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Kudos to the ACC for providing such a thrilling game. I tend to root for the underdog for most games, but very satisfying and fun game to watch, and I'm guessing Cane liked the outcome.

Strengths:
Canes: OLine very dominant, esp. pass block
Canes: Special teams
Canes: Big play effectiveness
NC: Play calling, esp. on defense--sometimes seemed like they had ESP
NC: Opportunistic & and amped up
NC: Overwhelming up-tempo

Weaknesses:
Canes: turnovers
NC: penalties and 4th Qtr. confusion

The outcome . . ? Personally, I would have preferred the `Canes to have played harder on defense, not giving up so many yards in 13 seconds, and having at least one down resulting in negative yardage.

I was relieved to have the victory fall in Miami's favor. However, liked is a bit emphatic.

Turnovers . ? . yes, there was a BIG problem with turnovers tonight.

Here's a statistic:

Coming in to tonight's game --- Morris had 9 Touchdowns & 4 Interceptions for this season
After tonight's game concluded --- Morris now has 9 Touchdowns & 8 Interceptions on the year

We need to call more plays we have success with, and stop trying for the home run so often.

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Cane from the Bend wrote:We need to call more plays we have success with, and stop trying for the home run so often.
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Interesting. I did not get the sense that the 'Canes where trying to force big plays, but I'm guessing you did. Assuming you are correct, then an argument can be made that their early success with big plays might actually have hurt them (as in encouraging them to go for the big play more often than they should).

The plays were called, but the receivers were not open --- forcing Morris to pass to receivers he hadn't planned to (something he does before the ball is snapped).

It threw the timing off, and caused bad pays & turnovers.

You are right.

Miami being encouraged to go big, has cost them. Not just tonight, but in several for instances each game. Usually an overthrow down field where the receiver is open. But, 8 times, those throws were intercepted. (well, 7 ... the 8th one was a fluke that hit a lineman in the back of the head, and a defender dove to catch it {well, maybe not as much a fluke, since Morris didn't get enough air under the ball}).

I posted it after game one. The offense is calling plays that the opposing defense can read. And that it would cause problems against real competition.

This was a scrape by effort vs a 1-4 team.

And the game against Ga Tech wasn't all that particularly impressive either. That game, the Yellow Jackets simply made too many late mistakes to account for (last 5 minutes late). It was less good play by the Hurricanes, and more, foolish sloppiness by Georgia Tech.

I can't see winning vs either Va Tech or fsu at this point --- Should that be so, then, those two teams will likely play for the ACC title.

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Ah, I see your point about scrapping by, which might have severe consequences by today's polling standards. It's also very interesting the point you made about play-calling. Seeing that in the game is beyond my abilities, but it makes a lot of sense how going to a 3rd read or check off might leave room for disruptions.

I'm not sure if there are different commentators for different parts of the country, but in my version, they made a note of Miami's OLine right guard, patting the center's leg to signal a snap, and that NC's defense were able to key on that. Did you see that? Surely no team could be that foolish, but sure enough, the snap came a moment thereafter, and in both cases NC successfully timed the snap and got big stops/turnovers from it.

Yep, and it cost us field position.

Also, not using the ground & pound more consistently hurt. The `Canes were making good progress, then, decided, let's just start throwing the ball.

It was forced, and NC knew it was coming. But their D-Line was clearly vulnerable.
And Miami did not take advantage --- at least, not until those last two drives.

Thing is. Pound the ball ahead on `em enough times, they have to guard the line heavier. That's when the passing lanes start to open up.

Miami chose not to. And it almost cost them the game.

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Duke1632 wrote: It's also very interesting the point you made about play-calling. Seeing that in the game is beyond my abilities, but it makes a lot of sense how going to a 3rd read or check off might leave room for disruptions.

I suppose I had a little more vested in the game than you. So I was able to complain every play I didn't like.

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