when you consider how bad we've looked for long stretches. We've also looked pretty good at times. Just need to put it all together somehow.

 

[Consigliere]

It is astute of you to look a conference opponents to determine improvement. One of Goldens cons (I say this while still being a supporter of the guy in general) is to try and book weak non conference opponents so that he can claim improvement. We have Cincinnati on the schedule next year only because they couldn't get 0-11 southen mississippe to take the bait http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2013/11/18/

Honestly, I don't care about the Non-Conference schedule. For those focused on that, you are focused on the wrong thing. If Golden doesn't win the **** ACC then the easiest conference schedule will not save him. He still need results IN CONFERENCE.

FYI: When we scheduled Notre Dame and Kansas State, there was no indication that both were going to BCS games. Things happen and things change. This is not the problem with this team, the schedule in conference is what matters most.

1.I would have had a problem with ND and KS even if they hadn't improve to BCS status because at least they still had D-1 atheletes to compete against. I just can't stand the idea that they tried to schedule a quarter of the season against glorified high school teams.

2. I agree with the importance of the in-conference schedule.

Honestly, in terms of "importance of concern" this is an issue far from the most concerning IMO. The bottom line is we still need to win the conference, if we don't win the conference and get to BCS games etc. Al will be gone.

 

[Consigliere]

Yes but duke would keep drives alive. Maybe Stephen isn't forced into those 3 and longs. Also that's duke returning that kickoff instead of burns IJS. Duke was HUGE LOSS the only thing that truly hurt us coming out of that FSU game. That loss didn't bother me until I seen our best player getting carted off after having 1000 lbs falling on top of him from a play that shouldn't have even been called.


Stephen Morris regression also has to be taken into account. He's been downright awful on every level and you can miss me with that injury bs.

I understand and addressed this stuff (about injuries), it is part of the game. Duke playing would have improved our chances of winning against VT/Duke. Even without him and the impact that he WOULD have had, we should have at least split those games.

Duke would have helped the team (yes, return some kicks as well) but our defense still allowed 90 points and our offense didn't score enough. We're suffering in many areas and without Duke we should have at least SPLIT THOSE GAMES and hold them to well under 90 points combined.

As for Morris, it is what it is. We still should have done better in all aspects of the game.

 

[Consigliere]

Achieving 10 wins, however pathetic it might seem, is one **** of an accomplishment when you consider how bad we've looked for long stretches. We've also looked pretty good at times. Just need to put it all together somehow.

I don't get why, at the very least, we can't play tough/physical football for the whole game.

Also, if we actually hit 10 wins, I think some peoples' perspective will change.

 

[rok]

Achieving 10 wins, however pathetic it might seem, is one **** of an accomplishment when you consider how bad we've looked for long stretches. We've also looked pretty good at times. Just need to put it all together somehow.

I don't get why, at the very least, we can play tough/physical football for the whole game.

Doesn't seem to be a problem on offense. We can usually find success running the ball unless we're down big.

Defensively, we just don't have the horses. Renfrow gets blown of the ball routinely, Shayon, Chick, Pierre, Luther just aren't great. Not bad, but not great. Porter can at least win a one v one battle sometimes. Our linebackers just aren't there yet aside from DP. Nice to see younger guys like Moore, Kirby, McCord and AQM become more involved against UVA. I don't think physicality will be an issue when Chad Thomas, Moten, Wyche, Valentine, Jenkins are out there in the next couple years. We've got legitimate studs coming, and we've already got guys like McCord, AQM, Kirby, Bush, Jenkins, Gunter, Howard, Burns who are being forced to grow up on the job. We're going to be a lot better next year.

 

[Jassid82]

Consigliere, Yes. Pre-bowl Game. (Not pre-ACC title game though)