Here are semi-rational counters to the gut “Oh my God!” reactions.
1. “Oh my God! We start the season with three ACC games!” I wouldn’t choose to start the season and Jags' career with three conferences games but this is not as bad as it appears. Wake will be tough but probably not as good as they were this year. I expect NC State to get off to a rough start (for a variety of reasons). We have a veteran team and should be favored in both games. Remember that our defense won’t be making wholesale changes, so the usual transition to a new staff is somewhat lessened. I also think Jags and Logan are smart enough to emphasize Ryan’s strengths instead of forcing all sorts of changes on him. So assuming we start 2-0, the team should head into Atlanta with plenty of momentum. Tech is tough at home, but they graduated a lot of talent and will have a new offensive coordinator. I think they will be favored, but BC can certainly steal the game.
2. “Oh my God! Why are we playing four straight non-conference games during the middle of the schedule?” Not how I would line it up, but like the first fret, this has a logical explanation. Parents weekend is always a cupcake, so we should have expected UMass there. Notre Dame also dictates when we play them. Army makes a nice break after the ACC heavy start. So I guess Gene could have slipped another ACC game during the Bowling Green slot, but would that be all that much better? Plus, Bowling Green probably wanted to get their heavyweights out of the way. I really think the four straight non conference games is unavoidable. I also think we can win all four. Notre Dame will be in rebuilding mode and we’ll have huge talent advantages against everyone else.
3. “Oh my God! We close with Virginia Tech on a Thursday, Florida State, At Maryland, At Clemson, and Miami!” That is life in the ACC. There’s no UConn, Temple, and old Rutgers-like conference foes to pad the schedule. All of these teams were in bowls last season. I think they will all be good next year, but not unbeatable. At Blacksburg on a Thursday night will be extremely tough. I like our chances against FSU at home (and think the ‘Noles will continue to struggle in 2007). I think we will be favored at Maryland. Clemson will be tough, but I’d rather play them in November when the heat is no longer a factor. I also like our chances against Miami and I am still scratching my head at the Randy Shannon hire.
This is a tough, tough schedule. But if you calm down and take a step back, there is no reason to think our talented team cannot excel next year. The D should be very good. The offense will be learning on the fly, but I do have faith in them. If TOB played this schedule, we would have heard plenty of whining. I hope Jags looks at it and says “We can beat every team on our schedule!”
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8 comments:
*I really think the four straight non conference games is unavoidable.*
Bill, I'm not so sure you're right about that. Nobody else in the ACC starts with three straight conference games (and I'd be willing to bet nobody else has ever in the history of the conference). Nobody else even starts with two straight conference games! That's total garbage. Some of the non-conference games should be mixed into that early slate.
It's not going to be an easy start for this team, but if they can emerge from the first three weeks 3-0 the momentum can build. I do agree that the last five games...well, that's life in a real conference. Can't avoid it. And I'm pleased the two Florida schools are coming north.
I dislike closing with Miami for a different reason - that's the dreaded Thanksgiving weekend game, where no students are on campus.
i think it's kinda crazy that for the second straight year we are the only school in the conference to play each of the "big three". and, at the same time, two of the other eight schools only play florida state. obviously miami and florida state are not playing like they used to, but these are still extremely tough games against the most athletic teams in the ACC.
Tough schedule, no doubt about it. But, in your part 3, I think you might be missing something: preparation time. Bowling Green is a good foe to face the week before Notre Dame. Then, 12 days to prepare for Va Tech. Then, eight days to prepare for Florida State...in Chestnut Hill. That will make the heart of the order a little easier to take. A little.
Flutie22, I just ment unavoidable in the sense that you've already scheduled three ACC games. Also that stretch involves the two games with 0 flexibility (UMass and ND).
With a 3-0 start, we should have no problem going into South Bend at 6-0, which could prove for some really exciting football...Eagles in '08!!!
I do like how Florida State and Miami will be coming up to campus in the latter part of the season so our weather can help our advantage. Opening up with three ACC games is somewhat unfair, but if we win all three (and I am very confident we can), then we will have great publicity and have a chance to be undefeated going into that extremely tough stretch at the end of the schedule. Also, I am kinda glad to see that we did not have that FSU game on Labor Day at Foxboro. Student travel would have taken a hit and lessen our homefield advantage.
I see the team being much more prepared for a team such as Wake Forest. I don't see the running game rounding into shape till later in the season (the zone blocking schemes will give the RBs different looks), but the I trust that the talent on staff and behind center can win those first 3 games.
6-0 start, 8-4 finish is not too much to ask for, and worst case looking at 5-1, 6-6, with a bowl victory over SJSt.
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