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2020 Team Discussion Thread

3 games in and my take vs personal expectations headed into the season:
  • RB drop off is about what I feared
  • OT's are much better than I thought, Harry Miller struggles are surprising
  • DE's are worse than I thought they'd be
  • DB's are about like RB, not unexpected but still entirely uncomfortable to see
  • Interior DL and LB are outperforming expectations
The passing game is unreal to watch but I'm still leery of being a one dimensional, pass first team when playing outdoors in the Midwest come November and December. Right now, it looks like if mother nature tied the passing hand behind OSU's back, damn near anyone could beat them. Plus side of that is, I guess, the biggest defensive weakness would also be negated so there's that.

Happy to have football in 2020 but I haven't bought into the national championship hype. If that 2019 team couldn't do it, I don't have much faith in this much more significantly flawed team being able to. Win The Game (if we get to play it), win the B1G and anything else is gravy.
 
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3 games in and my take vs personal expectations headed into the season:
  • RB drop off is about what I feared
  • OT's are much better than I thought, Harry Miller struggles are surprising
  • DE's are worse than I thought they'd be
  • DB's are about like RB, not unexpected but still entirely uncomfortable to see
  • Interior DL and LB are outperforming expectations
The passing game is unreal to watch but I'm still leery of being a one dimensional, pass first team when playing outdoors in the Midwest come November and December. Right now, it looks like if mother nature tied the passing hand behind OSU's back, damn near anyone could beat them. Plus side of that is, I guess, the biggest defensive weakness would also be negated so there's that.

Happy to have football in 2020 but I haven't bought into the national championship hype. If that 2019 team couldn't do it, I don't have much faith in this much more significantly flawed team being able to. Win The Game (if we get to play it), win the B1G and anything else is gravy.

The biggest surprise is the interior OL and the running game in general. Everything else is why no one should've expected this team to come out like a dream team squad. A fucked year and you have limited games to get kinks out.

Winning NCs is half luck, and OSUs was bad last year. Fields hurt, terrible calls, then Dobbins gets hurt. This team will never be as good as last years, but IMO it doesn't really matter because this year is fucky. Every week I just hope they get to play another game and maybe get better.

If they get to the playoffs I'll worry about it then. Right now I'm more excited about what you mentioned and getting to watch Fields and the WRs light it up.
 
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3 games in and my take vs personal expectations headed into the season:
  • RB drop off is about what I feared
  • OT's are much better than I thought, Harry Miller struggles are surprising
  • DE's are worse than I thought they'd be
  • DB's are about like RB, not unexpected but still entirely uncomfortable to see
  • Interior DL and LB are outperforming expectations
The passing game is unreal to watch but I'm still leery of being a one dimensional, pass first team when playing outdoors in the Midwest come November and December. Right now, it looks like if mother nature tied the passing hand behind OSU's back, damn near anyone could beat them. Plus side of that is, I guess, the biggest defensive weakness would also be negated so there's that.

Happy to have football in 2020 but I haven't bought into the national championship hype. If that 2019 team couldn't do it, I don't have much faith in this much more significantly flawed team being able to. Win The Game (if we get to play it), win the B1G and anything else is gravy.
this is exactly the type of year where a flawed team wins... its 2020.. no one knows what’s gonna happen .. just enjoy watching Fields
 
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Happy to have football in 2020 but I haven't bought into the national championship hype. If that 2019 team couldn't do it, I don't have much faith in this much more significantly flawed team being able to. Win The Game (if we get to play it), win the B1G and anything else is gravy.
The good thing is that every team this year is pretty flawed. Bama’s defense is actual trash and I don’t buy them getting on track at all after going up against awful Miss State and Tennessee teams. Clemson feels like they have minor holes all over the place that caught up to them. Also don’t really buy the Domers at all. They’ve had too many problems scoring for me to be sold although that was a great win vs Clemson.
 
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3 games in and my take vs personal expectations headed into the season:
  • RB drop off is about what I feared
  • OT's are much better than I thought, Harry Miller struggles are surprising
  • DE's are worse than I thought they'd be
  • DB's are about like RB, not unexpected but still entirely uncomfortable to see
  • Interior DL and LB are outperforming expectations
The passing game is unreal to watch but I'm still leery of being a one dimensional, pass first team when playing outdoors in the Midwest come November and December. Right now, it looks like if mother nature tied the passing hand behind OSU's back, damn near anyone could beat them. Plus side of that is, I guess, the biggest defensive weakness would also be negated so there's that.

Happy to have football in 2020 but I haven't bought into the national championship hype. If that 2019 team couldn't do it, I don't have much faith in this much more significantly flawed team being able to. Win The Game (if we get to play it), win the B1G and anything else is gravy.
You point out a great point... we can pass on anyone but struggle in our back end. So weather should basically cancel out any advantage either way.

