Why the hell has Dontae not been playing??!???
KQ- He was not healthy. He was unable to practice for a bit of time as well.
4-4 just like we all drew it up lol.
What does that win, atmosphere and the fan/student interaction postgame do for the program as a whole?
KQ- I think hopefully it will draw more fans back into BDS. That is what is needed right now. They need to get back to 40k somehow without it being a bunch of away fans. I think the students hopefully will show up again for Cuse. UGA is hard because school is out so that one I give them a pass on.
It was cool seeing how excited everyone was including J Batt after the game.
Also, I’m feeling like a win in Cville could be a corner turning game for the Key era. Do you and others in the know feel that way?
KQ- It is a little early for true turning points, but I think getting to a bowl game would really push back on the people on the fence and those who disliked the Key hire. GT is a funny place where each of the last many coaching hires has been dogged by a portion of the fan base instead of just getting behind the person for a few years. Collins shockingly was one of the few that united things more except for the CPJ lovers and we saw how that unfolded.
For Kelly:
Do you think we sub too much on defense? It seems like a lot of the time we’re running guys off late which causes everyone to get the play late.
KQ- They are trying to match up a lot on D and yes they are probably subbing too much, but it is a tough give and take.
So do you think most of the defensive staff will be gone in 2024?
KQ- As much as you all want to bitch about the staff, it is also in large part a talent/development issue. I've spoken extensively about it. Go watch the last YouTube live, I broke it down pretty clearly as to why they are in the spot they are defensively and the issues. You can't ask DBs to cover guys for 8 seconds and you can't rush the passer with basically one true pass rusher in the game, but injuries and shitty personnel decisions put them there. The LB situation has been something I've spoken about literally since Collins first season. He did nothing to fix it long-term and made it worse honestly.
How much will the fine be for storming the field?
KQ- That is a league-to-league thing, I believe the ACC still has no policy to fine teams for that. Clemson storms the field every home game they win. I guess you have never been up there before for a game.
do i bet on uva next week considering our track record against disgustingly bad teams this year
KQ- I mean you win if GT wins and you win money if UVA wins, so why not.
More questions about defense.
I’m not trying to bitch, I’m just genuinely curious about why calls are coming in so late. I don’t watch much football outside of Tech, so I don’t know if it’s common or not.
Whose job is it to get those in?
KQ- Well it is not the former DC. It is Kevin Sherrer's job to call it and then they have guys who signal the plays. As to the issues, this seemed very specific to UNC and is something I'll ask Brent about tomorrow.
Might be a couch coach question (@ibeeballin) but are our secondary issues more about people not knowing their assignment in zone? Or not able to keep up with their man?
I'm glad we won, but unc had receivers wide open all game. Even with the apparent lack of talent, their guys shouldn't be THAT open that often.
KQ- Generally my take on it is you can't cover for 6-8 seconds and when you have to clean up the run game because the DL and the LB can't control the LOS you start looking into the backfield and you lose your man. The lack of pass rush and the run stopping issues are putting tremendous pressure on the backend. It is like plugging leaks in a boat, you plug one and it opens up another.
If our stadium is more than half red and black at the end of the season, do you think JBatt/Tech has to look into a way to make that game non-transferable/ lock UGA fans out of buying that ticket?
KQ- Yes
How does it work when you have a 6th yr senior like Dontae on the academic side? I'm sure they still have to take classes but is there the progress towards a degree rule still in place?
KQ- It is pretty simple, once you have a degree you can pursue another secondary undergrad degree in something, you can enroll in grad school if accepted or you can even pursue a certificate in an area of study like a minor basically. Most of the kids are not grad students, they just work on another degree or certificate.
Does the site see a discernible uptick in engagement / posts in weeks following a W? (or do visits drop off after an L).
KQ- Depends on the game, usually there is more engagement after a loss. It has always been that way at every school I've covered including the one to the East.
How late was the ACC brass up trying to rework schedules and take GT off the UNC opponents list moving forward?
KQ- I'm sure Bubba was working the phones on that one.
CBK said this week he had a private talk with Donte but that is all will say about that. Will we ever know what has kept him from playing.
KQ- No because Dontae declined to talk about it and mentioned their private talk as well. Key will respect his privacy. It was not anything earth-shattering.
is there any point in playing Leo this late? Would we get more out of greyshirting him for this year? you haven’t indicated that he is getting any better or that he is close to coming back
KQ- You aren't greyshirting him, a greyshirt is a recruit who postpones his enrollment into college until the following Jan or summer. He could seek a medical redshirt if he does not play to get this year back. That is what you are asking and he would get it given the severity of his two knee injuries.
I have indicated that he is close to being ready actually. I just don't know what the up and down sides are of playing him and that is something Key, Leo and his family will discuss if/when he is cleared.
What’s the deal with Seither’s eligibility? He’s listed as a redshirt junior but I remember there was some confusion about it. His bio on the team site says he has two years of eligibility but the Tech website is never reliable. Is this last year or does he have 1 more?
KQ- My understanding is he has two years left if he wants to use it. They are not sure if he wants to use it or not.
Two questions CPJ related:
1) can you ask coach his thoughts on the unc win, if you haven’t already asked him?
KQ- Sure I can shoot him a text. If he is up in the mountains his phone doesn't work too well so it is easier to text with him.
2) can you ask coach if he had any thoughts/feelings from the crowd support when they honored him on the fields? I thought the response from the crowd was very positive.
KQ- I told CPJ I was going to catch up with him after the season and do a deep dive.
I get that the defense is what it is, but do you remember an offense that was this different game to game?
KQ- Well the last game before UNC they were missing three of the 4 top receivers, no Leo, no real Chase Lane and no Singleton. King struggled and forced the ball and they lost. This game he got into a rhythm with the screen game, that opened up some running lanes for Jamal Haynes and Dontae Smith and then they had some balance and it was rolling. They are thin and when they can run the ball they play well and when they don't they will have to lean too much on King and it will take him playing really well to keep them in it.
So we all bitched about Key’s performance at home and he took it personal….Can we do the same this week and talk up how horrible we are in Charlottesville?
KQ- Brent knows the history of that place very well.
What happened with the super early season ticket renewals?
They sent an email a week before the 19th, and then again 2 days before the 19th to remind everyone.
KQ- No clue, but if I were J Batt, I would be sending them out right now before the UVA game.
Can we PLEASE petition to have Wes and Hasselbach call CoFH since it’s on the ACCN this year??? Much better than that <redacted> SEC network Dan Orlovsky…
KQ- Man I would be shocked if it was the ACC Network night game. It has been a noon game every year since 2013. The 2010 game was the last time it was a night game 7:45 on ESPN and 2009 was the last time it was a home night game 8 pm on ABC.
What's your read on our ability to get some of the Sparty DL now in the transfer portal?
KQ- It depends on who goes in the portal. I think that window is closing or has closed for the kids to go in mid-season. I'll be curious to see what happens in December when the portal opens again.
