Week two version
1) I believe it was AD who said in a video something like that as Tech fans we've gotten used to arriving at the expected result in the most painful way possible. Check.
409 said the line for this game equaled us having about a 30% chance to win. The ESPN FPI graphic they showed during the game was right at that, and it felt about right just based on gut. It was always going to be a tough one to win. But that game was frustrating not because we lost but because of how we lost. It was absolutely there for us to take, but we died from self inflicted wounds.
Last week it was largely the same story, we just happened to pull it out. One thing I do like about this week, though, is NC State didn't try to give us the game. Last week Houston made a ton of errors, just like we did. This week NC State played a pretty clean game. They did have the goal line fumble, but I don't remember a bunch of dropped passes or dumb penalties or other things that let us hang around. They weren't the reason we were still in the game, we made enough plays to be in it. In the end, we just couldn't make enough plays to make up for gifting them 13 points. Frustrating, but it gives me hope that maybe we aren't that far off if we can get a solution on offense.
2) I don't know what the deal is with the offense, but we've got to figure something out.
On the plus side, pass protection was better in the second half. Yes, they only rushed three a lot, but you can't ask the OL to block guys that aren't coming. For the most part, they gave the QB time to throw. Still significant issues run blocking in the middle though. However, Donovan played like the OK State game, not the Iowa State game. Held the ball too long. Didn't recognize the blitz from the CB or LB that killed a drive. Yes, SaRodrick could have tried to block him, but instead he ran a route and has Smith seen it, it would have been an easy completion for a lot of yards because of the blitz.
This offense is really young. The WRs don't have much game experience, across the board. The OL doesn't. The QB doesn't. The only vet position group we have is the RBs. That's showing. I don't know what we need to do, but what we are doing isn't working. After last week relying on the QB runs too much, this week we seemed reluctant to use them even when they could have worked. Maybe we should run some bubble screens and ask our giant WRs to block for 6 yard gains. Run wildcat with Tahj and Sarodrick both out on the field. I don't know, but we have to do something.
The good news is that was the most experienced defense we will see all year. Their experience vs our inexperience was a big advantage. Last week even with our issues we moved the ball well enough. I'm hoping this was just a bad matchup, but I'm concerned.
3) Tyree Wilson is a flat beast.
The past couple of weeks he's made an impact but not filled up the stat sheet because of how much attention teams were paying him. This week he just destroyed the NC State game plan. The staff came into the year saying the previous staff didn't utilize him to maximize his gifts and thought they had a better plan. Seems to absolutely be the case. If he plays like this 9 more times, he's not just a first rounder but a high first rounder.
But who do we have to pay off to get the refs to actually call a holding call for him?
4) What's left to say about late game management?
It was weird and I have no idea what we were trying to do. But I'm also OK with accepting this coaching staff is probably going to make some rookie mistakes along the way. Their decisions didn't help us, but it also didn't cost us the game in that situation. I assume when they go back and look, they'll think they could have handled that situation differently and put our team in better spots. Great.
5) Tech D vs Bijan on Deck
We will learn a whole lot about our team next Saturday. Would anyone disagree that he is the most skilled offensive player our team will face this year? So far we've given up 1.2, 3, and 3.0 yards per carry. Can we come close to that next week? He is UT's offense. If we limit him, we will be in the game even if our offense struggles. If he runs wild, it'll be a long day. I have no idea what to expect.
I really hope Muddy is back. I will feel much better if I know he's crashing down from the safety spot.
1) I believe it was AD who said in a video something like that as Tech fans we've gotten used to arriving at the expected result in the most painful way possible. Check.
409 said the line for this game equaled us having about a 30% chance to win. The ESPN FPI graphic they showed during the game was right at that, and it felt about right just based on gut. It was always going to be a tough one to win. But that game was frustrating not because we lost but because of how we lost. It was absolutely there for us to take, but we died from self inflicted wounds.
Last week it was largely the same story, we just happened to pull it out. One thing I do like about this week, though, is NC State didn't try to give us the game. Last week Houston made a ton of errors, just like we did. This week NC State played a pretty clean game. They did have the goal line fumble, but I don't remember a bunch of dropped passes or dumb penalties or other things that let us hang around. They weren't the reason we were still in the game, we made enough plays to be in it. In the end, we just couldn't make enough plays to make up for gifting them 13 points. Frustrating, but it gives me hope that maybe we aren't that far off if we can get a solution on offense.
2) I don't know what the deal is with the offense, but we've got to figure something out.
On the plus side, pass protection was better in the second half. Yes, they only rushed three a lot, but you can't ask the OL to block guys that aren't coming. For the most part, they gave the QB time to throw. Still significant issues run blocking in the middle though. However, Donovan played like the OK State game, not the Iowa State game. Held the ball too long. Didn't recognize the blitz from the CB or LB that killed a drive. Yes, SaRodrick could have tried to block him, but instead he ran a route and has Smith seen it, it would have been an easy completion for a lot of yards because of the blitz.
This offense is really young. The WRs don't have much game experience, across the board. The OL doesn't. The QB doesn't. The only vet position group we have is the RBs. That's showing. I don't know what we need to do, but what we are doing isn't working. After last week relying on the QB runs too much, this week we seemed reluctant to use them even when they could have worked. Maybe we should run some bubble screens and ask our giant WRs to block for 6 yard gains. Run wildcat with Tahj and Sarodrick both out on the field. I don't know, but we have to do something.
The good news is that was the most experienced defense we will see all year. Their experience vs our inexperience was a big advantage. Last week even with our issues we moved the ball well enough. I'm hoping this was just a bad matchup, but I'm concerned.
3) Tyree Wilson is a flat beast.
The past couple of weeks he's made an impact but not filled up the stat sheet because of how much attention teams were paying him. This week he just destroyed the NC State game plan. The staff came into the year saying the previous staff didn't utilize him to maximize his gifts and thought they had a better plan. Seems to absolutely be the case. If he plays like this 9 more times, he's not just a first rounder but a high first rounder.
But who do we have to pay off to get the refs to actually call a holding call for him?
4) What's left to say about late game management?
It was weird and I have no idea what we were trying to do. But I'm also OK with accepting this coaching staff is probably going to make some rookie mistakes along the way. Their decisions didn't help us, but it also didn't cost us the game in that situation. I assume when they go back and look, they'll think they could have handled that situation differently and put our team in better spots. Great.
5) Tech D vs Bijan on Deck
We will learn a whole lot about our team next Saturday. Would anyone disagree that he is the most skilled offensive player our team will face this year? So far we've given up 1.2, 3, and 3.0 yards per carry. Can we come close to that next week? He is UT's offense. If we limit him, we will be in the game even if our offense struggles. If he runs wild, it'll be a long day. I have no idea what to expect.
I really hope Muddy is back. I will feel much better if I know he's crashing down from the safety spot.
