Positives from last night:

[Hump4Hoops]

We learned a lot about Dak. I'm looking forward to having him be Relf+ for us for the next few years.

Also, we were able to keep things under control on defense except for playing a terrible prevent defense the last drive, and Cox losing his man 2 or 3 times.


We were never going to have a great record this year, so I can stomach losing a close one this way - it's the difference between 5 wins and 6 with a ****** bowl, I'm okay with that. Next year we have an easier schedule, Dak solidly in place, and more experience on our secondary and receivers.

Next year we'll get auburn at home and beat that ***. Hail State.

 

[drt7891]

Also, we were able to keep things under control on defense except for playing a terrible prevent defense the last drive, and Cox losing his man 2 or 3 times.

I think playing Prevent was the right call, however, the secondary has to force the plays in front of them. I would have liked to have seen us bring one more guy, but only on the weak side. Remember what happened to Vandy when they opted to not play prevent against OM... that's what can easily happen if you don't play smart defense in the closing minutes. I'd rather my opponent have to string a drive together playing more conservative in the final minutes than give them a score on one play because we were too aggressive.

Also, my other critique is this... if you are going to give a team the middle of the field playing prevent (like last night) you HAVE to stay close enough to the play to get a hit on him and bring him down in-bounds. That's why you give teams the middle of the field. We'd give their receivers teh catch AND give them room to get OOB. That's playing it too safe.

 

[PiedmontDawg]

I've said all along; 7-5 (ceiling), 6-6 (prediction), and 5-7 (max floor I'm ok with). This schedule set up for us to reach maximum potential at 6-6, or 5-7 (depending on how good new SEC coaches are). The thing that sucks about last night is that we really had that game, and should have won by 2 tds.

Coming back to earth a little, I still see 5-7, with a better schedule set-up next year. I guess Dan bought himself a 5-7 season w/ new defense, new skill players, and a shitstorm qb situation. The bad thing about Dan is, we saw his spread the fun offense last night for 2-1/2 qtrs (and it didn't disappoint) and then saw the patent Mullen stall..

I refuse to be a poor fan, until the players give up (like last season), and these players aren't giving up yet. So, hell, maybe with their backs to the wall we can somehow sneak 6-6, but I doubt it based on the positions they'll be put in. I'll still catch the games and be interested, hell maybe even make the trip to Columbia, but I knew this was coming... 6-6 or 5-7.