Freshmen Thoughts

[gofurman]

GF- in defense of Hedden he’s thrown 7 int’s all year so one a game average.

AP, I stand corrected. Thank you for the correction - seriously.

As I was taught by someone much smarter…. We should never care WHOSE right. Only WHAT is right. Thanks !!!

I guess it’s the utter lack of offense and the few games (2? Games) with 4 or 5 turnovers. But I dont think we have hit 300 yards of Offense yet in a Conference game. In my crazy mind anything less than 300 yards is a shutdown by a D. Like we did to Citadel. Holding them under 300 yards.

My basic line of good D is holding a team under 300. That’s strong. Good offense is achieving more than 400 yards. Just my worthless barometers.

[The Jackal]

And there's stuff like this.

I mean, look at this throw.

[FUATT]

Its hard to understand that we are going into the back half of the schedule with basically a True FR QB1, True FR WR3, True FR RB2 and True FR TE2. And had a RS FR at C for the early part. That's just a lot of inexperience across the skill and makes clean execution hard. So much of the game is to be able to make good out of bad and its hard when the game has not slowed down for you yet.

[The Jackal]

To put a couple thoughts on the youth of the defense, too.

I could be missing someone, but I'm pretty sure there's only two starters off last year's team in this video - Jackson and DiMaggio. The only other regular rotation guy in on the play from last year is, I believe, Caleb Williams.

By my count, that play has five freshmen and two sophomores on the field.

On this play, I'm not even entirely sure who is back at Safety. It looks like Billy Lewis and (I can't see the number) Jalen Gummer(?). Gummer is listed as a CB.

Both of those plays also show that one of the few experienced guys we have at DB, Caleb Williams, is essentially not even playing his normal safety position, but has moved to SPUR. He appears to be the nickel corner on the first play and a blitzing linebacker on the second.

[The Jackal]

Its hard to understand that we are going into the back half of the schedule with basically a True FR QB1, True FR WR3, True FR RB2 and True FR TE2. And had a RS FR at C for the early part. That's just a lot of inexperience across the skill and makes clean execution hard. So much of the game is to be able to make good out of bad and its hard when the game has not slowed down for you yet.

Well, I mean, it wasn't drawn up that way. We had a few positions where we knew we would likely have some youth, but injuries and other departures have really hurt us at certain spots.

Look at the Bandit position. If there's one spot on the 2024 team you felt had a bunch of depth and talent, it was that position. Now we're down to basically freshmen and walk-ons.

I think there is some genuine questions that one could ask of the coaching staff of whether they handled 2023 in a way that struck the right balance between winning last season and preparing for the future. At the same time, I think we all saw a "reloading" year coming, but I'm not sure we were all expecting going from "reloading" to "rebuilding."

But, again, you cannot necessarily anticipate the losses we've had this year. Guys we were expecting to rely on just aren't on the field.

[AllTimeFU]

Uniquely, the one position where we've started a bunch of freshmen on the OL has been center. I think Schmidt, Neely, Jumper, and Luna all started as freshmen.

I'm not sure why that is.

I find that odd that we start younger guys at Center more than other positions. Center is perhaps the toughest OL position? You have to snap AND block but more than that you have to READ THE DEFENSE. I think that's why we have seen recent changes at Center honestly. Between the QB and the Center ...the offense makes the reads and adapts to what is seen in the Defense. To have BOTH a FR QB And a FR Center is just odd to me. And I do notice that we have changed lately; it just wasn't getting done. - As AllTimeFU has been pointing out ... the guys playing center have been rotated lately.

I want a center that’s smart, reads the LB and safety, snaps a brisk ball and gets to the second level.

We’ve fallen in love with a big (power 5) arm some say and a big butt. I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have a worse record with CJ5.

We need to go young young at OL for the remaining games and build. Heck, we’ve never even seen Garcia! Not even once.

AllTimeFU,
Agree with your post about asking frankly which juniors are returning.

Also I’ve been told we often win through the years with HEART and EXECUTION. more than talent. That would lend itself to trying other guys on the OL and maybe Garcia because we flat out don’t execute right now. No denying that. We. Just. Don’t. Execute. It’s baffling. . I’m more looking at the OL than Hedden as he’s a true FR. But he can’t keep having 4 picks a game. I don’t care if you are a Freshman, that’s just unacceptable Keep trying different guys until you find those who DO execute on the OL during the game. Can’t be any worse

Yes. Heart and execution. I’ll let the coaches judge heart. Execution begins with the right read by center, communication and doing your job. I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. Looking at profiles, 61 was all state in Trent Dilfer’s program and versatile enough to play multiple positions and sports. Being that superior OL play begins with read, communication, technique and doing your job I would begin in the middle with the right one.

I also heard an interview with Saban a few weeks ago about picking the right QB to lead your team. He said, “the players know.” We’ve seen 8 make some great throws. I’m sure he’s going to be great. Was it worth it this year? Was 5 actually loved by the players and capable? With the results of the year it’s hard for me to believe burning 8’s redshirt was worth it.

