WF at SYRACUSE, Saturday 3:30 ESPN2

[2&2 Slider To Leyritz]

I think the issue is that we actually have 2 great and one solid unit. We CAN play better than we did yesterday on defense. But we consistently didn’t and didn’t vs Lville either.

Hopefully we can turn it around because this team’s potential is tantalizing. Seems like some small fixes could go a really long way.

How is a below-average team running at will through the middle of our defense for the entire game when we knew that is all they were going to do something that can be handled by a small fix? Clemson's offense sucks, but they will still give us a better version of what Cuse did if they know we can't stop it, which we obviously can't.

 

[ChrisL68]

How is a below-average team running at will through the middle of our defense for the entire game when we knew that is all they were going to do something that can be handled by a small fix? Clemson's offense sucks, but they will still give us a better version of what Cuse did if they know we can't stop it, which we obviously can't.

Because the stats would indicate it was more of a scheme issue than being overpowered physically because we did hold them to 180 yd over like 8 or 9 possessions.

We didn't get physically beat up in the game.

Clemson hasn't run well this year.

 

[liveanddiedeac]

Let’s hope so. And I meant “two equal teams” that night. Wasn’t trying to suggest equal overall.

We were very fortunate to win Saturday. Lots of respect for your team, especially your QB and RB. Your QB is a tough nut, hope he stays healthy the rest of the season. Would love to see you guys take down Clemson Friday night, I really think you've got a decent chance.

 

[2&2 Slider To Leyritz]

Because the stats would indicate it was more of a scheme issue than being overpowered physically because we did hold them to 180 yd over like 8 or 9 possessions.

We didn't get physically beat up in the game.

Clemson hasn't run well this year.

A big part of that is because Cuse sucks, and their players suck. Yet over the totality of the game they kicked our ass in the running game. We can't hope to rely on the "we'll end up winning because your players suck and will eventually screw up" as our "scheme" against Clemson or NC State or hell even UNC.

It's like Skip's defensive approach on corner 3 pointers of leaving them open and hoping they miss. It can work against shitty teams, it doesn't work against teams with good players, even if those corner shots were ones that those good players didn't usually take. DJU doesn't normally run up the gut, but if he does it against us he'll do it at 8 yards a clip if our "scheme" is to not tackle him.

 

[thatguy2016]

2006 had Marion, Idlette, Phonz, and Moore on returns, Swank kicking and punting. Don't remember the coverage, but I'll take that.

2008 we allowed 9 punt return yards on the season - it was negative for most of the year

 

[Dispatch Deac]

I was pleased to hear Beth Mowins, a proud product of Syracuse University, at the mike for our game. She has been a mainstay of ESPN's softball coverage for many years. And she got to see the Deacons win!

 

[thatguy2016]

Because the stats would indicate it was more of a scheme issue than being overpowered physically because we did hold them to 180 yd over like 8 or 9 possessions.

We didn't get physically beat up in the game.

Clemson hasn't run well this year.

we don't have any speed at the linebacker position and it's tough to scheme for that

 

[JuiceCrewAllStar]

2006 had Marion, Idlette, Phonz, and Moore on returns, Swank kicking and punting. Don't remember the coverage, but I'll take that.

Chip Vaughn on FG blocking

(and all-around special teams stud; followed the Gattis model, who was all over the place as a special teamer before he was a starter on D)

 

[LilburnDeac]

I was pleased to hear Beth Mowins, a proud product of Syracuse University, at the mike for our game. She has been a mainstay of ESPN's softball coverage for many years. And she got to see the Deacons win!

I was not. I find her voice to be annoying and I thought that she and the other commentator were a little bit biased towards Syracuse.

 

[Deaconblue]

Usually you would expect of a team like Syracuse was gonna have success on you it would be more wearing you down late in the game.. They had 250 yd total offense in their 1st 4 drives and a 180 in their next 8.

That suggests to me that we had some scheme problems early in the game which is stuff that we gotta get fixed and shouldn't have been an issue because it's pretty apparent what they were gonna do

Wake went to eight in the box for much of the second half. But went away from that for the last drive. And it was costly.

 

[saus21]

I was not. I find her voice to be annoying and I thought that she and the other commentator were a little bit biased towards Syracuse.

Agree, both were annoying to listen to and repeated alot of the same things throughout. had to turn off sound. Seems like good commentators are hard to find.

 

[ChrisL68]

A big part of that is because Cuse sucks, and their players suck. Yet over the totality of the game they kicked our ass in the running game. We can't hope to rely on the "we'll end up winning because your players suck and will eventually screw up" as our "scheme" against Clemson or NC State or hell even UNC.

