[Jonathan Carone]

We're at the mid point of our season so let's look at how we've done up to this point. I've included a few questions below to help guide the discussion:

Expectations

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be record wise?

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be in our actual play?

What do you expect for the rest of the season?

Offense

How would you describe our quarterback play over the first five games?

What has been the biggest positive from our offense?

What has been the biggest negative from our offense?

What changes need to be made on our offense?

Defense

What has been the biggest positive from our defense?

What has been the biggest negative from our defense?

What changes need to be made on our defense?

Miscellaneous

At this point, do you believe Coach Gill is the right coach for our future? (This question isn't whether or not he should be fired at the end of the year. It's about whether you think he can take us to where we want to be.)

There have been a lot of changes this year to the in-game environment (especially pregame). What have your thoughts been?

What do you think our conference record will be? If you're predicting a loss, who will we lose to?

[Jonathan Carone]

Expectations

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be record wise?

We are exactly where I expected us to be record wise.

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be in our actual play?

In our losses, we have played much worse than I expected us to. In our wins, we have looked the part at times but have shown signs of that bad play as well (particularly first quarter vs RMU).

What do you expect for the rest of the season?

I expect we'll still have our random miscues that we have every game but we will improve overall. Those random miscues could cost us a game vs Kennesaw State or Monmouth but I expect our talent level to pull out those wins. I expect Calvert to get better as he gets comfortable. Overall it won't be as bad as the first five games have been but won't be Top 25 quality either.

Offense

How would you describe our quarterback play over the first five games?

Inconsistent and inexperienced.

What has been the biggest positive from our offense?

Frankie Hickson. Calvert's potential.

What has been the biggest negative from our offense?

The injuries and inconsistency of the offensive line. I'm also not sure how talented we are there. Quarterback play has also been really bad.

What changes need to be made on our offense?

We need stability and an identity. Injuries have taken away all of our stability at offensive line. We'll get the consistency with a set QB now. Hopefully that will allow us to develop a much needed identity in our offense.

Defense

What has been the biggest positive from our defense?

These dudes are fast and can hit hard.

What has been the biggest negative from our defense?

Big plays and missed tackles. For all the positives of our defense, there are always a couple plays a game where they totally crap the bed.

What changes need to be made on our defense?

Can we please start tackling in practice? Our guys aren't tackling well and the only way to get better is to practice it.

Miscellaneous

At this point, do you believe Coach Gill is the right coach for our future? (This question isn't whether or not he should be fired at the end of the year. It's about whether you think he can take us to where we want to be.)

I do not.

There have been a lot of changes this year to the in-game environment (especially pregame). What have your thoughts been?

I've only seen videos, but from what I've seen, there are positives and negatives. Overall though I can't comment too much since I haven'tbeen there.

What do you think our conference record will be? If you're predicting a loss, who will we lose to?

I think we'll go 4-1 in conference. Charleston Southern is just simply better than us right now. They're a legitimate Top 15 team and we aren't. It would not surprise me to see us slip up to Kennesaw or Monmouth but I don't expect that to happen.

[BJWilliams]

We're at the mid point of our season so let's look at how we've done up to this point. I've included a few questions below to help guide the discussion:

Expectations

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be record wise?

Id say slightly behind where I expected us to be recordwise. I expected us to split or FBS games and be 3-2 at this point

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be in our actual play?

Actual play...Id say we are a bit behind.

What do you expect for the rest of the season?

This is where the money is gonna be made for us when it comes to this season. Now that we have a bit more stability at the QB position and SBC will be getting more time to work with the 1s, I think we are going to see a different squad.

Offense

How would you describe our quarterback play over the first five games?
Consistently...inconsistent.


What has been the biggest positive from our offense?
Although they didn't show it the last couple weeks, I think the running game. Frankie Hickson showed us the burst of DJ Abnar from a bigger back. I think he and SBC could be a very potent combination in the next few years.


What has been the biggest negative from our offense?

Line play...having a different group in 4 of 5 games certainly did not help the situation, but these guys are going to have to step up their game in order to keep Calvert upright.

What changes need to be made on our offense?

More runs to the outside. While I think the running game has been the biggest positive for us, we don't have a battering ram back there that we can simply pound up the middle like Coastal had with current Carolina Panther Mike Tolbert. I'm not saying we avoid the middle entirely, but I think we need to try to run more sweeps, counters and plays that can put a guy like the aforementioned Hickson in space and can use his speed to break some bigger runs and hopefully open things up so defenses won't be able to pin their ears back and attack the QB.

