another optimistic rant for those losing hope...

[Ramble1885]

I did one of these after the UL loss. I feel like with all the negativity in here (and I'm not saying it's wrong to be mad, we played poorly.) I need to vent and give y'all some hope and optimism.

First off, let's just imagine the worst case scenario. King doesn't come back, we lose the last three, go 5-7 and miss the bowl game. Would that suck? Yes. (it would be 2017 all over again) But one must consider that the preseason expectation for this team from the pundits was 5 wins. With King and Jamal having a chance to come back next year (I say a chance because you never know with the portal.) and Petty for the moment still committed, 2025 looks like it could be a very fun season.

AND as for this season, with the bye week to rest, watch film and recover, there's a good chance King and Efford heal up. Last time we had a bye week it allowed Jamal to get back to 100%, and look how he played vs Duke and UNC. And even if King doesn't play, people in here forget that Key beat Drake Maye's UNC team in 2022 with ZACH GIBSON as his starting guy. Miami will be tough no matter what, but they're beatable, we just would need to play mistake free ball. NC State should be winnable as well, they don't have an offense and it's a Thursday nighter.

Does the losing streak suck? Yes. But the season is NOT over. Also, shootyhoops starts in less than 10 days. If you are free Wednesday 11/6 come on down to McCamish for the opener

 

[tmhunter52]

I did one of these after the UL loss. I feel like with all the negativity in here (and I'm not saying it's wrong to be mad, we played poorly.) I need to vent and give y'all some hope and optimism.

First off, let's just imagine the worst case scenario. King doesn't come back, we lose the last three, go 5-7 and miss the bowl game. Would that suck? Yes. (it would be 2017 all over again) But one must consider that the preseason expectation for this team from the pundits was 5 wins. With King and Jamal having a chance to come back next year (I say a chance because you never know with the portal.) and Petty for the moment still committed, 2025 looks like it could be a very fun season.

AND as for this season, with the bye week to rest, watch film and recover, there's a good chance King and Efford heal up. Last time we had a bye week it allowed Jamal to get back to 100%, and look how he played vs Duke and UNC. And even if King doesn't play, people in here forget that Key beat Drake Maye's UNC team in 2022 with ZACH GIBSON as his starting guy. Miami will be tough no matter what, but they're beatable, we just would need to play mistake free ball. NC State should be winnable as well, they don't have an offense and it's a Thursday nighter.

Does the losing streak suck? Yes. But the season is NOT over. Also, shootyhoops starts in less than 10 days. If you are free Wednesday 11/6 come on down to McCamish for the opener

Sorry, but I do not feel any better.

 

[RamblinCharger]

The main disappointing to me about this year is the offense. WR, OL, and Buster have all disappointed. Defense is improving, and I think STs will turn around. Most of the issues on this team come down to needing more talent and depth. Key is a very solid recruiter. I'm still optimistic about next year. We need to hit the portal hard for some key additions at OL, DL, LB, and maybe a WR as well that has a bigger body that can run routes. The loss to Syracuse is the one that still bothers me. Just a terrible game plan in that one. Otherwise I thought this was a 6-6 or 7-5 schedule. We can still get there. We probably beat VT with Haynes King, but need to develop Philo quickly for the future.

 

[g0lftime]

I think we need a RB that is bigger than 190 lbs and can break tackles and get yards after contact. Running JH inside the tackles too much is asking for injury even if not season ending. JH needs a crease to get yards and is really good in space. IMO Dontae made a difference last year when he got back into the rotation. We have used Pyron in a lot of goal line plays. Everyone in the stadium knew he was going to run it up the middle when he came in. He has the size needed to run it inside for short yardage. Put a big RB in there with him---- but oh yeah we don't have one.

 

[jgtengineer]

I think we need a RB that is bigger than 190 lbs and can break tackles and get yards after contact. Running JH inside the tackles too much is asking for injury even if not season ending. JH needs a crease to get yards and is really good in space. IMO Dontae made a difference last year when he got back into the rotation. We have used Pyron in a lot of goal line plays. Everyone in the stadium knew he was going to run it up the middle when he came in. He has the size needed to run it inside for short yardage. Put a big RB in there with him---- but oh yeah we don't have one.

