- Joined
- Nov 6, 2011
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- 3,912
Maryland was shellshocked after the Florida State game and underachieved for a month. They happened to wake up today. We're still in the funk and we've lost important players. I just watched College Gameday from this morning. Herbstreit probably summarized best, and this was before the game, "I don't think Miami cares anymore."
Often it's as simple as that, effort or lack of effort, and all the technical analysis is out the window.
My opinion is that we are simply going in the wrong direction on offense and it impacts the team as a whole. These are not separate entities. In the 4th quarter at North Carolina we masked our weaknesses and took on the mantra of a more physical team by running the ball, cleansing the entire team. Since that point, starting with North Carolina, our rushing attempts have been 45-40-29-24-29. If that number were maintained in the 40+ range, we'd be more physical, more competitive, the defense would not be as worn out or discouraged, and the overall talent level would not be condemned to this degree.
I can't even remember the last time we had three consecutive games with fewer than 30 rushes. I know it hasn't been any time in recent years. Yet nobody is talking about it at all. I guess we're supposed to allow Duke to play the bully role with 52 rushes and only 24 passes, while we take our 17-7 first quarter lead and somehow turn that into 29 runs and 49 passes. Wonderful. Brilliant. And while we're at it, let's make sure plenty of those passes, particularly the vital ones on third down, are out of wimpy empty backfield sets.
Our talent level at this point is so fragile that you have to do the right thing across the board. I attended that North Carolina game and thought we had figured it out in the 4th quarter. We'll probably draw a poor matchup in the bowl and be toyed with. Against the next two opponents it should be basic and physical and run oriented, as a lesson toward next season if nothing else. The same problems will show up in 2014, if likely to lesser degree. Our defensive line and front seven talent won't magically soar next season, no matter the incoming class.
More than anything, I want to make sure I'm the number one opponent of empty sets. With a quarterback and passing game on our level, it's not sophisticated, it's congestion. Drive halting frail congestion.
Accidentally " liked" the post. Meant to Neg it.
This is absolute Bullsh*t,
Blame the offense for sh*t defense.
The scheme is to blame for getting the defense tired, not the offense.
Offense must play in the manner best fit to score points, that's it.
The defensive scheme gives the opponent first down after first down hoping to squeeze windows in the red zone.
If we were more aggressive we would either force more turnovers, get off the field faster or the opponent would score faster.
We would get the ball back to our best unit...the offense and the defense would not be tired and worn out.
Wake hat a 6 minute drive early in that game. Ridiculous. Has nothing to do with the offense. ZERO.