Positives from the Ga Tech game

[Williedynamite]

one of the positives from the Ga Tech game is that the offense is getting better and I think the staff has finally figured out a RB rotation.

We didn’t score an offensive TD against Bama, Indy State, and WKU. We scored TDs in the first half against FSU, but none in the 2nd half. Against Ga Tech we scored in both halves.

It’s a small ray of sunshine, but they are getting better on offense. I’m just not sure if that’ll be good enough against the rest of our schedule.

 

[LouisvilleKid79]

Let me get this straight...

 

[CardVille]

Agree with Willie. Our offense is starting to get it together. Puma was just shy of 300yds with 2 TDs and no picks. Scored 31pts. Tutu started to get some serious reps. He dropped a pass the followed it up with a tough TD catch the next play. Couple TOs hurt us but we're not the reason we lost.

D had it's worst game so far, stayed on the field way too long. Best news is they won't see that triple option the rest of the season.

 

[fredburgcard]

I appreciate a glass-half-full perspective. Watching FSU have their way at Miami. I’d like to think the Cards made the Noles look bad for 3 quarters last week rather than FSU being bad.

 

[teamcanada]

The pass defense gave up less than 20 yards

 

[Deeva]

We had 483 total yards. Silver lining? Yes...no...reaching?

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Pass has made strides last couple of games.

 

[LouisvilleKid79]

Watching FSU have their way at Miami. I’d like to think the Cards made the Noles look bad for 3 quarters last week rather than FSU being bad.

Rivalry game. FSU was gased up and Miami is not that good.

 

[wilkie01]

The pass defense gave up less than 20 yards

Yes, but the Yellowjackets rarely pass.

 

[EKYCard643]

The offense has gone from being completely inept to being not terrible. We still don't have a bell cow RB and the OLine is an absolute train wreck.

 

[Williedynamite]

The most frustrating part for me is that I still believe/think we have a ton of talent on offense. We should not be this ho-hum 6 games into the season.

But since I’m trying to keep it positive. Special teams are good.

That’s about it.

 

[Thecycle27]

The offense continues to be inconsistent. Yes, they are playing better, but the O-Line still can't consistently control the line of scrimmage. Then you have the turnovers and penalties. It is a repeating theme.

Sorry, there is much to be positive about...FYI Georgia Tech is terrible on defense.

 

[Cue Card]

.FYI Georgia Tech is terrible on defense.

Actually, they're not. They have a +13 in turnovers gained. Only Florida and Kansas have more with a +14.

 

[Cards1261]

The pass defense gave up less than 20 yards

They only threw three times.

 

[Cue Card]

They only threw three times.

Fairly sure teamcananda was being sarcastic when he posted the pass defense stat.

 

[WhatMeWorry]

The pass defense gave up less than 20 yards

Since Tech only threw 2 passes, I'm going to assume this is sarcasm.

 

[Rollem Cards]

Yes, but the Yellowjackets rarely pass.

Gee, thanks Mr Obvious.

You’re a lifesaver

 

[wilkie01]

Gee, thanks Mr Obvious.

 

[rcrequesr]

one of the positives from the Ga Tech game is that the offense is getting better and I think the staff has finally figured out a RB rotation.

We didn’t score an offensive TD against Bama, Indy State, and WKU. We scored TDs in the first half against FSU, but none in the 2nd half. Against Ga Tech we scored in both halves.

It’s a small ray of sunshine, but they are getting better on offense. I’m just not sure if that’ll be good enough against the rest of our schedule.

Specialists are dang good! Long snapper, punter and kicker!

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Specialists are dang good! Long snapper, punter and kicker!

Return men have big play capability and our FG K is excellent too.

 

[zipp]

We had zero points again in the first quarter. The way we're playing, the game was basically over at that point. That's hardly an offense to be proud of.