We really do need a power back. Thats the role Dontae filled last year when he came back from his injury. I have to wonder if boyd wouldn't be a good option he's fast, his hands obviously aren't up to par as a recviever or tight end but I bet he could line up in the I behind Harrison More at fullback and just power over someone.

 

[Yaller Jacket]

My optimism is entirely dependent on King ANF Efford getting healthy.

 

[Ramble1885]

My optimism is entirely dependent on King ANF Efford getting healthy.

I think you speak for all of us lol

 

[TromboneJacket]

My biggest shock has been the performance of the OL. By the end of last year, they were executing with precision and power, pushing around some very talented fronts. This year, I’ve seen some pretty egregious whiffs that have cost us drives. The only new starter should be Rutledge. How did an OL returning 4/5 starters manage to regress so much?

With the WR regression, I’m disappointed, but that can be chalked up to a change in coaching staff. I simply can’t explain any of the other position groups on offense getting worse. Coach Key has some tough decisions ahead of him in the offseason.

 

[gtee91]

My optimism is entirely dependent on King ANF Efford getting healthy.

The defense was able to adjust and be less bad as they went along but without HK the offense is hapless. So no, really do not see much cause for any optimism...the odds of his miracle cure and zero rust are up there

 

[g0lftime]

My biggest shock has been the performance of the OL. By the end of last year, they were executing with precision and power, pushing around some very talented fronts. This year, I’ve seen some pretty egregious whiffs that have cost us drives. The only new starter should be Rutledge. How did an OL returning 4/5 starters manage to regress so much?

With the WR regression, I’m disappointed, but that can be chalked up to a change in coaching staff. I simply can’t explain any of the other position groups on offense getting worse. Coach Key has some tough decisions ahead of him in the offseason.

IMO the OL is as good or maybe a little better in pass protect this year. They have done a good job avoiding sacks. Our run blocking is not as effective for what I believe are 2 big reasons:
1. Dontae Smith is no longer here
2. HK is injured.
He is a principle running threat who keeps the LB's and secondary honest.
HK also may have been playing hurt longer than we suspected.

 

[stinger78]

My church just delivered two 26-foot box trucks of relief supplies to Asheville. My grandson got over his case of infant RSV. My surgically repaired hip is doing better and better. My cat likes his probiotic.

I am blessed… and good with life right now regardless of how GT finishes this season. It’s all in perspective.

 

[iceeater1969]

My church just delivered two 26-foot box trucks of relief supplies to Asheville. My grandson got over his case of infant RSV. My surgically repaired hip is doing better and better. My cat likes his probiotic.

I am blessed… and good with life right now regardless of how GT finishes this season. It’s all in perspective.

Same here!
Our Church is collecting coats for chilly NC.
Keep on pushing.

 

[stinger78]

Same here!
Our Church is collecting coats for chilly NC.
Keep on pushing.

There’s more coming!

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

I agree with the OP. However, injuries will always happen. What if we have everything in place for 2025 and King goes down 2 weeks before opening day? Should we simply expect to tank the season? That’s my main issue right now. I don’t care if we lose, but I do care if we look like a solid team. We simply don’t. We have a veteran backup QB who looked unprepared. That’s entirely on the coaching staff. Losing a QB, WR, RB, LB shouldn’t completely tank a season.

 

[Thwg777]

I agree with the OP. However, injuries will always happen. What if we have everything in place for 2025 and King goes down 2 weeks before opening day? Should we simply expect to tank the season? That’s my main issue right now. I don’t care if we lose, but I do care if we look like a solid team. We simply don’t. We have a veteran backup QB who looked unprepared. That’s entirely on the coaching staff. Losing a QB, WR, RB, LB shouldn’t completely tank a season.

Agree and in the spectrum of excuses, losing a prominent player mid-game seems a lot dicier than knowing week(s) in advance of their absence.