It's like Skip's defensive approach on corner 3 pointers of leaving them open and hoping they miss. It can work against shitty teams, it doesn't work against teams with good players, even if those corner shots were ones that those good players didn't usually take. DJU doesn't normally run up the gut, but if he does it against us he'll do it at 8 yards a clip if our "scheme" is to not tackle him.

The stats don't indicate that Syracuse's rushing attack sucks. I really hope Clemson's plan is for DJU to try to bull rush it up the middle against us all game since he us averaging 3.3 yd per carry. That isn't how Syracuse had most of its success running.

 

[saltydeac]

The stats don't indicate that Syracuse's rushing attack sucks. I really hope Clemson's plan is for DJU to try to bull rush it up the middle against us all game since he us averaging 3.3 yd per carry. That isn't how Syracuse had most of its success running.

I also think SU had a serviceable Oline whereas I think right now Clemson's is horrible. They can't move the ball because no holes for running game and DJ is under duress on most of his passes. Now could they develop and gel and get better before our game. Absolutely but no great signs of it yet.

 

[thatguy2016]

SU was also missing 2 of their top 6 OL for the WF game

SU rushing yards per carry on the season (DeVito was QB for the first few games):

Ohio 6.4
Rutgers 2.2
Albany 6.8
Liberty 4.3
FSU 6.0

pre-WF average 5.2

Wake Forest 6.1

 

[WRS]

It’s definitely concerning that our defense played so poorly against a team that would clearly have a one-dimensional offense. I’m extremely happy that we won but eventually we aren’t going to be able to pull that magic rabbit out of the hat. Hope we get Greer back and figure some things out during the bye week. No reason we can’t deliver a very special season.

 

[saltydeac]

SU was also missing 2 of their top 6 OL for the WF game

SU rushing yards per carry on the season (DeVito was QB for the first few games):

Ohio 6.4
Rutgers 2.2
Albany 6.8
Liberty 4.3
FSU 6.0

pre-WF average 5.2

Wake Forest 6.1

I would also add that SU averaged 65plays per game with just over 40 rushes per game before us, whereas they had 85 plays with 58 rushes for our game. So 33% more plays but almost 50% more rushes, so they seem to be a team realizing their identity is more running the ball with Schrader vs. Devito and think that helps their improvement as well as just wearing us out with more punishing running plays.

Mind boggling why we would have gone away from 8 in the box given their commitment to run and explains why they moved the ball so easily to tie it.

 

[rutmanchoo]

I’m very curious to watch Syracuse-Clemson this Friday. I think we are still learning about who is good and who isn’t in the ACC. Syracuse rushed the ball better than I expected but their Defense wasn’t as good as advertised. I think we will know more about the 2 Orange teams after Friday. My gut tells me we are going to feel pretty good about a road win at Syracuse after Friday’s game.

 

[Pilchard]

SU was also missing 2 of their top 6 OL for the WF game

SU rushing yards per carry on the season (DeVito was QB for the first few games):

Ohio 6.4
Rutgers 2.2
Albany 6.8
Liberty 4.3
FSU 6.0

pre-WF average 5.2

Wake Forest 6.1

FWIW, Tommy Devito started the first two games of the year. Cuse started Schrader beginning with the Albany game. As young players often do, Shrader has gotten better with each game.

Also, as stated above, LB speed is a concern for WF. This has been issue for a while. Really hurt in 2020 when LB Shane Whittier decommitted from WF for OK. He would have helped a lot. Whittier can run.

 

[PaddyWF]

I’m very curious to watch Syracuse-Clemson this Friday. I think we are still learning about who is good and who isn’t in the ACC. Syracuse rushed the ball better than I expected but their Defense wasn’t as good as advertised. I think we will know more about the 2 Orange teams after Friday. My gut tells me we are going to feel pretty good about a road win at Syracuse after Friday’s game.

I also feel great, about a Clemson W. They still have an elite defense that will be able to stop the run. How will Cuse score points?

 

[jamesda3]

FWIW, Tommy Devito started the first two games of the year. Cuse started Schrader beginning with the Albany game. As young players often do, Shrader has gotten better with each game.

Also, as stated above, LB speed is a concern for WF. This has been issue for a while. Really hurt in 2020 when LB Shane Whittier decommitted from WF for OK. He would have helped a lot. Whittier can run.

Was it Oklahoma he left us for? Is he starting?