Ugh - I just don't even know what to say. This is year 4 and we've now been blown out twice. Here are my thoughts after another beatdown:
- Pickett wasn't the problem today but I still think we aren't seeing as much as we thought. Maybe the expectations were too high but even his TD "pass" was a flip to Ffrench. He needs to stop making one really bad decision that gets picked each game. We needed points on that long drive and got zip.
- Run blocking was not great today.
- I know we haven't seen much but Dontavious Butler Jenkins passes the eye test. Let's hope he improves.
- What is the point in being in the ACC if we are going to get killed by ACC refs every game. It would have made no difference on the outcome but the Hamlin pick was a BS call at a time when the game was still in doubt.
- This defense. I don't know where to start. Undisciplined penalties, missed tackles, can't get off blocks, can't cover, barely a pass rush, can't get off the field on third and long. And can someone please let me know why a defense predicated on stopping the defense continues to get gashed on the ground? 240 yards on the ground to a what is basically a passing team is insane. They had 4 players with at least 5 rushing attempts average over 5 yards per carry.
- Also - did we game plan at all? The offense scored 1 TD in garbage time but they blitzed every 3rd and long and our answer was a hot route into the flat.
- Besides Idowu's sack we had 1 QB hurry.
- Maybe this defense is too complicated, I don't know. What I do know is that are in very real danger of a disastrous season. Syracuse is a must win because ND is a loss and Duke very possibly could be.
