Previewing both the season and the first game at the same time. We'll start with the season.
Actually a fairly difficult schedule. UCF is the only non-conference game, and while they are not as good as usual, they are still pretty solid and should be close to top 25. The ACC was mostly young last year (which was why it was so bad) and most teams are expected to be improved. In what I'd call a shocking revelation, Phil Steele (who ranks each position group nationally every year) has the top 4 defensive lines in the country all from the ACC. That's right. I mean, I think he's wrong about that. That can't be true. But that's his ranking. And we play all four of them (#1 Clemson, #2 Pitt, #3 Miami and #4 FSU). Actually, if this were a regular year, we would draw the top 5 bc UGA is ranked #5.
Anyway, the point is the ACC is supposed to be much improved, and we play 10 teams from it, including Clemson, FSU, Miami, and Notre Dame.
So, while I think we will be better, probably a lot better, than last year, it may not show up in the win column yet. We'll see.
The main reason we'll be better is improved depth and experience in year 2. The second biggest reason is the O-line. Put simply, it was not good at all last year. It'll be better this year. We had 3 transfers but I believe the Vandy transfer decided not to play after all. Still, younger players have grown and we do have two grad transfers coming in who are much better suited to the size and style we want.
And we actually flashed some decent talent at WR last year. Running back we are well stocked with an underrated, and perhaps one of the country's best, RBs in Jordan Mason, plus young talent in last year's 4 star freshman Jamious Griffin and this year's 4 star recruit Jahmyr Gibbs. Griffin flashed potential last year, and Gibbs looks like a future star with incredible speed, quickness, and decent strength.
That just leaves QB, and frankly I think James Graham will start and I think he was better last year than most others seem to think. He was just a freshman playing behind a bad O-line. But we have solid talent behind him that may develop as well.
I expect we are still 1-2 years away from being as good as we should get on offense, but I expect this year to be much improved.
On defense, I am hoping for solid if not spectacular. Again, improved depth and experience. We aren't going to have any heavy hitters on the D-line, but we are solid and deep there, and the scheme will help. I was impressed last year with our ability to disguise blitzes and coverages (less impressed with the offensive scheming, but you win some you lose some I guess).
Add it all up and I think we are 2 TDs better this year than last year. Sadly, if you add 14 points to our score in every game last year, we only go from 3 wins to 5 wins (and one of those extra wins is the Citadel). So, I still expect 4-7 or 5-6 probably at best, unfortunately. However, we should be in more close games, and that is something.
As for FSU, they are supposedly loaded on defense (see the D-line discussion above). To go with that D-line are top 30 units nationally at LB and DB. Offensively, they are not supposed to be nearly as good, and its the first year of their coaching staff putting in what they do. Given that, I would expect this to be a relatively low scoring game. Lots of punts. Offenses might get going. I look for something like 28-20. 31-24 maybe. FSU is favored by 12.5. I think we keep it closer than that, but it'll be tough to win. They've got talent and are at "home" (although that means less in the covid environment with no or few fans). Its asking a lot for us to get a win in Tallahassee in week 1. I think we could, but I expect FSU by a TD in a low scoring game.
As always, let's go Jackets!
Take a dump
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