Dose of reality from Phil Steele

adcoop

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Jan 10, 2004
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Harvard Gamecock

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Of all the pre season publications, Phil Steele is usually the most accurate, so I'm not going to dismiss his projections just because
I may find it unfavorable.
As adcoop mentioned we have big question marks up the middle, which PS also pointed out. It's also interesting to note, that he did not necessarily predict a bad season, but he felt that we don't match up as well as other teams in the league.
 
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Cackmandu

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He does have the data and it is his business! Who knows, I wouldn't bet on a preview magazine, but if I did ....!
 

adcoop

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On the bright side, we needed 2-3 unexpected guys to pop last year. I was confident Kennard would be a contributor, but had no clue he would be one of the best defensive lineman in the country. Demetrius Knight popped out of nowhere. I just expected him to get some spot snaps and he played his way into the 2nd Round of the NFL Draft. Dylan Stewart was a 5 Star Guy, but still a freshman. So, it happened before. Maybe it can happen again.
 

I4CtheFuture

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Oct 5, 2024
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So, to sum up, no one believes we have the team to blow people out and dominate. That means very close games going down to the wire and never underestimate the chicken curse..... we're bound to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory a few times. If there is a way to lose a very close game at the last possible moment, we will find it. It's unfortunate but it seems to be our thing.

Furthermore, while I'm at it, I think the 'schedule guy / gal' in the AD office needs to be fired immediately. Whoever scheduled VT as the opener needs to be gone. It's like someone said, "Let's find a way to make our impossibly tough schedule even harder." - SMDH!!!
 
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gamecock stock

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On the bright side, our DC Clayton White is VERY good. However, on the other side of the ball....our offensive line coaching is something else.
 
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SC95

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At some point in the season, half of the people on this forum will call for the athletic director and coaching staff to be fired.
 

KingWard

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We're dead meat, especially if we inhibit the quarterback. In that case, we're DOA.
 

gamecock stock

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I wager it's the OL coach and/or DC.
DC Clayton White should not be on the hot seat if we take a step or 2 backwards, but he probably will be because fans are fans. Bringing back OL coach Teasley was ridiculous. Reminds me of Muschamp keeping TRob because he was a good recruiter. SMH
 

Lurker123

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DC Clayton White should not be on the hot seat if we take a step or 2 backwards, but he probably will be because fans are fans. Bringing back OL coach Teasley was ridiculous. Reminds me of Muschamp keeping TRob because he was a good recruiter. SMH

That's where I was going. OL is the easy choice. I also think we'll take a step back on defense, so there will be talk of "was it coaching or just talent".
 

Piscis

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Nov 30, 2001
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So, to sum up, no one believes we have the team to blow people out and dominate. That means very close games going down to the wire and never underestimate the chicken curse..... we're bound to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory a few times. If there is a way to lose a very close game at the last possible moment, we will find it. It's unfortunate but it seems to be our thing.

Furthermore, while I'm at it, I think the 'schedule guy / gal' in the AD office needs to be fired immediately. Whoever scheduled VT as the opener needs to be gone. It's like someone said, "Let's find a way to make our impossibly tough schedule even harder." - SMDH!!!
VT is nothing special. They went 6-7 and 4-4 IN THE ACC last season. It isn't like we scheduled Ohio State as our opener.
 
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Harvard Gamecock

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At some point in the season, half of the people on this forum will call for the athletic director and coaching staff to be fired.
As if this season would be any different from the others.
(It's usually after the 1st loss whenever that happens, sometimes it's even before the game ends)
 

Piscis

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Agreed that VT is not to be feared except for the notion that we dont play well in our first games. It's not scientific, but we come out of the gate slow. I would rather play ODU than VT for a first game.
I don't think P4 teams should be allowed to play any team that is not a P4 team. Padding coaches records and guaranteeing bowl eligibility by playing cupcakes is absurd when you consider the amount of money coaches and now players are making at P4 programs.
 

Tngamecock

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Of all the pre season publications, Phil Steele is usually the most accurate, so I'm not going to dismiss his projections just because
I may find it unfavorable.
As adcoop mentioned we have big question marks up the middle, which PS also pointed out. It's also interesting to note, that he did not necessarily predict a bad season, but he felt that we don't match up as well as other teams in the league.
True….he nails it usually around 10% of the time🥱
 
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Harvard Gamecock

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I don't think P4 teams should be allowed to play any team that is not a P4 team. Padding coaches records and guaranteeing bowl eligibility by playing cupcakes is absurd when you consider the amount of money coaches and now players are making at P4 programs.
I have no issue with scheduling teams from Sun Belt, AAC, MAC, etc, I'm definitely against FCS schools. There is no upside. BIg win, so what, you were supposed to, Close game, a fall in the standings, A loss, big problems ensue with fans, boosters, etc, not to mention injuries.
 

