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GT Game Thread

The preseason insider take on WF was ass backwards (I bought into it and was dead wrong). Everyone's (including Clawson's) biggest concern was the DL specifically and generally the defense. The defense has been good; if not very good. Possibly the best defense since Clawson arrived. While the DL isn't Clemson 2016; the DL is solid all around. WF has better depth; many thought Chase Jones was WF top defensive player, and he hasn't even played yet. Year 2 with a good DC has led to improvement. With this defense, last year's WF team wins 9 or 10 regular season games.

Heading into the season. the one aspect of 2023 WF football which there was the most confidence in was the passing attack. Mitch reportedly out-performed all past WF QBs in practice metrics (note that the QB can't get hit in practice), the WR corps is elite, and the offensive line was supposedly as good as, if not better than in 2022. Nope.

Deacs are running the ball OK, but the passing attack is a mess. It's a combo of factors, but the parlay of Griffis' indecisiveness, the OL getting pushed back and/or beat (more on this below)and opposing DCs justifiably maximizing pressure, aka "bringing the house" on almost every snap (Elon did this starting in the 2nd Quarter and every opposing DC, but Vandy, has followed the pressure WF script -- this will continue for the rest of the season). Griffis is tough, but he's getting crushed every game, and it has taken its toll. On the one hand, he's got to avoid throwing picks, and the other hand, he's got to get rid of the ball more quickly. This has devolved into brain lock as he can't just play fast and easy because he's afraid to make the crushing mistake. Also, while Sam wasn't huge, he was taller than Griffis, and WF's scheme depends on the QB taking very short drops and throwing among the trees, seems like Griffis just lacks the size for that to work. The one thing that seems to work with Griffis is roll to his right and throw.

Went back and watched the tape on plays when Griffis was pressured and/or sacked, and its really telling. Almost every play, Jurgens has stonewalled his man (it's almost comical as the defender opposite Jurgens is so far away from the rest of the DL that are closing in on Mitch); Gordon generally has held off his man, but Gulbin and especially Clapp and Russell are almost helpless as their opposing defender breaks free to terrorize the QB. I know that WF's scheme depends on leaving the OL on an island and does not typically leave a TE into block, but our right tackle needs help -lots of it. Also, I know people go nuts when Claibourne get critiqued for pass blocking, but he again struggled in that area on Saturday. It's real.

Clawson has authored in-season adjustments with success before, and changes are needed; with the plug and play offense malfunctioning, they will need to find fixes fast; without the TOs, WF could have won yesterday's game 20-17; that hasn't been WF's style of football in recent seasons, but it may need to be WF football in 2023. Can WF win 9-6 in OT again?

FWIW, I know that many if not all are clamoring for a QB change. Would just say that it would be pretty rough for any new QB to have his first start at Death Valley. Then again, if Mitch does start against Clemson in two weeks, and he continues to hold onto the ball, and WF continues with the same blocking schemes, there is a really good chance that Kern will be taking plenty of snaps at Clemson anyway.
 
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You know, not to be alarmist or anything, but we have some of the best WRs in the league on our team. Not having a current QB or one in the pipeline who can get them the ball is pretty damn concerning re: them sticking around. Not ready to completely write off Mitch, but if we don’t hit the portal hard for a stud QB in the off-season, we are fucking up.

ETA: I rewatched the game, which was painful, and I’m here to say I was completely wrong about the OL. They are not the problem (there’s a lot for them to work on, though for sure). They did a serviceable job against GT’s DL (who looked pretty good, IMHO) and opened up plenty of holes for the RBs and passing lanes for Mitch both in and outside of the pocket. Some of the play calls were not good, but holy hell does Mitch have zero awareness in the pocket - like none. He drops back too far and doesn’t have the arm strength to compensate. He needs to move forward faster within the pocket and make his reads, but he’s either too short or too slow to get the ball to his intended target even if the right read is there. Just a disaster yesterday. I also think Clawson should have put Kern in if only to mix things up. We kept running the same damn plays over and over again with Mitch in 3rd down situations and got the same result the majority of the time.
 
