kdub
Red Shirt
Posts: 98
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Post by kdub on Sept 13, 2012 9:52:34 GMT -5
Duke- Questions abound for me. The way they got blown out by post-Andrew Luck Stanford was a surprise to me. It makes me wonder if their week 1 win was anything more than them just beating up on a lower tier FBS program. No real answers this week as they should dominate Central. They get Memphis next week at home but the Tigers are 0-2 with losses to Tennessee-Martin and Arkansas St. So, we may not find out what the Devils are really made of until they hit the ACC portion of the schedule. In other words, if they're not 3-1 headed into the Wake Forest game, then it may be a long year for Duke fans....again.
NCSU- A slower than expected start. Expectations are high among the State fan base from what I've seen and the way they looked against Tennessee was a bit sobering. They also struggled offensively against UConn. State has two easy home games coming up with South Alabama and The Citadel or at least two home games that should be easy. Barring a major upset, State will be 3-1 going into the ACC schedule and their goal of going to the ACC title game and trying to reach a BCS game will still be in reach. If you're a State fan, you're looking to see more out of the team these next 2 weeks than what has been shown so far.
UNC- After doing what they were supposed to do to Elon, UNC had a disappointing result against Wake. Give Wake credit, they won the game with a nice 93 yard drive that consumed a lot of time off the clock. UNC was without Gio Bernard and that hurt, but AJ Blue wasn't bad in relief and Bernard's absence had zilch to do with the defense not getting off the field on that drive. I think it is going to be a rollercoaster season for the Heels. There is no postseason to play for, so any big games they have will be like mini-bowl games. It starts this week at Louisville which is ranked #19. I like this test for UNC and would love to see them pull the upset, but it is more likely they lose to Louisville. There is still a lot of learning left for this team as it adjusts to radically different schemes on both offense and defense. They're going to look really good some games and inexplicably bad in others. Everything they do this year is really in preparation for 2013.
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Post by Marty Da Hungry Wolf on Sept 13, 2012 20:55:23 GMT -5
Ditto. Spot on as usual, Kenny.
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Post by Tizu on Sept 14, 2012 7:33:53 GMT -5
I agree with everything you said. With regard to Duke, I hope they do come out of the next couple of games with a W. Confidence will build and that is huge on a team that has been riddled with piss-poor athletes and performances. Cutcliffe is doing the best he can, but until Duke can get some big time players (not only on offense but on defense as well) I have a feeling I will be a disappointed fan. Duke's offense actually hasn't been bad, but their defense needs a lot of help. Cut does seem to get some decent QBs, but it takes more than offense to win the games.
I was shocked when State lost their opener to TN and when they struggled with UConn. I don't have an explanation other than they need to tighten up and play the way they are capable.
With UNC, you could tell they missed Gio. Blue did a great job filling in, but as Kenny eluded to, that last WFU drive was the dagger. That was an exciting game to watch. I'm sure UNC will bounce back and gain some more confidence.
Good luck to all the triangle teams this weekend!
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Post by Ken D on Sept 14, 2012 9:10:23 GMT -5
Other than Carolina, I don't think we'll learn anything after week three that we didn't already know after week 2. At least I hope not, because anything we would learn would be bad.
The Heels need to learn that 4-2-5 defense pretty quick. Right now, they are leaving too many holes in the middle of the field. I don't know if that's due to not enough pressure on the QB from the front four or missed assignments by the five DB's. As good as Louisville's passing game is with Bridgewater they'll get eaten alive if they don't improve from last week.
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Post by Marty Da Hungry Wolf on Sept 15, 2012 5:38:00 GMT -5
I know State has an "easy" one tonight - if they don't perform like they're capable the game (and, for that matter, the season) could take a downward turn. Tired of hearing about "best team he's had" and "experienced offensive line" and "classic pro prospect" only to see the same old same old wheels-spinning-in-mud bit. I'll be there in person tonight, saw this matchup on TV last season. South Alabama ain't coming here just to collect a check, boys.
Duke -vs- NCCU: Another case of Duke having an "easy" one, but this is the classic and proverbial "backyard" brawl - most every single player on each team knows one another personally. Duke "should" win, but look for Central to get their shots in.
