I'm always going to take a win. This was a great win. Conference game, on the road, against a team we've played every single year as long as I can remember.
Good
Bad
All this being said, I could not be happier with how this season has gone so far. I thought the absolute best case scenario was 5-2 heading into UNC. I think we have a legit shot at 9-3 at this point. Will be tough to get there with ND and 2 conference road games on top of not so easy home conference tilts. Let's hope yesterday was a sign Miami is already cooked. Hoping for 7-1!
Good
- ONIONS! You have to love Narduzzi trusting his players. That fake punt was everything that is right for Narduzzi. If it doesn't work and they drive for the winning fg he gets killed. I like the decision regardless of the result.
- Galambos - holy hell. I don't ever remember a player going from so derided and lost to becoming a playmaker and leader. At the start of the year we all wanted to know why he was still starting. They saw something and now we are too.
- Blewitt, overall stats for the year aren't great but he's 2/2 with the game on the line. Hope the confidence sticks. Also, he's a quite a weapon on kickoffs. Cuse didn't return one.
- Chris James - making the most of his carries. We have a nice 1-2 punch with him and Ollison for the next 2 years even if Mr. Sanders doesn't join the movement.
- Terrish Webb - I know he didn't play but this game showed how important he is. Amara looked a little out of his element and we need Webb or Mitchell back for this week.
Bad
- The defense. This squad has looked impenetrable the whole year but they did not look prepared. Not only were we missing tackles but we were missing multiple tackles on single plays. We stepped up to win it at the end but I wonder if this game goes our way if Dungey doesn't get concussed.
- The refs - yes we are always going to think we are on the short end of the stick but how many times were they going to job us on a review. The game tying fg drive for cuse should have ended at 4th and 1 and midfield but they spotted him an extra yard.
- Zaire Franklin - man does this look a like a miss now. Tough to keep blaming house for things but man, that kid is a player. Losing phily kids to psu will happen, to cuse, it should never happen again.
- Chaney - I saw him lauded in another post but how many games do we have to sit through where we are running well between the tackles only to see all these outside tosses and sweeps. We need more deep balls. Boyd had 12 catches but he's a vertical threat. Use him. I'll also give him a little bit of a pass bc I think Peterman hurt his hand at one point which explains the couple of times he air mailed some throws.
- D-line - no pressure all game. I know Narduzzi doesn't have his players yet but we can't use playing against a good o line as an excuse not to get pressure.
All this being said, I could not be happier with how this season has gone so far. I thought the absolute best case scenario was 5-2 heading into UNC. I think we have a legit shot at 9-3 at this point. Will be tough to get there with ND and 2 conference road games on top of not so easy home conference tilts. Let's hope yesterday was a sign Miami is already cooked. Hoping for 7-1!
