Know the Enemy: Georgia Tech

0:45 Come back to the boundary Corner podcast along with my partner. Brian Sigler, I am Curtis Wilson this episode Is brought to you by dr. Lourdes Jeremy counts at Main Street, Pharmacy in Blacksburg, if you love this podcast, if you love the Hokies, if you love the town of black skirt, make sure you are supporting main streets. Pharmacy whenever you make your way to town and like we said, last episode we got some stickers, they're down at the pharmacy, go see Jeremy tell them that. Boundary Corner sent, you get yourself a free boundary Corner podcast sticker. So head on down to 301 South Main Meet in Blacksburg buddy.

1:26 You made it here under the wire sliding in Youth Baseball on a Tuesday night 720. First pitch. Who barely made it in. Barely made it in, but I'm here, you see. I'm Adrian. We're live. We only went, we only went about 15 minutes later than we were hoping for which considering the late start and all that, not bad, not bad, not bad at all. And you know we thought about maybe moving it to Wednesday, but then that Give me three extra late nights and I was like, nah, screw that. I'm let's get these days gonna be late regardless. Let's just go, let's talk about everything college football. Let's talk about Georgia Tech this week. Let's talk about the cfp.

2:15 In a little while here. Let's talk about the new Big 12 deal, but Brian, let's let's kick it off and let's go back more heartbreak for the Hokies. Let's recap NC State Hokies fall 2221 on Thursday night, and it's one of those. Stories where it wasn't like Miami. It wasn't us clawing our way back. 18-point lead in the later, part of the third and we blow it man. Just brutal. I went to bed at like one because it took a while to come down. Just oh yeah. Oh yeah. I think it was, it was while they were reviewing. The Grant Wells touchdown that gave us that lead.

2:57 I ran upstairs to get my wife, something I was like, I'm not trying to jinx this shit but we're up 18. I didn't think we'd be here. I don't know, it's essentially from that for I was like I don't know what to do with my hands. I'll do my hands. Yay and then, you know, I come up later. You know, it's after midnight she's like how he had to finish out his like it's after midnight. What the fuck? Do you think happened? What do you think happened? It's midnight. Well, I had a few guys in the neighborhood over and two of my neighbors. Shout out been shout out mace Eysan their Tech alums and the other two guys aren't and when we went up 18 one of the non Hokies said y'all got this in the bag 18 and been looked at him shadow. Look like you haven't watched us play this year has first time huh?

3:48 And thus began the roll down and what and I just this year and I mean we've seen this movie play out for a while for the Hokies so mean as soon as as soon as that first touchdown, Afternoon with the ease that it happened. I was like oh okay for a long fourth quarter we are and we were win or lose is it's going to be way more interesting than it. Should be a lot more interesting. And and let's let's talk about this, let's talk about the defense because I want to give the defense I want to give them their Kudos first Oh, coach Compton, coach Compton.

4:28 All right. Robbie. So let's talk about the defense. So for the better part of three quarters, they absolutely got the job done. They held in Sea, State, 23, points aggressive, play called and against NC State, they were attacking. It seemed like all night. We didn't fewer missed tackles in the first three quarters than we've seen. Probably the last few weeks, at least. Yeah. Yeah. For the last few weeks definitely. And it seems like they were It's loose. Yeah, right playing lose. They weren't looking at the scoreboard. They were just kind of attacking and following the game plan and playing playing like they belonged. Yeah I like it along and and we know Devin O'Leary wasn't there, we know we know it was Chambers in the first and then the Rook or Morris The Freshman who you know, who was a four-star. It's not like he was the, you know, the A two-star. He was a forced out of Georgia.

5:27 He wasn't just holding down that third spotty. Yeah. Solid player that probably just maybe wasn't ready for prime time yet but you know and they pushed him showed up anyway, he did show up anyway in but again the defense those first three quarters even with Mason in their it they couldn't get anything established and it felt good. But Brian you made that point as it got to the end of the third and then the and then the Fourth of July Fell off my teen roughly. They had 19 points in eight minutes. 19 points in eight minutes and I know you got to see some of the tape. What do you felt like was the swing? Why do we quit attacking? I feel like it's a combination of things. You got to lead, you end up being a little more conservative trying to conserve you know the depth that we have because we have we still have debt problems on defense and in this game we especially Adept problems at corner. You know we only had really for cornerbacks available that are on scholarship so that kind of put us behind the eight ball. With how we were deploying our cornerbacks and, as they started taking some more shots, you know, that became problematic, it was like kind of your damned if you do. Damned if you don't, if you if you Blitz and you don't get there, you got tired, cornerbacks on Islands. If you play more conservative you, let them kind of take chunks down the field, a little bit at a time and we kind of got in a situation where we the

6:57 snowball started and we couldn't stop it. Yeah. And and It sort of stinks because I think the reason probably went to Zone you mentioned it. We heard coach promising. And today in the pressure was the depth. Imani Chapman and Masson, Delaney plate. Every snap and we were over 76. Brian me. Brian. Made the point Friday when we were Chad and he's like, do you see the difference in the place? I'm like, and I looked at the wrong stats. I'm like, they're pretty close friend. He's like look. Again look again. They ran 76, we're in 54 and man. In Maine, sort of Lane and Armani were out there every snap. Which when you're, when you're down to four, we saw DJ Harvey play.

7:40 A lot of nickel, we did not see much pre on Marie. So really it was only three guys. Getting the majority of those snaps you and him and cams out cam cam Johnson of us, both of them were late scraps. Also down strong was obviously already outfit. So you had three three guys, that could have helped you a little bit depth wise that weren't a bongo. Going into that game, it was absolutely gone. And then it was coach said it today. In the pressure on anybody, listen about learning how to win games and he says, it's something we have to do as a team and you know what? Before this season started we were roughly, I think it was one game under 500 with the class of 18. That's that's basically a coin.

8:26 Flip, whether you win or not and Brian. How did you say it on Friday about that? Big play down the field. I basically say this, like once they got that one big play down the field and then they got In The End Zone. It was like we remembered that we weren't as good as we had been playing for three quarters and that's that mentality that we keep hearing about learning how to win, learning how to To finish. Did you play collegiate ball? You play collegiate ball and your teams were good. Your own teams that competed in the O dat. You know trying to win that conference. It is something.

9:08 Some people say it's fictitious. I don't believe that I believe every single sport you ever play. You have to learn how to win and we just that is something we don't have right now and it showed, maybe maybe that maybe the silver. In is. The last three weeks, it showed a little bit more, and a little bit more, that they were getting closer. It went from losing them, by two scores at Pitt. The one sport Miami to one-pointed NC State. Yeah, and it's when you talk about winning, it's, it's the little things. when you look at the plays that kind of build towards your win their points in the game, Where you going to point to and say? Okay, well you make you make a little play here. You make a little play there.

9:59 It's a different outcome, but you see winning teams that they play with the different type of confidence in a different type of swagger than teams. Like the Hokies right now where when one bad thing happens, you start to see that Snowball Effect. You start to see doubt creeping in, you start to press a little bit and make mistakes that you wouldn't normally make and that's what we're seeing. A lot from this. Team is that they kind of get a little bit over their skis and all of a sudden snowball comes another, yeah, it's a snowball of thing. That's a thing. You talk about getting over their skis, they lose the technique. They start playing outside themselves not within themselves, not within the scheme and that's learned and, you know, we see mistakes and stuff this year, and I'm not calling for anybody's job this year because I've seen enough from each member of the coaching staff that And when they get the right players, when that mentality, where we talked about it last week, I talked about it with the more brothers who had the least amount of time under the old coaching staff, and they have looked like two of the best offensive linemen we have and that takes time. And obviously probably, What Hurts the Most is? We pumped with six minutes left and we never get the ball back. Yeah.