PrestonyteParrot

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May 28, 2024
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I have no issue with scheduling teams from Sun Belt, AAC, MAC, etc, I'm definitely against FCS schools. There is no upside. BIg win, so what, you were supposed to, Close game, a fall in the standings, A loss, big problems ensue with fans, boosters, etc, not to mention injuries.
Exactly, it's a no-win situation even when you win. And usually, a big payday for the visitors 🤑
 

gamecock stock

All-Conference
Jan 21, 2022
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I like playing a P4 team to start the season. I totally agree we don't play well in our first games. I don't think we have played well in our first games under any coach. But if we win that first game, it could be a springboard to a big year. And it will help us prepare for the conference. It's a risk, I agree. But the return would be significant. R/R......Risk/Return. That's part of life. As Tom Cruise said in the movie "Risky Business"...."Sometimes, you just got to say, 'WTF'".
 
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Piscis

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Nov 30, 2001
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I have no issue with scheduling teams from Sun Belt, AAC, MAC, etc, I'm definitely against FCS schools. There is no upside. BIg win, so what, you were supposed to, Close game, a fall in the standings, A loss, big problems ensue with fans, boosters, etc, not to mention injuries.
With the differences in resources available to the programs, P4 teams should not be allowed to play any non P4 teams. P4 vs any of the other FBS conference teams is like a AAAAAA HS playing a AA HS team.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
15,020
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So national guys build Sellers up and they’re idiots, but Phil Steele puts us down and it’s a dose of reality. Stout fans.
Steele's analysis was not a putdown but just a dispassionate analysis of our positional strengths and schedule. Outside of QB, we have mostly question marks. The schedule is brutal. There are seriously major questions about our D that few are willing to acknowledge.
 

Irmo Cock

Joined Dec 20, 2003
Dec 20, 2003
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Of all the pre season publications, Phil Steele is usually the most accurate, so I'm not going to dismiss his projections just because
I may find it unfavorable.
As adcoop mentioned we have big question marks up the middle, which PS also pointed out. It's also interesting to note, that he did not necessarily predict a bad season, but he felt that we don't match up as well as other teams in the league.
Not necessarily. Nobody knows how the fill in players will perform yet, so it is nothing more than a guess.
 

Bubba Fett

Joined Oct 6, 2000
Feb 1, 2022
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At some point in the season, half of the people on this forum will call for the athletic director and coaching staff to be fired.
Suspicious Monkey GIF by MOODMAN
 
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Harvard Gamecock

All-Conference
May 5, 2014
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Of all the pre season publications, Phil Steele is usually the most accurate, so I'm not going to dismiss his projections just because
I may find it unfavorable.
As adcoop mentioned we have big question marks up the middle, which PS also pointed out. It's also interesting to note, that he did not necessarily predict a bad season, but he felt that we don't match up as well as other teams in the league.

Not necessarily. Nobody knows how the fill in players will perform yet, so it is nothing more than a guess.
Therefore, the "we have big question marks" comment.
 

kidrobinski

Senior
Jul 27, 2004
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Harvard, there’s another dose of reality over on the Michigan commit post; that one might be more fertile ground for the eyores of the board.
 

Cobie

Sophomore
Jul 2, 2025
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DC Clayton White should not be on the hot seat if we take a step or 2 backwards, but he probably will be because fans are fans. Bringing back OL coach Teasley was ridiculous. Reminds me of Muschamp keeping TRob because he was a good recruiter. SMH

This interaction makes me realize just how much I've missed the Lurker-Stock alley oops! Hi Stock! :)
 

Patriot321

Junior
Jan 29, 2022
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I'm not on the playoff bandwagon, but I sure hope we finish better than 10th in the conference.
Well if you go by recruiting in the SEC, 10 - 12 is about where we fall. Of course you hope for better, and many are predicting 10 wins. This is a pivotal/critical year for Beamer, starting with VT, you can easily lose the opener, then you are in an uphill battle from the start. I continue to ask, what is our plateau, 9 wins was more than expected last year, but is that where we top out, what if we go back to winning only 6 games? Wins are one thing, but to move to the next level, you have to start beating Bama, LSU, and Ole Miss, and continue beating Okla, A&M, all the others that you should beat.
 

gamecock stock

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Jan 21, 2022
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Well if you go by recruiting in the SEC, 10 - 12 is about where we fall. Of course you hope for better, and many are predicting 10 wins. This is a pivotal/critical year for Beamer, starting with VT, you can easily lose the opener, then you are in an uphill battle from the start. I continue to ask, what is our plateau, 9 wins was more than expected last year, but is that where we top out, what if we go back to winning only 6 games? Wins are one thing, but to move to the next level, you have to start beating Bama, LSU, and Ole Miss, and continue beating Okla, A&M, all the others that you should beat.
The number of wins is hard to say because the schedule changes. But, being a Top 20 program is doable, imho.
 
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