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- Aug 24, 2011
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Beautiful, unusually warm late fall day. Large delta in my mind between spectators and announced attendance, but it is what it is. Parking in blue lot confused and slow, but hopefully it will sort itself out. If I have the room behind my car where, traditionally, another car would be parked, I can make that work fine. And, most important about the tailgate, one lesson learned. Have one of your attendees bring a baby and suddenly young women who would otherwise walk by as if you’re not there suddenly pay attention to your group. Is there a pre-game rental service for this? Most importantly, it’s nice to finish a game where it must be the other fan base complaining about their coaching. We were up 17-3 with 2 minutes left in the half, and while that’s certainly a comfortable lead the game hadn’t been nearly as comfortable as the score, and FIU I’m sure recognized it was a long way back but not done. And then, instead of punting on a 4th down and settling for breaking down 14, FIU pushed the envelope, turned the ball over on downs and quickly found themselves down 21. And then turned it over again in the last two minutes giving up another 3, turning a 14 point deficit and some hope into “game over.” And FIU came out of the locker playing like it was in fact game over.
So obviously that was our most complete game of the year in terms of all units, and the most comfortable win. And I think the fan base needed the easy win more than the players did, to be honest, but whatever. Special teams had a good game. We had more returns, walk on Teddy Williams partially blocked a punt, our punting (when we get the ball to him) is consistently fine and our FG kicking at this point is both really reliable and really good.
So on defense, putting aside all the substitutions in garbage time, I did notice a few things about personnel and I think it reflects some dissatisfaction by the coaches and giving more folks a try (or it could be injuries I just didn’t know about). On the DL, there was a lot more substitution and rotation going on than I had been seeing. At LB, I didn’t see King until garbage time. Parham seems to have made the MLB job his. And at the hybrid LB slot, I’m not sure I saw Branch, but saw Key and Renwick sharing time, and Renwick, in his first prolonged shot since being here, obviously made a lot of plays. And in the secondary, Gilbert played for Pringle and there was very little subbing. Even Mills barely played until garbage time. And, obviously, while some yardage was given up the defense started winning third downs and limiting scores, which was the recipe for success last year.
On offense, we didn’t run a whole lot (didn’t have to) but were effective enough. Part of me wonders if Edwards has been at less than 100% the last two weeks and we’ve been conscious of limiting his carries. If so, the off week comes at a good time. The passing game, obviously, was great. JF still hasn’t thrown a pick this year, threw the ball to all sorts of weapons and was willing to use his legs where appropriate. It may be that Neider is developing into the #2 WR, but if JF doesn’t need one and doesn’t mind getting the ball to anyone maybe I don’t either. But whatever his limitations are, everyone should recognize that we haven’t had a QB have a season like this since Orlovsky left. JF is finding the right receivers, putting the ball where it needs to go a very high percentage of the time and avoiding turnovers and other mistakes.
So at the halfway point, and with a week off, now is a great time to look at where we are and where we are going. We’re 4-2. I would have been happier at 5-1, and we easily could have won both those losses (we could have won at Delaware and should have won at Syracuse) but we’re halfway to matching the same 8-4 we put on the Board last year. And while you’d always want to do better, as we hadn’t been near 8-4 in forever, 4-2 at this point is far from a disaster. Left we have a 2 game road trip, at BC and Rice, then a 3 game homestand (UAB, Duke and Air Force) and then close the season at FAU. Both BC and Rice took beatings this week, and Rice’s was well below the level that its play had been. Even on the road I think both games are gettable but neither will be easy. And while I’m encouraged at the D’s improvement, I don’t feel comfortable counting on it either. Then at home, we will be large favorites (at least as things shape up today) against UAB, and material favorites against Air Force. I like both of those games. I saw some of Duke last night — that is a good offense that may feast on our Defense. I never give up on a game at home, but I think that’s a tough one. And then at FAU, and while I never take a road game for granted, I think right now we’re looking better than FAU. So bottom line is with a little more D I want to be 8-4 again, and then hopefully we get a bowl game we can drive to (NYC or Annapolis?) and against a P-4 opponent. Getting to 9-3 will take going 3-0 on the road if we don’t beat Duke, and while each of the 3 games is winnable that’s different than thinking we’re going to be able to go 3 for 3. But you take them one at a time. I will be driving up to Chestnut Hill for the next game, and it all starts with that. And, obviously, that game (like Syracuse and Duke) represent old rivalries more important than the average game. And if the D can solidify and we can keep our three offensive playmakers healthy, still time to make this a really special season.
