Moving On to ECU

[Bigdaddyg1]

I vote to remove the flea flicker from our playbook. Takes too long to run and is pointless. Other than that keep rolling.

[ericsaid]

The RB rotation under Haines and Clark remains baffling.

Castle is not an RB1. He doesn't move his feet when hit on these stretch run plays. He's the back you bring in after getting those dirty runs and bashes holes running downhill, like he did in the fourth quarter. Especially when ball security is paramount.

If not Kanye, then Ahmani Marshall should start. Experience in big games and gets good dirty yards.

It seemed Kanye was in the doghouse either for those two kickoff mistakes versus Clemson or for something else. Didn't see the field until late second quarter and then only saw limited action, plus Haywood was taking kickoff. I felt this could have been a good game for him given his skill set. Clark and Haines love making RBs dissappear after a mistake. They did it to Peoples, Noel and now Kanye.

At one point we had Castle in to run for nothing, subbed in Kanye and had him pass pro, then brought back Castle for a play designed for him. That made no sense. Castle is the better pass pro RB.

Kanye did have a key blitz pickup in the second half that resulted in a good gain. He got blew up but he squared the blitzer up and gave Joey time to make the throw.

All running backs had big blitz pick-ups. ECU was blitzing all night and the running backs are all great at blocking, otherwise Joey would’ve been smoked several times.

[Black Saturday]

ECU is much improved over last year and their players have honed their mouthing skills to boot. In as much as we did to try give it away (Over the top 6 and pick 6), we fought the whole game playing with less than half of our defensive starters and against homer AAC refs, 3 targeting calls in game on one team, sheesh, drive killing chop block.

I'll take our ECU win as a sign the ball will bounce our way this season (ECU missed XP and field goal - our late immaculate catch and pick) unlike last season when we lost a handful by a total of 17 points or so.

We have to figure out the over the top for 6 problem and get out run game on track. But hell, 500+ yards isn't bad.

[Yosef84]

Well, yesterday's game confirms that my decision to stay off this board during games is a good one.

My theory: The App team was caught in traffic and that substitute team from last week had to play the first quarter. Fortunately, the team got there in time for the rest of the game. Seriously, horrible start (duh) but App dominates the rest of the game.

ECU is not a bad team. This was a good win. Yes, we have mistakes that need to be addressed and I am sure they will. Joey made some bad decisions but also got us back into the game. I think Castle deserved more carries than he has gotten in the past, but maybe an over correction. Ponce needs to include some mid-direction or some sort of creativity into the running game. Lining up and running into the teeth of the D to the short side just doesn't seem to work well. Marshall and Castle are both solid. Kanye needs to protect the ball so his athleticism isn't wasted. Great adjustments on D. Hope we get some guys back healthy and off penalty suspensions so we can take care of business on Thursday.

I was pissed during the first quarter too, but don't understand the guys who want to turn it off. If that's your mentality then just turn if off and stop talking. Geez.

Good hard fought win! This team will get better week to week.

[Rekdiver]

I try to avoid comments until the 4th quarter..that way I avoid looking stupider

[Stonewall]

Watched the replay sans emotions. Not a thing of beauty. Just win baby ! And we did.

[ericsaid]

ECU is much improved over last year and their players have honed their mouthing skills to boot. In as much as we did to try give it away (Over the top 6 and pick 6), we fought the whole game playing with less than half of our defensive starters and against homer AAC refs, 3 targeting calls in game on one team, sheesh, drive killing chop block.

I'll take our ECU win as a sign the ball will bounce our way this season (ECU missed XP and field goal - our late immaculate catch and pick) unlike last season when we lost a handful by a total of 17 points or so.

We have to figure out the over the top for 6 problem and get out run game on track. But hell, 500+ yards isn't bad.

ECU’s defense is really, really good. They were also really good last year but their offense put them in bad positions.

Don’t be surprised if ECU comes out and lays 35 on Liberty and wins by 10 or more. I may even bet on that game because I know Liberty will be the favorite.

[ericsaid]

I try to avoid comments until the 4th quarter..that way I avoid looking stupider

Stupider isn’t a word…

I only jumped on because I was at the game and figured people would want to know when the next targeting review that happens 10 minutes after the play ended was initiated.

Favors ejection was egregious and should be overturned.

[appgrad95&97]

We won. That's the bottom line. Now on to conference play.

[NewApp]

I vote to remove the flea flicker from our playbook. Takes too long to run and is pointless. Other than that keep rolling.

Use to work. Takes surprise, talent and skill. I love it when it works...not so much when it results in a turnover.

[NewApp]

I try to avoid comments until the 4th quarter..that way I avoid looking stupider

Stupider isn’t a word…

I only jumped on because I was at the game and figured people would want to know when the next targeting review that happens 10 minutes after the play ended was initiated.

Favors ejection was egregious and should be overturned.

How much does either or both guys have to sit out?

[NewApp]

Well, yesterday's game confirms that my decision to stay off this board during games is a good one.

My theory: The App team was caught in traffic and that substitute team from last week had to play the first quarter. Fortunately, the team got there in time for the rest of the game. Seriously, horrible start (duh) but App dominates the rest of the game.

ECU is not a bad team. This was a good win. Yes, we have mistakes that need to be addressed and I am sure they will. Joey made some bad decisions but also got us back into the game. I think Castle deserved more carries than he has gotten in the past, but maybe an over correction. Ponce needs to include some mid-direction or some sort of creativity into the running game. Lining up and running into the teeth of the D to the short side just doesn't seem to work well. Marshall and Castle are both solid. Kanye needs to protect the ball so his athleticism isn't wasted. Great adjustments on D. Hope we get some guys back healthy and off penalty suspensions so we can take care of business on Thursday.

