If Bud can't do it...

posted by LW, Thursday, September 24, 2009

The DVR is already set for the Miami-Virginia Tech game on Saturday.

Really, really interested to see how Miami's OL holds up against Bud Foster's Virginia Tech D.

Jacory Harris has looked really, really good in the first two games (wins over FSU and Georgia Tech). But it's a lot easier to look good when you have eight seconds to throw every time you drop back.

Things could be different Saturday in Blacksburg. Foster's scheme is much more complex than that of Mickey Andrews and Dave Wommack, at least in my mind.

Miami OC Mark Whipple, who's done a masterful job of reducing his first two opponents to swiss cheese with impeccable balance, rhythm and unpredictability, might find play-calling a bit more difficult Saturday.

Not saying the Hurricanes can't walk out of there with a win. A less talented team (Nebraska) should've won there last week.

But you just get the feeling the Hokies D is going to put up some serious resistance.

Here's a piece from Florida on the Canes' surprising OL.

Looks like their weakness is depth, given that they only play six guys. Better not get anybody hurt.

Here is a Q&A with Bud, and his utter candor in one response is another reason I like the guy:

ON WHETHER THE MISSED TACKLES HAVE BEEN HIS BIGGEST FRUSTRATION SO FAR: “Yeah. You’re going to get a play over top of you every now and then, but right now, for us to be 107th in the nation in rushing is appalling. It’s embarrassing. It’s unacceptable. That’s it. That’s all I’ve got to say about it. It’s about tackling.”

Travis Sawchik writes about Miami in his weekly ACC notebook, and he also ranks the ACC's five toughest venues to play in.

1. Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va. - While not as large as some other stadiums in the conference (66,000), per capita Tech fans might be the most fervent.

2. Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahasse, Fla. - The largest stadium in the conference (82,300) and one of three venues (Va. Tech, Clemson) that are SEC-like.

3. Memorial Stadium, Clemson - The second-largest stadium (81,500) in the conference and perhaps the most rich in tradition with The Hill and Howard's Rock.

4. Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta - The oldest stadium in Division I-A. The facility has great sightlines, placing 55,000 seemingly right on top of the field.

5. Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh - If Wolfpack fans had something to cheer about, I'm betting this place would be among the conference's least hospitable.

I'd put Clemson at No. 2. Doak Campbell just hasn't seemed all that imposing the four times I've been there.

And Bobby Dodd at No. 4? I know the pickings are slim in the ACC, but ...

Then again, Clemson has lost its past three games there.

Florida State is giving up a lot of big plays these days, and Clemson has to hope that continues because that vulnerability (long plays in man-to-man coverage) is right in the Tigers' wheelhouse.

I'm guessing this is the first time the words "Dabo" and "Swinney" have ever been written in the New York Post.

Still investigating the rumor that Rupert Murdoch has an orange tiger tail hanging from his trunk.

Oh dear. Paul Strelow continues to trumpet Clemson's special teams.

And not only that, but Heather Dinich mentions "Clemson" and "Beamer Ball" in the same sentence. And the sentence didn't say: "Beamer Ball crushes Clemson."

This might not end well.

If the Tigers' special teams revert to self-impaling form Saturday, I'll be sure to post Paul's cell number on the message board.


The State presents this week's ACC/SEC rankings, and Clemson closes the gap with its feathered friends from Columbia.

Here's more on the Bamberg alignment.

Sounds to me like the Bamberg chamber of commerce owes Kevin Steele some cash.

In the Independent-Mail, a look at the precocious Rashard Hall.

Sorry ... Professor Hall.

In The Greenville News, a piece on some guy named Jerry Hughes.

Have I mentioned that the GN web site is awful? Who's running the show over there?


LW

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