11:17 Once I was that was the big thing with the defense. We just need a one stop. We got him to third down twice, couldn't get off the field. Couldn't finish couldn't finish it. Now, let's talk about the offense because Jesus Christ, let's talk jekyll-hyde with this offense. That first half. They knew everything we were doing, they took away the Run game, they took away the short passes. Yep. They dared us to beat them down field and from what I can remember in what you think, we really didn't try that in the first half. We didn't we didn't try it enough or with with enough. Variation. When we took the shots, it was kind of a little bit more calculated.

12:00 We weren't doing it off of off of first down where maybe the defense wasn't expecting and as much we were doing in very telegraphed ways, you know, definitely third down. You know, we were trying to take some shots here and there when we had third down and long situations, but we weren't trying to catch them off guard or get that first first down big play that can kind of set your offense in. Ocean drum. We were very predictable and it showed the way they reacted. I mean, I know that's a good defense but we should have the first half should not have been as bad as it was if we could have done some things differently that took them off edge a little bit.

12:42 Absolutely, it's the truth. And but but then Brian, you know, we talked about that. And then we see in this is the see, these little things. We see, we see an absolute Salute 180 in the adjustment and when we come out in that third quarter, we get the ball six plays 78 yards under two minutes and scored touchdown. I mean it was like that's that opening, third quarter Drive. I said it was the best opening drive. We've had to the season. It's probably the best offensive Drive. We've had all year very terms of execution in terms of keeping the defense off. Silence.

13:25 It was the best drive on offense. We've had all year. Yeah and if you take a look at it, it was Wells running the ball and then he hits Daquan and then they Quan again, then Malachi with a good six yard run. And then the next thing, you know, it is, it's a penalty. We get down field and then we're inside the goal line, Grant runs it in. And it was like, it was nothing was huge. It was what? 15, 15 78 penalty. Get you 15 more and then you're in the it wasn't. You know it wasn't like the next drive that we got I mean it's if we got those, like intermediate chunk plays that we haven't been consistent enough in this offense, we need a lot more of those type of routes. Those type of schemes to in the passing game. And we need that more consistently because that seems to be our bread and butter.

14:28 Whether it's Daquan whether it's working, Caleb Smith in there as well. We need more of that. We've been relying too much on kind of the short game and hoping that we can, you know, break a tackle or matriculate the ball down the field, 68 yards at a time. I mean, eventually we need to start getting those 15 to 20 yard chunk plays consistently. I'm not saying we got to do what we did on the next drive, all the time, but let's start moving the ball down. Feel a little bit with a little bit more confidence in that intermediate game. And then the next Drive, I mean, home run.

15:09 The those intermediate routes opened up, that safety didn't Shada Caleb side, and it was a perfect. I mean, that was a beautiful, beautiful deep pass because brand dropped it in the bucket. Caleb didn't break stride. 80-yard touchdown. One play, One play, One, play 11 seconds. Yeah. That's what he. And that's how you you take the momentum from the other team right there. I mean absolute, the one score, obviously, that changes the game. You get that second one. Now, you got to tell you on the, on their back of their heels, a little bit and you get it in one play there.

15:52 So that really kind of was the first huge play that we've had since really Boston College in terms. Like really big chunk play going for a touchdown? Yep. Absolutely. And then now, the next travel is a punt by me. And you talked about today, how it's okay to punch sometimes, but how much positive yardage did you get what? We got 23 positive yards. So you know, they had a punt to us. We got the ball roughly at, let me do the math here, roughly it like the 25-yard line. We went 23. Words?

16:32 Right? At Midfield. We punted they got the ball at their 20. Did they had a punt back? And then it was that laughs really. Again it was another solid drive, five plays 65 yards again, Grant running. Don't worry, we're going to talk about some of the bad stuff, folks. It's we've got, we're gonna lay into a stew, but it was like three minutes, Bam, Bam, Bam. Grant Wells 20 yard. Run touchdown. And it's and that's where you're pulling your hair out because in less than eight minutes we score 21 points. Yeah in eight minutes we scored 21 points. That's of the game clock. Actual clock. Like six minutes if Brian if we can score 6 21 points in six minutes every game at least once.

17:20 Yep. What can I tell you? One thing here though is, yeah that this this tells you the importance of getting First, a first, down on your to start a drive because we went Tempo on most of these drives in the third quarter. And we really go Tempo because we're able to get a first down pretty quickly in the drive-by the second plate. Yeah the second plane those two drives and get up on the ball and keep them on their heels. It was less less. Check with me as we were. Going through there. So they were running quickly. They were sticking with the, with the original call and they played with as much confidence. As I've seen them play all year on offense. Yeah, and we saw some more different things on, you know, Thursday night.

18:16 I mean I think one of the big one was just seeing Grant uses athleticism. You know, he has some, he can run the ball a little bit and there were a couple times where he Handed off, if he had pulled, he would have had a lot of daylight a lot of daylight because a couple times those ends and those outside backers just crashed. If he pulls it's a lane and there's no one on that side of the field. So I think that's got to be continued to put in. What else did you see? For a little new wrinkles. Yeah. I mean that more unbalanced lines. We saw that that might be something that we could catch them in when we were talking in the preview episode there, and they went that way. So it's good to see that they, you know, watch the Syracuse tape.

19:03 Like I did Grant was more involved in the running game. So that was, that was good as well. He's been more involved. Week-to-week lately, various degrees of Effectiveness, obviously, when they've got the loaded, Ox lot less room for him to operate. We saw that kind in the first half but as we were more effective with other aspects of the offense, some of those rushing Lanes, opened up for him in the second half there and obviously, we've already talked about it the second half shots, downfield, we need more of that more consistently, you know, Grant throws a good deep ball especially when he's got time. He's connected on it on quite a few here.

19:46 He's, he sells a couple here there. But when he's got time, when he's able to throw one on one, it's easy throws a pretty good one. So we need more of that. I mean, do you is that something you want to see early though is that something that you feel if we take a shot early and hit one? The safeties won't creep up. Linebackers won't be sticking their nose in the gaps. It's like we get burned deep a couple times. You know, you've got to change your philosophy up and it did kind of change their philosophy up. But we couldn't get anything done. The rest of the game we were we were struggling because essentially we played our, we played our hand, we played our trunk cards and they knew what we were going to do so they were able to adjust.

20:32 So somebody could say, did you do it on? Could you did you what did we do it too early? I don't think that's, I don't think we did it too early. I would say, we need to be able to be good on first and second down, Even when we're not calling shots downfield. Because our problem right now is been we're very ineffective rushing on first down. So that puts us in a bad second down call that doesn't always work. And now we're in third and medium third and long situations where you know we've struggled off and on and we struggled on third down mightily in this game.

21:13 Oh my god. Did we not even joke? How how bad 9% Yeah, we converted 9%. We converted 1/3 down compared to them almost converting. 45% that magic 40 number. Brian, like continues to float it out there. If we keep them 40 or under, we're going to win games, we're going to win games. And if that's and that's a simple as getting off the field one or two more times on third down, and we came close to or three times in that game to get off the field but in and it closed. Better clothes doesn't matter. You got it, done. Close doesn't matter at all and, you know, didn't rush the ball. Good again, you know, just one point nine per carry, you know, after adjustments off, 26 rushes and what a lot of blew up in the subsequent evening, we should just say, late-night hours. And the next day was what's on the coaches, what's on the players?

22:19 And, you know, Let's talk about some of that, we're going to talk about first, the game Management on the coaches and the first big one. And again, I'm going to shout them out Mason, he sits over there on the two-point conversion says, why the heck are we calling a timeout? They're going to go for two here, to get it down to three points. Why do we have a called a timeout that? Obviously using that heard in the six minute drill we had one time out to burn at that point time if you have to maybe you do get stopped or maybe they didn't feel the Rings and they Kick a field goal with a minute left, and you still have time to operate now. Pride did mention today that the had the wrong Personnel on the field. And at that point in time, those two points were two important at that point.

