Power shift in the ACC????

[Techster]

for me the former...I have said this a bunch. I would rather have the 09's and the 14's with a 15 sprinkled in then a decade of chan

A LOT of things converged to make 2015 turn out to be the dud that it did, I'm not so sure it's something GT has to go through but once every 10-20 years. GT can attract enough talent just by being in GA's talent pool to regularly churn out 6-7 wins every year, sprinkled in with a special season every 4 years...which is exactly what has happened the last 20+ years. We'll have 3 times the 2015's, 2009's, 1990's, 1998, 2000's than we will 1994's and 2015's.

Getting back to the OP...I think the ACC is becoming a VERY strong conference. Doormats like UNC, Duke, UVA have all strengthened themselves despite what some GT fans want to believe because of the past. CPJ's "Big Four" nemesis (Clemson, UGA, Miami, VT) have all made moves. The jury is still out on UGA and VT, but Clemson is becoming a national power and Miami got a better coach on a team CPJ has had trouble with no matter who the coach was. UVA got a better coach, and has always been able to pull in talent, and the new coach has had great success against CPJ at BYU.

I think CPJ is at a critical juncture in terms of what direction the program is headed because of what other schools in the conference have done with their coaching situations. If you look at the model college program right now, Alabama, even Saban has changed his tune about some of the things he's done. Remember when Saban openly criticized uptempo teams, and he was losing to them? Well, he evolved and hired Lane Kiffen to run the offense, and Kiffen brought in a spread attack that utilized an uptempo style when needed. This isn't saying CPJ needs to change his offense, CPJ's offense works, it's more to exemplify if the coach considered the best one in the college game today is open to making adjustments to his VERY successful team, all coaches should, including our own. We can all agree there's room for improvement in all parts of our program. Let's hope hope CPJ is maleable enough to see the winds of change coming to the ACC and will adjust accordingly.

 

[UgaBlows]

The object is still to score points and neither one them can do that

Neither could we last season. I am hopful for us, just trying to point out that the first three games aren't gimmies

 

[Skeptic]

Neither could we last season. I am hopful for us, just trying to point out that the first three games aren't gimmies

That might be a very good thing for the fan base. Most of us though not all were singing ACC championship after the first two powder puff blowouts. Johnson was one of the few cautioning "We aren't that good."

 

[Northeast Stinger]

where the tusks are looser?

One of my favorite Grocho Marx quotes.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

A LOT of things converged to make 2015 turn out to be the dud that it did, I'm not so sure it's something GT has to go through but once every 10-20 years. GT can attract enough talent just by being in GA's talent pool to regularly churn out 6-7 wins every year, sprinkled in with a special season every 4 years...which is exactly what has happened the last 20+ years. We'll have 3 times the 2015's, 2009's, 1990's, 1998, 2000's than we will 1994's and 2015's.

Getting back to the OP...I think the ACC is becoming a VERY strong conference. Doormats like UNC, Duke, UVA have all strengthened themselves despite what some GT fans want to believe because of the past. CPJ's "Big Four" nemesis (Clemson, UGA, Miami, VT) have all made moves. The jury is still out on UGA and VT, but Clemson is becoming a national power and Miami got a better coach on a team CPJ has had trouble with no matter who the coach was. UVA got a better coach, and has always been able to pull in talent, and the new coach has had great success against CPJ at BYU.

I think CPJ is at a critical juncture in terms of what direction the program is headed because of what other schools in the conference have done with their coaching situations. If you look at the model college program right now, Alabama, even Saban has changed his tune about some of the things he's done. Remember when Saban openly criticized uptempo teams, and he was losing to them? Well, he evolved and hired Lane Kiffen to run the offense, and Kiffen brought in a spread attack that utilized an uptempo style when needed. This isn't saying CPJ needs to change his offense, CPJ's offense works, it's more to exemplify if the coach considered the best one in the college game today is open to making adjustments to his VERY successful team, all coaches should, including our own. We can all agree there's room for improvement in all parts of our program. Let's hope hope CPJ is maleable enough to see the winds of change coming to the ACC and will adjust accordingly.

All cogent arguments.

I am going to hold out hope that Tech's main problem last season was having to force players into the lineup who were not ready and the extremely deleterious effect this has on an offense that requires precision timing and blocking.

