With the "W" against ND in our pocket, that's the real question facing this team.
Does Coach Elliot have an identity that's he going to build around? Between an emerging OL, Wayne F'ing Gallman and DW4, I think we could run for 225+ per game going forward (yes, FSU and BC included). But is that who we're willing to be?
DW4 is a great passer but even if we get decent pass pro from the OL, who do we have to pass to? A. Scott leads our team in receptions (on the stat sheet) but how many of those are essentially run plays (the quick push passes)....same for McCloud. How many passes have we completed more than 15 yards down the field....actually in the air, not total yards.....not many. At this point there's really no reason to believe that Peake is going to give us anything meaningful on a consistent basis. GHop continues to disappear as GDrop. The star of fall camp T. Thompson has 3 catches for 21 yards. D. Cain is still learning and everyone hopes will emerge the 2nd half of the season. We apparently have no TE worth a damn in the passing game....Leggett has 9 catches but he hasn't done anything to make an opponent concerned.
Maybe this dynamic will change as the season goes on but folks need to understand that we're not going to throw for 350+ against any kind of decent opponent right now. I believe (and hopefully the team believes) that we can line up and run the ball. The added benefit of this approach will be to shorten games and allow our first string defense to stay fresher and continue their exceptional play.
Does Coach Elliot have an identity that's he going to build around? Between an emerging OL, Wayne F'ing Gallman and DW4, I think we could run for 225+ per game going forward (yes, FSU and BC included). But is that who we're willing to be?
DW4 is a great passer but even if we get decent pass pro from the OL, who do we have to pass to? A. Scott leads our team in receptions (on the stat sheet) but how many of those are essentially run plays (the quick push passes)....same for McCloud. How many passes have we completed more than 15 yards down the field....actually in the air, not total yards.....not many. At this point there's really no reason to believe that Peake is going to give us anything meaningful on a consistent basis. GHop continues to disappear as GDrop. The star of fall camp T. Thompson has 3 catches for 21 yards. D. Cain is still learning and everyone hopes will emerge the 2nd half of the season. We apparently have no TE worth a damn in the passing game....Leggett has 9 catches but he hasn't done anything to make an opponent concerned.
Maybe this dynamic will change as the season goes on but folks need to understand that we're not going to throw for 350+ against any kind of decent opponent right now. I believe (and hopefully the team believes) that we can line up and run the ball. The added benefit of this approach will be to shorten games and allow our first string defense to stay fresher and continue their exceptional play.
