Well for some fans H1 was a shock. It certainly wasn't fun to watch, but we got MOSTLY what I expected.
In the end the B10CG proved that this team is special.
They appear to have that IT that we haven't seen much of around here since 2002. There have been multiple teams that you could argue had more talent than 02, but none of them had the grit. The '14 team got it at the end of the season... and then lost it the next season. Since then there have been flashes.
This team dominated everyone so thoroughly it wasn't evident... It was on full display last night.
Gus Johnson made reference in his cal to a classic American Poem at the end of the half when he said "Is this going to be a dream deferred, that's about to explode". The Author was Langston Hughes, and the fact that Gus could pull this up on the fly is remarkable. I think he's coming into rare air with Keith Jackson and Al Michaels.
In the poem before the dream explodes Hughes line that best described what we are seeing is "does it dry up like a raisin in the sun (the title of a book), or does it stink like rotten meat".
I'll get to the CFP later, but Clemson better come in with their helmets strapped on tight.
In the game last night I had us 42-17. Had we forced a FG at the end of H1 and finished the last drive with a TD we'd have been close.
I called fireworks early. We got them alright, but only on one side of the ball.
We did eventually pull away, but it became clear that this team needs a few weeks to recharge, get healthy and prepare.
When the Bucks Were On O
What I missed was how OFF Justin would be and how limited Day would make the playbook to account for it. This caused multiple problems as we ended up in passing downs too often and were really predictable with when we took shots. Net net there were FAR more downfield throws and TOO few blitz beaters.
The issue with Justin's knee was preventing him from stepping into his throws. This is a problem for him when he's full go and it was a REAL problem last night. You can't be high across the middle, and if you can't attack the mid/zone middle you can't punish the blitz.
I do think they missed some other opportunities to play action off of Dobbins to the Boundary and easy throw backs to the TE, or the opposite to drive the TE down the seam and hit dobbins out of the backfield quickly.
Net net Justin was sacked early and often and if his knee hurt coming in it was throbbing by the middle of Q1.
He sucked it up and the receivers went up in the air to bail him out. I counted two one handed catches. About 5-6 other leaping grabs or fantastic adjustments on the ball and some YAC.
You could see him making a conscious effort to step into his throws in H2. The TD to KJ was an awesome throw into a tight window.
Everyone picked up their game and in the end Whisky wore down as I figured they would. I was disappointed we didn't punch in the TD in Q4.
Not b/c we needed the score, but it would have been an exclamation point on the dream not being deferred.
When the Bucks Were on D
I was concerned about the D getting out schemed coming in, and then making adjustments.
figured they'd use more misdirection and throws to the RBs. I expected them to have an edge.
I didn't expect the gap to be as big. The fact that we went from more man to zone was a great move, but the big difference was the front 6 taking control of the LOS.
The drive at the end of H1 to score the TD looked like 2018. Taylor runs a simple OZ and both Harrison and Werner miss tackles with form that will not be a good look on film review.
Consistently we were overplaying the gaps and lanes leaving wide open yards for the taking to the "game manager" Coan.
That all tightened up in H2.
BTW Nothing in the game made me happier than Proctor laying him out on the last play!
He WAS NOT going to concede the TD. Big time play by a future star.
I have to say I was SHOCKED that the D gave up a TD at the end of H1. It shows how poor their mind set was... I don't think they were complacent, but they didn't have their Big Game pants on.
Whisky was ready for a champ game and the D came in like it was PSU at home and that wasn't good enough.
We got of the mat and started swinging in H2. Hats off to the kids and the coaches.
Final Thoughts
I do think we deserved to be #1, but it was CLOSE. And honestly, I could argue it either way.
I don't have a problem with it b/c LSU beat one elite team on the road and looked dominant against a VERY good GA team in their champ game.
We have a better overall resume and played better on both sides of the ball, but haven't played an elite team yet, and as we've seen before there is a BIG difference.
Both LSU and OSU are battle hardened.
Clemson IS NOT. They have played NO one.
Virginia's SP+ ranking is 37th. The SP+ is 7.8. Indiana is 24th at 13.4. Cincinnati is 39th at 7.7.
What this means is that Indy would be a 6 point favorite and Cincy would be a pickem.
Clemson is however the most talented roster OSU will face all season. They are elite. They haven't played nearly as well as OSU and we are as talented.
If Justin get's healthy.... I think the semifinal will end well for the Bucks.
I'm also not so sure that LSU matches up as well with Okie as some think.
LSU played a handicapped Bama and Florida and besides that the best offense is in the 30's....
This has been the most satisfying Regular Season in my lifetime.
