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What did we know coming out of camp 2013:
There were significant fumble reports coming out of camp, which replayed in the open scrimmages. CPJ was downplaying Vad as a passer by consistently saying there was a difference between a strong arm and a good passer. Fans knew that we had the passer we needed, but I don’t recall much coming out of summer camp about passing other than Byerly’s pass to Smelter. I also found it interesting that Byerly was put in to help the defense practice pass defense in the open scrimmage.
Vad revealed he had significant running ability in 2013 and the fans expected to see the same in 2014. There was an expectation to have a “Vad 2012 UNC” game output in 2013. I also remember stating one of Vad’s strong points was making something from nothing. But, there was not enough evidence coming out of camp to back the high expectations of the fans. The fans had enough evidence of Vad’s athleticism from 2012.
The OL was an expected strong position before camp 2013. The OL came out of camp with the starting center and guard hurt but able to play hurt, and a starting OT and the backup center out injured for what turned into the rest of the season. There was much realignment at the last minute to get the best players on the field, even if some had to play through pain.
WR was a significant spot of concern with Hill gone to the NFL, Autry’s injured leg, and others that left the program. Smelter looked to be a good addition as he seemed to be a great athlete, but how much could we expect from someone who had not played football in several years, much less at D1 level. The other WRs still needed to be proven.
Everyone was worried about ABacks as the lead Aback Orwin Smith had graduated. There was a stable of experienced players, but none were proven for high yardage. Some fans recognized Godhigh for his flashes of athleticism and knew we had someone to step up, but no proven 600 to 800 yard back.
B Back was expected to be solid. The team had solid players in Sims and Laskey with Snoddy as a backup.
Ted Roof was installing a new system. What could we expect from a new system in the first year? Attaochu was changing to DE from LB and was going to have a learning curve. Many wondered how long Attaochu would need to get up to speed in the new position. Also, I. Johnson, the starting strong safety, was not healed enough to go for 2013.
We had an exciting new kicker, and Golden to return punts and KO. Special teams looked to be strong in 2013.
Spring is eternal and many hoped that Vad would carry the 2013 team. A few new pistol formations had many excited. A combination of lack of commitment to the option, interceptions, fumbles, false starts, difficulties in pass defense and an injured or young OL led to a 7 and 6 season.
Reading the Current Tea Leaves:
Hindsight is 20/20. Vad’s pass it as far down field as possible resulted in an interception in the spring game 2012. This was relived twice in 2013 game play.
Vad came in the 3rd series of the 2012 UNC game and started with 0 of 3 passes complete. The third pass had an interference call that likely would not have caused a change in the outcome of the incompletion. The 1st down outcome kept Vad in the game and set the course of history and expectations. Vad played well but was gassed and dead legged by the last two processions. The 2012 bowl game also had some interesting hindsight and learning’s. Vad ended three drives by not trusting the system, a fumble, and an interception. These three series brought Tevin back into the game. Examining Vad’s 2012 work is closely reveals his dependence on his athleticism versus the offense as a whole. You can only play so many roll outs before the team stops them in the next game. CPJ knew what the fans did not. He knew Vad was a good athlete that was not yet ready to run the option offense.
What can we look back and see about JT and Byerly. JT was said to run the option at least as good if not better than Vad. He had some questionable pitches that a more experienced QB might have not attempted. JT is not afraid of risks. The question becomes will he know when to take the risk and when to go down with the ball in 2014. JT is quick as quick indeed, but the speed comes at the cost of coming down easily. JT also had a high interception to pass ratio in 2013 with very limited time as QB. One thing is certain, there was not one play where JT where he does not trust the system and reverse the play.
Byerly played very little. His play was solid with flashes and no fumbles in 2013. Byerly’s spring game had a significant fumble issue. Was this fumble issue just the heavy rain? He had one fumble during the open summer scrimmage pointing to positive improvements. Byerly has proven to be a strong runner and is able run the system efficiently. Again, there is not one play where he does not trust the system and reverse the play.
I believe JT and Byerly to be better for CPJ’s system than last years QB. They both seem steady on the field and have an eye for reading the option. I also surmise they may not have as strong an arm as last years QB, but they may be better passers.
The OL is pretty set on starters and all seem to be healthy. There are some concerns at one of the OT spot. The scrimmage and spring game showed there has been some improvement in this position. OT depth is a concern with freshman Klock as backup to Chamberlain (assuming Joe is hurt enough not to be able to press him for the starting spot). OG depth is good with DeVine ready to go and freshman Brown ready to play if needed. Center is strong with 2 deep along with revelations that freshman Marshal might be ready this season if needed. This 2014 OL team seems young yet in better over all shape than the playing injured and out of position 2013 OL.