Defense


What has been the biggest positive from our defense?

Ive said that line play was the biggest negative for the offense, but I do believe that line play is the biggest positive for us, particularly Juwan Wells.

Honorable mention: so many forced turnovers...

What has been the biggest negative from our defense?
I think there really isn't a particular unit, but the tackling has GOT to be improved (which should tell you my answer to the next question)

What changes need to be made on our defense?
Tackling...fix it...yesterday...

Miscellaneous

At this point, do you believe Coach Gill is the right coach for our future? (This question isn't whether or not he should be fired at the end of the year. It's about whether you think he can take us to where we want to be.)

I think he is. we have struggled the last couple seasons, but even though this may be a minority opinion, I do think he ought to be the one leading us onto the field for our first FBS game when the time comes.

There have been a lot of changes this year to the in-game environment (especially pregame). What have your thoughts been?

I will decline to answer this question because I have not had a chance to attend a game live yet.

What do you think our conference record will be? If you're predicting a loss, who will we lose to?

I think we go 5-0 and win the conference outright, but if we do lose a game, I think it'll be CSU

[LUnpretty11]

Expectations C-

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be record wise?
I thought we would be 3-2, but I can live with the 2-3 record.

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be in our actual play?
Far behind. Defense is up to par, they are stout. Special teams has improved marginally. Offense sucks but has potential - see QB discussion.

What do you expect for the rest of the season?
7-4

Offense D-

How would you describe our quarterback play over the first five games?
Beyond frustrating and disappointing. Calvert has a cannon, but he is a Fr. and will be tough to get us where we want to be this year. Love what I see for the future.

What has been the biggest positive from our offense?
Dante Shells, Frankie Hickson and Carrington Mosley. Love what I have seen from these 3.

What has been the biggest negative from our offense?
See QB discussion. O-line. Play calling.

What changes need to be made on our offense?
O-line needs to step up, health plays a factor, obviously. QB change has been made. Play calling must improve.

Defense B+

What has been the biggest positive from our defense?
D-line and secondary. They have been fantastic.

What has been the biggest negative from our defense?
BIG PLAYS.

What changes need to be made on our defense?
Arm tackling. Ties into above.

Miscellaneous

At this point, do you believe Coach Gill is the right coach for our future? (This question isn't whether or not he should be fired at the end of the year. It's about whether you think he can take us to where we want to be.)
Still not sure. I love Gill. I don't like the 3 steps backward we took last year. Whether you like it or not, he's taken us to another level as a program and that is an undisputed fact. I give him 1 more year.

There have been a lot of changes this year to the in-game environment (especially pregame). What have your thoughts been?
I love the "Turbulence" song and how it's played right before the team comes out. Gives it a "Enter Sandman" type of feel... when the students/crowd show up. I hope this becomes "the" song for our team to come out of the tunnel to moving forward.

What do you think our conference record will be? If you're predicting a loss, who will we lose to?
4-1 - Lose to KSU

[Jonathan Carone]

Nick - is the team entry missing something with the loss of the L-U chant?

How is the band this year? Still as boring as ever?

[BJWilliams]

I got to watch the show from the JSU game via Facebook Live and was intrigued by the fact that the color guard actually lit their staffs for one portion of the show on fire and they were spinning fire similar to what you would find at a Hawaiian luau

[Purple Haize]

The band was boring/embarrassing at the Tech game. That's not the kids fault

[BJWilliams]

First show of the year, first college performance for many of them and had a very short window as the visiting band so they wouldn't have much to give to the people so that doesn't really surprise me. Even back when I was in the band (and cdbilton could share a similar sentiment Im sure) we didn't have much of a show for the first performance of the year. To be able to have a full show for game 1 would probably require something shorter and not as complex

[jbock13]

Yes, band is boring as ever. Probably worst this year.

And we're still playing the fox sports theme. I hope we're at least getting paid for that.

[thepostman]

We can always depend on BJ to defend the band!

We all have known the problem for years and it isn't the band members.

[LUnpretty11]

Nick - is the team entry missing something with the loss of the L-U chant?

How is the band this year? Still as boring as ever?

No they still do the L-U chant. They do the L-U back and forth, then the video kicks in with the Turbulence song and the place goes nutso as the team runs out. The crowd - students - are jumping and it looks like a high level FBS stadium. This could be something big time if they stick with it. I'd say execution of this has been perfected this year.

Band still uses speakers. Enough said. However, their song selection is better and ties into the team, which isn't bad.