I hope it continues for two more games.
GO BUCKS
In the end the B10CG proved that this team is special.
They appear to have that IT that we haven't seen much of around here since 2002. There have been multiple teams that you could argue had more talent than 02, but none of them had the grit. The '14 team got it at the end of the season... and then lost it the next season. Since then there have been flashes.
This team dominated everyone so thoroughly it wasn't evident... It was on full display last night.
Gus Johnson made reference in his cal to a classic American Poem at the end of the half when he said "Is this going to be a dream deferred, that's about to explode". The Author was Langston Hughes, and the fact that Gus could pull this up on the fly is remarkable. I think he's coming into rare air with Keith Jackson and Al Michaels.
In the poem before the dream explodes Hughes line that best described what we are seeing is "does it dry up like a raisin in the sun (the title of a book), or does it stink like rotten meat".
I'll get to the CFP later, but Clemson better come in with their helmets strapped on tight.
In the game last night I had us 42-17. Had we forced a FG at the end of H1 and finished the last drive with a TD we'd have been close.
I called fireworks early. We got them alright, but only on one side of the ball.
We did eventually pull away, but it became clear that this team needs a few weeks to recharge, get healthy and prepare.
When the Bucks Were On O
What I missed was how OFF Justin would be and how limited Day would make the playbook to account for it. This caused multiple problems as we ended up in passing downs too often and were really predictable with when we took shots. Net net there were FAR more downfield throws and TOO few blitz beaters.
The issue with Justin's knee was preventing him from stepping into his throws. This is a problem for him when he's full go and it was a REAL problem last night. You can't be high across the middle, and if you can't attack the mid/zone middle you can't punish the blitz.
I do think they missed some other opportunities to play action off of Dobbins to the Boundary and easy throw backs to the TE, or the opposite to drive the TE down the seam and hit dobbins out of the backfield quickly.
Net net Justin was sacked early and often and if his knee hurt coming in it was throbbing by the middle of Q1.
He sucked it up and the receivers went up in the air to bail him out. I counted two one handed catches. About 5-6 other leaping grabs or fantastic adjustments on the ball and some YAC.
You could see him making a conscious effort to step into his throws in H2. The TD to KJ was an awesome throw into a tight window.
Everyone picked up their game and in the end Whisky wore down as I figured they would. I was disappointed we didn't punch in the TD in Q4.
Not b/c we needed the score, but it would have been an exclamation point on the dream not being deferred.
When the Bucks Were on D
I was concerned about the D getting out schemed coming in, and then making adjustments.
figured they'd use more misdirection and throws to the RBs. I expected them to have an edge.
I didn't expect the gap to be as big. The fact that we went from more man to zone was a great move, but the big difference was the front 6 taking control of the LOS.
The drive at the end of H1 to score the TD looked like 2018. Taylor runs a simple OZ and both Harrison and Werner miss tackles with form that will not be a good look on film review.
Consistently we were overplaying the gaps and lanes leaving wide open yards for the taking to the "game manager" Coan.
That all tightened up in H2.
BTW Nothing in the game made me happier than Proctor laying him out on the last play!
He WAS NOT going to concede the TD. Big time play by a future star.
I have to say I was SHOCKED that the D gave up a TD at the end of H1. It shows how poor their mind set was... I don't think they were complacent, but they didn't have their Big Game pants on.
Whisky was ready for a champ game and the D came in like it was PSU at home and that wasn't good enough.
We got of the mat and started swinging in H2. Hats off to the kids and the coaches.
Final Thoughts
I do think we deserved to be #1, but it was CLOSE. And honestly, I could argue it either way.
I don't have a problem with it b/c LSU beat one elite team on the road and looked dominant against a VERY good GA team in their champ game.
We have a better overall resume and played better on both sides of the ball, but haven't played an elite team yet, and as we've seen before there is a BIG difference.
Both LSU and OSU are battle hardened.
Clemson IS NOT. They have played NO one.
Virginia's SP+ ranking is 37th. The SP+ is 7.8. Indiana is 24th at 13.4. Cincinnati is 39th at 7.7.
What this means is that Indy would be a 6 point favorite and Cincy would be a pickem.
Clemson is however the most talented roster OSU will face all season. They are elite. They haven't played nearly as well as OSU and we are as talented.
If Justin get's healthy.... I think the semifinal will end well for the Bucks.
I'm also not so sure that LSU matches up as well with Okie as some think.
LSU played a handicapped Bama and Florida and besides that the best offense is in the 30's....
This has been the most satisfying Regular Season in my lifetime.
I hope it continues for two more games.
GO BUCKS