WR is a strength with proven players in Smelter, Summers, and Waller. They have the ability to block and receive.
A Back reports are good coming out of camp 2014. Zenon has stepped up and we have reports of good blocking from Bostic. Perkin’s had some great play reports. Days had very little A Back publicity but he is now considered A Back, B Back and Q Back.
The BB has Laskey to look to for experience and the ability to make yards at least as good as 2013 and possibly better. Connors is the backup that I hope proves to be Godhigh of 2014 in the run. Camp was very devoid of information concerning Connors. I wonder if blocking ability is the key issue for Connors as a true backup. Leggett is a Freshman that has had a lot of publicity out of camp. The assumption is that Leggett can run, but again there is no news on blocking skills. The big camp development is Days being used at B back. I suspect he is there for depth and for blocking.
The defense had some bright spots with reports of good play from Lynn Griffin and the Austin twins. PJ Davis and Keshum Freeman have been singled out for their motors as both will make tackles coming from the other side of the field.
We know we have some solid experienced players in Golden, Johnson, Nealy, and Gotsis.
The biggest concern lies with the DL depth. Pat got some good comments out of camp and looks to be first off the bench. Kallon’s comments from coaches also improved from the past. What do we really know here?
The defense was never able to completely stuff the offense in camp. There were many series in a row that ended quickly in the start of practice. The key read here is the ability of the offense to get things going as the defense tires.
Conclusions:
What can I interpret from the information? There is no doubt that we have QBs ready to run the option and an offense practiced to defend the gap blitz. The QB will still be sacked and plays blown up, but the goal is to make this a lot less likely than in 2013. We have running backs that can make good yardage in the run and WR that can block as well as make receptions. The OL is healthy with some good depth. I expect this offense to be as good as or better than anything we have seen to date. Give me a tall glass of offensive Kool Aid please.
The defense is the biggest question mark in prediction. There are too many new players at one of the CB, both DEs, one LB spot, and one DT spot. I expect that the second year in Roof’s system to show defensive improvements with the return of Johnson helping to counter the loss of Attaochu and Thomas. Can GT stop the power run? Will pass defense improve?
My prediction is that the defense will hold to 2013 performance level and the offense will play at to or above GT's current best year.
Go Jackets!
There were significant fumble reports coming out of camp, which replayed in the open scrimmages. CPJ was downplaying Vad as a passer by consistently saying there was a difference between a strong arm and a good passer. Fans knew that we had the passer we needed, but I don’t recall much coming out of summer camp about passing other than Byerly’s pass to Smelter. I also found it interesting that Byerly was put in to help the defense practice pass defense in the open scrimmage.
Vad revealed he had significant running ability in 2013 and the fans expected to see the same in 2014. There was an expectation to have a “Vad 2012 UNC” game output in 2013. I also remember stating one of Vad’s strong points was making something from nothing. But, there was not enough evidence coming out of camp to back the high expectations of the fans. The fans had enough evidence of Vad’s athleticism from 2012.
The OL was an expected strong position before camp 2013. The OL came out of camp with the starting center and guard hurt but able to play hurt, and a starting OT and the backup center out injured for what turned into the rest of the season. There was much realignment at the last minute to get the best players on the field, even if some had to play through pain.
WR was a significant spot of concern with Hill gone to the NFL, Autry’s injured leg, and others that left the program. Smelter looked to be a good addition as he seemed to be a great athlete, but how much could we expect from someone who had not played football in several years, much less at D1 level. The other WRs still needed to be proven.
Everyone was worried about ABacks as the lead Aback Orwin Smith had graduated. There was a stable of experienced players, but none were proven for high yardage. Some fans recognized Godhigh for his flashes of athleticism and knew we had someone to step up, but no proven 600 to 800 yard back.
B Back was expected to be solid. The team had solid players in Sims and Laskey with Snoddy as a backup.
Ted Roof was installing a new system. What could we expect from a new system in the first year? Attaochu was changing to DE from LB and was going to have a learning curve. Many wondered how long Attaochu would need to get up to speed in the new position. Also, I. Johnson, the starting strong safety, was not healed enough to go for 2013.
We had an exciting new kicker, and Golden to return punts and KO. Special teams looked to be strong in 2013.
Spring is eternal and many hoped that Vad would carry the 2013 team. A few new pistol formations had many excited. A combination of lack of commitment to the option, interceptions, fumbles, false starts, difficulties in pass defense and an injured or young OL led to a 7 and 6 season.
