longestdays

I stand corrected. Good job bulls and good game.

I enjoyed the the conversation. Go jackets! I'll being breaking this game down on youtube...

In 2017 Duke did just this... they stopped us twice and scored twice and we got off schedule and started passing in the second half. Duke was only stopped once and GT never scored again leading to a 43 to 20 final score. (thus why we have a new DC)

Although I hope Woody's defense is all that... I think USF will score some points. GT is just to young on a new defensive scheme to say anything else until proven otherwise.

MNW Point taken... true enough.

Don't het me wrong, the stats and score are impressive. 37 points on average is very good! I get a +30 prediction. But the 45 prediction is very interesting. I would also say GT fans saying less than 21 points are outside the norm (taking into account 12 versus 14 possessions - 14 possessions score would be 26-27 points equivalent, which is your low end score with Tulsa and Houston)

2017 had USF had ~ 2.6 points per possessions (14 possession average and 37 point per game average) with a pretty easy schedule. Don't expect more than 12 possessions (unless it is a turnover fest). 35 to 28 makes more since if you are a home town hero, and that is saying you perform as well as last years average. Most people are predicting more USF offense than any team GT played last year including Clemson and uga.On the GT score side I see the 21 to 28 points given that only Duke (20) and Clemson (7) held GT to less than 21 points last year. USF defense was rated close to Dukes FEI last year. Is USF is going to hang more on GT than the teams USF played last year other than East Carolina and Illinois?

I agree on 11 to 12 possessions. USF is a 14 possession average. 37 points average. This data yields an Awesome 2.6 points per possession. 28-32 points average on 11 to 12 possessions (With last years players). The question is, is GT your average opponent? Can you eat up a new defense, or is the new scheme bringing the success Nate Woody had at App State. Are the new players just as good as last year? Only Saturday will tell. I agree. Play your game. Although I would love for your team to get off script. Don't count any stats after 3rd Q in GTvAlcorn including one fumble and one fourth down stop. Just like I stopped watching USF game at half.

Cut blocks... do you have injury stats? Do you know GT's defense practices their own offensive team and they have never had a cut block injury? Hyped up media and a non-preferred blocking style by the defense does not mean injury. Bigger teams hate it because it is an equalizer.

Option football is about loving the mechanics and execution. Most people don't know much about option football and find it not to their taste (which I understand).

Makes me wonder, that was some great play!

Awesome game with UCF last year... very intense.

I like the Vegas line of 3.5 but I think it could go either way. Atomic has 34 to 30. My heart wants the defense to show the change with the new DC and hold to 21 points. Keep in mind I only expect 10 possessions and 12 max. But, I also know that your QB and WR are going to target our weakness. 28 would mean ~6-8 stops. I am thankful your QB is not mobile. 28 to 21 points sounds about right. I think GT will score 2.1 (average) to 2.8 (if the team has not seen the option a lot and has issues with the run) points per possession 21 to 31 points. Either team can win. If it rains, I don't know, maybe USF. If it does not rain, I'll take GT to cover the 3.5.

Make since... one more week to heal.

Really, the starter RB was kept out to reduce chance of injury? Was he dinged and they wanted healed for this weekend?

I expect to see at least 7 in the box and sometime 8. I would also guess you guys would run 3 down line men and 2 OLB with 2 ILB or a setup with 3 down DL, 1 OLB walked up, and 3 LBs.

Keep in mind there is no maintain the edge in the option (you can maintain the back side edge and over pursuit can be dangerous). The DE and OLB are optioned off and not blocked. The edge keeper will be the ILB as he flies to the outside (or if the safety or CB beats blocks). We have someone to block the ILB, but we struggle blocking the ILB heading to the outside. You can keep us on the inside by having the OLB take the ABack or halfback (or by beating blocks by the safety or CB). This makes the QB keep it and turns him up field. The DE traditionally takes the Full back or BBack.

LB size is less of an issue. Are they football IQ smart. Do they study film? Are they athletic? Are they studs?

There is no data that shows that cut blocking causes more injuries. If that were the case, all our defense would be inured after Spring and Summer practice. Almost every team cut blocks, just our team does it a lot more. Chop blocks are bad and if they happen it is not-intended. Chop blocks being one high and one low and a cut block is just one low. It is a way to equalize some of the greater talent we face.

GT tried two to finish the double overtime with Tenn last year... love the balls, would have done the same thing, but it did not work : (

I am not wreckem1990 and don't know him well. I did have harsh twitter words for UCF's Frost last year. He did get a taste of an unplayed game last week. There are all types on all boards. StingTalk is known for caustic comedy and over the top "fun". GTSwarm is the most balanced, but they have the whole spectrum there as well. Of course most fans wear gold or green glasses and think we both will win... right? How are your LB? Fast athletic star LB can cause issue. I read from your board you have 260? DT? Our Offensive line are ~280 to 290 and little fat. Traditionally we play all 5 all game, but coach says he may roll more this year. Athletic DT can cause issues if they can beat blocks. Clemson has some Lord of the rings tree people as DT and they are hard as hell to block. We leave a DT unblocked in one play last game.... it was not pretty. How are your DB at covering 1 on 1? I saw some good interceptions by your DB in the game against Elon.

I wanted to stop by and see if you had any GT questions? Here are a couple points of interest on defense: GT received a brand new defensive coordinator from App state (Woody) The defensive backfield is new and one starter graduated from Wofford and transferred to GT this year The other DBs are very talented underclassman and it looks like your deep ball is your strongest scoring strength (not a good match) Although Alcorn was out manned, the D pitched a shutout and reduced the total yards from 272 (2015) to 146 (2018) We are hoping that GT can improve from a FEI defensive ranking of ~65 to a ranking around 45 going to a more aggressive scheme (from a bend but don't break scheme). Offense: GT runs 80% of the time and if we throw more than 14 times a game the run is not working (GT threw a little more than normal with Alcorn to practice) There were 2 unforced lost fumbles on exchanges and one interception in the Alcorn game The Alcorn game did not show GT's best execution on offense and they need to improve (although 543 total yards and 8.1 yards per run) I would like to see GT improve their FEI ranking from 23 to below 20 in 2018 The starters were removed mid to end of the 3rd quarter in the Alcorn game... 5 games won in 2017... that hurts. We had UCF cancel on us due to the hurricane, 3 were lost after leading at half time (defensive issues and therefore a new defensive DC), and we had a strength of schedule that ranked 16th (played Miami, VT, Clemson, and Georgia) If you want to see some explanation of our offense go see me here... https://youtu.be/ek6CROmH3BU?t=51s