AE 87's Pre-Spring Retrospect & Prospect (fwiw)

[GlennW]

It's the off-season. It's the time for us fans to critically evaluate what we saw, project where we'll be and what's the best way to get there. That's what we do. Do any of us have the credentials to actually do this? Probably not. But it's a fanboard and that's what happens on fanboards during the off-season. If you don't like it, move along.

That being said, it can be taken too far. Personal attacks are a no-no, criticism of individual and team performance isn't. As DCS stated, if we want to compete for a playoff seat, then our defense is going to have to perform much better than it did in 2014. It was "good enough" at times and "opportunistic enough" to get the job done most of the time. If our defense effectiveness was comparable to our offense, we would have been in the playoff last year.

We have holes in our defense. That's a fact. We have holes in our offense. That too is a fact. If you're not interested in a critical assessment of the state of our team and what we need to do to make it better next year, then this place is going to drive you crazy. This site is very optimistic when it comes to discussing the future of GT Football. We all love what the team accomplished. But NSD is passed and we're going to discuss what went wrong until Spring Ball. And then we're going to discuss how next year is going to be better/worse based on what we saw in Spring Ball. That's just the way it works.

Timing is everything...

Point being:

1) our football team just went 11-3, beating VA Tech, Miami, Clemson, & UGA, on their way to winning the ACC Coastal Division and a Top 10 Ranking;

2) we won the Orange Bowl, beating an SEC West team; a team that had been ranked #1 in the Country several weeks of the regular season;

3) we had a tremendous amount of positive press; are on virtually every preseason Top 25 list, and are even being picked by some to win the ACC next season and play in the Peach Bowl; and

4) we just signed our best recruiting class since Paul Johnson has been Head Coach at GA Tech.

So when I say I'm disappointed that people are finding fault with the 2014 team so soon after what they just accomplished, it's from a perspective that most of you don't have. Take that for what it's worth, if anything, if you even care. I respect your opinions; I'm just disappointed so many of you are disrespecting the team.

 

[AE 87]

You're #1 @GlennW

 

[forensicbuzz]

Timing is everything...

Point being:

1) our football team just went 11-3, beating VA Tech, Miami, Clemson, & UGA, on their way to winning the ACC Coastal Division and a Top 10 Ranking;

2) we won the Orange Bowl, beating an SEC West team; a team that had been ranked #1 in the Country several weeks of the regular season;

3) we had a tremendous amount of positive press; are on virtually every preseason Top 25 list, and are even being picked by some to win the ACC next season and play in the Peach Bowl; and

4) we just signed our best recruiting class since Paul Johnson has been Head Coach at GA Tech.

So when I say I'm disappointed that people are finding fault with the 2014 team so soon after what they just accomplished, it's from a perspective that most of you don't have. Take that for what it's worth, if anything, if you even care. I respect your opinions; I'm just disappointed so many of you are disrespecting the team.

I think you probably need to re-evaluate your perspective. Outside of a few trolls, I don't think anyone on this board "disrespects the team." To be critical of performance and truly intraspective about what we did well and what we didn't do well isn't disrespect. The season has been over for six weeks or so now. I think there's been a great deal of back slapping and accolades handed out. Now is the time when erudite fans start to pick apart what we did well , what we didn't do so well and opine about remedies. Also, many discussions will revolve around who we've lost, what that means to the team, who's going to step in to those big shoes. Many of us are engineers...it's in our blood to tinker.

Come May/June, when all this has been talked out, there will be many more threads on uniforms, color schemes, rule-change conspiracies, etc.

 

[GlennW]

I think you probably need to re-evaluate your perspective. Outside of a few trolls, I don't think anyone on this board "disrespects the team." To be critical of performance and truly intraspective about what we did well and what we didn't do well isn't disrespect. The season has been over for six weeks or so now. I think there's been a great deal of back slapping and accolades handed out. Now is the time when erudite fans start to pick apart what we did well , what we didn't do so well and opine about remedies. Also, many discussions will revolve around who we've lost, what that means to the team, who's going to step in to those big shoes. Many of us are engineers...it's in our blood to tinker.

Come May/June, when all this has been talked out, there will be many more threads on uniforms, color schemes, rule-change conspiracies, etc.

"Reevaluate" MY perspective? How many people on this board Lettered with the GA Tech Football Team BESIDES me? I think if anyone has a realistic perspective about how the players and coaches might feel about something like this it IS me. Like I said, I respect everyones' opinion on this board, and I'll fight for everyones' right to speak their mind, however, I think I also have the right to tell all of you how I feel, and this is precisely what I did.

 

[Eric]

@GlennW

@Ibeeballin did.