I continue to question why Pass is getting all of the important reps. He doesn't deserve more than half to two-thirds of them. None of the QBs are "the answer". We need to rotate them in like we do other positions as difficult as that is for the head coach to do. It's not an understatement to say that his job depends on it...

 

[teamcanada]

We had zero points again in the first quarter. The way we're playing, the game was basically over at that point. That's hardly an offense to be proud of.

I continue to question why Pass is getting all of the important reps. He doesn't deserve more than half to two-thirds of them. None of the QBs are "the answer". We need to rotate them in like we do other positions as difficult as that is for the head coach to do. It's not an understatement to say that his job depends on it...

What's the saying if you have two QB's then you really don't have any. I think a big part of the offensive woes are that Petrino has to run two different offensive systems when we switch QB's. We need to stick with one. That being said I'm all for putting Cunningham in certain situations like we did with Tech.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

We had zero points again in the first quarter. The way we're playing, the game was basically over at that point. That's hardly an offense to be proud of.

I continue to question why Pass is getting all of the important reps. He doesn't deserve more than half to two-thirds of them. None of the QBs are "the answer". We need to rotate them in like we do other positions as difficult as that is for the head coach to do. It's not an understatement to say that his job depends on it...

I disagree about the game being over after the 1st Q. Cards trailed by 14 at the half. Game was up for grabs at that point. The offense generated 17 1st half points and mathematically got the team back into the game.

The defense made zero adjustments after the half. That is when the game was basically over, once the same D showed up in the 2nd half that showed up in the 1st half.

Pass is daylights ahead of the other 2 QB's on the roster, to answer that question in the second part of your post. He's not the guy that fumbled early in the game setting the bad 1st Q tone. He actually played a pretty decent game again, was better than he was against FSU. Zero turnovers is another step in the right direction for him. If he was turning it over it may have been 35-0 at the half, or worse. The unbiased ESPN commentator praised him all night.

Cunningham is a change of pace QB with option pass/run packages in short yardage situations to confuse a defense only at this juncture. I believe he's taken one snap in the last two games. I would not be surprised if the staff changes his position next year - if the staff returns, and he returns.

Travis didn't hustle after getting picked off. So he may not see the field again this year. He certainly doesn't figure to take meaningful snaps as long as Pass is healthy.

I make these statements with the understanding Pass doesn't get injured, have an off field problem, or just completely face plant moving forward, though I don't rule out any of the three honestly.... I don't like projecting.

It's unlike you to question coaching decisions. You typically snap at others who think they have the answers - you even created a thread about that. Yet here you are questioning who is playing and why - pretending you know how the coach should be doling out snaps. Oh my!

Long story short (too late!) - it does not matter who plays QB the season is a wash. That, and Pass is clearly better than the other guys.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

one of the positives from the Ga Tech game is that the offense is getting better and I think the staff has finally figured out a RB rotation.

I think this is interesting and in a normal situation I think you'd be right about the RB rotation. It seems clear at this point Hall/Smith are the key guys.

He seems to be hell bent to mix in the 5th year SR Jeremy Smith - to quote the ESPN announcer, "The guy that transferred and couldn't find a program interested, so he came back." With the # of embarrassing things going on with the program, I could argue Smith's situation may be the most embarrassing of it all.

I'm not sure the offense is getting better though. As individuals, yes, the stats are looking better. The team has shown some ability to move the ball up and down the field - something that wasn't happening the first month of the year.

Turnovers still haunt this unit collectively - and until that gets fixed, I can't say they're truly getting better. Cards lead the country in turnovers. 128th out of 129 for turnover margin oh man it's bad times!

 

[zipp]

I disagree about the game being over after the 1st Q. Cards trailed by 14 at the half. Game was up for grabs at that point. The offense generated 17 1st half points and mathematically got the team back into the game.

The defense made zero adjustments after the half. That is when the game was basically over, once the same D showed up in the 2nd half that showed up in the 1st half.

