(07-13-2017 05:42 AM)rednblackattack Wrote:  

(07-11-2017 05:00 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(07-11-2017 12:03 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  I don't see the ACC being left out of the CFP this year. The SEC built their reputation off of defense. FSU, Clemson & Louisville will all be top 25, top 10 teams. Miami, NC & VT all have a chance to be as well. I wouldn't sleep on Pittsburgh either.

Louisville JR quarterback Lamar Jackson made the Maxwell Award Watch List. Cornerback Jaire Alexander made the Chuck Bednarik watch list.

I wish I could be that confident about the Cards chances in 2017. But I can't help but think that optimism is based on a perception about 2016 that may be misleading. Other than an early season win over FSU, who did they beat last year? By my count, their W's came against Charlotte, Syracuse, Marshall, Duke, NC State, Virginia, BC and Wake Forest. That's not exactly Murderer's Row.

They lost their last 3 games. Maybe it's because opponents figured out how to contain Jackson, or maybe it's just that Houston (9-4), Kentucky (7-6) and LSU (8-4) were a step up in quality that exposed them. 25-13 over the last 3 years is respectable, but not yet IMO enough to give them a presumption of being a contender.

Our offense line was so awful the end of the year. Losing to UK was an embarrassment, no two ways about it. Houston was always going to be a toss-up game. Against LSU we were playing without a number of defensive players due to injury, including a few starters.

Petrino made one of his best hires in getting back Mike Summers to coach the OLine. I think we will see huge improvement in that area

There were times throughout the season that the defense looked confused. Sirmon is simplifying the defense & bringing back the 4-3. While Summers was a great hire for the OL, the OL will still be young with Fr starting at C & LG. Despite that, with Summers leadership, the line should be a better cohesive group. The last time he was here, the Cards run game was hard to stop. Open up holes for Bonnafon, now at RB, & he will have the speed for some big gains.