UNC -vs- Louisville: Bad opening combo for UNC. 1) road game -vs- ranked team; 2) ranked home opponent is ROLLING on offense; 3) UNC's kids are reportedly still getting acclimated to their new defensive system, which always will take an adjustment period that can NOT come in spring or fall practice, must play some games; 4) just saw where Bernard didn't even travel. Understand and agree with UNC not releasing details of his injury, but the longer it goes the worse the injury can be presumed to be, and that's a damn shame for that kid coming off the great freshman season he had last year. Any UNC fan's thoughts on how long they should drag it out before they redshirt him, if this keeps up?
Best of luck to our local bretheren today and tonight.
Go Pack
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Post by Marty Da Hungry Wolf on Sept 16, 2012 11:49:23 GMT -5
State looked O.K. last night, I think pass coverage on defense needs to improve a bit more, looked better, still not sure what South Alabama has but they look to be good in spots. Seems they're building the right way.
In the 2nd half it was obvious State was trying to "establish" the running game, agreed with that but I think it's a sign of the times when the best running play all night was a reverse by Palmer. Again, no disrespect at all to South Alabama, but State should've been able to call their shot if they're the best team Coach O'Brien has had since he took over here; maybe, "MAYBE", they're just trying not to show everything they have, but I'm running out of ideas.
Citadel next, then at Miami, then bad is coming and it's coming quick. If State doesn't improve exponentially ACROSS THE BOARD in the next two games, it will be no dice against FSU, possibly UNC, Clemson, and possibly Wake. I don't think at Miami will be "easy" by any stretch, but I think that is a winnable game, at Maryland is about the same, and Lord knows they should be able to handle Virginia and BC at home, but "bowl eligible" shouldn't be the goal year in and year out.
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Post by Ken D on Sept 16, 2012 17:24:55 GMT -5
I know State has an "easy" one tonight - if they don't perform like they're capable the game (and, for that matter, the season) could take a downward turn. Tired of hearing about "best team he's had" and "experienced offensive line" and "classic pro prospect" only to see the same old same old wheels-spinning-in-mud bit. I'll be there in person tonight, saw this matchup on TV last season. South Alabama ain't coming here just to collect a check, boys. Duke -vs- NCCU: Another case of Duke having an "easy" one, but this is the classic and proverbial "backyard" brawl - most every single player on each team knows one another personally. Duke "should" win, but look for Central to get their shots in. UNC -vs- Louisville: Bad opening combo for UNC. 1) road game -vs- ranked team; 2) ranked home opponent is ROLLING on offense; 3) UNC's kids are reportedly still getting acclimated to their new defensive system, which always will take an adjustment period that can NOT come in spring or fall practice, must play some games; 4) just saw where Bernard didn't even travel. Understand and agree with UNC not releasing details of his injury, but the longer it goes the worse the injury can be presumed to be, and that's a damn shame for that kid coming off the great freshman season he had last year. Any UNC fan's thoughts on how long they should drag it out before they redshirt him, if this keeps up? Best of luck to our local bretheren today and tonight. Go Pack I thought Bernard had already used his redshirt year in 2010. |
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Post by mattncsu02 on Sept 16, 2012 20:56:40 GMT -5
You're dead on Marty. I think State has the talent, now they need to put it all together. I really, really, really hope they work hard and get everything running like a well oiled machine before Florida State comes to town. If not, it's going to be ugly.
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Post by Marty Da Hungry Wolf on Sept 16, 2012 22:13:53 GMT -5
If Ken is right, and he usually is, that's even more of a shame for him. Kudos and much respect to the UNC team for refusing to fold up and go home yesterday; they gave themselves a chance to win, and that's really all you can ever ask.
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kdub
Red Shirt
Posts: 98
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Post by kdub on Sept 19, 2012 14:14:28 GMT -5
If Ken is right, and he usually is, that's even more of a shame for him. Kudos and much respect to the UNC team for refusing to fold up and go home yesterday; they gave themselves a chance to win, and that's really all you can ever ask. Yeah, Gio has been redshirted once, but if he has a legitimate physical injury that would keep him out the rest of this year, it wouldn't be unheard of for the NCAA to grant a 6th year. Yep. Much credit to the UNC kids for not quitting and actually having a chance to pull the game out at the end. This season is really about preparing the kids who are going to be on the team next year and kudos to all the seniors who chose to help with that process instead of leaving the school. |
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