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SkyDivingDeacon said:
You know, not to be alarmist or anything, but we have some of the best WRs in the league on our team. Not having a current QB or one in the pipeline who can get them the ball is pretty damn concerning re: them sticking around. Not ready to completely write off Mitch, but if we don’t hit the portal hard for a stud QB in the off-season, we are fucking up.
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This is my concern as well.
 
SkyDivingDeacon said:
You know, not to be alarmist or anything, but we have some of the best WRs in the league on our team. Not having a current QB or one in the pipeline who can get them the ball is pretty damn concerning re: them sticking around. Not ready to completely write off Mitch, but if we don’t hit the portal hard for a stud QB in the off-season, we are fucking up.
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I said this last night and was told I was being alarmist, but totally agree. These guys have one shot at the league. They need someone who can throw them catchable balls.
 
DeacDaddy said:
Well obviously Clawson’s issue will never be indifference. He’ll be passionate about football till the day he dies.

The question is, why did he allow the situation to get this bad, and does he know what to do about it.

As far as the sideline goes, I’m seeing a lot of him just shaking head and scrunching up his face when something goes bad, and that’s what’s wearing on me.

Fix the problem that you’ve created.
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Hard to fix it during the game.
 
It sucks to have an excellent WR group and not utilize them. May need to ditch the slow mesh and become a running team. Throw a few passes here and there, when Mitch has 20 seconds in the pocket, ample blocking, and a step ladder
 
WFU8184 said:
Hard to fix it during the game.
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#1 he can do more than just helplessly shake his head , and #2 I was addressing him in his position as head coach of the football team for the next two weeks before we play again.
 
DeacDaddy said:
It’s a bit troubling to think of how much time has been invested in Griffis even as the backup. He’s gotten tons of practice reps. All pretty much wasted, no offense to the guy, when we should have been developing the next Wolford or Hartman.

PS I’m officially ready for a Wake QB who’s 6’3 or 6’4, but aren’t we all.
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6’ or 6’1” is fine. But MG is 5’ 10”
 
BoDeac said:
It sucks to have an excellent WR group and not utilize them. May need to ditch the slow mesh and become a running team. Throw a few passes here and there, when Mitch has 20 seconds in the pocket, ample blocking, and a step ladder
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The folks that claim otherwise are just nuts at this point. He has plenty of guys to throw to, all of whom are pretty damn good in a variety of ways.

I agree with your second point, too. Flip Ellison and Claiborne and just play to our strengths already. Embrace the run. It’s not like Ellison’s superior pass blocking matters much with this QB.
 
Pilchard said:
The defense has been good; if not very good
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The defense has been good, yeah, but there's still glaring holes especially with our cornerbacks. Two touchdowns that GT scored were because our corners either got burnt or lack spatial awareness.

Mitch obviously wasn't helping matters at all, but I don't think the loss is specifically on him. That was a sloppy and uninspired game from everyone-- OLine didn't have a good game, Mitch didn't have a good game, receivers had great catches but couldn't find separation often, secondary didn't do much outside of that one pick that I recall. Special teams was not good. 21 points from Georgia Tech were scored as a result of just inane mental errors. They just wanted it more. GT simply beat us on all facets of the ball, and truth be told, I do believe they're better than their record suggests.
 
bmoneydeac said:
Probably cliche but I think he just doesn’t have it when the lights come on. The difference between getting the ball out in 2.5 seconds vs 3 is massive and I think he just doesn’t process as quickly in games as he does in practice. He’s like the anti-Riley.
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We would have been fine many times last night if he would have done something in 6-7 seconds much less 3. He regularly is back there for What seems like eternity but then starts hopping around and he either isnt able to quickly process the field or just not confident enough so he only throws it if the WR is wide open. Also wonder how much he is not seeing and therefore missing due to his size as there has to be an open WR with our bunch. At worse do the deep heave to Banks before taking the sack or throwing into middle of coverage.
 
awakegirl said:
I said this last night and was told I was being alarmist, but totally agree. These guys have one shot at the league. They need someone who can throw them catchable balls.
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Ke'Shawn in particular has looked to be visibly frustrated with Griffis multiple times during and after plays.

That dude is dying to make some plays if he can just get the damn ball.
 
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