Pass is daylights ahead of the other 2 QB's on the roster, to answer that question in the second part of your post. He's not the guy that fumbled early in the game setting the bad 1st Q tone. He actually played a pretty decent game again, was better than he was against FSU. Zero turnovers is another step in the right direction for him. If he was turning it over it may have been 35-0 at the half, or worse. The unbiased ESPN commentator praised him all night.

Cunningham is a change of pace QB with option pass/run packages in short yardage situations to confuse a defense only at this juncture. I believe he's taken one snap in the last two games. I would not be surprised if the staff changes his position next year - if the staff returns, and he returns.

Travis didn't hustle after getting picked off. So he may not see the field again this year. He certainly doesn't figure to take meaningful snaps as long as Pass is healthy.

I make these statements with the understanding Pass doesn't get injured, have an off field problem, or just completely face plant moving forward, though I don't rule out any of the three honestly.... I don't like projecting.

It's unlike you to question coaching decisions. You typically snap at others who think they have the answers - you even created a thread about that. Yet here you are questioning who is playing and why - pretending you know how the coach should be doling out snaps. Oh my!

Long story short (too late!) - it does not matter who plays QB the season is a wash. That, and Pass is clearly better than the other guys.

I don't care what Pass' individual stats are. I care what the team does when he's in the game, and it's dismal. To make that point--again--I'll go back and total up the scoring when he's in the game vs. the sidelines. That same analysis is relied on in basketball, capturing how the player benefits the TEAM.

And for you, I'll take out the Bama game. I'd similarly take out the FCS game, but Pass could barely keep the score even against Indiana State. No eye test with me...I'll rely on the bottom line--scoreboard.

So, I'm unwilling to criticize Petrino enough, and now I'm being schooled for doing it. Color me confused...

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I don't care what Pass' individual stats are. I care what the team does when he's in the game, and it's dismal. To make that point--again--I'll go back and total up the scoring when he's in the game vs. the sidelines. That same analysis is relied on in basketball, capturing how the player benefits the TEAM

Yeah - compare those Cunningham stats vs UVA to things like the stats of Pass vs FSU - the totals you find will be as useful as 3 squares of toilet paper left when you have diarrhea to support any point you're trying to make.

This team is terrible. If Cunnigham was on par with Pass, or better, then he'd be playing more lately.

Because it's so obvious it's the fault of Pass when Trey Smith fumbles inside his own 30, or Hawkins fumbles to open the 2nd half when the team is on life support. Great analysis all around!

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

So, I'm unwilling to criticize Petrino enough, and now I'm being schooled for doing it. Color me confused...

You're being criticized for being a hypocrite, not for any of your criticism, or lack of.

You call out all the posters on this message board for claiming they claim to know the answers, then you turn around and try to tell us who should be playing snaps.

And you think the guy that is afraid to throw the ball 5 yards down the field should be playing more snaps at QB. So yeah I am also criticizing you for an awful take.

But I'm not criticizing you for being willing to share your awful take. That's where you need to focus your

 

[zipp]

Yeah - compare those Cunningham stats vs UVA to things like the stats of Pass vs FSU - the totals you find will be as useful as 3 squares of toilet paper left when you have diarrhea to support any point you're trying to make.

This team is terrible. If Cunnigham was on par with Pass, or better, then he'd be playing more lately.

Because it's so obvious it's the fault of Pass when Trey Smith fumbles inside his own 30, or Hawkins fumbles to open the 2nd half when the team is on life support. Great analysis all around!

You're misrepresenting my position... I never said Cunningham should start over Pass. But the team does as well or better in the minutes he's playing.

I'll again quote you the one stat I know without checking... Pass is now 0-4 (0-3 less Bama) in games where he finished, got most or all of the snaps. That's UVA, FSU, and Georgia Tech, among the worst teams in the conference. On a bad team, that's worse than bad...

 

[zipp]

You're being criticized for being a hypocrite, not for any of your criticism, or lack of.

