Football Prognostications...

[Lectro]

Well Ph, last season was scary because on Offense you could feel the tension...take the FSU game which the D kept tight in the 1st half but eventually wore down.

On the first series Price hits Givens on a 26 yard gain...the play is called back on a non-hold (I'm not much for complaining about calls but this one was phantom) --- Anyway, whatever. The Deacons were desperate to get some kind of momentum with their 18 year old QB. How to get going in games and at the same time not drown your young protege. As it was, we promptly were forced to punt and FSU got behind their 1st round draftee QB. The first half of that game is as instructive as any last season. The Deacons are so close...this season they will have positive traction on offense.

Dennis Godfrey has grown as a man and a player. He is profiled in Sporting News for his work with his hometown...everything has come full circle for Dennis and I am happy and proud for him.

The entire Offensive line has worked probably harder than at any time in Grobe's era. Steed's responsibility is now focused on the line and not the TE's or the off-field issues which weighed heavilly on him last year. The weight room has been a camp-out for Weaver (328), Hoag(305), Williams(315), Looney(325), Godfrey(345), Summers(330), Blitch(330), Heartsill(305), et.al.

* We also see runningbacks running to the hole. Many runningbacks never have enough trust to run to the hole before it has formed. Harris has no 'dance' in him and trusts that the crease will appear. Nick Knott runs the same. Pendergrass has picked it up as well.

Givens is a budding star at WR. He is just a JR. Kenny Moore did virtually nothing before his JR season (typically when Grobe Deacs pick up steam) ---Danny Dembry is a solid glue type at WR who blocks well downfield as well as makes reliable grabs. A good safety-valve for Tanner. Michael Campanaro needed Yloo to roll on. He is simply a better ball player and I assure you he will not drop punts inside our own ten. He is explosive enough that Kiper rates him among the top 15 KR's in the nation even though he is only a rising Sophomore. --- Terrence Davis is 18 months removed from his knee deal...don't ask me why but some guys need a full year to get the rust off and the confidence back. By the end of spring Terrence was back to his explosive self and is again the guy with "so much promise". We really need our two RS SR TE's to show-out this year. Nothing specatcular, just combine to be a "steady eddie" at End.

Tanner got thrown in the fire and survived. His numbers are ok from last year and taken in context of his experience he handled himself well. I look for much improved play from him. He simply has a great head on his shoulders, an accurate and outstanding arm and he is tough.

 

[ManhassetDeac]

Your knowledge of "your school" and how it builds Football teams sucks pal.

I have no fucking idea what your phd is in (it tells me all i need to know that you wear it as a shingle) but you don't know a god damn thing about Wake Forest Football and you never have.

I look forward to jamming the God damn sandwich down your throat this year...

That was kind of funny. I've never heard "jamming the sandwich down your throat" before. Made me laugh

 

[DeaconSig]

Tanner got thrown in the fire and survived. His numbers are ok from last year and taken in context of his experience he handled himself well. I look for much improved play from him. He simply has a great head on his shoulders, an accurate and outstanding arm and he is tough.

He's got a great arm. He has not yet proven to be accurate.

 

[PhDeac]

Well Ph, last season was scary becuase on Offense you could feel the tension...take the FSU game which the D kept tight in the 1st half but eventually wore down.

On the first series Price hits Givens on a 26 yard gain...the play is called back on a non-hold (I'm not much for complaining about calls but this one was phantom) --- Anyway, whatever. The Deacons were desperate to get some kind of momentum with their 18 year old QB. How to get going in games and at the same time not drown your young protege. As it was, we promptly were forced to punt and FSU got behind their 1st round draftee QB. The first half of that game is as instructive as any last season. The Deacons are so close...this season they will have positive traction on offense.

Dennis Godfrey has grown as a man and a player. He is profiled in Sporting News for his work with his hometown...everything has come full circle for Dennis and I am happy and proud for him.

The entire Offensive line has worked probably harder than at any time in Grobe's era. Steed's responsibility is now focused on the line and not the TE's or the off-field issues which weighed heavilly on him last year. The weight room has been a camp-out for Weaver (328), Hoag(305), Williams(315), Looney(325), Godfrey(345), Summers(330), Blitch(330), Heartsill(305), et.al.

* We also see runningbacks running to the hole. Many runningbacks never have enough trust to run to the hole before it has formed. Harris has no 'dance' in him and trusts that the crease will appear. Nick Knott runs the same. Pendergrass has picked it up as well.