Playing what you are vs want to be is a tough balance. How have we not seen any of 4 or 5 in a painful year? Mobility at QB has been a big drop off from the shifty Huff.

[gofurman]

Uniquely, the one position where we've started a bunch of freshmen on the OL has been center. I think Schmidt, Neely, Jumper, and Luna all started as freshmen.

I'm not sure why that is.

I find that odd that we start younger guys at Center more than other positions. Center is perhaps the toughest OL position? You have to snap AND block but more than that you have to READ THE DEFENSE. I think that's why we have seen recent changes at Center honestly. Between the QB and the Center ...the offense makes the reads and adapts to what is seen in the Defense. To have BOTH a FR QB And a FR Center is just odd to me. And I do notice that we have changed lately; it just wasn't getting done. - As AllTimeFU has been pointing out ... the guys playing center have been rotated lately.

I want a center that’s smart, reads the LB and safety, snaps a brisk ball and gets to the second level.

We’ve fallen in love with a big (power 5) arm some say and a big butt. I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have a worse record with CJ5.

We need to go young young at OL for the remaining games and build. Heck, we’ve never even seen Garcia! Not even once.

AllTimeFU,
Agree with your post about asking frankly which juniors are returning.

Also I’ve been told we often win through the years with HEART and EXECUTION. more than talent. That would lend itself to trying other guys on the OL and maybe Garcia because we flat out don’t execute right now. No denying that. We. Just. Don’t. Execute. It’s baffling. . I’m more looking at the OL than Hedden as he’s a true FR. But he can’t keep having 4 picks a game. I don’t care if you are a Freshman, that’s just unacceptable Keep trying different guys until you find those who DO execute on the OL during the game. Can’t be any worse

Yes. Heart and execution. I’ll let the coaches judge heart. Execution begins with the right read by center, communication and doing your job. I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. Looking at profiles, 61 was all state in Trent Dilfer’s program and versatile enough to play multiple positions and sports. Being that superior OL play begins with read, communication, technique and doing your job I would begin in the middle with the right one.

I also heard an interview with Saban a few weeks ago about picking the right QB to lead your team. He said, “the players know.” We’ve seen 8 make some great throws. I’m sure he’s going to be great. Was it worth it this year? Was 5 actually loved by the players and capable? With the results of the year it’s hard for me to believe burning 8’s redshirt was worth it.

Playing what you are vs want to be is a tough balance. How have we not seen any of 4 or 5 in a painful year? Mobility at QB has been a big drop off from the shifty Huff.

I do appreciate SOME mobility at QB ... at least some escapability. We don't seem to have much now. The pocket collapses and down goes 8 in the middle of it all. Most QBs shuck and dive to get a few yards back... even just diving forwards... but I can't recall 8 getting out of many sacks AT ALL. That has hurt us bad. Get a hand on him and he's going down. I recall getting frustrated when our D would get all over an opposing QB and then the opposing QB would slip and slither away for 6 yards. We need that for our Offense right now. But, to be fair, as we all know, our OL just isn't doing 8 any favors. No run game. No pass protection. But yeah, it is as if we either get a throw off from the pocket -or- it's a sack... One or the other. Never a rollout with a run option or even a run that was not intended - I mean SOMETIMES there has to be a lane the other team leaves when the DEs rush too far out on the edge. Have to make the opposing D pay for that. I get that 8 isn't a pure runner. I do. But it really just occurred to me how few "unplanned scampers for 6 yards" we have had from the QB position. We could REALLY use that.

I would still run a few more designed runs for 8 or tell him to pull the ball from the RB more and keep it himself. Can't be any worse. Maybe they are telling 8 not to run? Honestly two of our ONLY succesfull runs at Citadel were by 8

[gofurman]

Its hard to understand that we are going into the back half of the schedule with basically a True FR QB1, True FR WR3, True FR RB2 and True FR TE2. And had a RS FR at C for the early part. That's just a lot of inexperience across the skill and makes clean execution hard. So much of the game is to be able to make good out of bad and its hard when the game has not slowed down for you yet.

Well, I mean, it wasn't drawn up that way. We had a few positions where we knew we would likely have some youth, but injuries and other departures have really hurt us at certain spots.

Look at the Bandit position. If there's one spot on the 2024 team you felt had a bunch of depth and talent, it was that position. Now we're down to basically freshmen and walk-ons.

I think there is some genuine questions that one could ask of the coaching staff of whether they handled 2023 in a way that struck the right balance between winning last season and preparing for the future. At the same time, I think we all saw a "reloading" year coming, but I'm not sure we were all expecting going from "reloading" to "rebuilding."

But, again, you cannot necessarily anticipate the losses we've had this year. Guys we were expecting to rely on just aren't on the field.

Jackal, it's funny. Last year you could argue RB was the deepest. Or close... this year Bandit was one of the deepest. It's as if the deeper the position the more we get hurt

[Afurmanfan]

GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

[The Jackal]

GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

I genuinely have no idea what some of the problem is up front on the offense. None of us really do. I do know we have very capable coaches on this staff. We have the exact same staff from last season, so my suspicion is they didn't forget how to coach over the last 8 months.

