Last year, we had tons of experience and talent on Defense and the OL coming back. Didn't matter. In college football, Momentum will often decide. I just keep coming back to the close losses. Duke and UNC right after ND could have easily gone in the win column. That would have righted the ship, and that was also when the injuries had started to pile up. Win both of those, and I think we would have been an 8 win team. Win one, and we probably go bowling.
Did we add enough practice, depth, and conditioning in the off season to get that one more stop or one more score that would have put say 4 or 5 of those one score losses in the win column? I think Johnson's demeanor this preseason indicates he thinks the players have put in the work. Will we get one more turnover or have one less turnover in a game? I think that would have meant 4 to 5 more wins last year. Thomas had never even practiced with Skov, Marshall, MLD, Stewart, and some others in the skill positions until August of last year. Familiarity there should reduce turnovers.
In 2014, if we lose to GSU, that team would have probably been 7-5 at best. Instead, the confidence and momentum built week by week. GSU was the pivot. I think UNC was the pivotal game last year, and we lost it. Just looking at the schedule, Miami or Pitt would seem to be in about the right place to determine what type season we have.