Givens is a budding star at WR. He is just a JR. Kenny Moore did virtually nothing before his JR season (typically when Grobe Deacs pick up steam) ---Danny Dembry is a solid glue type at WR who blocks well downfield as well as makes reliable grabs. A good safety-valve for Tanner. Michael Campanaro needed Yloo to roll on. He is simply a better ball player and I assure you he will not drop punts inside our own ten. He is explosive enough that Kiper rates him among the top 15 KR's in the nation even though he is only a rising Sophomore. --- Terrence Davis is 18 months removed from his knee deal...don't ask me why but some guys need a full year to get the rust off and the confidence back. By the end of spring Terrence was back to his explosive self and is again the guy with "so much promise". We really need our two RS SR TE's to show-out this year. Nothing specatcular, just combine to be a "steady eddie" at End.

Tanner got thrown in the fire and survived. His numbers are ok from last year and taken in context of his experience he handled himself well. I look for much improved play from him. He simply has a great head on his shoulders, an accurate and outstanding arm and he is tough.

Quoted as a model of how lectro should post. Nice post. Pos rep coming.

I agree that the WRs look very promising. I'd like to see more from Harris. He did a great job avoiding contact when the hole was there, but we need somebody like Barclay who can slip away and keep churning out yards after contact. Agree that we need something "else" at TE. And please put Bohannon on the field. Please.

I doubts are about Tanner and Grobe/Lobo. We've seen enough sophomore slumps not to assume a freshman will get better. We've lacked a cohesive offense for years. Will that change?

 

[Lectro]

Friends

Lectro has not made any friends yet

Befriend Lectro

:squint:

Please don't "befriend me"...I can't stand most of you motherfuckers.

Neg Rep me...that's what I want...

That way I know i'm doing something right!

 

[TWDeac]

Well Ph, last season was scary becuase on Offense you could feel the tension...take the FSU game which the D kept tight in the 1st half but eventually wore down.

On the first series Price hits Givens on a 26 yard gain...the play is called back on a non-hold (I'm not much for complaining about calls but this one was phantom) --- Anyway, whatever. The Deacons were desperate to get some kind of momentum with their 18 year old QB. How to get going in games and at the same time not drown your young protege. As it was, we promptly were forced to punt and FSU got behind their 1st round draftee QB. The first half of that game is as instructive as any last season. The Deacons are so close...this season they will have positive traction on offense.

Dennis Godfrey has grown as a man and a player. He is profiled in Sporting News for his work with his hometown...everything has come full circle for Dennis and I am happy and proud for him.

The entire Offensive line has worked probably harder than at any time in Grobe's era. Steed's responsibility is now focused on the line and not the TE's or the off-field issues which weighed heavilly on him last year. The weight room has been a camp-out for Weaver (328), Hoag(305), Williams(315), Looney(325), Godfrey(345), Summers(330), Blitch(330), Heartsill(305), et.al.

* We also see runningbacks running to the hole. Many runningbacks never have enough trust to run to the hole before it has formed. Harris has no 'dance' in him and trusts that the crease will appear. Nick Knott runs the same. Pendergrass has picked it up as well.

Givens is a budding star at WR. He is just a JR. Kenny Moore did virtually nothing before his JR season (typically when Grobe Deacs pick up steam) ---Danny Dembry is a solid glue type at WR who blocks well downfield as well as makes reliable grabs. A good safety-valve for Tanner. Michael Campanaro needed Yloo to roll on. He is simply a better ball player and I assure you he will not drop punts inside our own ten. He is explosive enough that Kiper rates him among the top 15 KR's in the nation even though he is only a rising Sophomore. --- Terrence Davis is 18 months removed from his knee deal...don't ask me why but some guys need a full year to get the rust off and the confidence back. By the end of spring Terrence was back to his explosive self and is again the guy with "so much promise". We really need our two RS SR TE's to show-out this year. Nothing specatcular, just combine to be a "steady eddie" at End.

Tanner got thrown in the fire and survived. His numbers are ok from last year and taken in context of his experience he handled himself well. I look for much improved play from him. He simply has a great head on his shoulders, an accurate and outstanding arm and he is tough.

Good post!

 

[Lectro]

I just can't get over how a bandwagon fan who showed up after Grobe got here and who jumped ship during our worst season in decades, has the nerve to tell fans who've stuck it out through thick and thin for nearly 2 decades that they don't know anything about Wake football.

It takes a special kind of stupid to think that way.

Liquidy Douche...as I explained last season my brother was fighting for his life with Brain Cancer. I came to the boards and explained this.

Frankly, I don't know how Steed held up last year... a daughter is much more profound than a brother being sick. My hats off too him and the hair rises on my neck because I UNDERSTAND how people are rewarded when they endeavor to persevere.

