A correction to my prior post. In addition to Kaba, Miles, and Holly, we can add true Freshman Big “O” Doss, who was in on two tackles against USF. The roster also includes a Freshman walkon from Concord, NC, #93 Tristen Brown. Thus, even if Shockley, Tifase, Williams, Solomon, and Irving are still out, there should be four or five DT available against Army. There’s no need to try the water boy yet, but I’m still hoping to have some of the injured ones back this week.
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Army will come out throwing. Then, after the coin toss, they will run the ball. Army will be about 7-10 passing for 100 yards. Army will rush for about 300 yards. Army wins a close nail biter, 33-10. Mike Hill gets another notch in his Gold Standard
This is actually a very believable scenario
https://x.com/Hunter_Bailey45/status/1975586655118442614
No surprises here. Will see what Wilcke can do when the other team prepares for him.
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Also, Wilcke gets a chance to prepare to play.
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Call me crazy but i think we have a shot here. At minimum we could easily cover the 21 point spread
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Army is number 2 in the country in time of possession, we are going to need to get first downs.
The teams in top 20, time of possession, we are still to play three of them. Tulane and UGA as well.
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How about this crazy-ass idea: if we win the opening coin toss, we elect to RECEIVE. YES!! DO IT!!
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If Army wins the toss, Charlotte will receive the opening kick.
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While Wilcke impressed me as a QB who wants to win, and who can do the job, I don’t expect him to repeat that 93.5 QBR anytime soon. At Southern Miss, in 2022, his highest QBR was 49.2, against Tulane. His 2022 average was 27.7. He has a few years of experience under his belt since then, and I’m hopeful that he can keep in the 60+ range, which I think will win some games.
I’m also not willing to write off Loftis. He may well be needed again. At Duke he averaged 62.1 as a starter in 2023, but it wasn’t until his third game that he really started playing well. My guess is that he had a lot better blocking at Duke. He looked hurried and uncomfortable behind the Charlotte OL, but I think that he can settle in and do the job, if needed. Still, I’m hoping that Wilcke does such a good job that no more QB changes are needed. I just want one clear starter who is getting the job done, and I’m fine with either one.
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Loftis stares at his his intended receiver as soon as the ball is hiked.
Got to look the defenders off, or it is just an easy pick waiting to happen.
I’ve long felt that QBs from schools of weaker conferences show more tenacity and quick decision making abilities than most P5 QBs. The big conference QBs usually get some of the best WRs and best OL players in the FBS to compete alongside. It’s also why I feel Bryce Young looked as good as he did in college. But you look at the NFL level and there are fantastic QBs from smaller schools, Brett Favre, Daunte Culpepper, and Josh Allen just to name 3. Not to say that every small school QB is like them, but they have more experience in performing under duress and making the most out of very little.
It’s why I believe in Wilcke a lot more than Loftis and also why Loftis struggled more than his previous season. Maybe I’ve drawn a wrong conclusion, but when you’re surrounded by some of the best, you’ll naturally perform well. When you’re surrounded by some of the worst, your individual contributions will be hidden by the performance of the team.
All this to say that I think Wilcke is more experienced at doing more with very little. While Loftis is used to doing less with much more.
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I dont disagree except loftis was at Duke, so playing with z similar talent level to what he has here
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I’m unsure about that. We beat Duke a number of years ago, but they had bigger guys than us on both sides of the field. I don’t know if you remember their running back during that game absolutely lit us up. We were bailed out by a spectacular performance by Chris Reynolds. Which again, I think lends itself more to my point about Wilcke
Tennessee has a long history of recruiting QBs who stare down their first option WR and then throw the ball anyway. Especially early in their college careers. They get away with it against inferior talent.
Used to drive me nuts though. I remember drunkenly screaming that I was in the upper deck and even I could see the QB was staring down the WR. No effing wonder the DB jumped the route.
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Wilcke reminded me of Reynolds
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