 

[RonJohn]

My biggest shock has been the performance of the OL. By the end of last year, they were executing with precision and power, pushing around some very talented fronts. This year, I’ve seen some pretty egregious whiffs that have cost us drives. The only new starter should be Rutledge. How did an OL returning 4/5 starters manage to regress so much?

With the WR regression, I’m disappointed, but that can be chalked up to a change in coaching staff. I simply can’t explain any of the other position groups on offense getting worse. Coach Key has some tough decisions ahead of him in the offseason.

Based on the PFF grades, the OL and DL both played well. The OL was better at pass blocking than run blocking, but the run blocking scores are average to good. The skill positions are what looked bad based on those grades.

We know that there are several players missing because of injuries, but I think there are several players on the field who are beat up. When Haynes went to the locker room during the game, GT was down to Carrie and a walk-on as the only available options at RB. Quinlan said in his YouTube show last night that Shelly wasn't supposed to play much because he is either sick or injured, but when a DB was knocked out of the game he had to play every remaining snap. I am just guessing, but I think Pyron was probably dinged up or sick. Philo played well when he entered the game, but how much of the offense does he know well at this point?

I think the buy week will be very good for the team. Hopefully we will get starters back, and guys that have been playing at less then 90% health will be able to get back to full speed. If the LBs and offensive skill players can start playing well, it will look much different.

 

[gte447f]

Most backup qb’s are backups for a reason. You should expect to see a significant drop off if they have to play extended time. I don’t see how that’s on the coaches.

 

[RonJohn]

I agree with the OP. However, injuries will always happen. What if we have everything in place for 2025 and King goes down 2 weeks before opening day? Should we simply expect to tank the season? That’s my main issue right now. I don’t care if we lose, but I do care if we look like a solid team. We simply don’t. We have a veteran backup QB who looked unprepared. That’s entirely on the coaching staff. Losing a QB, WR, RB, LB shouldn’t completely tank a season.

I might be wrong, but it looked like Pyron was either still banged up from the ND game, or sick on Saturday. If so, we had a hampered 2nd string QB, and a true freshman who probably doesn't know the entire playbook. At RB, we weren't down 1 RB. At one point in the game we only had two RBs available. The 3rd or 4th string guy at the beginning of the season, and a walk-on. At LB we are only down one player, but the defense was pretty stout on Saturday. The defense held VT to 233 total offensive yards. That should be good enough to win. QB and RB are the positions that are hurting the team at the moment, and they are not down 1 player. QB 1 is out, and QB 2 is sick/injured I believe. RB 1 is sick/injured. RB 2 is out. RB 3 is out. RB 4 is playing. RB 5 is out.

 

[roadkill]

IMO the OL is as good or maybe a little better in pass protect this year. They have done a good job avoiding sacks. Our run blocking is not as effective for what I believe are 2 big reasons:
1. Dontae Smith is no longer here
2. HK is injured.
He is a principle running threat who keeps the LB's and secondary honest.
HK also may have been playing hurt longer than we suspected.

Add - 3. Our starting RB has been injured, ypc drops, makes our run blocking look worse.

 

[roadkill]

I might be wrong, but it looked like Pyron was either still banged up from the ND game, or sick on Saturday. If so, we had a hampered 2nd string QB, and a true freshman who probably doesn't know the entire playbook. At RB, we weren't down 1 RB. At one point in the game we only had two RBs available. The 3rd or 4th string guy at the beginning of the season, and a walk-on. At LB we are only down one player, but the defense was pretty stout on Saturday. The defense held VT to 233 total offensive yards. That should be good enough to win. QB and RB are the positions that are hurting the team at the moment, and they are not down 1 player. QB 1 is out, and QB 2 is sick/injured I believe. RB 1 is sick/injured. RB 2 is out. RB 3 is out. RB 4 is playing. RB 5 is out.

I made some relevant comments about Zack in the VT post-game thread. We are also down several TE's, which has more than a slight impact in Buster's offense.