Also great points about our defensive ends. I love Cooper but he's not lived up to his 5 star expectations. Friday/JPB were sort of reached and Smith has been a disappointment too. None of that compares to Harrison not making an impact what so ever. I truly believe the staff believes Harrison just is not as good as the others and my fear is he's another Robert Rose which hasn't happened much here. You knew in year two of Bosa/Bosa/Young that they were going to be 3rd year monsters. Well we are not seeing that at all and to me that's telling me Harrison is not the impact guy we had hoped.

When your defensive tackles are your pressure that's bad news and when your secondary is horrendous in PBUs then that's a problem if you cant get pressure with 4.

Day in his post game said we need to stay aggressive when asked about the 2nd half defensive issues. Well from my eyes we blitzed a ton but still weren't getting home which left us fucked in the secondary.

LBs like you say are playing well and same goes for the DTs.

Really have to hope Sawyer is a stud because what we have at DE right now is not going to cut it. Maybe that room will prove me wrong but we do not have that 1 true difference maker for once.

Also... there will have to be a point regardless where we realize we do not have the backs this year to do what we want. We have the depth at WR and the QB to throw 50 times a game.

We did this in 2018 because the rushing game wasn't productive and Day will have to make this decision soon as well this year. If you're asking me if I'd rather have JF throw 10 more times per game instead of giving the ball to backs? Then give me the 10 more throws.

Yes it's not balanced but having I think 10+ runs go for under 2 yards vs Rutgers is pointless. Give JF those throws.
 
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You point out a great point... we can pass on anyone but struggle in our back end. So weather should basically cancel out any advantage either way.

Also great points about our defensive ends. I love Cooper but he's not lived up to his 5 star expectations. Friday/JPB were sort of reached and Smith has been a disappointment too. None of that compares to Harrison not making an impact what so ever. I truly believe the staff believes Harrison just is not as good as the others and my fear is he's another Robert Rose which hasn't happened much here. You knew in year two of Bosa/Bosa/Young that they were going to be 3rd year monsters. Well we are not seeing that at all and to me that's telling me Harrison is not the impact guy we had hoped.

When your defensive tackles are your pressure that's bad news and when your secondary is horrendous in PBUs then that's a problem if you cant get pressure with 4.

Day in his post game said we need to stay aggressive when asked about the 2nd half defensive issues. Well from my eyes we blitzed a ton but still weren't getting home which left us fucked in the secondary.

LBs like you say are playing well and same goes for the DTs.

Really have to hope Sawyer is a stud because what we have at DE right now is not going to cut it. Maybe that room will prove me wrong but we do not have that 1 true difference maker for once.

Also... there will have to be a point regardless where we realize we do not have the backs this year to do what we want. We have the depth at WR and the QB to throw 50 times a game.

We did this in 2018 because the rushing game wasn't productive and Day will have to make this decision soon as well this year. If you're asking me if I'd rather have JF throw 10 more times per game instead of giving the ball to backs? Then give me the 10 more throws.

Yes it's not balanced but having I think 10+ runs go for under 2 yards vs Rutgers is pointless. Give JF those throws.
We won’t come close to covering unless JF throws it 40.
 
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The good thing is that every team this year is pretty flawed. Bama’s defense is actual trash and I don’t buy them getting on track at all after going up against awful Miss State and Tennessee teams. Clemson feels like they have minor holes all over the place that caught up to them. Also don’t really buy the Domers at all. They’ve had too many problems scoring for me to be sold although that was a great win vs Clemson.

This is how I continue to feel. I think the top three teams from 2019 are head and shoulders above what anyone is putting on the field so far this year. Tough to say how much is due to the unorthodox season and how much is a legitimate talent drop-off. Clemson looks mediocre by thier recent standards. Our ceiling right now looks more like the 2018 team rather than the 2019 team. This Bama team would lose by multiple scores to last year’s LSU.

Speaking of LSU, will any team put the pieces together like that team did last year? At the midpoint of last season, they were a one dimensional team that needed to outscore teams to win. Their defense made huge strides and ended up being very good in thier own right by the time they got to the home stretch.
 
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This is how I continue to feel. I think the top three teams from 2019 are head and shoulders above what anyone is putting on the field so far this year. Tough to say how much is due to the unorthodox season and how much is a legitimate talent drop-off. Clemson looks mediocre by thier recent standards. Our ceiling right now looks more like the 2018 team rather than the 2019 team. This Bama team would lose by multiple scores to last year’s LSU.

Speaking of LSU, will any team put the pieces together like that team did last year? At the midpoint of last season, they were a one dimensional team that needed to outscore teams to win. Their defense made huge strides and ended up being very good in thier own right by the time they got to the home stretch.

Agree about the teams, and maybe it would've been that way in a normal year, but I think the chaos of this year is leading to sloppiness and fuckery unseen in most seasons. Not sure if OSU can take the leap OSU did, probably not as much due to less games, but I think we'll see some improvement these next 2 weeks.

