Yes, this is a WAY too early prediction based on a nothing exhibition game. The QB competition is going to go to the game week. And it may even change on any given week. These are two backups and not starters vying for the position. Throw out the stats and look at the reactions to the pressure. Mertz is processing the information and looks slow to react and Miller looks more capable but is likely prone to throw the bad pick. Brown is still too far behind. No one seems to have a strong arm. Pity, because that has to be the antidote for teams overplaying the running game. I anticipate the team will struggle to win games in the SEC. If things go well, the defense will create turnovers and the offense score enough points. And then the back third of the season, the offense may begin to jell. Unless we have an incredible combination of a tiptop defense and a DC who will exploit it (think the '85 Bears), the O-line is going to have to adapt to too many new parts. The running game is going to have fits and starts, especially with the opponents playing 8- and 9- man fronts. It is what it is. Get to a decent (not a NYs) bowl, win against FSU and the bowl opponent, and build momentum for the third season. But getting there is going to take patience...and a lot of bourbon.
That’s all changed with all the Aussie punters. I can’t find the exact article that talks about that, but here’s a good one about how punt returners are at a disadvantage. https://www.si.com/college/westvirg...ie-punters-has-changed-special-teams-approach
TBF, the defense is usually handcuffed in spring games with no blitzing or stunting and only keeping it vanilla. That’s why AR shined last year. CBN let them play this year and it was good. This is a glorified scrimmage and will give us a lot of tape to learn from.
Good observations...one more observation I couldn't miss was Big Dez's ass is as big as ever...its almost area code liike.
already fear teams will force our QBs to try to beat them, and they will 100% focus on stopping our running game. Do we have receivers who can stretch the field vertically? Do we have an impactful tight end? Do we have a true speedster in the slot to make our offense somewhat dynamic. It will be a shame if we can capitalize on this running back room, deep and good.
Watched live. Spring games - always a mess but this one was messier. Mainly because of bad snaps and little protection. The snap over the head and recovery by Searcy had Keystone Cops music playing in my head. Usually the only things I take away from a Spring games are which players, and plays, stand out. Do we look like and SEC team? Can we make explosive plays on either side of the ball? The answer is not much. Players standing out - the running backs of course, a receiver we already know, and a few guys on D. Cam Carroll was a bright spot. Webb looked like a man and not a boy. Mertz kept his eyes downfield when flushed and made some plays. He could have thrown it up and given Henderson a chance to fight but threw it away. Expect a conservative offense, game manager style. Maybe we win more than half if the defense can keep us in games. If the Oline develops we will win TOP every game. Year 2 rebuild. Pain. Just got to make the progress we didn't see much of last year.
No doubt the O was at a disadvantage, certain OL out, few basic plays, D allowed to blitz, new starters, quarterback tag that ended play. But one area that concerned me more than anything else was the under thrown long ball. Neither qb came close to looking sharp throwing the deep ball. IMO if our OL is average to bad during the season, our qbs will flounder as will the entire offense. And if that happens, I'm afraid BN will be a bit on the hot seat next year. But I'm hopeful as usual.
Can't? Capitalizing on a pair of solid SEC backs (maybe better than solid) in a year 2 rebuild means winning more than we are losing and allowing all other phases of the game to improve. Maybe they'll stick around for 24 and help us really make some noise.
The line should be average and it won’t improve overnight. Napier shouldn’t be under fire for the obvious happening
CBN is bringing in some really good recruits. I’m willing to give him 2 more seasons before I consider his future.
but if he refuses to address obvious issues like special teams play, horrific defensive calls, failing to use good field position and clock management at the end of halves thats on coaching. I can be patient because he is a good/great recruiter but that doesn't offset good coaching which not always the case last year. Im hoping he will adapt but its a wait and see.
I’m beginning to think Graham Mertz stole your girlfriend and kicked you in the ass on their way out the door
Is hiring a new DC ‘refusing to address horrific defensive play calls’? “horrific”? LMAO at the hyperbole
He got a new d coordinator and playcalling is only possible if you have the players to execute the calls. Our defense was lacking personnel and he seemed to have no interest in having AR run a two minute offense for whatever reason. I’m sure he has a two minute offense but we didn’t get to see it. Those two yesterday didn’t show they were capable either.
Spurrier, who was unbelievably competitive and wanted to win everything, said more than once that spring games don't matter. He's right.
