Random Observations on the Ga Tech Game

[Cajuncane]

I was wondering why Cam doesn't run more? Especially when it's like three seconds, step up and run. The play where he fumbled. Step up and run.
Our short yardage calls today were horrible. Use #9 as our lead blocker and bust it up there for a yard.
We got way to complicated instead of using our big backs and run blockers.

I think it’s for the same reason he doesn’t throw to check down receivers….he wants to wait and see if something opens up downfield so he can throw that stupendous throw that everyone can ooooh and ahhh about.
I’ve said it for weeks that since he went to the top or near the top of the Heisman race he seems to disdain throwing anything but oooh and aaah passes…jmo

 

[JHallCanes]

I think it’s for the same reason he doesn’t throw to check down receivers….he wants to wait and see if something opens up downfield so he can throw that stupendous throw that everyone can ooooh and ahhh about.
I’ve said it for weeks that since he went to the top or near the top of the Heisman race he seems to disdain throwing anything but oooh and aaah passes…jmo

Nah he did it since Week 1

It’s who he is

 

[LPK2006]

Agreed. He shouldn't be a "running QB", but he could make so many more plays and 1st downs running but he just doesn't. He needs to run similar to Klubnick, who has had a lot of impactful runs when the opportunity is there

He needs to count to 3. If his first read, then 2nd isn't there....he needs to take off and run. We're leaving so many yards on the table. I feel like he was doing a better job of this against Florida and earlier in the year...

 

[brock]

Ward to restrepo should have been an easy td here.



Had another throw to arroyo that was wide open for a td to the middle of the field but the ball went someone where else in the first quarter.

And there was a check down open where the fumble happened to the end of the game

I love Cam and all he’s done this year but he has to take what the defense gives you too

 

[grover]

My critical observations:

* Meesh isn't good enough. To me he is a poor man's Corey Flagg of the secondary, because not only is he too slow, takes bad angles and misses tackles, he also fails to orchestrate the secondary. Replace him with ZP.
* Guidry: I thought I was getting a better version of Manny with Guidry, but I was wrong. He clearly knows how to scheme. But after 9 games he still hadn't adapted his play calling to his personnel, or worse, he plays favorites. Meesh can't handle free safety, he's too slow and stiff, has no range. So why on earth are you making him your deep cover? Either Williams or ZP need to be out there. Kiko clearly cannot defend the pass against faster RBs and TEs. So why on earth are you allowing him to be isolated in space?
* Dawson: I agree with many on here that his run plays are among the least innovative I've seen. I also think his tight and bunch formations are way overplayed. I also don't understand why we didn't run Allen, CJ or Lyle at all. I love Martinez and Fletcher. But some lightning would have complemented their thunder.
* Brown continues to be unreliable at critical moments in the game. I love his blocking and his enthusiasm. But he has to catch that TD pass and 1st down conversion pass. Horton, X, and George all make those catches.
* Baron: obviously he's playing hurt. He was a disrupter early in the season, but was a liability these past few games. There is no reason to run him so much. Bryant, Mesidor and our freshmen phenoms could all have taken some of his snaps.
Ward: already been said by a number of other posters. I feel like he's matured a ton over the course of this season. But that last play is a perfect example of him trying to do too much. He wins that game if he doesn't think he has to win it all in one throw.

Love this team. Sky is still the limit. But Mario and his coordinators need to take stock and recognize where they are repeatedly coming up short. Stop making the same mistakes over and over and over again.

 

[The_tbj]

Cam Ward plays QB like a RB that’s always trying to hit the home run by bouncing outside - he’s been good enough against bad enough teams, that most of the time, it works.

But when it doesn't work it’s really bad and you get lots of negative plays.

It’s like having a young Saquan as your QB and it’s why we have electric spurts of offense that seem to always bookend along long lulls on offense.

When you have the upper hand with talent, as we often do on offense, it’s better to just play fundamentally sound football and not look for the home run - the home runs will be there regardless.

This style of play is both why we have had to come back in so many games but also why we’ve been able to come back in so many games - we just to this point should not have been down in the first place.

In my opinion over the bye week, the coaches need to find a way to have cam get the ball out of his hand quicker more consistently.

When you have the run game we have, taking the check downs in the passing game is a no brainer. Stay ahead of the sticks and sustain drives.

This teams weakness is the defense, we are good enough on offense to be a team that not only scores a lot but also possesses the ball for long periods of time.