None of that compares to Harrison not making an impact what so ever. I truly believe the staff believes Harrison just is not as good as the others and my fear is he's another Robert Rose which hasn't happened much here. You knew in year two of Bosa/Bosa/Young that they were going to be 3rd year monsters. Well we are not seeing that at all and to me that's telling me Harrison is not the impact guy we had hoped.

IMO way too early to say that. People were saying similar things about Young due to disappearing for stretches of games in '18. I really think Harrison is not 100%. He started the CFP as a freshman (yes, due somewhat to inuries) but now he's not getting a lot of snaps. Could that be him just not playing well? Maybe. I just find it hard to believe there isn't something else going on.

You point out a great point... we can pass on anyone but struggle in our back end. So weather should basically cancel out any advantage either way.

Also... there will have to be a point regardless where we realize we do not have the backs this year to do what we want. We have the depth at WR and the QB to throw 50 times a game.

We did this in 2018 because the rushing game wasn't productive and Day will have to make this decision soon as well this year. If you're asking me if I'd rather have JF throw 10 more times per game instead of giving the ball to backs? Then give me the 10 more throws.

Yes it's not balanced but having I think 10+ runs go for under 2 yards vs Rutgers is pointless. Give JF those throws.

Disagree, I think this is exactly the game to do this. Is it annoying? Yes. But Miller needs reps reps reps. Same thing as against Nebraska.

As for what you said about the passing game, I think it's true and Day will turn it on in closer games if necessary. There's just no point, with limited games/reps, to unload on Rutgers. I'd love to see it. It'd be more fun, but doesn't really mean much.

Last, but certainly not least, we're all discounting Fields being a pocket passer for these games instead of keeping for a handful of carries. He wasn't Lamar Jackson last year, but in the RZ, he was masterful in keeping and scoring TDs which kept defenses honest.

To me it looks like they're practicing every game as if it was Clemson last year without Fields able to run much. He keeps maybe once a game, scrambles a few times, but what will it look like against Clemson/Bama/ND in the CFP when he starts keeping those, breaks off a big run, or they start dedicating a man to defending him? Every single handoff as well as those rollouts are set up with a JF keeper constraint.

Does the running game need to be better? No doubt, and it's a bit concerning, but teams are cheating off Fields knowing he's not going to keep. Fields could probably keep at the beginning of the Maryland game and run for 70 yards. But might as well keep that in the chamber until you need it.
 
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Agree about the teams, and maybe it would've been that way in a normal year, but I think the chaos of this year is leading to sloppiness and fuckery unseen in most seasons. Not sure if OSU can take the leap OSU did, probably not as much due to less games, but I think we'll see some improvement these next 2 weeks.



IMO way too early to say that. People were saying similar things about Young due to disappearing for stretches of games in '18. I really think Harrison is not 100%. He started the CFP as a freshman (yes, due somewhat to inuries) but now he's not getting a lot of snaps. Could that be him just not playing well? Maybe. I just find it hard to believe there isn't something else going on.



Disagree, I think this is exactly the game to do this. Is it annoying? Yes. But Miller needs reps reps reps. Same thing as against Nebraska.

As for what you said about the passing game, I think it's true and Day will turn it on in closer games if necessary. There's just no point, with limited games/reps, to unload on Rutgers. I'd love to see it. It'd be more fun, but doesn't really mean much.

Last, but certainly not least, we're all discounting Fields being a pocket passer for these games instead of keeping for a handful of carries. He wasn't Lamar Jackson last year, but in the RZ, he was masterful in keeping and scoring TDs which kept defenses honest.

To me it looks like they're practicing every game as if it was Clemson last year without Fields able to run much. He keeps maybe once a game, scrambles a few times, but what will it look like against Clemson/Bama/ND in the CFP when he starts keeping those, breaks off a big run, or they start dedicating a man to defending him? Every single handoff as well as those rollouts are set up with a JF keeper constraint.

Does the running game need to be better? No doubt, and it's a bit concerning, but teams are cheating off Fields knowing he's not going to keep. Fields could probably keep at the beginning of the Maryland game and run for 70 yards. But might as well keep that in the chamber until you need it.
No one was questioning Chase. He basically killed a kid his first two games in 2018, was a clear starter, and ended the Penn State game before mid season.

Maybe ZH is banged up but then why would he play at all?

I have my doubts that ZH will be a impact player right now. Otherwise he would at a minimum be starting.
 
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No one was questioning Chase. He basically killed a kid his first two games in 2018, was a clear starter, and ended the Penn State game before mid season.

Maybe ZH is banged up but then why would he play at all?

I have my doubts that ZH will be a impact player right now. Otherwise he would at a minimum be starting.
A lot of people were questioning Chase. He showed flashes of dominance but there were entire games where he disappeared. Now we know that was later due to playing on two bad ankles but the questions were definitely there. I think not having spring practice and summer workouts fucked everything up and teams are trying to catch up at light speed.
 
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