23:05 And I like he said, at that point in time because at that point in time, it was, if they don't get the two points like they didn't, it was still a two possession game or essentially it was they could not tell the vehicle, they had to score a touchdown. But on the other hand, this is something where it's like, that learning experience for the first time, head coach. Did you got your players out there? This is becoming a tight game. Timeouts are important, right? Yeah, yeah. And and that's after you probably you burned one that you needed to earlier. But then that meant that you couldn't afford to burn, another one ahead of the final drive is things. Got tighter timeouts, are at a premium, it's one of those things I know.

23:50 Like, you know, hindsight's 20/20 is like, oh yeah, we should have conserved that one. Yeah and I think I think we should have Sometimes you I think that's where being a coordinator versus being a head coach. Kind of comes into play. I think that that's a timeout that a coordinator wanted to take that a head coach might kind of say now we're just going to let this one roll. We're going to we're still going to have the lead regardless what they do? Yeah we're going to have the lead if I have this in my back pocket. If we're driving the field and it is a one-point game and we need a field goal. We have two times or we can really attack the middle of the field and just burn the time out and get set up for the next play.

24:42 And then I'll give you a chance to potentially get off the field, late in the game and have a chance to work in the field goal range. You know, whether the, you know, it's a You know one or two point game at that point, it doesn't really matter. Exactly now let me ask this and you said this was big on your game management pieces you said Brent Pride trusted his defense to win the battles when we had the lead instead of staying aggressive, is that going back to him being a coordinator again versus being a head coach? Where if he's the head coach and Chris Mars, the DC and Chris lays back that one play. He's taking his hat off and saying Jack. Attack. I don't care about this sitting attack.

25:23 I don't care if you have to put gas who are in experiencing attack and we know at the end of the season, he will no longer be the defensive coordinator and calling the plays. But again, is that the coordinator hat finding its way. I think it's some of that I think it's you know we talked about it earlier with wanting to keep guys. Fresh. I think they he was attempting to kind of stem the the tide as it were with. We're probably are thinnest at the defensive wine and in the in the secondary especially at corner in this game and you know you take your foot off the gas a little bit. They're trying to kind of keep your guys fresh but now you've given them confidence and I think all they need it was like a little spark of confidence and and that kind of woke them up a little bit and it also reminded our guys.

26:13 Hey you're the team rolling in here with losing record while we were still ranked in the top 25. And it kind of showed from there on out, even when Pride got more aggressive, as we kind of, went down the stretch there, I just think, you know, that little moment almost was like a switch for both teams anybody that says momentum is in the thing, doesn't watch college football, don't watch sports and watch what, what? Well, I don't have it on back here, but I just look, Houston had all the momentum after the weekend, right? That game got canceled. I sold last night because it rained in Philly, all night, Lily came out today and they're blowing the doors off of a 7, nothing so far, I wish I had it on back here so I could halfway watch the game in Philly.

27:01 Lot was able to line up there. They're pitching, they got better long-term for the rest of the the series to momentum. All right, let's talk about quickly the offensive side of the ball. All right, how tough is it? You mentioned to me. It's like he was too late adjusting to the Box. How tough is it for? Obviously, this is the first time. Ordinator to make that adjustment in the Box down to the field. Is it too? Big of an adjustment? Or is it something where a more seasoned guy would just say, we've got to change it, I don't care. I would rather die by taking the risk. That I know if we make this change, we maybe can make a touchdown or we can move the ball. I still feel like we're not because we're not doing some of the the things that he wants us to do. Well we're not opening up the Playbook and for throwing in enough new elements to the offense week to week. And when you have a loaded box like that, and you're trying to your bread butter, trying to be all right, we're going to run it.

28:09 We're going to have play action, and I know if you want to have play action, that, that you want that to be your bread and butter in the passing game. It's hard for that to actually have as much juice if you don't have some sort of semblance of a running game. But at some point you got to recognize what the strengths and weaknesses of the offense are and start playing towards those. And I think we're too late doing. At, in a lot of games. And that that's what we saw at this game and by the time, you know, we played our pivot card. They adjusted, they were able to fight their way back. Our defense of got gassed and they scraped one out there. And he never, he's never really gotten the offense settled after the Thomas injury in this game.

28:58 Because if that felt like another switch the offense, we were kind of cooking a little bit. And then when Thomas went down and weekend, whatever we did, look like a different team out there. I know Thomas wasn't exactly tearing it up running the ball, but he had a, get a couple good grabs of the running game, especially that one down. The sideline were amazing. Grab them aside, Allison. Amazing catch. So he's, he gives the offense a little bit of a spark that, especially in this game. Didn't have Keshawn King and yeah, Holston coming on in the game after that, you could really see how that impact of the offense. It just looked like they kind of became a shell of what they showed in the third quarter. Well, it's that whole piece of We aren't as good as what we are.

29:46 What we've been playing, we that that eight minutes and then Malachi gets hurt and it's the snap back to reality moment of we're not as good as what we just did. Those big plays those solid runs those try, Drives. We're not that into me. That to me that is somewhat on coaching. I know, it's some player mentality, but it's also coaches. Continue to chirp in your ear now. What's, but, it's Bowens responsibility to get some plays in there that. Keep your guys confident. That's true. That's on him now. Brian you got into a pretty much. Well, no Prime just made a defiant statement that now, false starts because there are some things that were on the players. Saturday or excuse me, Thursday twelve nine of ten false start penalties, 6 on the line to on skill positions, to on special teams Brian.

30:41 Someone came out and said this is all bad coaching. And Brian, Sigler went, you went Lee Corso. Not so fast. So I'll preface about this. There are things that can be done. That will encourage an offensive line to try to be more cognizant about false starts. But a offensive lineman is not jumping off sides because of something. A coach does or does not do Point Blank, I played the position, I know this and the reason is and so the things that the things that thing that you can do as a coach is that obviously one of the things they are doing which is extra conditioning punishment. Things like that as a response to the offsides that occur in a game.

31:39 Wait a second, another offensive. Lineman speaks up. So, so the thing, the things you can do is, you know, obviously what one of the things they are doing which is extra conditioning for 4 yards that you commit in penalties in a game. The other thing that you can do is you can lose your spot. The problem with losing your spot is that we don't have the depth to loot to have someone lose their spot. Right. Now, now, we're not when you when someone loses their spot on this offensive line and even in other positions in this offense, Talking about replacing them with a true freshman which could result in a burnt red shirt or a walk-on. I mean, you can now, you can all sorts of good stuff. We had T right here, one from Robbie one from the white again, Robbie, basically, priest not penalties. Oh probably every third Alan up there. Every hokey fans knows that tissue and it's not all coaching Robbie.

32:36 Obviously, as a coach, there are other one about a white up. And we've heard this since day, one about the depth. We've heard it since day one and I guess I get what they're saying, if we had a team like you would want to have and a guy jumps off sides, twice in a game yank him at least for into the quarter and put in the other guy and see what you got. And if that guy's rolling, you keep him in maybe for the rest of the game and that and that shows that you're serious. But we don't have the luxury of that type of response from a coaching staff, Right now. So these Lyman need to take accountability for jumping off sides and I'll say this it wasn't just the Lyman Daquan jumped off.

33:23 We had a wide receiver jump all of y'all. Yeah Caleb jumped off. We had three three or four that weren't on the offensive line so this is not just an offensive line problem. This, this is a concentration problem. This is thinking too much problem, this is worrying about beating your guy, instead of focusing on what's Happening the game problem. Very, very true. It's also funny put Robbie's quote up here again because you you said this and it's really funny because proc continue to say, all sides with false start sounds like is he talking that backwards? But I think that's just something common, but you mentioned doing when we were talking Friday. I put it in the I put it in the Tweet to.

34:03 Yes you did. A lot of times, why would I get false starts? Because the freaking dtac on the front of me was feed, my ads, had my ass kicked and I'm trying to get a Bone, his ass display. Whether it's I'm trying to kick back early or whether I'm trying to get a Zone step or reach step or I'm trying to down block him at the right. I'm trying to step on my man because he's handling handed me my ass right now. Yep. All right. Couple other things. Brian we let's mention about on the players chance, black muffin, those kickoffs holy shit. First of all, any time a kickoff is muff, any kind of kick as Mufti? It's just like as a fan it's like, oh shit, not good, not good.

