A mercenary squad is nice to have, when you have the right pieces.
To sustain the type of success you have, you must replace those outgoing with similar incoming.
When you do not, you have the situation that is going on in Tallahassee.
I was wondering if fsu might lose to Boston College after the let down vs Ga Tech. I thought, maybe they would be deflated, and start slow.
Start slow? They never really got into a rhythm.
It seemed as if they might, when they got the game within 8. It had that feel of a team starting to get it. And with that momentum shift, we've all seen before {being on both sides of it}, the `noles looked like a comeback crew waiting to happen.
I guess we'll continue to have to wait for it to happen. Because Boston College turned around and bullied the Seminoles front line & Linebackers all the way down the field. They ran straight up the middle. Everyone knew what was coming. And the RB's just mashed the center, pushing 5 & 6 guys back like Hollywood props.
And then, mercy killed them by taking a knee, inside the 10 yard line with 2 minutes left to play, on fsu's home field.
What in the world was that
There were times when it felt as though everyone was waiting on someone else to make the big play. DJ Uiagaleile was either off target, most of the night. Or his receivers dropped passes that would have been huge game changers.
It shows that relying too heavily on the transfer portal is not a good solution. It's great to grab a few key deficiencies, here and there. However, you're going to need guys who you recruited, developed and chose your program from the get go.
Harder to get guys to buy into what you are selling, when you are buying the guys in, who are selling themselves to you.
FSU has a strong state presence. They should be a top school, hoarding the best players from the state away from anyone they can.
Instead, Norvell has chosen a different route. One in which the players are there for the $$$$$$$ with disregard for tradition.
And it doesn't help, when the administration, along with the fanbase, are trying so desperately to ditch the tradition of the conference they reside in. Worse off, the recruits who are in state, see you are going after out of state Portal prospects, making it more so challenging to convince their interest, when they think they're being brought in to sit behind someone from another team.
The `noles have a week to try and fix things. That's when Memphis comes to town.
Memphis is a program trying to prove they not only look the part as a Group of 5 participant in the playoff [which means beating Power4 scheduled opponents]. Memphis is attempting to garner the interest of the Power4 Conferences, hoping to receive an invite in the next realignment phase.
To gain that notoriety, hey may not be seeking to settle merely for a win, rather, a domination next week.
FSU had better get their act together, quickly.
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The question for Georgia Tech, was, are they improved or did they beatup on an impoverished Seminoles team?
They followed up that win with a 35-12 performance against Georgia State.
I don't know if that tells me anything, honestly.
Georgia St finished last year with 5 consecutive regular season losses, and a win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, to end with a 7-6 record.
It seems to me, that if you're a Power4 program, you're supposed to win those sorts of games that way.
And with BC beating the dust out of the Seminole blanket, I still am unsure if what we have is a team building momentum, or idling around middle of the pack.
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I thought SMU looked to be in trouble, the way they played against Nevada.
I was expecting Rhett Lashlee to turn it loose, and hit `em deep. But he just couldn't get his team in sync. There were a couple of spotlight moments. Especially that last drive that got them down into the end zone, for the game winning TD.
Mind you, that was the first lead the Mustangs had in that game. The Wolfpack otherwise shut down everything SMU tried.
BYU must have been paying attention.
The Cougars kept SMU out of the end zone all game long.
Credit to Jay Hill {BYU's DC} & Justin Ena {BYU's LB Coach}. They had a game plan that worked terrifically.
SMU came away with 5 FG's on the night, to lose to BYU 18-15.
Despite the look of the score, the Cougars did find the end zone twice. The second, they were down 12-7. They got the TD and a 2 point Conversion to make it a 3 point lead.
I wouldn't have thought this one would have turned into a Defensive slugfest. But that is precisely what we got.
Fun to watch.
BYU looks like a tough gritty team.
SMU looks like a project builder.
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North Carolina / Minnesota
I saw and heard a lot of criticism over these teams. I'm no so sure I buy into that.
The game started hard hitting, with neither defense giving in.
The 2cnd Quarter flipped with TD's being exchanged. Then Minnesota took a 7 point lead before the half.
It became a FG frenzy thereafter.
PJ Fleck is not a guy who is known for a High Powered Offense. Mack Brown, on-the-other-hand, at times has been.
The Gofers lost 19-17, yet only relented one TD at the beginning of the 2cnd Quarter.
What I think I saw, were two pretty good defenses, playing two average offenses. Bot having the chance to improve moving forward.
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Talking about pretty good defenses; Notre Dame / Texas A&M
I think we all expected as much. Not only because these two have recruited extremely well. But Marcus Freeman is in his roots as a defensive guy. And so is Mike Elko.
Despite the score board, this game was fast and physical. Hard hitting, with a little DB flare, as ND took an INT back for a TD. [I might have mentioned a time or two how a Pick Six makes my former CB self smile]
Really, Notre Dame's secondary is what separated these two teams. That along with A&M's QB not being quite as polished as they'd like.
Notre Dame should be fine going forward. But do not overlook the Huskies today, in South Bend. Northern Illinois has a scrappy, and explosive team. While I do believe ND gets the win, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Norther Illinois shows up with purpose.
UConn, Tulsa, South Florida, Marshall all have something in common ---- They all visited South Bend and beat the Irish on their own field.
Not saying it will happen, today. Just saying, it happens.
As for A&M, I guess, weather the storm.
Playing McNeese, today, will tell us virtually nothing.
And quite honestly, playing the lizards, next week, might not either.