You call out all the posters on this message board for claiming they claim to know the answers, then you turn around and try to tell us who should be playing snaps.

And you think the guy that is afraid to throw the ball 5 yards down the field should be playing more snaps at QB. So yeah I am also criticizing you for an awful take.

But I'm not criticizing you for being willing to share your awful take. That's where you need to focus your

No, I'm criticizing posters for saying things like "Pass is the QB" definitively when he can't win a game. All I want in this case is to rotate in QBs and prove that won't work. For damn sure, we can't do worse than winless...

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

No, I'm criticizing posters for saying things like "Pass is the QB" definitively when he can't win a game. All I want in this case is to rotate in QBs and prove that won't work. For damn sure, we can't do worse than winless...

You're criticizing posters for having opinions on playing time then sharing your opinion on playing time.

It's hypocritical to scoff at what they prefer and then say what you prefer.

 

[WildCard]

We had zero points again in the first quarter. The way we're playing, the game was basically over at that point. That's hardly an offense to be proud of.

I continue to question why Pass is getting all of the important reps. He doesn't deserve more than half to two-thirds of them. None of the QBs are "the answer". We need to rotate them in like we do other positions as difficult as that is for the head coach to do. It's not an understatement to say that his job depends on it...

We certainly played bad early. I think our first 3 possessions were 5 plays and 4th down failure, 2 plays and fumble lost and 3 and out. And I think we were down 21 next time we got the ball. A tone had been set - we could not stop them from running the ball if we played all 11 in the box.

The QB situation is puzzling...to both me and CBP. I think Steve Spurrier was the on coach that routinely pulled and subbed QBs for bad play, just like what is done at most any other position.

Peace

 

[zipp]

You're criticizing posters for having opinions on playing time then sharing your opinion on playing time.

It's hypocritical to scoff at what they prefer and then say what you prefer.

Wrong. I never said I had the answer/fix to our problems. I'm trying to find that. You don't get that by repeating the same thing and expecting different results...

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

You're misrepresenting my position... I never said Cunningham should start over Pass. But the team does as well or better in the minutes he's playing.

I'll again quote you the one stat I know without checking... Pass is now 0-4 (0-3 less Bama) in games where he finished, got most or all of the snaps. That's UVA, FSU, and Georgia Tech, among the worst teams in the conference. On a bad team, that's worse than bad...

You're acting as if Cunningham hasn't been given opportunity. Did you watch the 1st half of the UVA game? He got 35 yards passing, and that was only because his RBs broke a few tackles on the east/west passes.

What you don't seem to consider is the output of all the skilled players when Cunningham has played, compared to what they are doing the last two games with Pass - more players are involved and the team is getting more first downs with Pass in the game.

Cunningham took a major step back in the 1st half vs UVA - whereas Pass is taking small steps forward in the last two games.

The issue for the offense is turnovers and penalties. Pass just played nearly a full game without a turnover - and that is a positive thing.

If Pass struggles then sure try something else - he didn't struggle vs GA Tech. His teammates for sure did.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Wrong. I never said I had the answer/fix to our problems. I'm trying to find that. You don't get that by repeating the same thing and expecting different results...

You share your opinion - other posters share theirs. They say what they think the fix is, and you say they aren't qualified. Now you're saying you want to find the fix, which is just a word salad for saying you want to see what you want to see to fix it.

You're doing the exact thing you give them crap for doing.

 

[BPGhost]

No, I'm criticizing posters for saying things like "Pass is the QB" definitively when he can't win a game. All I want in this case is to rotate in QBs and prove that won't work. For damn sure, we can't do worse than winless...

QBs are like POTUS - they get far too much credit in victories and, far too much blame in losses. When you show me the highlights of a QB missing a tackle on the game winning TD - then you might have a point.

Until then - it’s as meaningless a stat as a W for a starting pitcher in MLB.

 

[HRTheCard]

Reminder.......you're arguing with someone that has Tom Jurich as the profile picture....

