Report Card - Wofford

[fc4life]

After a few helpings of leftovers and a complete review of the game on DVR, I’m ready to hand out some grades. One simple word describes this game; disappointing. It was there for the taking.

Offense: D
Hard to say anything good about our performance on the field or in the coaching booth. Wofford’s strength is their run defense and time and time again we kept calling simple and boring running plays. I believe we have a limited playbook for some reason. No misdirection plays. Zero opportunity to get players in space to the wide side. Our veteran and well thought of OL had their tails whipped all day. We ran the ball for 1.8 yards per carry on 28 attempts. Enough said. Our passing game at times looked okay but I’m still puzzled at our route combinations. We finally used the TE a little. However for the fifth game in a row our best weapon outside was nowhere to be found.

Defense: B
Our D did enough to keep us in the game. Much like the rest of the season, they bent but did not break. We were great on third downs. But gave up two big fourth down conversions. In totality, our tackling from the secondary left a little to be desired. We continue to have some players that shy away from contact and gave less than stellar efforts. I won’t call out some single players. That’s not my style but if you watch closely, you might get frustrated.

Special Teams: C
Nothing really to say here.

Coaching: C
We had the opportunity to win this game. However, I think our play calling kind of hamstrung us. I know we were dealing with injuries in areas but overall, it left a lot to be desired. We seemed to be very conservative at times. Saban-esque. Our calls on 4th down we’re down-right horrible.

Another tough ending to the season and another three-game losing streak to end the year. I’ll be compiling a end of the year grades. Sure it is awesome to be in the playoffs and to see the growth. However, we are moving past the happy to be there/here phase. We must expect to win. Especially in the stands.

[homer]

I won't argue with any of your grades.

But I will offer more of an explanation (some would call it an excuse).

We were so incredibly depleted. Injuries turned us into a mere shadow of the team we were or could have been. 

On offense, obviously we've been without Cheek and Summers for a while. I don't know too many FCS teams that can withstand a loss like that. The we were without WR Joyner against Wofford. (DT as QB did ok, although the bad Daniel showed up a couple times -- the fumbled snap was the killer. That goes to more of a coaching issue since they should have known all along that Greene isn't going to be an effective thrower.) I would have liked to see Greene in the game now and then as a Wildcat.

On defense, we lost two starting linebackers in Maine. It's hard to stop the Wofford running game relying on rookie linebackers. Campbell being out of the secondary hurt as well. He's a better run defender than Christiansen. And even CC was clearly injured. He only had one good arm -- it's hard to wrap up with only one arm. Overall, this defense left everything they had on the field.

All in all, it was frustrating. For everyone. You could see on it the players' faces on the sideline. You could hear it with the fans in the stands. (By the way, if any of you knows who the woman is that was belligerently yelling at DT, please slap her.)

The biggest head scratcher was our lack of a running game. Yes, they stacked the box a little, but still. It's hard to believe that this team, with all its running expertise, could only generate 51 yards rushing. Personally, I hate always running out of the shotgun. Get that QB under center a few times.

[fc4life]

We got ripped up front, I believe because our scheme running the ball is very vanilla and over time, teams have figured out how to stop it.
I also think that man on man, Wofford just plain beat us up front on the offensive side of the ball.

I know we weee injured in spots. I also believe that we have very capable backups on offense outside of QB. We just never seemed to change things up from a scheme perspective. That, I believe is a big warning sign. Always have a plan B.

[whoanellie]

in a one, loss and your out playoff scenario. This is a pass/fail class. And so We failed.

I am glad We got to at least look at what is coming back and where our holes are and how We should fill them. At least the coaches saw who was there at the end and giving their all.

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2018 14:42:20 GMT -5 homer said:

I won't argue with any of your grades.

But I will offer more of an explanation (some would call it an excuse).

We were so incredibly depleted. Injuries turned us into a mere shadow of the team we were or could have been. 