So obviously that was our most complete game of the year in terms of all units, and the most comfortable win. And I think the fan base needed the easy win more than the players did, to be honest, but whatever. Special teams had a good game. We had more returns, walk on Teddy Williams partially blocked a punt, our punting (when we get the ball to him) is consistently fine and our FG kicking at this point is both really reliable and really good.
So on defense, putting aside all the substitutions in garbage time, I did notice a few things about personnel and I think it reflects some dissatisfaction by the coaches and giving more folks a try (or it could be injuries I just didn’t know about). On the DL, there was a lot more substitution and rotation going on than I had been seeing. At LB, I didn’t see King until garbage time. Parham seems to have made the MLB job his. And at the hybrid LB slot, I’m not sure I saw Branch, but saw Key and Renwick sharing time, and Renwick, in his first prolonged shot since being here, obviously made a lot of plays. And in the secondary, Gilbert played for Pringle and there was very little subbing. Even Mills barely played until garbage time. And, obviously, while some yardage was given up the defense started winning third downs and limiting scores, which was the recipe for success last year.
On offense, we didn’t run a whole lot (didn’t have to) but were effective enough. Part of me wonders if Edwards has been at less than 100% the last two weeks and we’ve been conscious of limiting his carries. If so, the off week comes at a good time. The passing game, obviously, was great. JF still hasn’t thrown a pick this year, threw the ball to all sorts of weapons and was willing to use his legs where appropriate. It may be that Neider is developing into the #2 WR, but if JF doesn’t need one and doesn’t mind getting the ball to anyone maybe I don’t either. But whatever his limitations are, everyone should recognize that we haven’t had a QB have a season like this since Orlovsky left. JF is finding the right receivers, putting the ball where it needs to go a very high percentage of the time and avoiding turnovers and other mistakes.
So at the halfway point, and with a week off, now is a great time to look at where we are and where we are going. We’re 4-2. I would have been happier at 5-1, and we easily could have won both those losses (we could have won at Delaware and should have won at Syracuse) but we’re halfway to matching the same 8-4 we put on the Board last year. And while you’d always want to do better, as we hadn’t been near 8-4 in forever, 4-2 at this point is far from a disaster. Left we have a 2 game road trip, at BC and Rice, then a 3 game homestand (UAB, Duke and Air Force) and then close the season at FAU. Both BC and Rice took beatings this week, and Rice’s was well below the level that its play had been. Even on the road I think both games are gettable but neither will be easy. And while I’m encouraged at the D’s improvement, I don’t feel comfortable counting on it either. Then at home, we will be large favorites (at least as things shape up today) against UAB, and material favorites against Air Force. I like both of those games. I saw some of Duke last night — that is a good offense that may feast on our Defense. I never give up on a game at home, but I think that’s a tough one. And then at FAU, and while I never take a road game for granted, I think right now we’re looking better than FAU. So bottom line is with a little more D I want to be 8-4 again, and then hopefully we get a bowl game we can drive to (NYC or Annapolis?) and against a P-4 opponent. Getting to 9-3 will take going 3-0 on the road if we don’t beat Duke, and while each of the 3 games is winnable that’s different than thinking we’re going to be able to go 3 for 3. But you take them one at a time. I will be driving up to Chestnut Hill for the next game, and it all starts with that. And, obviously, that game (like Syracuse and Duke) represent old rivalries more important than the average game. And if the D can solidify and we can keep our three offensive playmakers healthy, still time to make this a really special season.
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