Agree in the 13 vs 19 ppg discussion the Ds you go up against matter.
Yet we must also admit we have garnered this ppg improvement despite missing a BUNCH of FGs and and having a 300% increase in turnovers
Just watching the O it passes the eyeball test in terms of moving the ball. They did not handle Cuse's 3-3-5 exotic pressure well, and that caused TOs and short fields that put us behind. Throw in some true frosh mistakes, a rash of penalties, giving up returns to create yet more short fields, and a D that (besides DNP Curtis Ryans) cant get pressure and there's your ballgame.
85% of the time teams that rush for 250+ win in CFB. We are a talented yet young, developing team that made too many mistakes and due to depth issues we can ill afford the loss of key starters, especially on the D line.
Think Sims would have benefitted from having a TE to throw to? Cuse did not have to defend the TE in the passing game, taking away a major safety valve from Sims (see FSU game). Coco is a bad *** blocking but as a converted OL is super raw as a receiver.
I think we are a better team this year but still super young and super thin. Lack of a kicker who can get the ball up quick on FGs is a tragic flaw.
Am I worried about penalties and lack of focus/discipline? Yes. With the pandemic, maybe we also needed to practice in total silence to prep for the empty Carrier Dome. However, we are very young so not completelt WTF to get a game like this.
With a bye week we will see if we can get some of this self-inflicted crap corrected. Guys gotta work hard.