On offense, obviously we've been without Cheek and Summers for a while. I don't know too many FCS teams that can withstand a loss like that. The we were without WR Joyner against Wofford. (DT as QB did ok, although the bad Daniel showed up a couple times -- the fumbled snap was the killer. That goes to more of a coaching issue since they should have known all along that Greene isn't going to be an effective thrower.) I would have liked to see Greene in the game now and then as a Wildcat.

On defense, we lost two starting linebackers in Maine. It's hard to stop the Wofford running game relying on rookie linebackers. Campbell being out of the secondary hurt as well. He's a better run defender than Christiansen. And even CC was clearly injured. He only had one good arm -- it's hard to wrap up with only one arm. Overall, this defense left everything they had on the field.

All in all, it was frustrating. For everyone. You could see on it the players' faces on the sideline. You could hear it with the fans in the stands. (By the way, if any of you knows who the woman is that was belligerently yelling at DT, please slap her.)

The biggest head scratcher was our lack of a running game. Yes, they stacked the box a little, but still. It's hard to believe that this team, with all its running expertise, could only generate 51 yards rushing. Personally, I hate always running out of the shotgun. Get that QB under center a few times.

Jalen Thomas was injured probably no better than 80% but still doing his best. DT was also hurt in the 1st half, but gutted it out. DeSean McNair was out. Several D players were hurt, like Christiansen, but still playing their best. Grade as you like, but my grade for EFFORT and HEART was an A++.

[fc4life]

Effort and heart are not categories. I would hope and expect kids give their absolute all. I sure did when I wore the jersey.

Sports should be a results-based business. I applaud our team. This does not mean I can’t have my own opinion.

[Deleted]

And I mine.

[euphoenix99]

Was the sheer number of injuries just bad luck or is there something that can be changed going forward to minimize these situations? I know last year they really relied heavily on Summers before he was hurt. Cheek's was just a fluke.

Not trying to create an issue that doesn't exist, just trying to determine if it's a result of how much players are being used, conditioning or just an unlucky injury bug.

Depth at each position will continue to improve, but it's hard to maintain when the roster is decimated.

Go Phoenix!

[Deleted]

I think it's a lot of bad luck. It reminds me of Wofford's plight in 2008. Having heard them talk back then it sounded like they barely had enough players to finish the season.

I agree they leaned on Summers a lot in the 2017 season, but from what I understand, Cignetti et.,al. do a good job at injury prevention during camp and during the week. With regard to conditioning, we have had a revolving door in the Strength & Conditioning department, but everything I've heard about the current program has been positive.

[homer]

Nov 26, 2018 16:34:32 GMT -5 fc4life said:

Effort and heart are not categories. I would hope and expect kids give their absolute all. I sure did when I wore the jersey.

Sports should be a results-based business. I applaud our team. This does not mean I can’t have my own opinion.

Hey, fc. Effort and heart are absolutely categories. In fact, it’s a critical category. That said, no one is denying the end result. Or suggesting that your grading is inaccurate.

[Johnny]

I must have been at a different game. 7-6 lead at HT and Wofford literally ran over and thru our defense to start the 2nd half. This drive lasted for over 5 minutes and set the tone. We made zero adjustments on either side of the ball.

Pretty disappointing all the way around. I have seen reports that we had 9 to 11 starters out. No team recovers from that. FCS, FBS or middle school. Please name one team and the year it happened.

On to next year and happy holidays.

[Elon Man]

Every team has injuries but maybe not 11 starters etc. I think the biggest thing was just not adapting to a QB change from the time Cheek got hurt. We got away with just running the QB 20+ times and the RB another 20+ times. But when a team stacks the box and your QB can't throw well then you have a problem. To resolve that problem we brought in a QB who hadn't played in 2 years... and was third string. And before couldn't beat out a kid that is playing defense now. Let's be honest putting DT in the game was us just taking a shot at maybe being able to throw the ball.

