• Click here for details on last night's service interruption. link

Atlanta Braves Thread (Fredi-free Edition)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#3,656
#3,656
NochNoch said:
I want to believe
Click to expand...

GreatWhiteNorth said:
This is me also
Click to expand...

I mean, at this point I'll believe it when I see it. What I think we have is a team with a really good defense, that's really good at running the ball, but which is going to have trouble passing downfield. And against most of the teams on our schedule that's probably going to be enough. But there are probably going to be a few defenses we'll play that can slow our run game down, and that's likely to mean low-scoring, one-possession type slogs, and I have zero confidence so far in this staff's ability to make the tactical in-game decisions to win that kind of game.

Everything opens up if you beat Florida. But A) it hasn't happened since John Kerry had a lead for the presidency and B) they will probably have the sort of defense that can get us into a rockfight. Which Jones probably loses. And then if you beat them you've got to turn around and play at Georgia the week after the program's biggest win since Cal in 2006, which is a recipe for disaster.

What will probably happen is that we go 10-2 or 9-3, probably win the east, probably lose the SECCG, then most of our best players leave and nobody quite knows what to think about Butch going forward.

I'm really excited about the season. I have SEC championship tickets semi-reserved. But It's really hard to believe everything will bounce our way for once.
 
#3,657
#3,657
Vercingetorix said:
I mean, at this point I'll believe it when I see it. What I think we have is a team with a really good defense, that's really good at running the ball, but which is going to have trouble passing downfield. And against most of the teams on our schedule that's probably going to be enough. But there are probably going to be a few defenses we'll play that can slow our run game down, and that's likely to mean low-scoring, one-possession type slogs, and I have zero confidence so far in this staff's ability to make the tactical in-game decisions to win that kind of game.

Everything opens up if you beat Florida. But A) it hasn't happened since John Kerry had a lead for the presidency and B) they will probably have the sort of defense that can get us into a rockfight. Which Jones probably loses. And then if you beat them you've got to turn around and play at Georgia the week after the program's biggest win since Cal in 2006, which is a recipe for disaster.

What will probably happen is that we go 10-2 or 9-3, probably win the east, probably lose the SECCG, then most of our best players leave and nobody quite knows what to think about Butch going forward.

I'm really excited about the season. I have SEC championship tickets semi-reserved. But It's really hard to believe everything will bounce our way for once.
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with everything you're saying here but I think I'm just slightly more bullish about our defense under Shoop. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit but I think we'll have the chance to win some games on that side of the ball alone and put away other games that might hang in the balance through turnovers and negative plays. Obviously injuries, bad bounces, etc can always come into play and change things but I think everything can add up to a 10 win season and an appearance in Atlanta, and I'd be more than happy with that outcome come December.
 
#3,658
#3,658
NochNoch said:
I pretty much agree with everything you're saying here but I think I'm just slightly more bullish about our defense under Shoop. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit but I think we'll have the chance to win some games on that side of the ball alone and put away other games that might hang in the balance through turnovers and negative plays. Obviously injuries, bad bounces, etc can always come into play and change things but I think everything can add up to a 10 win season and an appearance in Atlanta, and I'd be more than happy with that outcome come December.
Click to expand...

This is fair, I think. I still think there will be a game or two or three that demand one or two big drives.

But in terms of 'We are a few points away from a better overall result...' the defense will provide some of those points.

If everyone returned, they might have provided some of those points even without Shoop. Shoop + returns makes this exciting.
 
#3,659
#3,659
005 said:
But in terms of 'We are a few points away from a better overall result...' the defense will provide some of those points.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I'm thinking. I know the man isn't some sort of magic wand where we're automatically going to be better just bc he's on the sideline but if we replayed last year over again with Shoop do we win one more game? Two?

UF and OK obviously come to mind first but even Bama could have easily gone differently. Hell, if Martin doesn't slip going up to defend a pass we might have won that game anyway.
 
#3,660
#3,660
I get conservative Butch blew two games with huge leads and dive up the middle and why can't we get a stop on fourth down blah blah

But we did flawlessly execute two huge trick plays against Florida last year and a 4th down conversion against UGA that changed the season entirely

Let's give the man a fair shake
 
#3,661
#3,661
Yep. Increase in pressure should lead to increase in turnovers, because we do have athletic guys on the back end. We can play fast, and the run game will smell blood facing a tired defense. Obviously JRM is back and everyone expects a leap from Kirkland.