I think we are seeing the coaches try to mix up the offensive line. I suspect we are going to start seeing some of these freshmen get playing time up front too.

[FUATT]

Its hard to understand that we are going into the back half of the schedule with basically a True FR QB1, True FR WR3, True FR RB2 and True FR TE2. And had a RS FR at C for the early part. That's just a lot of inexperience across the skill and makes clean execution hard. So much of the game is to be able to make good out of bad and its hard when the game has not slowed down for you yet.

Well, I mean, it wasn't drawn up that way. We had a few positions where we knew we would likely have some youth, but injuries and other departures have really hurt us at certain spots.

Look at the Bandit position. If there's one spot on the 2024 team you felt had a bunch of depth and talent, it was that position. Now we're down to basically freshmen and walk-ons.

I think there is some genuine questions that one could ask of the coaching staff of whether they handled 2023 in a way that struck the right balance between winning last season and preparing for the future. At the same time, I think we all saw a "reloading" year coming, but I'm not sure we were all expecting going from "reloading" to "rebuilding."

But, again, you cannot necessarily anticipate the losses we've had this year. Guys we were expecting to rely on just aren't on the field.

Oh, 100 percent agree. Not drawn up that way at all. I don't think any coach or team can expect the depth and quality of losses that this team has experienced. There is list on this here website somewhere and it is just extraordinary.

Then there are the non-injury things that happened that could not be accounted for when you were crystal balling forward from last year. Losing Bryce. Losing Josh Harris. We had an OL who could have come back and chose not to. We had at least one surprising transfer, maybe more.

Then you lop, what, a dozen substantial injuries at starting and 2 deep on top of that and here we are.

I know as a fan base we want it to be someone's fault. But there is a latin phrase in the law, res ipsa loquitur - the thing speaks for itself.

We did not build this carnival ride or buy the ticket, but we gotta ride it anyway. Buckle up.

[AllTimeFU]

I agree with all that. I at least liked seeing them mix it up a bit.

One other thing hit me. 77 (Bug Fred) had eligibility and left I think the last day of Spring ball. While we’ve had some time since then, in the long range planning he would have likely been still starting at a tackle.

[gofurman]

GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure - and guess what ?!! You see them now changing Center late in the year as some fans have been calling for for quite a while - not necessarily me but some who really study OL like AllTimeFU. He has been calling for a change at Center for a few weeks if you read his posts... and then voila - the coaches did it AFTER he said it. SOMETIMES, the coaches don't get things right.

WALLY PIPP ! COACHES ARE WRONG. A LOT. Coaches care.. .but they are WRONG A LOT. Lou Gehrig - Lou Gehrig !!! - only got to play because the coach got mad and benched a bunch of starters on the Yankees. Pipp lost his job to Gehrig and NEVER got it back... If the overall team of the Yankees had been playing better we may have never heard of Lou Gehrig as the coach though Wally Pipp was better. He wasn't.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/528 ... as-benched

I will give you more. MANY Furman former football players were frustrated at the "run a 50% Louis Ivory" into a brick wall vs Montana title game.

***Also, why do you ask me and not AllTimeFU??? I agree with him in most parts.... But AllTimeFU is the one who specifically called out who should probably be lining up on OL at each position saying " I think our lack of offensive production does go back to the OL. In doing some research on my suggested configuration LT to RT (66, 51/72,61,79,77/51) I did see success in the preseason and the few rushing TDs we’ve had this year. "

Again, I agree with him though

[gofurman]

I agree with all that. I at least liked seeing them mix it up a bit.

One other thing hit me. 77 (Bug Fred) had eligibility and left I think the last day of Spring ball. While we’ve had some time since then, in the long range planning he would have likely been still starting at a tackle.

AllTimeFU - check your PMs... a friendly message

[gofurman]

GF- Don’t you think that maybe our OL coach, who sees what all his OL can do during practice, has an idea as to whom gives us the best chance? Do you think to just stick someone in, whom you know is not as good as the starter, is a good idea?
I don’t know what the problems are on the OL, but to think he is not thinking of every reasonable way to improve our performance is just silly. His livelihood depends on it.
And I think we have a very good OL coach.

Sure, but On the other hand I maintain OL is probably our worst unit. It just is... and the thing is we keep saying injuries. There really aren't any/many injuries on the OL ! DBs are hurt - transfers and injuries there.. Bandit - DECIMATED... DL.. beat up (40 etc)...

But OL is who we thought it would be. Tex Elliot is hurt. Most teams have at least one or two OL out. So that just leads to realizing that either we did not recruit the right guys for the OL or we didn't recruit guys in the right year (so that we would have older players on the OL now) ...

or, maybe that we mortgaged the whole house on last year ....

Additionally, We have the RBs (other than J Smith) that we thought we would - so the whole running game ... or LACK of running game - is just odd. We have who we recruited and who we wanted... No real excuses with injuries.