34:49 If it's bad because it automatically takes away some of the potential that the plays in your playbook that you want to call as an offensive coordinator. Because now you're starting inside the 10. Those play calls are going to be a lot more conservative most time, especially for a team like this. That hasn't had a ton of success, which is lining up and doing, what they You to a defense regardless of what kind of looks they're getting we don't we don't have that kind of offense right now so now you either take the risk of taking shots from inside the 10 and if you don't hit it now you're putting to them you know in that 40 to 50 yard range or you're risking a safety in a tight game and things like that or you get more conservative till you get that first first first down or two and we just we never got that.

35:39 Now we got handed a gift that we ended up giving back on the A couple plays on that penalty, true. When the late hit on Wells out of bounds, when a late hit necessarily but the unnecessary roughness before throwing him around. After, after he got it rode him out of bounds, Peyton Wilson had it, if he just lets him go on rides, it's nothing. But when he jerked, they weren't gonna get. He didn't initiate that action before he went out of bounds. So it was the steps where out and I think the last thing Ryan coach you prize said it. You said it, it's all the I think, and it's depressing is when you don't be, when you start pressing the techniques gone, you don't play Within the structure and bad things happen.

36:21 And again, I go back to what I think about this class being under 500 going into this year. I don't think a lot of these guys who have been playing here for the last four years, guys, you know, you come to love. You love to see them play, you want to see them do well. I think that is what it is and I think it's literally going to take a lot of new blood to flush that out of the system. Well, shit, I've said it a lot and I know, I'm kind of reiterating some of the, a matter of our take it elsewhere. But, you know, we got a lot of veterans that have played that have been role players on this team that we are asking them this year because of our depth concerns to be the man at certain positions. and some of that may be beyond their skill set, And we're talking about spread that I'm not just at one position.

37:17 I just said two positions but probably over about five or six positions. We were asking guys that are more veteran role players to be veteran leaders and Veteran standout players on this team and that works for a quarter or two. But we're seeing it doesn't always work for four quarters and two. That's it. And that's what we're seeing a lot of. So we when you see these young guys going out there and competing, that's a good sign because it shows that You know, we could have that potential down the road but we've got to we've got a lot of backfilling to do we did and it's going to take you know you here. Leslie is going to take the portal and cycler and the Cycles to backfill kind of the situation that we kind of been dealt with with the last you know two to three years of recruiting and we have roster has been managing those periods which was not good but you kind of started it right there but I think we as fans you know, everybody's pissed for two and six. We're I think because we're a little Beyond this or two in 66. I think that's being a little older. We start reading between the lines, because the record is what it is.

38:22 We're 216, that's who we are, but if you start looking at this team, in the record, we have only been truly drilled once and that was Carolina. They were twenty-four ten and half. They 140. 110, we were that we were drilled. The game was over early, third quarter. It wasn't, it wasn't closed for a long time. Yeah, it wasn't. For a long time but you kind of sit back and say, Brian, you know, a lot of these other games, it's right there. And at the end, it falls apart. And in their quarters where me and you both say? If that team right there, third quarter this week, if that team right there, showed up 75% of the time. We would be one in 75 or 80% of our games like those quarter stretches.

39:15 Now, the defense we've seen it multiple cores. We saw it against Miami. We saw it against State. We saw at the first three quarters against West Virginia. The defense is consistently, put two and three quarters together in a game. Not have necessarily played for yet BC for three quarters. Yeah I'll give them be safe. I'll give him BC. We know how bad BC is. So yeah but with the offense it's like one off cost. Hours, and when I say one-off quarters, I mean this week that third quarter, eight minutes, 21 points. Yeah, eight minutes of the game, six minutes after the session 21 points. I ain't trying to say where I live but that's Alabama, shit that's Tennessee shit, that's Ohio, State shit, where it's like, Bam, Bam, Bam 21 points.

39:57 Six minutes And that's how they bury it but you look at that game. The Miami fourth quarter feet early, first quarter into the second and pit where it's just like 14-point 17 points in, in short stretches. So I said here and it's like a silver lining and I say people are already saying Powerball and should be fired. No. First of all, I don't think anybody's getting fired. You're wondering if that's your go-to like who we should fire people. Go look at Tennessee, go look at a lot of these programs. It took years to cook 15 years to rebuild, where they are. They kept firing people over and over.

40:38 But I look at it. You see those Silver? Linings And it's consistency, right? Brian, like, yeah. We seen flashes and it's like shit. And I think that goes back to what I was just saying earlier, is, like, you know, we're seeing these flashes and we're hoping that we can put some of that more together. When we say we're not seeing progress, I think we're not seeing progress because we're still losing losing games, but there are things here there that give you, you know, a little hope of what's to come. Now, what I want to see a lot more of is, you know, when we talked Back in March early, March we did the the preview the preview episode with Robbie, Robbie came on, he broke down, what we can expect, from prion, the defense, I looked at the offense, I looked at a lot for them tape.

41:29 Looked at some of the Penn State stuff, things like that. And looking at looking at Fordham, you know, we saw some different things from that offense that we haven't seen yet in this. And I don't know if that is weird. Doing this. Well, so we haven't kind of taken the next step and put this part of the offense in there yet. I don't know whether it's that some of the, the team isn't comfortable with running those plays yet, hasn't shown it. Well enough in practice, where they're comfortable with the calls in the game. Whatever the reason is, I want to see a little bit more from this offense in terms of when that bread and butter isn't working early, having something to Pivot to having having some things that give the defense fits that aren't just. We're going to do we do and beat you that way because one of my complaints against corn corn corn had a bad system and was also a bad play caller.

42:33 I still think the system was decent. I think he was just system is, but I'm saying in terms of how he operated the system with. If it's a pass play, you got to throw it here or then you gotta run it or eat it? Yeah, I don't, I don't I don't like that shit. So that's still on him. And that's not just a calling the game thing. That's a, this is how I want to run my scheme thing. Yeah, I got the steam itself. In terms of the plays were not bad, it was how he wanted the quarterback. Execute said, calls that was awful, combine that with having zero, zero flow in the game. And that's something I think we, we don't see from Tyler bone, he lets Royals operate because, as well as Operate.

43:16 Now, the problem is that we haven't gotten deep enough into the Playbook where, you know, what we've what we've shown on film is almost kind of what we see every game, the game. And I need to see more variety and, and some more wrinkles from the solvents. And we're seeing them here or there, but I don't think we're seeing enough where it's giving us an advantage against the defense we have. And, and I'm going to be just very honest with you on that. You go for games, you're two and six, nothing can get worse. If you're trying to figure out how it if Wells is going to be your primary starter. Next year, he's going to battle for a job. It's almost Like rip the Band-Aid off, and just give them everything and see how the offense works because by all means, if you lose 40, you lose four in a row, you're two. And six to me, there is nothing to lose. And at least with this, you get a full scope, a full scope of Grant Wells, operating everything in the Playbook not just inside the Box.

44:23 Yeah. All right let's flip it over. Brian other college football notes. Obviously tonight I had to have you texted I had a couple buddies Malik Mike text me like we all think of the playoff I'm like, haven't seen it yet. This is literally the first time seeing it right now. And I'm actually proud of the committee putting Tennessee at one, Ohio State at to Georgia three Clemson forward Michigan five Tennessee. Has beat multiple multiple ranked football teams. Yep. Multiple and Ohio State has beat multiple ranked Notre Dame, doesn't look as good.

45:03 But the Penn State Victory last week, obviously really good. I think they got it, right? I really do. And obviously, if you take a look at that, we've got to play in games on the way in the next month, ones this week. Came. We're going to talk about that one later, trust us. What about you? Did you do you think it's right? Do you like Clemson being it for? Or would you have put Michigan there? Ought to put Michigan there. I thought that she was going to be for, I like it. Otherwise, I mean, I can make an argument for Georgia over Ohio State, but they're very neck-and-neck. In my opinion, Tennessee has the best resume.