 

[zipp]

You share your opinion - other posters share theirs. They say what they think the fix is, and you say they aren't qualified. Now you're saying you want to find the fix, which is just a word salad for saying you want to see what you want to see to fix it.

You're doing the exact thing you give them crap for doing.

I'd like to know how you TRY a fix that involves changing a position coach or coordinator. Get rid of Grantham, get rid of Klenakis, get rid of Sirmon. Those aren't trying fixes. Those are half-baked solutions to problems that, after the fact, people conveniently forget they endorsed.

While not recalling specific names, sorry if I don't forget...

 

[zipp]

Reminder.......you're arguing with someone that has Tom Jurich as the profile picture....

I thought you had me on ignore. Oh that's right...you couldn't help yourself!

 

[zipp]

QBs are like POTUS - they get far too much credit in victories and, far too much blame in losses. When you show me the highlights of a QB missing a tackle on the game winning TD - then you might have a point.

Until then - it’s as meaningless a stat as a W for a starting pitcher in MLB.

Here's some meaningless stats for ya...

Combined 2018 scores with Pass at QB: U of L 72, Opponents 166 (58 to 115, if I remove the Bama game)
Combined scores with other QBs: U of L 51, Opponents 30 (51 to 30, without Bama)

QBRs:
Pass 116 (I can remove the Bama game, but you may not want me to...)
Cunningham 117
Travis 113

Completion Percentages
Pass 55%
Cunningham 65%

I can't find minutes played stats if those are kept. But IIRC, Cunningham has played about six quarters this year, or about 25% of available PT. That's close to one-third the minutes of Pass. Now, reflect on the above scoring totals adjusting for minutes played.

And this doesn't account for Cunningham's rushing which is still 100 yards ahead of our top RB (Smith).

Truth be told, individual stats for Pass are behind Cunningham's, as they should be with those scores. But I'm OK simply saying they both deserve PT. Eye tests notwithstanding, at least we know from experience that Cunningham might win a game...

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Here's some meaningless stats for ya...


.

Yep. They are meaningless stats.




"It's hard to fathom how little fans know..."

You don't know a damn thing about what's going on in practice or the locker room, or on the field. Maybe Malik has an attitude problem. Maybe he was late for practice a few weeks ago, and late again last week. Maybe he's ran the wrong play multiple times during the games he's played and/or in the practices. Maybe he was insubordinate with a coach. Or maybe he's ran the right play multiple plays incorrectly in games and/or practices. Maybe he is struggling academically. Maybe he has an injury the staff is not reporting. Maybe he is regressing during practice, or not getting better. Maybe the playbook is simply too difficult for the FR Cunningham to grasp and Petrino has to significantly cut the playbook down in the games when Cunningham is the QB. Maybe Pass has gotten better in practice. Maybe Pass is showing leadership skills fanboys don't see behind closed doors, or even on the field. Maybe the playbook is wide open when Pass is in the game and there are more play calling options. Maybe Petrino puts a lot of value into throws like the one Pass made to Atwell for the 1st TD vs G Tech, and Petrino thinks Cunningham cannot make that pass right now (spoiler alert, because it doesn't appear he can). Maybe Petrino has turned the majority of the snaps to Pass because he thinks he can make multiple throws, and multiple reads Cunningham can't yet (spoiler alert, seems obvious). There could be a number of explanations as to why Cunningham has played one snap in the last two weeks. All we have is our fanboy speculation.

The reality is, I don't know. And you don't know either. Because, as you have stated many, many, MANY times on these boards.... fans don't know anything. Don't forget, you're just a fanboy like everybody else.

So please spare us your fanboy playing time requests. Either that, or keep telling us what players you want to see play more based on your uninformed opinions. I'd be okay with that, if you weren't being such a hypocrite and calling out other fanboys who have their own uninformed opinions on how to fix things.

Maybe Cunningham will earn his playing time moving forward. I will be rooting him on if/when he gets the chance.