I was pissed during the first quarter too, but don't understand the guys who want to turn it off. If that's your mentality then just turn if off and stop talking. Geez.

Good hard fought win! This team will get better week to week.

WKBC..our announcers... said receivers were covered much or most of the time. That will make any QB look bad and limit his choices.

[Bigdaddyg1]

That whole deal with a half suspension for targeting is awful. If they are going to continue with the focus on the rule then there needs to be degrees of punitive punishment. If a dude literally launches his body and spears a defenseless player in the head then he deserves both the penalty and I would say a full game suspension. If a player simply lowers his head a bit and doesn’t launch himself that should not equate to a half suspension. The referee needs to consider the speed of the play and the reaction of the ball carrier. I’d have to believe it’s extremely difficult to adjust the angle of a helmet while flying at a guy to make a play.

[Pikapp79]

That whole deal with a half suspension for targeting is awful. If they are going to continue with the focus on the rule then there needs to be degrees of punitive punishment. If a dude literally launches his body and spears a defenseless player in the head then he deserves both the penalty and I would say a full game suspension. If a player simply lowers his head a bit and doesn’t launch himself that should not equate to a half suspension. The referee needs to consider the speed of the play and the reaction of the ball carrier. I’d have to believe it’s extremely difficult to adjust the angle of a helmet while flying at a guy to make a play.

Too many variables. You target or you don’t.

[ericsaid]

One more thing, Anderson Castle is such an effortless pass catcher. In person he looks a lot like Mccaffrey catching the ball. People who say he isn’t a number one type back are missing a few things. He is a great blocker, he’s a good route runner, he’s got great vision and power, and can catch with ease.

He is a number one and I figured he’d shown that since he came back from injury last year but memories around here seem to be shorter than that of a goldfish.

[ericsaid]

I try to avoid comments until the 4th quarter..that way I avoid looking stupider

Stupider isn’t a word…

I only jumped on because I was at the game and figured people would want to know when the next targeting review that happens 10 minutes after the play ended was initiated.

Favors ejection was egregious and should be overturned.

How much does either or both guys have to sit out?

Johnson will have a full game to play this week and Favors will miss the first half.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think the defensive rotation worked yesterday. ECU has a good offensive line but they were beaten quickly several times. I’d hope they move Farmer up closer to the line when he comes back.

Personally, I’m expecting several sacks on Thursday.

[Yosef84]

That whole deal with a half suspension for targeting is awful. If they are going to continue with the focus on the rule then there needs to be degrees of punitive punishment. If a dude literally launches his body and spears a defenseless player in the head then he deserves both the penalty and I would say a full game suspension. If a player simply lowers his head a bit and doesn’t launch himself that should not equate to a half suspension. The referee needs to consider the speed of the play and the reaction of the ball carrier. I’d have to believe it’s extremely difficult to adjust the angle of a helmet while flying at a guy to make a play.

Too many variables. You target or you don’t.

The attempt to reduce targeting to a formula is the issue (in my opinion). They want to say that any contact with the "crown" of the helmet is targeting, but in the heat of the moment, incidental contact happens. Neither of the tackles on Saturday seemed to contain the "vicious" component nor did they seem to demonstrate the weaponizing of the helmet or an intent to injure. The third case (which was finally ruled not targeting) was hard to take because the announcers were talking about whether he had started to run or was "defenseless". That hit was nowhere near the hits that our receivers were taking at Clemson as soon as their finger tips touched the ball. There just seems to be no consistency to the calls. In the end, the hit was either unnecessarily vicious or it isn't. God forbid refs have to use judgement. To be clear, I do understand the intent of the "targeting" call is player safety and that is good. The attempt to make it formula driven is the thing driving the problem. Refs spend all their time looking for components rather than evaluating the overall event.

[ASUTodd]

Do away with targeting. Problem solved.

[hapapp]

That whole deal with a half suspension for targeting is awful. If they are going to continue with the focus on the rule then there needs to be degrees of punitive punishment. If a dude literally launches his body and spears a defenseless player in the head then he deserves both the penalty and I would say a full game suspension. If a player simply lowers his head a bit and doesn’t launch himself that should not equate to a half suspension. The referee needs to consider the speed of the play and the reaction of the ball carrier. I’d have to believe it’s extremely difficult to adjust the angle of a helmet while flying at a guy to make a play.

Too many variables. You target or you don’t.

The attempt to reduce targeting to a formula is the issue (in my opinion). They want to say that any contact with the "crown" of the helmet is targeting, but in the heat of the moment, incidental contact happens. Neither of the tackles on Saturday seemed to contain the "vicious" component nor did they seem to demonstrate the weaponizing of the helmet or an intent to injure. The third case (which was finally ruled not targeting) was hard to take because the announcers were talking about whether he had started to run or was "defenseless". That hit was nowhere near the hits that our receivers were taking at Clemson as soon as their finger tips touched the ball. There just seems to be no consistency to the calls. In the end, the hit was either unnecessarily vicious or it isn't. God forbid refs have to use judgement. To be clear, I do understand the intent of the "targeting" call is player safety and that is good. The attempt to make it formula driven is the thing driving the problem. Refs spend all their time looking for components rather than evaluating the overall event.

To me, the second targeting call was the most adhering to the rule.

[GoBoone]

Do away with targeting. Problem solved.

Wrong answer