And our defense knew they were going to run the ball at us. Everyone knew it. They did well, maybe got tired especially if your offense isn't on the field much to catch a breather.

It is frustrating how the last two years have ended. With all the success it still feels like we failed which I know is not true and it is light years different from 2015-16. I am happy to win games and be competitive just want to see some rewards from that now. We snuck into the playoffs this year and if we wouldn't have got in I would have said this year was more of a failure than a success - outside of beating JMU. Call me negative that is fine but I am not going to be over the moon with 6-4.

[whoanellie]

Nov 27, 2018 11:30:37 GMT -5 Elon Man said:

Every team has injuries but maybe not 11 starters etc. I think the biggest thing was just not adapting to a QB change from the time Cheek got hurt. We got away with just running the QB 20+ times and the RB another 20+ times. But when a team stacks the box and your QB can't throw well then you have a problem. To resolve that problem we brought in a QB who hadn't played in 2 years... and was third string. And before couldn't beat out a kid that is playing defense now. Let's be honest putting DT in the game was us just taking a shot at maybe being able to throw the ball.

And our defense knew they were going to run the ball at us. Everyone knew it. They did well, maybe got tired especially if your offense isn't on the field much to catch a breather.

It is frustrating how the last two years have ended. With all the success it still feels like we failed which I know is not true and it is light years different from 2015-16. I am happy to win games and be competitive just want to see some rewards from that now. We snuck into the playoffs this year and if we wouldn't have got in I would have said this year was more of a failure than a success - outside of beating JMU. Call me negative that is fine but I am not going to be over the moon with 6-4.

anyone following Elon and thank God some folks in the know did (pollsters) hung with us with all the key injuries, but We did not sneak into the playoffs, We limped in to use a better phrase. We were falling like a rock in polls but so were all our other teams ranked near us except Maine and We came within a point of them. Wofford just plain kicked our butts with what team We had left to field. That has to be frustrating to any and all fans. I got to see live the JMU game and saw Elon at her best and also Towson at the worse. our big goal in spring is to develop attitude and leadership in the loses in Higgins, Toogood, Messer & Campbell. We already have them on the roster. The future is fuzzy but bright.

[hoidOfYolen]

Nov 27, 2018 12:41:10 GMT -5 whoanellie said:

Nov 27, 2018 11:30:37 GMT -5 Elon Man said:

The future is fuzzy but bright.

I love this sentiment Here's to a great 2019 season

[Simpson]

Nov 26, 2018 14:42:20 GMT -5 homer said:

I won't argue with any of your grades.

But I will offer more of an explanation (some would call it an excuse).

We were so incredibly depleted. Injuries turned us into a mere shadow of the team we were or could have been. 

On offense, obviously we've been without Cheek and Summers for a while. I don't know too many FCS teams that can withstand a loss like that. The we were without WR Joyner against Wofford. (DT as QB did ok, although the bad Daniel showed up a couple times -- the fumbled snap was the killer. That goes to more of a coaching issue since they should have known all along that Greene isn't going to be an effective thrower.) I would have liked to see Greene in the game now and then as a Wildcat.

On defense, we lost two starting linebackers in Maine. It's hard to stop the Wofford running game relying on rookie linebackers. Campbell being out of the secondary hurt as well. He's a better run defender than Christiansen. And even CC was clearly injured. He only had one good arm -- it's hard to wrap up with only one arm. Overall, this defense left everything they had on the field.

All in all, it was frustrating. For everyone. You could see on it the players' faces on the sideline. You could hear it with the fans in the stands. (By the way, if any of you knows who the woman is that was belligerently yelling at DT, please slap her.)

The biggest head scratcher was our lack of a running game. Yes, they stacked the box a little, but still. It's hard to believe that this team, with all its running expertise, could only generate 51 yards rushing. Personally, I hate always running out of the shotgun. Get that QB under center a few times.

That is shocking that you don't want to argue.