Reading the Current Tea Leaves:
Hindsight is 20/20. Vad’s pass it as far down field as possible resulted in an interception in the spring game 2012. This was relived twice in 2013 game play.
Vad came in the 3rd series of the 2012 UNC game and started with 0 of 3 passes complete. The third pass had an interference call that likely would not have caused a change in the outcome of the incompletion. The 1st down outcome kept Vad in the game and set the course of history and expectations. Vad played well but was gassed and dead legged by the last two processions. The 2012 bowl game also had some interesting hindsight and learning’s. Vad ended three drives by not trusting the system, a fumble, and an interception. These three series brought Tevin back into the game. Examining Vad’s 2012 work is closely reveals his dependence on his athleticism versus the offense as a whole. You can only play so many roll outs before the team stops them in the next game. CPJ knew what the fans did not. He knew Vad was a good athlete that was not yet ready to run the option offense.
What can we look back and see about JT and Byerly. JT was said to run the option at least as good if not better than Vad. He had some questionable pitches that a more experienced QB might have not attempted. JT is not afraid of risks. The question becomes will he know when to take the risk and when to go down with the ball in 2014. JT is quick as quick indeed, but the speed comes at the cost of coming down easily. JT also had a high interception to pass ratio in 2013 with very limited time as QB. One thing is certain, there was not one play where JT where he does not trust the system and reverse the play.
Byerly played very little. His play was solid with flashes and no fumbles in 2013. Byerly’s spring game had a significant fumble issue. Was this fumble issue just the heavy rain? He had one fumble during the open summer scrimmage pointing to positive improvements. Byerly has proven to be a strong runner and is able run the system efficiently. Again, there is not one play where he does not trust the system and reverse the play.
I believe JT and Byerly to be better for CPJ’s system than last years QB. They both seem steady on the field and have an eye for reading the option. I also surmise they may not have as strong an arm as last years QB, but they may be better passers.
The OL is pretty set on starters and all seem to be healthy. There are some concerns at one of the OT spot. The scrimmage and spring game showed there has been some improvement in this position. OT depth is a concern with freshman Klock as backup to Chamberlain (assuming Joe is hurt enough not to be able to press him for the starting spot). OG depth is good with DeVine ready to go and freshman Brown ready to play if needed. Center is strong with 2 deep along with revelations that freshman Marshal might be ready this season if needed. This 2014 OL team seems young yet in better over all shape than the playing injured and out of position 2013 OL.
WR is a strength with proven players in Smelter, Summers, and Waller. They have the ability to block and receive.
A Back reports are good coming out of camp 2014. Zenon has stepped up and we have reports of good blocking from Bostic. Perkin’s had some great play reports. Days had very little A Back publicity but he is now considered A Back, B Back and Q Back.
The BB has Laskey to look to for experience and the ability to make yards at least as good as 2013 and possibly better. Connors is the backup that I hope proves to be Godhigh of 2014 in the run. Camp was very devoid of information concerning Connors. I wonder if blocking ability is the key issue for Connors as a true backup. Leggett is a Freshman that has had a lot of publicity out of camp. The assumption is that Leggett can run, but again there is no news on blocking skills. The big camp development is Days being used at B back. I suspect he is there for depth and for blocking.
The defense had some bright spots with reports of good play from Lynn Griffin and the Austin twins. PJ Davis and Keshum Freeman have been singled out for their motors as both will make tackles coming from the other side of the field.
We know we have some solid experienced players in Golden, Johnson, Nealy, and Gotsis.
The biggest concern lies with the DL depth. Pat got some good comments out of camp and looks to be first off the bench. Kallon’s comments from coaches also improved from the past. What do we really know here?
The defense was never able to completely stuff the offense in camp. There were many series in a row that ended quickly in the start of practice. The key read here is the ability of the offense to get things going as the defense tires.
Conclusions:
What can I interpret from the information? There is no doubt that we have QBs ready to run the option and an offense practiced to defend the gap blitz. The QB will still be sacked and plays blown up, but the goal is to make this a lot less likely than in 2013. We have running backs that can make good yardage in the run and WR that can block as well as make receptions. The OL is healthy with some good depth. I expect this offense to be as good as or better than anything we have seen to date. Give me a tall glass of offensive Kool Aid please.
The defense is the biggest question mark in prediction. There are too many new players at one of the CB, both DEs, one LB spot, and one DT spot. I expect that the second year in Roof’s system to show defensive improvements with the return of Johnson helping to counter the loss of Attaochu and Thomas. Can GT stop the power run? Will pass defense improve?
My prediction is that the defense will hold to 2013 performance level and the offense will play at to or above GT's current best year.
Go Jackets!
