After 6+ games, I have seen some players step up and show that they are likely to be the foundational pieces for the next coaching regime when Manny's ass is finally fired.
(1) Tyler Van Dyke - excluding FCS Central Connecticut, in his first 3 games as as starter, all against ACC competition, TVD is completing just under 60% with 6 TDs and 3 INTs. Not great, but a few things stand out to me early. (a) He Battles - 2nd Half vs. UNC, engineered some good Second Half Drives, and had a passing TD. He traded blows with N.C. State last night for 4 Quarters. The slant pass to Rambo for a TD was picture perfect velocity, accuracy, and timing. (b) Mobility - he isn't King, but he has plenty of straight-line speed to get 5-10 yard gains when things break down, and he certainly big/strong enough to run QB keepers; (c) Deep Balls - what TVD offers is what was lacking with King - the ability to get CHUNK PLAYS down the field. 20-30-40 yard chunk plays that shroten field and don't require these 15+ play methodical drives. There is no doubt the passing game is much more layered with intermediate and deep combination routes which is signficant reason why Knighton has had a field day with both underneath and out-of-the-backfield YAC stuff.
Simply said, TVD has been able to vertically stretch defenses which creates holes in zones and decongestes the box to allow the running game to at least breathe a little bit.
Need to see some consistency for the rest of the season, but I am VERY encouraged by what I see so far from the freshman, and any HC considering The U has to be optomistic so far about the QBs on the roster.
(2) Jaylon Knighton - IMO, the most dynamic young RB I have seen since Duke Johnson. He's averaging over 100 yards of total offense per game, over 1 TD per game, and 4.2 yards per carry behind a medicore OL. As a freshman. Staying healthy and getting a bit stronger with a bit better OL will see him arguably become the best RB in the ACC and top-10 RB in the country. Absolute baller, who needs a "thunder" RB to his "lightning" style, the way Mike James was to Duke Johnson in 11'-12'. Maybe Cam if/when he comes back healthy.
(3) Charleston Rambo - With Harley's graduation at the end of the year, this team will be desperately need someone to be the veteran WR leaders for the WRs next year. Rambo will be that guy, and he has been worth his weight in gold as a transfer WR. He leads the team Receptions, Yards, and TDs, and has the ability to get open underneath, middle, and deep. Brashard, Key'Shawn, and Xavien are all Freshmen who will be fighting be fighting for #2/#3 WR slots next year, but Rambo will undoubtedly be our #1 WR as a Senior, and the foundational piece for the WR corps.
(4) Andres Borregales - yup, the kicker. Obviously, the missed FG against UVA which was an awful dick punch. But the guy is 24/24 on PATs (100%), and 9/12 on FGs (75%) which includes being 4/4 on 40+ yards. Let's see how finishes the season, but as a Freshman, he could bounce back and have a very good college career.
(5) Corey Flagg - Bubba is #1 with 42 tackles, and Steed is a bit surprising at #2 with 33 tackles. Both are Juniors. Corey Flagg is only a Freshman, and is 3rd in the team in tackles with 29. Corey also has 2 Sacks and 1 INT in a Manny Defense which has failed to force both Sacks and INTs all season. Corey is the ONLY non-DL player who has at least 1 Sack and at least 1 INT. The LB recruitment and depth has been atrocious under Manny, but at least there is some light for the future with that positional group with Corey.
Harvey and Williams on the DL as Freshmen have also shown a little juice. They have currently have double digit tackles and 2-3 sacks.
Manny will be gone - it is not a question of whether, but when. There will likely be 1, maybe 2 more losses to unequivocally seal Manny's fate. The culture has been a country club cesspool, the player development has been piss poor, and the consistency has been non-existentent.
BUT - admist all this shit are some positives with some individual players who will be important foundational pieces for the next coaching staff. This team, as always, has plenty of talent. It needs a little more depth, and a cultural full nuclear reboot from top to bottom to improve culture, development, and consistency.
(1) Tyler Van Dyke - excluding FCS Central Connecticut, in his first 3 games as as starter, all against ACC competition, TVD is completing just under 60% with 6 TDs and 3 INTs. Not great, but a few things stand out to me early. (a) He Battles - 2nd Half vs. UNC, engineered some good Second Half Drives, and had a passing TD. He traded blows with N.C. State last night for 4 Quarters. The slant pass to Rambo for a TD was picture perfect velocity, accuracy, and timing. (b) Mobility - he isn't King, but he has plenty of straight-line speed to get 5-10 yard gains when things break down, and he certainly big/strong enough to run QB keepers; (c) Deep Balls - what TVD offers is what was lacking with King - the ability to get CHUNK PLAYS down the field. 20-30-40 yard chunk plays that shroten field and don't require these 15+ play methodical drives. There is no doubt the passing game is much more layered with intermediate and deep combination routes which is signficant reason why Knighton has had a field day with both underneath and out-of-the-backfield YAC stuff.
Simply said, TVD has been able to vertically stretch defenses which creates holes in zones and decongestes the box to allow the running game to at least breathe a little bit.
Need to see some consistency for the rest of the season, but I am VERY encouraged by what I see so far from the freshman, and any HC considering The U has to be optomistic so far about the QBs on the roster.
(2) Jaylon Knighton - IMO, the most dynamic young RB I have seen since Duke Johnson. He's averaging over 100 yards of total offense per game, over 1 TD per game, and 4.2 yards per carry behind a medicore OL. As a freshman. Staying healthy and getting a bit stronger with a bit better OL will see him arguably become the best RB in the ACC and top-10 RB in the country. Absolute baller, who needs a "thunder" RB to his "lightning" style, the way Mike James was to Duke Johnson in 11'-12'. Maybe Cam if/when he comes back healthy.
(3) Charleston Rambo - With Harley's graduation at the end of the year, this team will be desperately need someone to be the veteran WR leaders for the WRs next year. Rambo will be that guy, and he has been worth his weight in gold as a transfer WR. He leads the team Receptions, Yards, and TDs, and has the ability to get open underneath, middle, and deep. Brashard, Key'Shawn, and Xavien are all Freshmen who will be fighting be fighting for #2/#3 WR slots next year, but Rambo will undoubtedly be our #1 WR as a Senior, and the foundational piece for the WR corps.
(4) Andres Borregales - yup, the kicker. Obviously, the missed FG against UVA which was an awful dick punch. But the guy is 24/24 on PATs (100%), and 9/12 on FGs (75%) which includes being 4/4 on 40+ yards. Let's see how finishes the season, but as a Freshman, he could bounce back and have a very good college career.
(5) Corey Flagg - Bubba is #1 with 42 tackles, and Steed is a bit surprising at #2 with 33 tackles. Both are Juniors. Corey Flagg is only a Freshman, and is 3rd in the team in tackles with 29. Corey also has 2 Sacks and 1 INT in a Manny Defense which has failed to force both Sacks and INTs all season. Corey is the ONLY non-DL player who has at least 1 Sack and at least 1 INT. The LB recruitment and depth has been atrocious under Manny, but at least there is some light for the future with that positional group with Corey.
Harvey and Williams on the DL as Freshmen have also shown a little juice. They have currently have double digit tackles and 2-3 sacks.
Manny will be gone - it is not a question of whether, but when. There will likely be 1, maybe 2 more losses to unequivocally seal Manny's fate. The culture has been a country club cesspool, the player development has been piss poor, and the consistency has been non-existentent.
BUT - admist all this shit are some positives with some individual players who will be important foundational pieces for the next coaching staff. This team, as always, has plenty of talent. It needs a little more depth, and a cultural full nuclear reboot from top to bottom to improve culture, development, and consistency.