45:44 I don't know if they're the best team, but they certainly have the best resume, which is why they are number one in That, that's a fair number one for them. Like I said, I could argue Georgia to, or Ohio State it to, I think Clemson is probably the only one that got wrong at this point. I would definitely put them kind of just outside looking in in the initial pole. I think, Michigan's kind of done more so far. Okay. And you know, I think I'd put them behind Michigan and obviously Alabama's number 6 here. So I put them just ahead of Alabama. Oh, Are they an unblemished record? Are they now? Placing so an undefeated team is below a loss, Alabama?

46:27 Yeah, Theses below Alabama, yeah, that's always irritating to me. So TCU, has not been proven. They can be beaten correct. Alabama has Alabama, has shown, they can lose a game tcu's, not if you flip flop them. I'm fine with that. I'm fine with that. I think organs too high. Don't think you get the doors going off of you. Even if it's early in the season, I don't think they should be that high. I think, at least USC Ole, Miss should be above them, probably no one else. I'm not, I don't know how, a to Los LSU team because LSU as still not impressed. They lost to a mediocre. Florida State team at home, pretty much sand, but we'll discuss that more as we get down to it. There's definitely some SEC biases always in there. But you know It is what it is.

47:21 I mean, you look at that Florida State team. I mean, it's a, it's a better than we expected, Florida State team, but still nothing to write home about Florida, State team. Yeah. Now, if this was the 12 team that would be games in Ann, Arbor Tuscaloosa Fort Worth in at the Autzen Zoo decision. And I don't worry. Zero degrees on the East Coast having to go to the zoo.

48:01 Well, that would be actually. That would be USC. Have it that way? They probably flip it put, like, LSU there to go up to the zoo. That'd be nice and yeah, so it's interesting. All right, other big news this week, the Big 12, new TV deal, the dominoes are slowly falling 2.28, Million over six years between Fox and ESPN. I'd love to see the numbers from each because obviously obviously the math is roughly 30 million a year. I think Big 12 st. Closer to 50 with all the other payouts. Well we're looking strictly at the TV money because the other payouts are variable.

48:42 Yep. You may get some of it. You may not get some of it so keep that off the table. But let's say split right down there. So some of it, some of its a straight shares. Some of it depends on where you land. Exactly. But if you if we just say, it's a straight middle and it's 1.14 billion. We know that 1 Point 1 4 billion for ESP and I'm focused more on ESPN than Fox because fox has the Big Ten. They have the big 12, the Pac-12 deal still not done yet which is really in. This is a good-sized deal but now you know 1.14 is roughly how much a year God I hate doing math, this late. If I had a chance to do this earlier, we're doing split straight, split wouldn't be 15.

49:37 What 15 or know what I'm saying is, how much money each year? ESPN is going into it. I got would be suited, be something like 200, probably right under 200 million a year. So close to 15 a year per payout. But what, that tells you right there though, is they still got money left. Now I think they're going to bump the SEC up but I think the AC even though they're locked into the 15-year deal. ESPN is going to probably pay a little bit more. I think the acc's with with the ACC Network going full live is close to 30 million. Now, think it's what it is, like twenty seven and a half.

50:19 I think the ACC will get a little bit more to product to me. I think the ACC is going to be probably closer to thirty seven straight TV deal. And but this is what we talked about because the big Tim's gone ESPN does not have the Big Ten in a few years and it was all that money. Then you know, they bid up to a point probably somewhere in the neighborhood of about 70 million and team. And now that money is coming back so it's going to be interested to see how that plays out. Yeah. Yeah. What do they do with an extra money? Does does a cut of that? Go to the ACC in a renegotiated deal? Does all of that go to the SEC? I don't think it all can go to the SEC. I don't think it does either.

51:01 Don't think it does either. I think they get a good shot well, because of where their contract is now. They run. Roughly only need about. I feel like they only need maybe do the math here, maybe like 250 million a year to be above the Big Ten. Okay. And so obviously we don't have big, The Big Ten steel is, we know you. Look at this, it's probably another 200 million out there. How much goes back to the ACC, Do they negotiate? Anything with the Pac-12? Now that you're down to 10 teams will be interesting. All right. Last piece before we head to break here, Brian Harrison for real got fired today, not a catfish, not a catfish, not me, Barrett Sally, confirmed it and I'm going to be honest.

51:49 They haven't heard the ad, they look like doing the Mississippi State ad, which God bless that guy because to take it with those freaking lunatic snout on the plains. Who wants to coach their like seriously like who would who in their right mind would actually want to try to coach their? Yeah, I mean you know Brian Harrison is done himself zero favors in this all. Yes, and let's go ahead and put that out there. 00 favors at the same time. With those with those donors out there, it's a clown show, man. They, they run everything. The thing is, it's constantly, we got to get rid of people, we need to do something different, and it's just like, they had Gus for, you know, close to 78 years and God took him to a national championship.

52:42 Gus had them in the running, godspeed, Alabama, a few times. They're one of those programs to me that they get a little winning in them. They come Lately, forget who they are. And then when they have a couple mediocre season, everybody wants to burn plates down because oh, it's all screwed up. You are who you are. And that's where the Mississippi State guy. Got bless his soul. Yeah, I mean, I think they want so bad to be like Tier 1 all the time, like some of the some of their other in-state Rivals. And some of the other teams in their conference, and they need to recognize that.

53:23 That they're, they're a team that because of the money that they have, they can punch up but they're still going to be more or less, a tear to type program consistently. Yeah, we lack the ability to punch up. What they've done the last 11 years, though, I would take it to. Oh, yeah, and be saved game of appearances. Only really, really only two Bad seasons and then the rest can really take it even further back than that. I mean, if you go back last 20 years, I don't for I mean they said really good teams, really good team. I definitely take it heartbeats because just because you're not that Elite of elite every year.

54:05 I mean again you punched up a few times you've you know, you've you've won the big ones that you've had to win to put yourself in a position to play in some big games. Yeah, absolutely. All right. So Brian before we get to know the enemy for N.c. State, we are going to take a quick pause from our digital partners. As we take a quick break, we like to tell you about getting your free website report from our digital partner, Grassroots, digital marketing Studio. They'll tell you how your website ranks on Google on-site, SEO and social media. No commitment to buy anything. You can get your free report by visiting. Grassroots digital studio.com forward slash free Dash website Dash report. Now back to the episode.

54:51 All right Brian, let's start with Georgia Tech Know, The Enemy offensive side of the ball and let's start at the quarterback. The quarterback which one? Well they all right, here we go. Who had not really showed much of the Freshman Georgia Tech shown everybody since Jeff Simmons got banged, you got Sims. You got Zach, Gibson, and Zach power. Let's go. This order give me. Obviously Sims has one. So we'll talk about him last. Who's the least likely guy? We're going to see this week and if he does have to play, give me a quick. What we're gonna see in his offense, more than likely, the least likely is going to be Zach Gibson.

55:35 He started the last game they played against FS, you didn't make it very far into that game. Really more of a, more of an athlete decent short game accuracy, with his arm effective in the running game. Only average arm strength, average accuracy, not really effective in the pocket will panic when he's pressured consistently. So not not exactly. The guy you want to pull the trigger there in a game especially against a team like the Hokies that we know we do have a pretty effective defense at least for 3/4. So so so for if it's Zack Gibson. We're going to see the smallest playbook in the actual potentially smallest person able to run their offense. Yes, smallest Playbook just because he doesn't have the arm to drive the ball down the field. Okay?

56:28 Okay. All right. Well, what about pyram? What about pot? Because Jeff seems obviously if he's healthy Sims is going to plane. He's the best quarterback. They have. But what do we see in from piron? Pyron is a step up and athleticism, he's a more powerful Runner. He's got a more effective. More effective arm strength, does a better job of intermediate passing game than Gibson. He does still like the arm strength to take some deep shots consistently, but he will make some effective throws in the intermediate passing game. So it does stretch the field a little bit there for them, but he is effective in it three, step drill and he will scramble.

