Can Deacons Salvage the Season?
Buried in the rubble of Wake’s last showing, the 52-21 avalanche at Virginia Tech was what may have been the best effort of the season by the Deacons’ offensive line. At least it provided something to build upon during the off week as the Deacons (2-5 overall, 1-3 in the ACC) try to salvage at least something from the season.
Certainly a prevailing reason for the Deacons’ 254-yards rushing against the Hokies was the breakout performance of redshirt freshman Josh Harris, who gained 241 of them himself. But I’ll never forget what Cowboy Mike Voight, the free-spirited running back for North Carolina back in the 70s, told me one day when I went to his locker (we were still welcome in the locker room back in those prehistoric days) after a rough day against I can’t remember exactly who.
“So Mike, how come you didn’t have your normal day running the ball?’’ I asked.
“Well, man,’’ Voight replied, “you can’t rollerskate in a buffalo herd.’’ Roger Miller
In other words, nobody, not Mike Voight, not Josh Harris, not even Jim Brown, gains yardage against an unblocked defense. And the blocking against Virginia Tech was the Deacons’ best of the season. Maybe the overhauled lineup of Dennis Godfrey, Joe Looney, Russ Nenon, Michael Hoag and Doug Weaver is solidifying. If so, the extra week to prepare for Maryland will have to help. What would help even more is comeback performance from freshman quarterback Tanner Price.
If the Deacons can score 21 points against Virginia Tech on a day that their quarterback completes only three of 16 passes for 92 yards, it makes one wonder how prolific they could have been if Price had been as sharp as he was against Navy (37 of 53 for 326 yards and 2 TDs). Not prolific enough to win, probably, given how methodically the Hokies marched through Wake’s defense to seven first-half touchdowns, but maybe enough to keep the proceedings interesting at least for awhile.
But even with the improving firepower, the Deacons won’t rally over the second half of their season until the defense makes a stand. Only two ACC teams are yielding more than 25 points a game. One is Wake, at 37.7 points a game. The other is Duke, at 38.7 points a game. The Deacons have given up 454.4 yards a game, most in the ACC and at least 100 yards more per game than any conference team other than Duke (442.6 ypg) and Virginia (376.9 ypg).
Opponents have thrown 20 touchdown passes against Wake, and been picked off five times. Opponents are also completing 61 percent of their passes, one of the best reasons I can come up with as to why the Deacons’ rank last in the ACC in allowing third-down conversions. N.C. State leads the ACC in that stat with opponents converting 28.7 percent of their third downs. Against Wake, they’re converting 48.6 percent.
And whatever boost the Deacons get from the week off has to be weighed against the challenge of embarking once again on a road game. The road hasn’t been kind this season to Wake Forest. Actually, it’s been downright inhospitable. In the three away games against Stanford, Florida State and Virginia Tech, the Deacons have been outscored 149-45.
The Terps aren’t as good as Stanford, FSU or Virginia Tech, but until the Deacons figure out how to stop somebody, anybody, then they won’t have to be to win.
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By Dan Collins on 10/25/2010 (11:43 am)
Comments
And the season still want be salvaged this year. And if
other issues are not corrected then NEXT year will be
another long season.