[LUnpretty11]

First show of the year, first college performance for many of them and had a very short window as the visiting band so they wouldn't have much to give to the people so that doesn't really surprise me. Even back when I was in the band (and cdbilton could share a similar sentiment Im sure) we didn't have much of a show for the first performance of the year. To be able to have a full show for game 1 would probably require something shorter and not as complex

I mean this will all the respect in the world. You need a realty check on the status of our band. It has been stagnant at best for the last 5+ years.
We show up to JMU and try battling their band, which is arguable best in FCS - non HBCU, and we did it with microphones/speakers.
Band size needs to double and talent needs to reflect band size.
VT game was bad. It was an embarrassment. If you want to give the kids a free pass for the first game, then that's fine. You lose credibility when you do it AT VT! You absolutely do not go to VT and perform a halftime show if you are not prepared for the big stage, so don't excuse week 1 jitters for this one. They were quiet and still had speakers to bolster sound.

The status of our band will not change until they don't have to use microphones/speaks anymore. That's simply unacceptable when you try and step up to the big stage i.e. JMU/VT.

Great idea if you want to take it Richmond, W&M, VMI or Norfolk St. Terrible idea when going to a P5 FBS school in state.

I am not criticizing anyone for this and I appreciate the efforts to put our school and band on the map, but the execution has to match the goal.

[Purple Haize]

First show of the year, first college performance for many of them and had a very short window as the visiting band so they wouldn't have much to give to the people so that doesn't really surprise me. Even back when I was in the band (and cdbilton could share a similar sentiment Im sure) we didn't have much of a show for the first performance of the year. To be able to have a full show for game 1 would probably require something shorter and not as complex

I mean this will all the respect in the world. You need a realty check on the status of our band. It has been stagnant at best for the last 5+ years.
We show up to JMU and try battling their band, which is arguable best in FCS - non HBCU, and we did it with microphones/speakers.
Band size needs to double and talent needs to reflect band size.
VT game was bad. It was an embarrassment. If you want to give the kids a free pass for the first game, then that's fine. You lose credibility when you do it AT VT! You absolutely do not go to VT and perform a halftime show if you are not prepared for the big stage, so don't excuse week 1 jitters for this one. They were quiet and still had speakers to bolster sound.

The status of our band will not change until they don't have to use microphones/speaks anymore. That's simply unacceptable when you try and step up to the big stage i.e. JMU/VT.

Great idea if you want to take it Richmond, W&M, VMI or Norfolk St. Terrible idea when going to a P5 FBS school in state.

I am not criticizing anyone for this and I appreciate the efforts to put our school and band on the map, but the execution has to match the goal.

Quantity does not equal quality. But I think I agree with everything else you said

[SumItUp]

SMU band had 48 members.

[BJWilliams]

Maybe its different now, I don't know (my last year in the band was 2010)... but I know that the speakers weren't used to bolster the overall sound of the band, but more for sound reinforcement since mics were used for the mallet instruments, electric guitar and bass and for the feature soloists for some tunes when I was in the band.

[Jonathan Carone]

We can bang on the band all we want but we know nothing will change as long as Kerr is the director. Good dude but he has a different vision for the band than what football fans want.

Let's talk football. You don't have to answer all the questions above. Those are just to get the conversation going.

I saw Nick Pierce tweeted today that Dailey said we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what our offense's identity could be. I hope that scratch it fast or there'll be an all new one next year.

[jinxy]

Agreed. That was a dumb comment from dailey. Play calling is worse than ever. Stamn had a couple really good games last year against gsu and ccu. I have been thoroughly underwhelmed with dailey this year.

[BJWilliams]

A comment like that is why I thought he had not done his homework when it came to transitioning to an uptempo style of offense. How in the world do you sit here halfway through the season and you haven't scratched the surface?? Not to mention, you had all winter PLUS spring football to prepare and evaluate your talent (both existing and incoming) and this is what you come up with???

[Jonathan Carone]

Beej you're reading it wrong. It's much more likely that he's talking about how they've kept things exceptionally vanilla to this point. That's why we don't have a significant identity.

[Purple Haize]

Vanilla is good. It's better, IMO, than throwing the book at them and overwhelming them. You put in your basic sets and then add from there and see what works and what doesn't. You can find that what should work on paper doesn't always work on the field.