The Gods of Football are set to smile on Steed Lobotzke!

Its called "Karma" ... maybe you should look into it.

 

[deacdiggler]

You got 2009 next to your name so...nuff said.

You don't know how the last Championship team was built nor what struggles it went through to break through and you are equally un-aware this time around.

No worries...you will get on the bus...but it will be the back of the bus. That's where the space is reserved for those with no vision. We can put you next to ph.

RACIOSTTTT!!!!!!111

 

[Liquid Karma]

Liquidy Douche...as I explained last season my brother was fighting for his life with Brain Cancer. I came to the boards and explained this.

Frankly, I don't know how Steed held up last year... a daughter is much more profound than a brother being sick. My hats off too him and the hair rises on my neck because I UNDERSTAND how people are rewarded when they endeavor to persevere.

The Gods of Football are set to smile on Steed Lobotzke!

Its called "Karma" ... maybe you should look into it.

I don't recall you coming to the boards to explain that. Knowing that now, my humble apologies for my insensitivity.

 

[Lectro]

Quoted as a model of how lectro should post. Nice post. Pos rep coming.

I agree that the WRs look very promising. I'd like to see more from Harris. He did a great job avoiding contact when the hole was there, but we need somebody like Barclay who can slip away and keep churning out yards after contact. Agree that we need something "else" at TE. And please put Bohannon on the field. Please.

I doubts are about Tanner and Grobe/Lobo. We've seen enough sophomore slumps not to assume a freshman will get better. We've lacked a cohesive offense for years. Will that change?

I agree with Sophomore slumps but only in the cases where the Frosh really excelled. See Phonz and Kenny. The slump does not typically show unless the guy has outlandish press clippings to occupy his time. No Deac Sophomore (Harris and Camp, for example) has any slump to anticipate,imo.

 

[OldGoldBeard]

Liquidy Douche...as I explained last season my brother was fighting for his life with Brain Cancer. I came to the boards and explained this.

Frankly, I don't know how Steed held up last year... a daughter is much more profound than a brother being sick. My hats off too him and the hair rises on my neck because I UNDERSTAND how people are rewarded when they endeavor to persevere.

The Gods of Football are set to smile on Steed Lobotzke!

Its called "Karma" ... maybe you should look into it.

I'm sure you'll turn this into a personal attack instead of giving a substantive response, but I'm genuinely interested in your opinion. How good of an offensive coordinator do you think Lobo is? Top 20 in the country, top 50, top 80, or what? If he's good, why have our offensive ranks been so poor during his tenure--lack of talent, philosophy, or something else?

 

[PhilliesDeacs]

If you think Wake will sniff .500 this season, I have some beans I'd like to sell you.

 

[PhDeac]

OK. There's something to be said for not slumping when you don't have much room to slump. Players like Phonz and Okoro along with guys like Idlette, Adams, and yes, Skinner established a high bar in their first years.

You're right that Tanner, Harris, and Camp didn't establish that bar regardless of what we think. In that case, the fear isn't a slump, it's not making the progress we need them to make in order to meet program goals. Out of those three, I have the least doubts about Camp. My only concern is him getting enough touches. He should be a fine replacement for Brown and I think he'll greatly improve our return game if he gets the chance.

 

[tau06]

He's got a great arm. He has not yet proven to be accurate.

Think he was a little more accurate than we give him credit for, and we got spoiled with Riley. The WR's had the drops pretty bad all of last season. The one the sticks out the most was obviously the throw he made to Adams in the flat in the last minute of the game. Hit him perfect, lead him a little, and JA dropped it for what would have amounted to about a 35 yard field goal for the win. Hopefully the WR's are a little more sure handed this season. Think Tanner has all the potential in the world just have to have faith the coaches bring it out of him.

 

[Lectro]

I don't recall you coming to the boards to explain that. Knowing that now, my humble apologies for my insensitivity.

Karma, thankyou. You certainly owe me no apology and I frankly enjoy sparring with you and PH. I would not have it any other way. We get some juice flowing on a hot summer day. I certaily don't expect you to refrain from considering ol' Lectro to be an absolute prick

* Here I am...I can do nothing else. I am an absolute Homer for Wake Forest Football.... a strange disease but it is the one I'm afflicted with. I am not sorry. I see a coach who is entering his prime -- Bob Bowdens' best years were in his sixties. I see a coach building a program very similar to what Frank Beamer has built in Blacksburg. (a slower and more difficult structure to build but one I believe he is building stone by stone even in the years where he's having to regroup and make another climb)

 

[ProbationDeac]

Karma, thankyou. You certainly owe me no apology and I frankly enjoy sparring with you and PH. I would not have it any other way. We get some juice flowing on a hot summer day. I certaily don't expect you to refrain from considering ol' Lectro to be an absolute prick

* Here I am...I can do nothing else. I am an absolute Homer for Wake Forest Football.... a strange disease but it is the one I'm afflicted with. I am not sorry. I see a coach who is entering his prime -- Bob Bowdens' best years were in his sixties. I see a coach building a program very similar to what Frank Beamer has built in Blacksburg. (a slower and more difficult structure to build but one I believe he is building stone by stone even in the years where he's having to regroup and make another climb)

One thing is for sure, you're a homer ha ha.