Bowling Green, could be interesting [if Penn St doesn't beat them up too badly today]. Still, another Group of 5.
But that stretch of Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi State and LSU isn't the most accommodating for a new Head Coach.
And if Bowling Green shows any success moving the ball through the air; Ole Bobby two wheels will get his offense geared to exploit it.
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I put this one down here, and didn't start with it, because I'm not sure what to make of it.
Miami, beat the luggage skin off the lizards.
I even started to believe a little bit of the flurDah! hype train, by the time this game kicked off.
I never bought into the; "Cam Ward has no idea what it will be like to play in 'This' environment."
Seriously, the guy played at Washington State. He had road games to Autzen Stadium and to Seattle. Oregon & Washington may not be in the same capacity seating range as Garbageville. Still, they get every bit as loud as the swashbucket.
Miami lived up to their end ... flurDah! did not.
The `Canes came out and did exactly what we were expecting on offense. Cam Ward threw the ball effectively. The running game was adequate. Nothing world beating, but solid.
The marsh bellies didn't really get the car out of 1rst gear. Mertz was supposed to be this 73% pass efficiency guy, with 8,300 yards and 56 TD's under his belt.
They were completely out matched.
It's hard to say what precisely went right, or what went wrong, when one team won every aspect of the game. Offense was better, Defense was better, Special Teams was actually somewhat even {that gator punter has a very accurate angle}, and coaching was better.
Miami is coming into this week feeling pretty good.
But what Cam Ward has been saying all week, is we have to go into every game and stay hungry.
He's right. Because now every team on the schedule has put us on the bulletin board. Including Florida A&M, today.
Yeah, I know ... it's just FAMU.
But this program is built similar to a Group of 5.
They've delved into the Transfer Portal, and beefed up their roster with FBS players over the last couple of years. They went 9-2 last season, finishing with 9 consecutive wins, and 2-o to start this season.
Something to watch for, is Fl A&M's RB Jaylen McCloud, who wanted to come to Miami, but felt slighted when he didn't get the offer. He's looking to prove himself today.
If ever there were a team the Rattlers wanted to throw everything they have at, this is it, for sure.
I do think Miami leaves cleat prints across their jerseys, when all is said and done. But it could get chippy.
As for the reptiles ... oof.
Was it just a bad day? Was it just a player mismatch on the field? Was it that they needed to start with a fluff team in order to prepare? Are they just that bad?
I don't know. And I'm not sure Napier does either.
Graham Mertz is out for the week, on concussion protocol.
They have Samford to ease DJ Lagway into his first career start under center. This one should be a cake walk. But they've got Texas A&M coming into the Cesspool next week. So, like the `noles, they'd better figure something out, quick.
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USC/LSU
I'm not buy what the media is selling.
What I saw, were two teams who have a whole lot of Offensive Notoriety, play some really tough Defense.
This game was very evenly matched. This was an out of conference game. So, the sky is not falling. Both have a lot to look forward to, moving forward.
Last year, neither one of these guys could stop a que ball from the corner pocket with a cement block. After Sunday, there should be a bunch of enthusiasm. The adjustments they've bot made to upgrade the defensive side is pretty remarkable. Especially, USC.
Let's face it. Lincoln Riley doesn't understand defense. And in many for instances, you could justifiably say he didn't care about it. There is something to be said about a guy who can admit he's been wrong all this time, and change philosophy. He made a great hire at DC D'Anton Lynn. This one change has made USC something to take seriously in the Big 10.
LSU, well, it doesn't surprise me that Kelly would change his DC. He did the same thing at Notre Dame after the 2016 season where the Irish went 4-8. Upgraded their DC, and made it up to rank #3 in 2017.
I do not see that kind of a turn around this season for LSU, though, it'll be fun watching the Tigers as they go forward.
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Michigan, oh Michigan ...
Wherefore Art Thou?
It took some time for the Wolverines to get it going.
Fresno is a team that is known to move the ball. But, they were only able to muster 10 points against Blue. The pick six was a great jump route by the DB. However, that was a poorly timed throw by the QB. He didn't see the defender looming, so that was purely an offensive error. Had they scored a TD down there deep in Michigan's Red Zone, it would have been a 6 point game.
This was no dominating performance. Then again, I didn't expect it to be.
But it wasn't the struggle you wanted, to show all of your vulnerabilities before the Longhorns come to town.
This loss for Fresno, may have eliminated them from the Group of 5 elective to the College Football Playoff. Now, it all falls on their conference, and have the fair within.
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So Quick Observances:
A rainy day is no excuse
West Virginia you have exposed Neal Brown's continued short comings.Penn State, Impressive. Stamped down the competition by wearing them out, and not letting up.
Virginia Tech
where was that Team to Watch in the ACC? Vanderbilt?? Seriously, a bad look.Vanderbilt
Good on you. Let's see if this was an unexpected improvement, or just beating a poor team.Arizona
You scored 61 points? I thought there would be a setback with a new coach and new QB.Arizona State
You don't usually start that well. A 48-7 win over Wyoming New Mexico
You lost big, but somehow managed to put 39 points up against the Wildcats.UCLA
I get you've changed your staff, but Hawaii is not good. You squeaked by with 3 points.Hawaii
You avoided getting blown out. But, it wasn't a top run UCLA team.Oregon
Yikes!! You'd better get better quick. Idaho had a real chance to beat you.Clemson
Dabo needs new Position Coaches, and D-Coordinator. Maybe baby Riley can improve the Offense. Maybe.Georgia
Is clearly the team to beat. The schedule is not easy. But, right now, you look like the best..
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