57:09 Well, keep his eyes down field for check downs and things like that. So more. Of em. And again, probably a more effective runner in the zone read because of his size and power, all right? And then last clearly if he's healthy Jeff Sims, the 63 205 pound quarterback out of Duval. Florida composite four-star was a top 24/7, player top 10 quarterback. So far this season. He's throwing nine. Excuse me, he's thrown five touchdowns only rush for one. You know over 300 yards there and we we all if you've been following Hoagie football for the last five years you know who Jeff Simmons is.

57:53 At one point, he was right there with us and then he decided to go to Georgia Tech. What do we see from him? That makes him obviously, if they want him to start. Yeah, I mean the big thing is confidence. He's a quick decision, maker delivers, a good accurate ball that allows receiver to kind of turn up field. Get some yards after the catch. Great ass. You expect extends plays with his legs. Looks to make the play down the field as he's kind of escaping the pocket and getting to the perimeter, he is a type of quarterback, you know, that we I've been talking about that can Elevate the play of those around him. He's that type of player but he will take risks with the football in the passing game. So, there is some opportunities for some, you know, potential fumbles or turnovers there.

58:37 But I mean, he's definitely the one of the better quarterbacks we've seen this year in terms of his Skill set and definitely the best quarterback on that roster. Yeah, I mean he obviously is the best. If he's If he if you see him playing you're going to get their best game offensive ly, which isn't the greatest, which we'll talk about later. But let's just be very honest with this team. This team is a run first team. They, you know, they've ran the ball 30 more times than they passed it. Because a, they've given a 30 sacks or they're giving up a sack about one. Every eight drop backs, but they have actually a couple Two really good running backs in the first. Let's talk about here is on, let's talk about. Hassan Hall, a transfer from Louisville class of 2018 was a mid three-star there from the state of Georgia at Maynard Jackson in Atlanta, and, you know, so far this season brown with a sign.

59:34 He's averaging, you know, just over five yards, a carry 315 total yards. Interesting piece here is no touchdown. So that's something to keep an eye on in. You know what are you seeing from him on the tape? Yeah, he's pretty effective. Catching the ball out of the backfield solid vision and he's an angry Runner finishes, his runs well good at identifying cut back Lanes, that's where you kind of gets a lot of his extra yardage there but he's not really a home run threat in the offense. He's not heavily Used around the goal line. They usually focus more on some other guys, whether it's whether it be Sims or one of the other quarterback quarterbacks trying to get when they get around the goal line there. But he's he's one of those guys that gets you a lot of yardage kind of between the 20s.

1:00:38 Alrighty. So now they have a second running back as well. Let's talk about him Nationals. Talk about Dante Smith Smith so far this year. Again also averaging five your over five yards, a carry at five point, one three touchdowns, 258 total yards, little bit of receiving eight receptions in eight games and you know, came was a myth 3 star coming out of Spring Hill. Columbia Tennessee. All-purpose back. Not a lot of D1 offers but, you know, a little bit of speed there. What makes him a little bit different than Hall? Yeah, he's moreover the perimeter threat than Hall, especially running the ball, he's primarily uses kind of their third down or change of pace. Back better, blocker overall and they do use him in some of the heavier packages around the goal line, in place of Hall to kind of punch it in. 46.

1:01:41 All right. And you know just kind of looking in general with these guys Hall is I would say the lead back of the to he's out Carrie Smith by, you know, over 30 carries in, you know, Georgia Tech's first, eight game so roughly getting probably four to five more touches, probably seeing the field 8 to 10, more snaps than Smith just based on that. But obviously Smith has the nose for the end zone. We're Hall doesn't and even though we've mentioned that this is a run team and you see Jeff Sims numbers. You know he's got over 300 total rushing yards with a touchdown. They do have some receivers you know and as we started kind of looking at a little bit of everybody, I thought about going to Nate McCullum.

1:02:30 Who is their leading Rod receiver. But something with Malachi Carter just kind of caught my eye on a couple, his games couple of his games. He only had a few catches but put up kind of bigger numbers and I wanted to kind of get your feel on him. Brian you know was a three-star when he came out in 2018 out of Georgia. What makes him a little difference where I see a couple of those games where he kind of popped over 15 yards, a carry. Yeah, most of that is from the yards after the catch. He has good hands. He runs. Well, after the catch, mostly works from the outside sometimes for the slot dangerous in the open field, he's not really used much in the screen game though that makes most of his hay in that kind of intermediate range.

1:03:18 So when they are attacking a little bit more downfield, that's kind of where he makes his hay. And he's he does a pretty good job after the catch with some of those balls. Yeah. I wanted to focus on that also when Brown when you kind of through your notes in there and it kind of made me think this tackles been better this year, but he's the guy we do not want to see, get the ball in space and start missing tackles, he will make us pay. So I hope we can keep him under wraps for the game but again also listen mate, McCullum EJ Jenkins just a couple other wide receiver names. They're all right Braun let's talk about it.

1:03:59 It will talk about the scheme on the offense and let's talk about the offensive line. Yeah. I mean I'd say probably especially in past Pro. This is the the worst offensive line unit. We've seen since BC, we need to stay aggressive and keep pressure on them. To keep them frustrated, they are good when they can kind of create predictable outcomes. They're not good. When you get aggressive with them. When you confuse them, they become a shell. So if we can stay aggressive the whole game and bring some pressure, especially in a game where we're not quite as worried about the downfield throws, you know, you, hopefully we can, we can hold up on the back and a little bit better than we did laid against NC State.

1:04:44 But I mean we're looking at it kind of a Smash Mouth spread, it's going to be heavy, heavy heavy Zone. Read our po elements, they're not taking a ton of shots downfield. This is very much a run focused run first offense And without Sims their damn near a triple option team. A lot of times guys, we know about Georgia Tech in the triple option but you know, they really kind of become that that type of almost run exclusive. Unless they're, they're playing from behind type team. They were down multiple scores against FSU and they were still, you know, run run. and then pass when they had to So that they were going to, they definitely want to run the football if they're going to have success in the offense woman Chosen and he's chosen the staffs mean they're under six.

1:05:43 Yeah, it hurt game. I mean per attempt under six and temp, that's just ugly. Yeah, I think if we do a good job attacking that mesh point that that'll kind of keep things in a more predictable outcome, make sure that we kind of Let Jeff Sims give it as much as you can. That would be ideal or put him in a no-win situation where if he gives it or keeps it. He's kind of eat up that that's kind of what we need to do. Keep him living in Hell a little bit, but getting a lead on them, early could really help them. Help us kind of get them out of their game plan there because they definitely want to run the ball.

1:06:26 They definitely want to kill clock. It's still that type of offense. Even though we're not seeing that that triple option that flexbone, that we saw from Georgia Tech for years, but it's, but it's me, but it's funny, you say it could get them out of their game plan, but on the other hand they just might stay in their game plan and we get up 21 nothing like we're just going to keep running the ball. Thank you. All right. He's gonna keep running the ball and not having any success and I mean they doing well enough, but they're not, they're not moving it. Consistently enough to. Yeah, it's like they'll have an eight or ten yard gain a little back it up with the two or three or one or two, and sometimes a negative play and next thing you know, they're punting. So he's was that.

1:07:12 That's kind of how we've got a got to do it. We can't let you know, one or two, first downs, kind of create that tidal wave where they end up rolling into the end zone. We got to make sure that we're getting off the field. Absolutely. Alright. So next guy, Braun, we're going to flip over to defense first. Go on Talk about guy who started his playing career as class of 2017 at Old Dominion, he transferred in to Georgia Tech. He was a two-star when he came out of high school down. In Garner, North Carolina at Garner, High School, a ski on white. And you know, so far this season, four sacks leading the team in sacks.