The other thought that comes to mind, in spite of all the upgrades at the schools you mention, is that not all of these teams are going to go undefeated. They are going to each lose their fair share of games. Tech has as good a chance as any to be one of the teams they lose to on a given day. See FSU last year.

But I am mainly playing devil's advocate. You offer a sobering thoughts for reflection.

 

[Skeptic]

One of my favorite Grocho Marx quotes.

Ah, finally a kindred spirit who recognized my theft of intellectual property. If the Marx Brothers are considered intellectual.

 

[Techster]

All cogent arguments.

I am going to hold out hope that Tech's main problem last season was having to force players into the lineup who were not ready and the extremely deleterious effect this has on an offense that requires precision timing and blocking.

The other thought that comes to mind, in spite of all the upgrades at the schools you mention, is that not all of these teams are going to go undefeated. They are going to each lose their fair share of games. Tech has as good a chance as any to be one of the teams they lose to on a given day. See FSU last year.

But I am mainly playing devil's advocate. You offer a sobering thoughts for reflection.

Definitely. GT should be a player in the Coastal since there is a transition period with more than half the teams in our division switching coaches. The question is whether we can take advantage of it. We've got a very talented, but young, roster. If things fall he right way, we could even win the Coastal.

I was thinking in terms of overall state of our program and where we fit in going forward in the ACC, not just the 2016 season. The road to to the Division championship is no longer just GT and VT anymore like it was CPJ's first 6 years here.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

Based on appearances only: UVAand UM got a serious upgrade. I just hope we can keep pace.

 

[Skeptic]

Based on appearances only: UVAand UM got a serious upgrade. I just hope we can keep pace.

I think based on Beamer's last few years VT got an upgrade. Not the Beamer of Beamer Ball, but of late. I have always felt the ACC would not be a big time player until it improved its coaching ranks. What is that thing about being careful what you wish for?

 

[takethepoints]

I know they're playing in the MNC game, but I have to tell you: I think the 2012 team we beat in Atlanta was better then this outfit.

Boyd => Watson.

Watkins > all their present WRs combined. Humphries and Cooper were better too.

Addington > all their present RBs (him being injured made things easier, but I was there; we would have won anyhow). D. J. Howard was no slouch either.

Jarrett > any of their present DLs. Their 4 deep at DT was one of the best I ever saw.

In terms of talent, iow, I think that team would be favored over Bammer. Yet we beat them.

I'm actually looking forward to playing the Tiggers next year and seeing that great sign they put up over the gate I enter at Grant Field. It reads, "Welcome Back To Atlanta". You could almost see the Tigger faithful deflate when they saw it.

 

[Skeptic]

I know they're playing in the MNC game, but I have to tell you: I think the 2012 team we beat in Atlanta was better then this outfit.

Boyd => Watson.

Watkins > all their present WRs combined. Humphries and Cooper were better too.

Addington > all their present RBs (him being injured made things easier, but I was there; we would have won anyhow). D. J. Howard was no slouch either.

Jarrett > any of their present DLs. Their 4 deep at DT was one of the best I ever saw.

In terms of talent, iow, I think that team would be favored over Bammer. Yet we beat them.

I'm actually looking forward to playing the Tiggers next year and seeing that great sign they put up over the gate I enter at Grant Field. It reads, "Welcome Back To Atlanta". You could almost see the Tigger faithful deflate when they saw it.

Ah, no. I think you have 2011 in mind? The 31-17 GT win in Atlanta? Their 2012 team beat us in Clemson, 41-30 or something like that. It was good but not great. Lacked depth at almost every position. And while Boyd could rocket the ball, he was about three inches shorter than Watson and made it worse with a funky kind of almost three-quarter motion, making it hard to get it through the trees on the LOS. Nor was he near the runner that Watson is and in 2011 and 2012 actually was overweight. No contest at all at QB. I give you Watkins, no argument, a great receiver. The rest I take Clemson 2015 (when they're healthy. Or not suspended.) And remember that in 2011 their best runner was injured and his replacement was a freshman who had a critical fumble. Depth again. That 2011 team, team, frankly, wouldn't be favored against Alabama as it didn't even win the ACC ... FSU did. But maybe I'm the one with the dates mixed up. Makes little difference in my argument: this 2015 team-- outside our overall incompetence in 2015 Clemson pushed our guys around like the living room furniture. It is much better than either 2011 or '12, the best Swinney has had at Clemson. (And there's more in the pipeline, which is why he won't leave for Alabama if Saban takes the NFL leap again. He is loaded up in Clemson, South Goober. The ACC should be very afraid. And get better.)

