“If you can tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
-Mark Twain
Will the gap year really help new coaches (Rolovich, Jimmy Lake etc.), or is system familiarity and player development more dependent on game day experiences? @Just_T_Rev
I think it will help first-year-coaches. However, the two examples that you cited may be less dependent on additional reps because the systems that they are implementing won’t be drastically different than what they ran in 2019.
In general, these teams will be a lot better prepared with the gap year. Allow me some latitude with this, but I liken it to soldiers preparing for war. Without proper conditioning, training, and drilling, the result of the battle or war will be grim. However, live bullets and the chaos of battle create new emotions and reactions from soldiers that can’t truly be simulated in training. I would argue that the former is vital to success in the latter, but the latter is critical.
I recently read Steven Pressfield’s book, Gates of Fire, which detailed the Spartan exploits in battle. Here are two quotes that more poetically detail my thoughts on this relationship,
“The hardship of the exercises is intended less to strengthen the back than to toughen the mind. The Spartans say that any army may win while it still has its legs under it; the real test comes when all strength is fled, and the men must produce victory on will alone.”
“Habit will be your champion. When you train the mind to think one way and one way only, when you refuse to allow it to think in another, that will produce great strength in battle.”
Two-part-question:
You’re in the Space Jam college football version. You have to beat the aliens. Who’s your QB, RB and 2 WRs (have to be eligible this year)?
Fun question!
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: Breece Hall
WR: Ja’Marr Chase
WR: Jaylen Waddle
Part 2- what if your only QB options were Brady White and Anthony Russo? Who’d you take? @DaDeano860
This pains me to say, but I’ve been forced to migrate towards the Brady White-camp this off-season! I found myself drafting him in a bunch of leagues (RIP, all my leagues) at his cost. I hope that with the new OC, they will let him air it out as we saw in the bowl game where he threw for 454 yards while severely outclassed. Never mind his two picks and -23 rushing yards! I have nothing positive to say about Russo. My great hope is that Re-Al Mitchell gets a fair shake from the staff to play this year, and we won’t ever have to speak of Russo again!
End of two-part-question.
Do you think we will see BC become more of a passing offense this season? @WVschorn
This is an excerpt from SI.com on what we may be able to expect in 2020:
“When the new offensive coordinator does eventually get to work, he has an idea of what he will be bringing to Boston College. He wants to blend the best of NFL, college, and high school offenses in his offensive system. He sees each level bringing a certain valuable skill set that will be integral for his offense. From the NFL he wants to bring in their blocking and throwing techniques. From the college and high school levels, he likes the RPO (run-pass-option), no-huddle and designed quarterback runs. It’s his vision to bring these different concepts together and create a “dynamic and explosive” offense at Boston College. One of the biggest question marks this offseason has been whether or not transfer quarterback Phil Jurkovec will receive his transfer waiver and be eligible immediately. Cignetti has to have a backup plan and says the best player in the quarterback room will start, Jurkovec or no Jurkovec. While Cignetti hasn’t looked at last year’s tapes, he is really excited about the return of four starters on the offensive line (Tyler Vrabel, Alec Lindstrom, Zion Johnson, and Ben Petrula). His offensive system sounds markedly different than Steve Addazio’s, but he too puts special emphasis on the work of the offensive line. “Offensive line is the personality of the offense,” he said explaining that he wants a nasty, physical group upfront. Having those returners will be an advantage for Cignetti’s offense. As he gets to know the team during spring practice it will be all about getting to know his team and players. Cignetti will continue to evaluate his players and find the right spots for them in his system. He has a history of getting the most out of his players, Rutgers legend Mohamed Sanu went from being an underutilized wideout only catching 44 balls, to 112 his senior year with Cignetti. “Let’s try to put everyone in a position to be successful” he concluded, “and win some football games”
I loved Jurkovec as a recruit. His athleticism and potential to be a fantasy feaster are tantalizing. I’m not sold on this type of hire. The new OC is saying the right things, but I’m not ready to fully buy-in. Now that Jurkovec and Gill are both eligible, they’ve got arguably two of the most talented skill players since Matt Ryan roamed the campus. I took a cautious approach with Jurkovec in my CFF rankings, but I haven’t the heart to move on from him in a couple of my CFF Dynasty leagues.
Are there any interesting freshmen that you now have concerns will never get their shot, now that seniors are sticking around and/or the next class will come in before they get to play? @matthewgeiger
I wish I could give an earnest answer to this question, but I don’t have one. I have no idea what this year or next year is going to look like for college football. Without having a full understanding of how scholarships will be handled for seniors returning next year, or the 85 in general, I can’t give a well-thought-out response. The potential high impact duo in this situation that comes to my mind is Sam Ehlinger and Hudson Card. Sam seems to love Texas and playing college football, and I think it’s unlikely he will get a good grade from the NFL. As such, he could return next year, and then Quinn Ewers would arrive the following year with the potential to start as a true freshman ahead of a guy like Card.
Does Trask go 1 overall, or is that Fields spot? @admlewis
The Lion and the Fox went hunting together.
The Lion, on the advice of the Fox, sent a message to the Ass, proposing to make an alliance between their two families.
The Ass came to the place of meeting, overjoyed at the prospect of a royal alliance.
But when he came there the Lion simply pounced on the Ass, and said to the Fox:
“Here is our dinner for to-day. Watch you here while I go and have a nap. Woe betide you if you touch my prey.”
The Lion went away and the Fox waited, but finding that his master did not return, ventured to take out the brains of the Ass and ate them up.
When the Lion came back he soon noticed the absence of the brains, and asked the Fox in a terrible voice:
“What have you done with the brains?”
“Brains, your Majesty! it had none, or it would never have fallen into your trap.”
- The Ass’s Brains Fable
Two-part-question:
Out of these two, who becomes a CFF Star?
DJ Uiagalelei or Bryce Young?
I hate to do this, but both. DJU could be the safer option of the two. Dabo is more loyal than Saban, so I think DJU is less likely to feel any heat from challengers the same way that Young could. Let me be clear, I think both guys are elite and have bright futures ahead of them, but Bama’s OC is a revolving door, so we never know what the next guy has in store, whereas we know what the ACC has to offer and what offense Clemson will run.
Who are your P5 sleepers at RB, WR for ACC, SEC, Big 12? @mjdesmo
ACC RB: Jashaun Corbin, Jordan Mason
ACC WR: Taj Harris, Taysir Mack, Terrell Jana, Donavon Greene, Jaquarii Roberson, Dee Wiggins, Mike Harley, Nykeim Johnson
Big 12 RB: Pooka Williams, Leddie Brown
Big 12 WR: Sam James, Tarique Milton, Sean Shaw, Andrew Parchment, Stephon Robinson
SEC RB: Chris Curry, Tyrion Davis-Price
SEC WR: Shi Smith, Treylon Burks, Seth Williams, Damon Hazelton, Austin Williams, Cam Johnson, Racey McMath, Tyrell Shavers