1:07:54 You know, thirty five tackles past deflection as well and he's at prototypical All the build your love on 65 286. How does he show on tape? Really good. Actually, he's kind of a guy that they use in a lot of different ways. He's got really good size, which helps him kind of slide into a three technique. When they go with a different line set, but he's also kind of that big in that can also rush the passer. Well, the only thing he doesn't do great, he's not he's not very good at shedding blocks and and for his size he can get moved out of the gaps but Wendy can shoot a gap and penetrate that's kind of where he makes his hey and he does a good job there.

1:08:44 And like I said, for his size very above average pass rusher, whether he's lined up outside the tackle or inside the tackle, Alrighty, let's flip now, let's look at the two linebackers. Let's start with Charlie Thomas. First of all Thomas out of Thomasville High School in Georgia class of 18, a high 3 star in the state of Georgia. Top 50 player down there when he came out. And so far this year, I mean, 70 total tackles which is second on the yellow jackets. Behind one guy will talk about in a few minutes. He has a sack, he's forced a fumble, couple of interceptions, 6220 Seven, where is he lining up on it with Charlie?

1:09:28 Yes, so he's a, the positions called money. It's actually similar to the backer that we were used to, in the Bud Foster system. So he's better against the Run than the past. He will Blitz but not quite as often as the guy that we're going to talk about next. Navigates the trash. Well to get to an attack is Gap responsibilities, he's inconsistent in coverage but he's pretty solid when he can kind of read react and drive on a route versus having to sit back and kind of pass guys through zones or working man, it will miss a tackle occasionally, especially when he's in Pursuit, but he's really good.

1:10:13 He's kind of playing downhill and is able to kind of square guys up. When you talk about the inconsistency in coverage, is it, is it just the eyes are the odds? Is it just looks like the heads going everywhere versus, you know, focus on one thing we see when I hear you say inconsistent, the first thing I think of is he's not looking at the quarterback. He's looking at the Players moving around him. We're when you're in zone, it's like look where the quarterback is, if a guy crosses you that's fine, but you still shouldn't be there. Because if you're looking at him, He comes back across the field. Well, you're going to be a half a second leg. You're not even gonna be in the play. Yeah, it looks like he's thinking too much.

1:10:55 A lot of times when he's in that kind of true Zone, when he's able to kind of see everything in front of him and just react to it a lot better. Nice. So nice kind of what it is. Alright now let's flip to the next Jack. As I said there were he has 70 tackles? You know, that's average antenna game. I need a lot. Number two linebacker. R63 233 pounds out of Olney, Maryland, 82. Tackles three and a half sacks. Three forced fumbles, just last week against FSU. He had 11 tackles. So, it's been consistent all year. When he came back out in 2017.

1:11:36 He was recruited to Maryland. He did not come originally to Georgia Tech. So, he was a transfer from Maryland and he was a Our had a good you know you take a look at his list. We did show some interest in him being up at Good Counsel. It's a pretty good high school command but a lot of good looks for him back. Then what's the tape showing? You know, the statistics say it is he their best player on defense or Yeah, best overall player on defense, he plays the Mac position which is the mic in the defense. He's got good length, plays fast, especially when he's blitzing.

1:12:22 He does a good job of reading the play and attacking his Gap. Good tackler, especially at the point of attack, when he's kind of between the tackles, they're not bad in coverage, but he does struggle struggle when covering kind of athletic players like a joke or tight in or wide receiver. And he does that sometimes struggle to shed block. So that's kind of. If we can get him tied up in the in the middle there we can kind of neutralize them a little bit. So I hear you say that. That fourth statement there about covering athletic tight ends, do you think this is a game where Gallo should be at H put right on that kind of that Wing back and force him to cover.

1:13:02 Yeah, I would, I would put him in as much force position as we can where he's got to do stuff in space and cover in space and make them run. Make him run as much as possible. Alrighty. Alrighty, let's flip it. One last player on the defensive side of the ball and that is Le Mi Brooks the defensive back. Le miles from Trinity Christian Academy that name has a afford, some other good players from down. There he is the class of 2020. Yes he did get a Virginia Tech offer. No, he did not commit and he was a pretty highly rated player for Star composite cop. 260 player nationally a top 20 quarter pipe 50 in Florida.

1:13:49 We actually were a favorite tool and him back in 2020 and obviously we missed their know. We weren't no you weren't that. We had badly 2020 class man. Back to haunt us still still so far this season, I love the stat line from to be a defensive back. Thirty three, tackles two interceptions and five past deflected. So he has been around the ball a lot this year and also had a fumble recovery. So clearly a nose for the ball. What's what? Smile showing in the secondary Yeah, so you play safety for this team.

1:14:31 He's probably the best playmaker in their secondary. Really great. In pursued, making them feel tackles finish his plays. Well, when he has spill area responsibilities, he's good but occasionally sloppy with those run fits so that's something that we can potentially exploit. He's also good coverage but he can be exposed in one-on-one. He's very much better when he's in the zone. All right, let's flip it over now. Brian. Let's talk about this scheme. Obviously you mentioned something we were familiar with, so I'm going to assume 425 425 but they do. They are multiple so you'll see them kind of mix-and-match fronts. They use that kind of standing D in. It's kind of a hybrid player that they'll slide into a backer position and then slide there Sam kind of into more true nickel.

1:15:21 So they kind of morph a little bit into a little bit of a 33 little bit of a Or kind of depending on what they need, but they are a base for 25 and they try to switch up those fronts to create confusion to create matchups, that work for them. They bring pressure fairly regularly, usually kind of Zone Blitz in the early parts of a drive. They'll go more man Blitz as they kind of get pushed further into their own territory. They force a decent amount of turnovers usually off pressure, and they're very much kind of a Bend don't break for. Safiye. You can score on them, but they're going to try to hold you two, three. All right.

1:16:05 Well you mentioned the force turnovers off pressure. Let's go to the Hokies in the first thing we can talk about, is their turnover margin. They are a top five team in the country in turnover margin with plus 12. Not a lot of plus 12 teams are three and five. So I got nerdy and just started looking at the game films and in their three wins their plus 7. So clearly in those wins, you know, They turn the ball over and that was against Western Carolina. Oh man, Duke I had Duke 23:10 in pit, so they forced a lot of turnovers in those three games.

1:16:49 So in the five losses though, they still created Five turnovers. That's a turnover game. So I dug a little deeper. They forced to against UVA and they lost by a touchdown. They had one in a blowout loss to Ole Miss and they Two against FSU who also blew the doors off of them. And the other two losses, it was an even battle. So in three of their losses, they were +5 and they got outscored by like Almost 100, they have to force turnovers to win games. That's clear. Yeah. Maybe force turnovers to be competitive.

1:17:30 Be competitive. It even when they force a bunch UVA, it bores to turn over against that. Bad offense, came up with seven points against not, a really good defense even when they forced a can lose. So I sit here Brian and I ask you, I think we just have to be aggressive because what they've shown is even when they forced turnovers I don't do a hell of a lot with it. Yeah, we definitely can't revert into a shell, every if we make a mistake, we got to keep being aggressive, pushing the ball downfield, keep them on edge because I mean they show against FSU. They had essentially a six-point turn around on one play where they forced a fumble with FSU inside the, their 5-yard line and they ran it back to like the 22, yard line and only got three out of it.

1:18:18 And they had another turnover later and later in that same quarter, FSU had two turnovers early, Laying was winning the whole game. I mean, this isn't, this isn't something where, you know, they do a whole lot with those turnovers. So if if it happens, Don't Panic. Stay aggressive on offense. Stay aggressive on defense. Don't let that Sudden Change become six points. That's it, but it's also difficult them to score points and that's where I go to the next key is it's going to be our defense General. This defense is This is 118th in the country, they are not a good offense, their 125th and score there.

1:18:58 Below us in scoring Which says a lot not good Bob. I mean, even in their three wins, the offense has not been good at all and their biggest scoring output was 26 versus pit. So you talk about a defense Get Right game. We look good for three quarters. Last week let's bring it for quarters. Like this team like we did against BC and keep them under two touchdowns. Yep. Yeah and the big thing is slowing that run down if we can slow that run down there. Not going to be a team that can do anything offensively. So we'll see. Speaking of Run games, I think the Hokies Run game is going to be a geeky, said it in the Press today.