David Lawson on 11/01/2010 (4:51 pm)
Well said Mr. Collins couldn’t agree with you anymore! If Wake can win at Maryland, beat Boston College at Home then win against either N.C. State, or Clemson and beat Vanderbilt the 6-6 overall and 4-4 in ACC play is achievable with Bowl written all over it again! Winning at Maryland won’t be easy the Terps are averaging 121.7 yards rushing a game ranking them 90th in the Nation. They also have tow good Runningbacks in Davin Meggett the son of former NFL star Dave Meggett and Da’rel Scott the two have combined for 698 yards on 138 carries with 3 touchdowns a piece! Dave O’ Brien is their Quarterback he has only completed 82 of 147 passes for 980 Yards and 9 touchdowns Maryland is 84th in passing averaging 184.6 yards per game passing! Torry Smith has caught 29 passes for 494 Yards and 6 touchdowns averaging 17.0 yards per catch, Smith is very dangerous not just a s receiver but as a Punt Returner too! Maryland’s Non-Conference Games were against Navy at Baltimore a Neutral Site, a 17-14 win Morgan State 62-3, Florida International 42-28, and a loss to West Virginia 31-17 who at the time was ranked 21st in the nation! Maryland is 3-0 at home with wins over Morgan State, Florida International, and Duke the Terps two ACC Games were against Duke at home a 21-16 win and a 31-7 loss at Clemson! The teams Wake has left in the ACC are a combined 16-7 overall and 6-8 in the ACC Vanderbilt Wake’s last Non-Conference opponent is 2-5 overall and 4th in the SEC East Division including Vanderbilt the opponents Wake will face are a combined 18-12 overall without Vanderbilt and just the ACC 16-7 overall! The Maryland Game is winnable but looking at the Bowl picture 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC is my goal overall with a trip to the Eagle Bank Bowl in Washington, D.C.! A loss to Maryland would be a bad setback for the Deacs! Grobe is 3-6 versus Maryland with a 26-0 loss their on October 18, 2008. Wake is 1-3 at Maryland under Grobe!
Ray Sharpe on 10/27/2010 (9:02 pm)
DC,
Practice was surprisingly spirited on Monday night. Maybe that comes from having most of a week off. At today’s media gathering, the players I talked with (Russ Nenon, Alex Frye and Marshall Williams) all said the right things and said the team hasn’t given up. But I have to wonder what else would they say. The proof will, as always, be in the pudding.
Dan on 10/26/2010 (4:23 pm)
Dan,
I just read some of the quotes from today’s press conference. It seems like all of the players (Nenon, Frye, Wilber, and Williams) have a pretty resilient and positive attitude. Do you get the same impression from interactions with the coaches and players?
They should all know what needs to be done to win games. But I don’t think that it’s unreasonable to question whether a team on a five-game losing streak has the confidence and faith in each other (and their system) to make it happen. At the very least, the guys quoted (granted, the quotes I read were published on the Wake sports website) are saying the right things.
DC on 10/26/2010 (3:28 pm)
You are so right, Dan! The defense has been a real disappointment. Since everybody in the stadium can see this, I cannot understand why we don’t use all four downs to try to keep the defense off the field when they are clearly outmanned and exhausted. Even if we only have a 29% chance of converting that is still preferrable to the 100% chance that we will be scored on yet again. Unless a miracle occurs with the defense, there is no point in playing conservatively on offense at this point. If we lose another game and cannot go to a bowl anyway, then go back to business as usual and maybe teach both the defense and the offense something to use in a real effort next year. But not against Maryland. It is put up time for us.
DannyB on 10/25/2010 (5:15 pm)
NO. Not until next year, and if he makes changes
in the coaching staff,,,period.
David Lawson on 10/25/2010 (4:17 pm)
Dan,
I suppose the answer to your question about whether this season can be salvaged depends entirely on the preseason expectations of the person answering it. In my opinion, the only way this season can be salvaged is if the Deacons finish at .500. With such a young team, I did not expect to compete for an ACC championship, but I did expect to be bowl eligible.
Considering the relatively low likelihood of the team winning four its remaining games, I think it is a good idea to begin looking for positives on which to build in the offseason. Accordingly, thank you for pointing out the improved play of the offensive line against Virginia Tech.
I was unable to watch the game, so I am curious about your take on how much of Josh Harris’ big day had to do with good line play, and how much of it can be attributed to somewhat relaxed defense by Virginia Tech on account of their big lead. Thanks as always.
DC on 10/25/2010 (4:01 pm)
DeaconDash, Thanks for the reminder. I added the link of ol’ Roger in your honor.
Dan on 10/25/2010 (2:50 pm)
You are 100% correct! The defense holds the key to the remainder of the season. The only good news is that several of the teams left on the schedule do not have as potent an offense as several we have played to date. However, I am afraid that State and Clemson will drive our defense nuts!!
Steve H on 10/25/2010 (2:34 pm)
Voight must have been a fan of Roger Miller.
DeaconDash on 10/25/2010 (1:49 pm)
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