 

[forensicbuzz]

"Reevaluate" MY perspective? How many people on this board Lettered with the GA Tech Football Team BESIDES me? I think if anyone has a realistic perspective about how the players and coaches might feel about something like this it IS me. Like I said, I respect everyones' opinion on this board, and I'll fight for everyones' right to speak their mind, however, I think I also have the right to tell all of you how I feel, and this is precisely what I did.

I think you misunderstood what I'm saying. I'm not saying that your view point needs to be adjusted, just how you're interpretting what others are saying. Instead of seeing the post as being disrespectful to the players and the team, maybe it's merely a critique of our current situation. I think I can honestly say that we all love and respect the SA's that play for Tech. That being said, we're all pretty intelligent people, who are interested in GT being better. Our discussions are generally to that aim, not to denegrate our players or coaches (we leave that to other boards). If you're a former player, then you, more than almost all of us, understand the comments and could provide insight in the efficacy of these comments.

I think if you look at the posters on this board, you'll see a wide range of fans, from the very knowledgeable to the less knowledgeable. At times, some of the comments clearly show a lack of understanding of the system or how things work. Other posters may make critical, but cogent, points. I appreciate what former players like you and @Ibeeballin, @vamosjackets and others bring to this board. You can provide a perspective most boards don't have, and that's invaluable to me as a mere fan (only played FB in highschool, so my first-hand knowledge is very limited).

 

[GlennW]

@GlennW

@Ibeeballin did.

Great, then perhaps he might know how I personally feel and can agree or disagree (personally, I could care less either way because, as I said, I respect everyones' personal opinion and in this case, I'm speaking from mine).

 

[AE 87]

"Reevaluate" MY perspective? How many people on this board Lettered with the GA Tech Football Team BESIDES me? I think if anyone has a realistic perspective about how the players and coaches might feel about something like this it IS me. Like I said, I respect everyones' opinion on this board, and I'll fight for everyones' right to speak their mind, however, I think I also have the right to tell all of you how I feel, and this is precisely what I did.

Fwiw, I want you to read the following things you said in this thread and see if you can understand how it feels like you are arguing against my right to speak my mind.

Why would you start to bring up any negativity so soon about a team that just beat VA Tech, Miami, Clemson, UGA, and Miss State (in the Orange Bowl no less), and lost the ACC Championship game to FSU by just 2 points, and ending up Nationally ranked in the Top 10 in the Country?

Why can't you just be happy for even a few lousy months?

... [snip] ...
I have to say how frustrating it is to hear criticism so soon after a stellar season, and I say this as someone who spent time in the football locker room with the guys under BDS. You think what happens on the field is easy?
... [snip] ...

My point is why even start a thread like this now; it's insulting to the team? Why can't our fans just enjoy a great season? Are we EVER satisfied?

My comments weren't directed specifically at you, but were made because of this specific thread, and others who continued in the same vein.

I made the comments because I'm extremely disappointed that such a short time after our team exceeded virtually everyone's expectations so spectacularly, rather than just sitting back and savoring the experience, and letting the players enjoy the fruits of their labor, some fans are already starting to look for things they did wrong, or could have done better.

I don't know how many of you realize it, but 11 win seasons on our campus don't come around too often, and they should be celebrated, not criticized. Just one man's opinion who spent time in that locker room many years ago.

Now, if you had posted once, that in your opinion discussions of the team weaknesses is disrespectful to a team after a great season, then you would have been heard as just expressing your opinion. In fact, I didn't respond to your first post for that reason. However, you repeated several times that you feel opinions like mine shouldn't be heard and that discussions like I wanted shouldn't be had. Whether you want to admit it or not, that discloses that you are not someone who wants others to be able to express their opinion. When you question whether people know how hard it is to win 11 games a few times, you risk being heard as a condescending jerk, imo (and many on here will say it takes one to know one).

Fwiw, I think I get you. I remember after the Duke game in 2013, we won pretty handily 38-14, and Vad had a pretty good game throwing 4 TD passess. However, I remember that my lingering impression was that we still left a lot of points and plays on the field, that there was still room for improvement. I bring up that game because CPJ made similar comments to my observations right after the game, but when Vad left at the end of the season he told radio interviewers something to the effect that he was disappointed CPJ didn't see the Duke game as good enough. So, I get that some players in the locker room may not be interested in seeing areas in need of improvement as much as being told how great they are.

However, I get a different impression from this team. They give the impression of a bunch of guys who aren't satisfied with good. They want to be great. They don't need a loser on a message forum to tell them about 3rd down conversion % allowed and yards/play allowed. They know it. They saw the tape after every game.

Read my OP again, and you'll see that I didn't call any player out. I talked about the performance of the unit based on stats that I cited. I offered it for discussion. If you don't like this discussion topic at this time, then say so and move on, if you're really someone who respects the rights of others to express their opinion. If you're not such a person, then perhaps a message board isn't a good place for you to spend your time.

 

[GlennW]

No, I said I respect everyones' opinion, and I do. What I also said that I was disappointed that this thread was started and others joined in and added to it. That is MY opinion.