1:19:41 Malachi's doubtful, which gives me a sliver of Hope, but also gives me a sliver of Hope to that. He won't play until he's ready and good news back. He Shaun King probable, so would likely going to see him probably the combination of Holsten and Duke but Georgia. Tech. I mean I look back at the UNC game and talked about them being a bad offense. As far as rushing, the ball Georgia Tech 101 this year, giving up over 177 yards a game. So I think between the combination of Wells King Holston and Duke, I want to see at least 130 to 140 yards on 30 to 35 carries.

1:20:25 A fellow made me feel better but maybe three-and-a-half is where I should be happy. Per attempt, we got to do better than we did last week and I know this is the way. This is a big step down in terms of front and in terms of linebacker play overall. And that's not knocking the two guys. I mean, I think they're probably two of the better players on this defense but we were looking at three NFL caliber linebackers last week. We were and some solid players in that front. You know, we rang Not getting that this week. Now the this is a big step down. We should see better this week in the running game. So if we if we can get like you said, I think 135 would be a good number 140.

1:21:18 If we get above 150 great but we can get around that 135 140 range at or just above three and a half a Kerry. I think that'll be effective enough especially for being aggressive and pushing the ball downfield. The passing game abso-freakin'-lutely. Let's go back and talk about what we talked about earlier. The biggest key to this game and hopefully growing some confidence with this team is we've got a string, the multiple quarters of productive football across all elements. Yep, it's what we're missing it. I mean we can attest to it and probably say, if you Street a couple extra quarters in pit in Miami and one more quarter in NC State.

1:22:06 It's three wins versus three losses, two teams, five and two. Yep. And and that's it. Let's look at let's look at NC State and head too bad. Quarters of special teams play. Get two and a half. Bad quarters of offense and we had one bad quarter defense. Yeah. And All Canes at separate points during the game. Yep. Offense early. When the defense was humming defense and offense Lady, Heather in the third quarter. You know, you outscored team 21-7, that's big, that's what you want, every quarter, and then the Special Teams, you know, I think it was first and fourth one is good but it's just stinging the string and the quarters together because that builds momentum that builds confidence.

1:22:49 You see guys play better and I think a team like this that don't do not have the Firepower to hit you back quick. It's kind of what the Hokies need and Brian, let's flip it. Over and let's talk about predictions on this game. And unfortunately, for me and you for a while. Now we've been going against the Hokies. And you know what's your feels this week? Well, I'm not going against the Hokies this weekend. I've got an actual repeat of last year's final score. All right. I think that we're going to be effective driving the football. I think we probably don't close as many drives as we'd like to, but we're effective enough moving the football against this defense.

1:23:38 I think we give up a couple scores to them but then we kind of settle in and we finish this off. I've got 26. Toki's and I'm not far behind you because I do hope that we can continue our streak of picking these games correctly. I'm going a little less than you on both sides. I think it's 2410. Hokies I think what we saw last week with that defense, NC state has some play makers. We talked about that. They were missing the quarterback and I think what they found last week was likely the guys going to succeed leery when he steps away. And I really think defensively, I can't see watching Georgia Tech a few times this year.

1:24:25 They just looked pitiful offensively and with no real threat of a passing game. I think Brent pry probably can feel comfortable playing some guys. He may not be as comfortable with and I think we pull the W and I think it's going to It's going to feel nice on Saturday afternoon, As we sit down and crack a game for our big screener. We're not picking separate games this week, there is only one game in the AP, they're 12 and the cfp they're 13 and that's Georgia versus Tennessee and that's obviously hidden hooker, Georgia is 8 point favorite down in Athens between the hedges, the over-under is 66.

1:25:09 And this has been one, I've been just thinking about sitting at the baseball game, even thinking about it umpire was a has a son that Tech fan. We're not technically a text using the senior up there and I think what I'm going to have to say is I think I'm going to take Tennessee to win the game outright and I am going to go over the 66. Okay, thank what I'm kind of feeling in this situation. Is something like a 3833 game where it's going to be a war.

1:25:49 But let me get your, let me get your predictions first. And then, let's I want to kind of hit what we talked about earlier about this game. Okay? Okay, I'm going to go 34-31, I'm taking Tennessee to win outright and then the under just barely hits. You're gonna be sweating that if it really, is their 34 late. But let's talk about what we Talked about Brian. We were discussing this game because we talked about this game for 15 minutes a day. And I said to you, If Tennessee gets up two scores, early. Do you have the confidence that Georgia can fire power back? I think they can, but it's it's not, it's not a sure thing, right?

1:26:49 Because we've seen up and down, ability in that area. Kent State. Yeah. So, you know, it's really hard to say, you know, are there, do they have that in them, you know, when we look at the, we were talking about taking out the outliers earlier and Kent State's kind of the kind of one of the outliers. Therefore, for George, And we said Mizzou is the big outlier. Yeah. Mizzou is the other outlier there because if I got Georgia, pains, listen to this. Y'all were saved by the rest at night. There were some penalties that happen that if the flag had been thrown a couple extra scores wouldn't happen in Georgia, would be a one-loss team right now.

1:27:31 That's my opinion. Yeah, when you're, when you're right, when you're right tackle, clearly false starts on Third and goal and you get a touchdown from it. That helps out with a 4-point game. Big time. But we mentioned it the other way because I think if Georgia gets up early, I think Tennessee's got they are running so vertical, they are so attacking them filled with hypos offense. If they get down early, I think they're just going to keep swinging. It keeps swinging it and I think to a point where we've seen come times with Kirby Smart he'll get into those man's. He wants to play man. He wants to be aggressive up front.

1:28:11 He hadn't quite bone X and quite henin hooker and I think the wide receiver core at Tennessee's a little bit better. But you know, I think it's gonna be a hell of a game. I think it's gonna be a fun to watch. Thank God, too hokey game will be over so we can enjoy it. Yeah. Versus you've been keeping looking on our other one here. All right. Yeah. I think I think when you see that, I think they're if Georgia wants to pull it out, I feel like George is going to have to get to Hendon consistently. That's going to be the only way that they're going to pull it out and if they're doing that and they miss him there's gonna be a lot of space for him to run and we know that he can run. All right, big man, has anything broken, almost eleven twenty on.

1:28:58 Tuesday night, 90 minutes on the dot here. 90 minutes on the dot. We did, it baseball game is. See that score real quick for you wrap here, baseball games over and afters? Got shut out seven new. Ouch, ouch couldn't happen to a better team. Oh, and don't let Doug here that don't like when you got. We got a braised fan kind of. Pulling for the Phillies, you know, it's some foul shit. All right. Well, that is going to wrap up this episode of The Boundary cornered podcast brought to you by the Main Street Pharmacy. In Blacksburg.

1:29:40 I am Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler. Visit our website. Boundary corner be t.com to listen to all of our episodes while you are there. Do not forget to follow us on Twitter. Facebook, Instagram, subscribe on our YouTube. Account and also any of your podcast sources. Amazon Spotify, Apple Also as always, check out our buddy Jason long. We're on November 5th. He will be at the first annual, ginkgo tree Festival down in Roanoke. So, check him out there, if you get a chance. Also check out his music on Apple Spotify. YouTube account.

1:30:26 Facebook pages. Check out his summer, EP album. Yes, I'm tired. I'm going to be going to sleep very shortly. Here was a long night last night with I got nine pounds of candy in there that the kids are diving into. I should have probably ate at least one bar. Yeah, even the Sugar Rush After the game, I did after I couldn't eat, I couldn't eat chocolate. Manuel DB Little D P. DP Cherry ldp Cherry, really good. Also, really good with a little whiskey, so we thank you all for always listening. Shout out to the white Robbie listening tonight. I know some of y'all are out there as well. We appreciate it. As always Brian, let's go, okey.