 

[Boomergump]

MICH ST was the PERFECT opponent for Bammer in the semi-final. No team in college right now can push the TIDE around and win with a pedestrian, smash mouth offense. That was the Spartan's game. They can't fly to the edge or stretch the field. Climpsum is a different story. They can flank Bammer and spread them out. This will be a different game. Is this the best recent Climpsum team? IDK, but they are a tough match up for Bammer in 2015. I think the ACC will reign as Natty Champs this year.

 

[takethepoints]

Ah, no. I think you have 2011 in mind? The 31-17 GT win in Atlanta? Their 2012 team beat us in Clemson, 41-30 or something like that. It was good but not great. Lacked depth at almost every position. And while Boyd could rocket the ball, he was about three inches shorter than Watson and made it worse with a funky kind of almost three-quarter motion, making it hard to get it through the trees on the LOS. Nor was he near the runner that Watson is and in 2011 and 2012 actually was overweight. No contest at all at QB. I give you Watkins, no argument, a great receiver. The rest I take Clemson 2015 (when they're healthy. Or not suspended.) And remember that in 2011 their best runner was injured and his replacement was a freshman who had a critical fumble. Depth again. That 2011 team, team, frankly, wouldn't be favored against Alabama as it didn't even win the ACC ... FSU did. But maybe I'm the one with the dates mixed up. Makes little difference in my argument: this 2015 team-- outside our overall incompetence in 2015 Clemson pushed our guys around like the living room furniture. It is much better than either 2011 or '12, the best Swinney has had at Clemson. (And there's more in the pipeline, which is why he won't leave for Alabama if Saban takes the NFL leap again. He is loaded up in Clemson, South Goober. The ACC should be very afraid. And get better.)

Ah. We agree to disagree. And it was 2012; I looked. But, to take your points in order:

Boyd is still Clemson's all time leader in yards produced by a QB. We'll see if Watson can do that, but he was better then then Watson is now, imho. As for his running … watch some film.

We were lucky that Addington was injured, but, like I say, it wouldn't have made any difference.

Clemson won the ACC in 2011, not FSU, and beat an 11 - 3 VT outfit to do it.

Sooooo … the real question is did Clemson have some luck this year and was that the difference? Spoiler alert = yes. Sorta like another team we know last year. And I'm no more afraid of the Tiggers then I was when I wrote the original post. I'm looking forward to next year. Really.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

MICH ST was the PERFECT opponent for Bammer in the semi-final. No team in college right now can push the TIDE around and win with a pedestrian, smash mouth offense. That was the Spartan's game. They can't fly to the edge or stretch the field. Climpsum is a different story. They can flank Bammer and spread them out. This will be a different game. Is this the best recent Climpsum team? IDK, but they are a tough match up for Bammer in 2015. I think the ACC will reign as Natty Champs this year.

Agree. I had rather watched Bama/Ok and Clemson/MichSt.

 

[Skeptic]

Agree. I had rather watched Bama/Ok and Clemson/MichSt.

And that is how the committee should have arranged it. I am not much of a black helicopter guy but some folks in Clemson were right that the committee, to the end, really didn't respect them that much. Hard argument to make, but if it was to be 1-4 and 2-3, that is how it should have gone. No matter of course, as we got the game that we wanted. I think Boomer is right in that Clemson can force Alabama to defend side to side and end to end, and Watson is going to be a load to handle. He will get hammered a lot early until the sideline figures it out, though. In my mind Clemson's biggest weakness, and they don't have many, is that dual OC situation, though I know only one is in charge come game time. May be me but it seems indecisive, and that is not typical Swinney.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

Saban is at his best when the other team is one dimensional. Clemson is definitely not! Right now they are the class of the ACC and Bama is the class of the SEC. We are not that far away, if we had more talent on the line of scrimmage.

 

[65Jacket]

I also believe we will get back on track and win eight or more this year. Surely we can't have the injuries we had last year again.