 

[AE 87]

No, I said I respect everyones' opinion, and I do. What I also said that I was disappointed that this thread was started and others joined in and added to it. That is MY opinion.

Well why didn't you just say that and let the thread continue? Why did you feel the need to repeat your opinion four or five times if your point wasn't to stop the thread, i.e. stop others from expressing their opinion?

Listen, I seriously hope you're proud of yourself. I wanted to have a discussion about retrospect and prospect, and you've successfully stopped that discussion from happening. People are not expressing their opinions on the topic I raised. You have successfully stifled people from expressing their opinion, which was your point. Own it.

 

[Eastman]

Candidly, I think if CPJ had written AE 87's opening post, that he would have probably have sounded more critical. While few evaluations are totally objective since they are perspectival, AE 87 didn't criticize specific individuals, IMHO didn't use inflammatory terms and recognized the superlatives of last year, so I didn't see his comments as any more critical that the typical post game CPJ interview.

Last year is in the record books and will long be fondly remembered and I appreciate the sentiment of your concern but don't think such strong criticism was warranted.

 

[Ibeeballin]

Well since I've been summoned, I thought it was a really good analysis other than the opening sentence. 2014 was a great period, but I understand you are doing you a break down.

As far as my perspective, my 2 biggest issue are with the GT fan base/boards is how we diminish our accomplishments yet prop up other teams ( i.e. We could have easily been a 8-4 team in 2014 or we only beat so and so because X was out) and the infamous "GT Paranoia" (i.e. There is no way we can have Back to back great seasons, we can't possibly get those breaks to go our way again) we can and will be great. All-in-all, I enjoy everyone's opinion and different perspective on the program.

 

[AE 87]

Well since I've been summoned, I thought it was a really good analysis other than the opening sentence. 2014 was a great period, but I understand you are doing you a break down.

As far as my perspective, my 2 biggest issue are with the GT fan base/boards is how we diminish our accomplishments yet prop up other teams ( i.e. We could have easily been a 8-4 team in 2014 or we only beat so and so because X was out) and the infamous "GT Paranoia" (i.e. There is no way we can have Back to back great seasons, we can't possibly get those breaks to go our way again) we can and will be great. All-in-all, I enjoy everyone's opinion and different perspective on the program.

Thanks. I see what you mean about my first statement. I didn't mean for it to be negative as much as trying to humorously dial back the meter a bit in order to express my take on our situation. I agree with both your issues, fwiw.

 

[augustabuzz]

@GlennW

@Ibeeballin did.

Also, GT18YJ.

 

[91Wreck]

To get back on topic, I'll go ahead and say right now I think JHD will be just as impactful on the defense next year as JT was on the offense last year. I really think he could have that much of an impact. Of course no one was expecting JT to do the things he did last offseason, but I think having one dominant DT, assuming he and the other DL's stay healthy, can have a tremendous impact on the entire defensive performance. It's the ripple effect, JHD is the stone that falls in the pond creating the expanding wave.

If you are right about JHD, then we will have a legitimate shot at the playoffs next season.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

I agree with your analysis, but I'm a little more worried than you with our Abacks. Blocking the edge, a critical component in our O, was a strong suit last year and a welcomed change. I hope we don't drop a notch or two in that department with the noobs.

Plus handling the ball, fumbles, pass routes, etc. The little things that go unnoticed.

 

[Whiskey_Clear]

Based on our results in '14...............I'm still farting rainbows (though my wife disagrees).

 

[Ggee87]

No, I said I respect everyones' opinion, and I do. What I also said that I was disappointed that this thread was started and others joined in and added to it. That is MY opinion.

Just give it a rest. This is a message board about GT athletics. There's only so many threads you can create about how great we played this year. This wasn't a negative post in anyway. We respect and appreciate our SAs commitment to GT. That is stated over and over in threads. It's not out of bounds to discuss last year's issues and how we can improve where we struggled. Don't be so sensitive.

 

[potatohead]

"Reevaluate" MY perspective? How many people on this board Lettered with the GA Tech Football Team BESIDES me? I think if anyone has a realistic perspective about how the players and coaches might feel about something like this it IS me. Like I said, I respect everyones' opinion on this board, and I'll fight for everyones' right to speak their mind, however, I think I also have the right to tell all of you how I feel, and this is precisely what I did.

You must've been a treat in film.

"But coach, we won! Why are you pointing out our mistakes or where we can improve? We won! Why can't you ever be happy?!"

This a message board, fans talk. No win, no season, no team is ever perfect. It's hardly personal. Since you lettered, you should go to the letter winners club during the game, there isn't a more critical, competitive group of fans in the stadium.

 

[Declinometer]

Best part of this was when you said "farting rainbows" it got me crackin up

Maybe he should eat more Skittles