Trade Oklahoma for VT. Hopefully get after Del Rio a little bit. Georgia might not be as good.

The overall record should look different. But, as verc hinted, a big letdown in that 4-game stretch would just feel all too routine.
 
#3,663
#3,663
TBrown said:
I get conservative Butch blew two games with huge leads and dive up the middle and why can't we get a stop on fourth down blah blah

But we did flawlessly execute two huge trick plays against Florida last year and a 4th down conversion against UGA that changed the season entirely

Let's give the man a fair shake
Click to expand...

I agree here. It wasn't all disaster. I'd like to see him go for it on fourth more starting early in the year.

And he did take us down to Tuscaloosa and give them their biggest scare of the year.
 
#3,664
#3,664
Annnnnd now Clay Davis is being approached to be a hit man. He went down a dark path.
 
#3,665
#3,665
Can we throw the ball down the field or not? So much hinges on this IMO and it seems like the one aspect that all the prognosticators of a 10-2 or 11-1 season are conveniently overlooking. What has changed since last season that will cause us to be so much better? Or are we just betting the house on the run game?
 
#3,666
#3,666
Perhaps not *too much* has to change to lead to a 10-2 season might be the argument. Better run game. Better defense. Slightly less miserable pass game.
 
#3,667
#3,667
GreatWhiteNorth said:
Can we throw the ball down the field or not? So much hinges on this IMO and it seems like the one aspect that all the prognosticators of a 10-2 or 11-1 season are conveniently overlooking. What has changed since last season that will cause us to be so much better? Or are we just betting the house on the run game?
Click to expand...

Nothing will change until next year concerning the passing game. Dobbs is a great runner and leader, but an average passer. Hopefully, we won't have too rely on his arm to win many games.

I hope I'm wrong, and he comes out throwing like Joe Montana.
 
Last edited:
#3,668
#3,668
005 said:
Perhaps not *too much* has to change to lead to a 10-2 season might be the argument. Better run game. Better defense. Slightly less miserable pass game.
Click to expand...

Agreed, doesn't have to be dramatically better, just a little bit better would probably do if the run game is as good, if not a little bit better also.

However, I do think there are a few reasons to be cautiously optimistic going into this season. One, Williams is coming into the season completely healthy and with experience, he seems to have the ability to be truly special. Two, although I don't think we are maximizing his best potential position wise, I do think Jennings is just a good football player and can help more with a full year and an offseason under his belt. Three, I think you saw the best version of this offense when Pig was involved and healthy in the slot. Obviously can't immediately expect true freshman to make a huge impact but early reports make it sound like we might have gotten a couple of guys in the last class who could potentially open things up again in ways we didn't often see last year.

At least those are all the things I'm currently telling myself to make me feel good in July.
 
#3,669
#3,669
If Williams made the strides to be first team, it seems like he and Malone make more sense outside with Smith in the slot/Pig role.

However, as much as we seem to rotate guys, I do wonder if we see Smith outside some and Jennings, Byrd, etc. in that Pig role. More so, I wonder in which situations we see those changes.
 
#3,670
#3,670
I want to see the WRs catch the ball with some space to play with. Never seemed to happen a year ago.
 
#3,671
#3,671
I think Byrd will break some off in the passing game, Malone will continue to progress, and Williams will break out. We don't even have to hit that many over the top, just be willing to throw them. I don't think dobbs is too too bad of a passer. I think he is too risk averse with the ball. Sometimes you just gotta lay it out there and let it be incomplete or let your guy make a play. Either way, throw it up top so people have to respect it.
 
#3,672
#3,672
Continued improvement in OL play can't hurt either, which I expect.

If Hurd and Kamara can show out like I think is possible, then marginal improvement in the passing game is probably all we need. We have to be able to punish defenses for stacking the box on the run, though.
 
#3,673
#3,673
And some of that punishment can come from two wonderful pass-catching backs and a talented TE.
 
#3,674
#3,674
I can't find the original post but I think the scariest thing about this season is us going 9-3 and we enter next season still not knowing whether Butch is going to get it done here.. Not saying he'll be on the hot seat but there may be a lot of questions surrounding Butch if we don't dominate this season
 
New posts
Status
Not open for further replies.

VN Store



Back
Top