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QB's and offensive skill talent need to be elite to compete for playoffs....

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gacaneaddict

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Was listening to a knowledgeable sports talk host talking about what he looks for now in projecting NCAA college teams for playoffs and competing for the NC.

He said he used to look more at OL and DL sometimes secondary along with QB play. Then the game changed to more QB and OL.

Now he said the teams winning at the highest level are elite QB's with elite offensive skill talent. If you have that you can compete if you don't you can't.

I think he has a great point. The games are about offense now. You have to score to matter. You don't win Titles in 2021 by winning 17-14 or 21-20.

2020-Alabama 52 Ohio State 24
2019-LSU 42 Clemson 25
2018-Clemson 44 Alabama 16
2017-Alabama 26- UGA 23
2016-Clemson 35 Alabama 31
2015-Alabama 45 Clemson 40
2014-Ohio State 42 Oregon 20

The Semifinals have some huge point scores too.

Ohio State scored 49 last year, Alabama scored 45 2 years ago.

The you look at the makeup of those teams.

Last year Alabama had a 1st round QB Mac Jones and Devonta Smith and Jaylan Waddle as well as Najee Harris. Ohio State had Justin Fields and Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

2019 LSU had Burrow and all those weapons with Chase and Jefferson and Edwards-Helaire

2018 Clemson had Lawrence and Ross and Higgins and Etienne. You saw how their offensive attack has stalled last year years in the playoffs without those high level WR's.

2017-Tua came in to save the day and they threw it around the barn with all those WR's in Juedy, Smith, and Ruggs in the 2nd half.

2016-Clemson had Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams and Hunter Renfroe and TE Jordan Leggett.

So I say all this to say YES you wanted to recruit the best talent at EVERY position, BUT it seems you absolutely HAVE to be ELITE at QB and Offensive skill positions.

I personally think Jake Garcia can be an elite QB, but are we recruiting at a high enough level at the skill positions? Is Brinson, Brashard Smith, Ibietta good enough?

This year Clemson has D.J. and they get Justin Ross back. OU has Rattler and a bevy of talented young WR's. Ohio State has Stroud with the best set of WR's in America. If Pickens didn't get the ACL UGA may have finally had the recipe with Daniels and weapons on offense.

Alabama and UGA and Clemson and Ohio State are loaded up with 5 STARS on defense, but it doesn't matter IMO if they don't have the elite offensive players.
 
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It’s almost like when push comes to shove, the team with the better offense tends to win.
 
Absolutely the truth, all those teams load up on 5 star talent and let them battle it out, cream rises to the top. Collection of elite talent is CFB's #1 key IMO.
 
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That’s why I keep saying if ever there’s a time to beat Bama it’s game one this year.

Theyre going to be talented as usual, but having the kind of explosive offense they’ve had won’t be easy because of inexperience.
 
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DTP said:
It’s almost like when push comes to shove, the team with the better offense tends to win.
Click to expand...
waynes world clarity GIF
 
I bring this up too because if Miami were to get into a playoff in the next 3-4 years I think it will be because Jake Garcia will
Become elite, and WR’s like the 2 Smiths, Brinson, Arroyo turn out to be elite, or Miami signs 3-4 STUDs at Wr in next years class.

It won’t be because of Shemar Stewart or Kelly or Bissante even though those would obviously be very nice. You could see those impacts more when we would play teams like UVA or VT.
 
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The reaction is that defense does not matter as much. In five of those years the opponent was held to average college scoring total.
In three of those years, one defense stop made the difference.
In shot outs, anything can happen, if you want to prevent that, you need defense.
 
mossmadness said:
Yep.
You need an OL that is just good enough.
And skill position talent capable of turning the game into basketball on grass.
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Good sentiments

BUT

WITHOUT A GOOD OL the results and performance of skill positions will ALWAYS be hampered and impaired.

Its hard to throw, catch or run in an exceptional way when the defense is all over you before you can say WTF!
 
Facts. You have to be able to put up points, force mistakes and play good situational defense. Last Natty won without elite wh play was in 2017.

For us to be elite, we need king to have a 2018 type year. I aspect more to be put on his plate this szn with a full off szn in the system.
 
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You definitely no longer need a dominate defense to win championships, but teams who win it all can usually make the opposing offense become more 1 dimensional by slowing down or even shutting down the run game. But yes, an elite qb & a couple big time receivers has become greatly important and its no coincidence we've been average at best without an elite qb in particular, hopefully TVD or Jake becomes that.
 
MainLineCane said:
Good sentiments

BUT

WITHOUT A GOOD OL the results and performance of skill positions will ALWAYS be hampered and impaired.

Its hard to throw, catch or run in an exceptional way when the defense is all over you before you can say WTF!
Click to expand...

Sure. Which is why you need an OL just good enough.

Look at the LSU team from a few years ago that is maybe the greatest offense of all time.
Did they have an OL taken in the top 3 rounds of the draft? Did any of their OL even make PFF SEC honorable mention? It was a good enough OL, and that’s all you need in today’s game.
 
mossmadness said:
Sure. Which is why you need an OL just good enough.

Look at the LSU team from a few years ago that is maybe the greatest offense of all time.
Did they have an OL taken in the top 3 rounds of the draft? Did any of their OL even make PFF SEC honorable mention? It was a good enough OL, and that’s all you need in today’s game.
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The criteria you selected is NOT what determines whether or not you have a very good OL.

That LSU championship squad was widely considered and recognized to be the very best OL squad that year , winning the Joe Moore Award for Best OL 2019. ...YES even better than perennial #1 selection Bama's.

en.wikipedia.org

Joe Moore Award - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

That LSU 2019-20 Championship squad that protected Joe Burrows that year had three OL players drafted by the NFL. LSU OL Damien Lewis 2nd team All SEC 2020 drafted 3rd Rd; Lloyd Cushenberry drafted in 3rd round , Saahdiq Charles drafted 4th round. All have stuck in the NFL to date

Rarely does an OL squad have that many talents taken by NFL teams in one year. Three draftees combined with winning the Joe Moore Award that same year in itself makes them an above average OL.

So if you're saying that OL was just good enough?...... we simply disagree, because they were definitely considered far above average if not excellent
 
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