[Humble_Opinion]

A few things... Major injuries to your offensive line and a change after 3 games from a dual threat JR QB to a True Freshman QB Pocket passer will absolutely impact your identity as an offense. Moreover, two of our games we are measuring here have been on the road against FBS squads. I think we need to give Dailey and the offense two more games. The last 2.5 qtrs of the RMU game made it seem as though Calvert might figure this thing out pretty quickly and potentially become the type of leader that Alex Ross was for CCU. I know it's too early to tell, but he certainly has that potential.

About the band... Seriously? Evidently everyone here thinks marching bands are all supposed to be like A&T in the movie Drumline. Hate to break it to you, but people who ACTUALLY know something about musicality understand that those types of programs have awesome visual effects, but are garbage in comparison to Drum Corps style bands, which is what Kerr pushes for. Another thing... I actually agree about the speakers. I'm more traditional, but Drum Corps have moved into that realm now. I'd like to see us replace half of our wood winds with more Brass. They could blow people out of the stadium without speakers if they did that.

[Purple Haize]

A few things... Major injuries to your offensive line and a change after 3 games from a dual threat JR QB to a True Freshman QB Pocket passer will absolutely impact your identity as an offense. Moreover, two of our games we are measuring here have been on the road against FBS squads. I think we need to give Dailey and the offense two more games. The last 2.5 qtrs of the RMU game made it seem as though Calvert might figure this thing out pretty quickly and potentially become the type of leader that Alex Ross was for CCU. I know it's too early to tell, but he certainly has that potential.

About the band... Seriously? Evidently everyone here thinks marching bands are all supposed to be like A&T in the movie Drumline. Hate to break it to you, but people who ACTUALLY know something about musicality understand that those types of programs have awesome visual effects, but are garbage in comparison to Drum Corps style bands, which is what Kerr pushes for. Another thing... I actually agree about the speakers. I'm more traditional, but Drum Corps have moved into that realm now. I'd like to see us replace half of our wood winds with more Brass. They could blow people out of the stadium without speakers if they did that.

I don't think it should be like Drumline. I would settle for Stanford or USC or even entertaining. The best comparison I can make is the difference between an Art House movie and a Popcorn Thriller. One will win awards. One will be entertaining

[VAGolf]

We're at the mid point of our season so let's look at how we've done up to this point. I've included a few questions below to help guide the discussion:

Expectations

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be record wise? Right where I thought we would be.

Have we exceeded or fallen behind where you thought we'd be in our actual play? Fallen

What do you expect for the rest of the season? Losses to CSU and CCU. Coin flip on KSU. Win the rest.

Offense

How would you describe our quarterback play over the first five games? Worst I've seen in a long time.

What has been the biggest positive from our offense? We have capable RB's.

What has been the biggest negative from our offense? Offensive line has been abysmal.

What changes need to be made on our offense? Everything. New personnel, new schemes, new attitude.

Defense

What has been the biggest positive from our defense? Solid secondary play.

What has been the biggest negative from our defense? Little to no pass rush.

What changes need to be made on our defense? We need to improve at LB.

Miscellaneous

At this point, do you believe Coach Gill is the right coach for our future? (This question isn't whether or not he should be fired at the end of the year. It's about whether you think he can take us to where we want to be.)

No. I used to think he was capable but you can't be continually average. I have no reason to believe this team can be great. We get penalized a lot, we make awful mistakes at times and our gameplans are extremely vanilla. Since he's been here, his best players all have one thing in common...they were all signed by Danny Rocco.

There have been a lot of changes this year to the in-game environment (especially pregame). What have your thoughts been?

Marketing is doing a really good job...but it's just not going to effect much until we start winning.

What do you think our conference record will be? If you're predicting a loss, who will we lose to?

I think we at least lose to CSU. Everyone else looks very beatable. And then there's KSU. Something about them makes them seem dangerous. They also run an offense that I'm not sure we're equipped to defend.

[ballcoach15]

As for the LU band, I am not a band or music person, but I have always been impressed with LU Band. Dr. Kerr is an excellent Band Director. I have observed many rehearsals for football games and have missed one home game in 10 years.

At the VT game, I sit with the LU Band. VT had an individual with the LU band near Director/Drum Major or whatever the title is. This VT individual had a Head-set on and was in constant contact with game operations. Signal was relayed to LU Band via this VT person, as to when to play, how long to play, etc. This had some effect on the timing of LU's performances.

[Jonathan Carone]

The same thing happens at home games with them being told when to play. It's all scripted.

The issue with our band is that Kerr is all about the drum corps. His goal is to produce a technically sound band. He's not as concerned with entertainment.