I am surely hoping for better next year but I won't rip any fan who doesn't have high expectations for the coming year based on last year. I don't put a lot of stock in predictions in sports magazines anymore then I put stock in message board predictions. I trust Grobe can turn things around because he has done so in the past. I am more of a wait and see how next year goes rather then making big predictions about our success or failure.

 

[pinochadeac]

To be honest, the bar was set so low last year that it won't take .500 to make most Deacon fans happy.

We were just flat out terrible due to lack of offense and no secondary. We were simply not competitive. It was a throwback to Caldwell. We really should have never even been in the Navy or GT games. It was their stupidity for not airing it out earlier. Once they did we were toast.

I want to see the Jim Grobe Wake teams that we are used to.. hard nosed and fighting to the end.

I don't think Lobo is the answer, but I hope the WV coach can provide a spark. It was the next best thing to getting a new OC. I agree the offense has grown stale.

 

[DCDeac]

The last time we went 1-7, we followed it up with a 3-5 year in conference - then we won an ACC championship. I don't have the same expectations based on where we are right now, but given all of our bowl appearances recently the Lectro ridicule seems a bit ridiculous.

I still don't get why Lectro makes people so angry. He gives a lot of good info and everyone knows it's of the "if everything falls into place we'll be awesome" variety. We have 100 other posters who give virtually no interesting info and predict we will suck to high hell.

I just find it odd that we defend those posters are "realists" even when our teams overperform (granted, it's been a few years) but Lectro gets attacked immediately for posting something positive. If anything you'd think the double standard would go the opposite direction.

 

[Lectro]

I'm sure you'll turn this into a personal attack instead of giving a substantive response, but I'm genuinely interested in your opinion. How good of an offensive coordinator do you think Lobo is? Top 20 in the country, top 50, top 80, or what? If he's good, why have our offensive ranks been so poor during his tenure--lack of talent, philosophy, or something else?

Ok.

When he started he was in a little over his head. Wake Forest has been a unique situation because Jim looks at Steed in the same way as he looks at a 2 star player who has lots of potential but has not yet been polished. Today, I see Steed as a RS JR or SR. I expect more out of him now that he is 'seasoned'. He has no excuses nor will he use them. In fairness to Steed, the Offensive Line recruiting was really poor in the middle part of the decade. This is not unusual in recruiting. The Big uglies are the hardest to land and so finally, finally! after all these years between Collins, Azzolina, Moosebrugger, Clabo he has a group with great size and nimble feet. Sure, there were years when we had a Vallos or a Justice or a Lingruen or a Degeare but now we have 10-12 guys with the requisite size to really run the ball. That, and we have RB's that run where they are told.

We would also do well to remember some of the kudos (Lindy's Profile pre-season 2007) Lobotzke has received from his peers.

Jim is a time control freak...that is his brand of football and he will not stray too far from his core philosophy even if short term gains can be made. He is a long range planner and his signing of last years surprise OL prospects coupled with the Standouts of 2011 (Preble, Goodwin, Intemann) marks an important evolutionary stage for the program.

So, I see Steed around the middle of the pack but with greater upside than many of the OC's ahead of him. Again, it will have to come with the "Run-Game" (think 'clock') because that is the core belief of Jim's. Sure, he could see bringing in a kid like Riley at ECU but that 'high flying' stuff does not have staying power. Love him or hate him, Grobe is trying to build it to last and any OC working for him will follow suit.

 

[wsc8521s]

If you think Wake will sniff .500 this season, I have some beans I'd like to sell you.

Does 5-7 count as "sniff"-ing? I could see it happening ... think we'll beat State, G-W and Vandy and I think there's a chance we can find 2 more wins elsewhere (likely in ACC play). Maybe we won't sniff a bowl too hard, especially since that Vandy game is the last game of the year, but I can see 5 wins. I think the coaching changes (Grobe finally got a wake-up call) and another year of experience under many players' belts will pay dividends.