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I could have left the stadium last night in a foul mood. It took me a full hour to get from Wethersfield to my parking space (don't ask, but it included my friend using "Wayz" or whatever and having it dump me in downtown Hartford), forcing me to rush the tailgate and be ten minutes late heading in. Or because at the end of the tailgate my car battery died, and I missed almost all the first quarter waiting for Laz to send me the guys with a battery for a jump. Or because the stadium was a third empty for opening night. Or because I walked into the building with us a 7 point dog to an FCS team, and I actually was emotionally involved in trying to get a win against an FCS opponent that I would have taken for granted in the past. Or because of the flaws I saw on the field. But I didn't. I walked out of the Rent happy as could be at 1-0. Why?
Because there is no point crying over the spilled milk that was the last round of conference realignment or P tearing this program apart or the weirdness that was HCBD and his staff last year. That is all done. The question is whether the end of last year was finally rock bottom, and I could at least focus on the climb back up again, even if it's long and painful. And I walked out thinking the answer to that question was a resounding YES. Compare the game to either the loss to Towson, two years ago, or the horrifically narrow win against Stony Brook last year. Our play was lightyears better, as I'll get into. It was a football team playing a crisp football game against a team that would have beaten us handily a year ago. And we're now 1-0 and moving on.
On defense, yeah, they made some plays against us, but teams always make plays -- especially ones with good QBs. We contained both their points and total yardage, and did it playing beyond the entire two deep to keep fresh on a warm night. Until the meltdown at the end by Fatukasi, I thought he, Campenni and Adeyami did great in the middle. The pass rush -- only sending 4 -- was decent, especially when Carrezola was playing. The corners weren't tested all night, but really came up and hit. We got soft in the middle of our zones against passes last night, but that's tough to stop against a QB who can extend plays with his feet. Stewart may be the best athlete on D -- I just wish he understood what it means to set an edge and keep leverage instead of moving out of position looking to make a play all the time. But the numbers count, and 13 points allowed and barely 300 yards allowed against that offense was a very good performance. The D forced 2 turnovers, had few big mistakes (the 3rd and 20 scramble notwithstanding) and no penalties until the dead ball foul at the end. I can take that performance, and I think we can build from there.
On offense, there is still a long way to go but if you're only gaining 300 yards against an FCS opponent, you at least have to limit mistakes and we did. Only two penalties (not counting the deadball taunting call on RonJon) and no procedures. None. Only one turnover, and it was a flukey one rather than a terrible decision by a QB or a lack of concentration by a TB. I expected better pass blocking at the edges given that Gifford -- who was our best OT starting last year -- couldn't even crack the two deep, and while the performance was far from great it was levels and levels above where we were the last two years. The interior needs more of a push consistently, but they made no mistakes and came through in the 4th Q when we needed them. And Shirreffs may, by the end of three years, be the best QB we've had since Orlovsky. Wasn't flash, but extended plays, hit 60% of his throws for really good ypa, had few mistakes and should only get better as he plays. Yes, the O is behind the D, but with a team with only 1 senior starter what did you expect? Give the line a year, and Shirreffs some experience, and I would expect a big jump forward in '16.
Not much to say about specials, as there was not much kicking last night. Puyols may have a short leash before Tarbutt has his job. Wain was good. Kickoff coverage was disappointing and needs to improve quickly.
And the coaches showed that they are trying to win this year, and are capable. Way, way too early to throw praise at them, or determine if all the sacrifices made to last year's record were necessary or worth it, but the staff had the team prepared -- prepared in the weight room, prepared in attitude and prepared to eliminate mistakes. And while fans will never think a game was called perfectly, we certainly weren't giving up points and yards to the coaches on the other side. In fact, the only thing I would beat on them for was the not one but two fourth quarter dead ball lack of poise personal fouls by RonJon and Fatukasi, either of which could have cost us the game. But the players and coaches came through and it didn't.
I refuse to talk about the season until after the Army game, but any thoughts at bowling required a 2-0 start, so let's take care of business and get revenge for last year against Army. Saturday game, better known opponent and Army bringing people and maybe we can get the attendance right back over the 30k level. If you know anyone to convince to buy tickets and come, do so.
Good, hopeful start. Not just to this year but the future. We still have a long, long way to go to get back to where we were pre-P, but you have to start somewhere, and for the first time I'm allowing myself to believe that we've started.
Because there is no point crying over the spilled milk that was the last round of conference realignment or P tearing this program apart or the weirdness that was HCBD and his staff last year. That is all done. The question is whether the end of last year was finally rock bottom, and I could at least focus on the climb back up again, even if it's long and painful. And I walked out thinking the answer to that question was a resounding YES. Compare the game to either the loss to Towson, two years ago, or the horrifically narrow win against Stony Brook last year. Our play was lightyears better, as I'll get into. It was a football team playing a crisp football game against a team that would have beaten us handily a year ago. And we're now 1-0 and moving on.
On defense, yeah, they made some plays against us, but teams always make plays -- especially ones with good QBs. We contained both their points and total yardage, and did it playing beyond the entire two deep to keep fresh on a warm night. Until the meltdown at the end by Fatukasi, I thought he, Campenni and Adeyami did great in the middle. The pass rush -- only sending 4 -- was decent, especially when Carrezola was playing. The corners weren't tested all night, but really came up and hit. We got soft in the middle of our zones against passes last night, but that's tough to stop against a QB who can extend plays with his feet. Stewart may be the best athlete on D -- I just wish he understood what it means to set an edge and keep leverage instead of moving out of position looking to make a play all the time. But the numbers count, and 13 points allowed and barely 300 yards allowed against that offense was a very good performance. The D forced 2 turnovers, had few big mistakes (the 3rd and 20 scramble notwithstanding) and no penalties until the dead ball foul at the end. I can take that performance, and I think we can build from there.
On offense, there is still a long way to go but if you're only gaining 300 yards against an FCS opponent, you at least have to limit mistakes and we did. Only two penalties (not counting the deadball taunting call on RonJon) and no procedures. None. Only one turnover, and it was a flukey one rather than a terrible decision by a QB or a lack of concentration by a TB. I expected better pass blocking at the edges given that Gifford -- who was our best OT starting last year -- couldn't even crack the two deep, and while the performance was far from great it was levels and levels above where we were the last two years. The interior needs more of a push consistently, but they made no mistakes and came through in the 4th Q when we needed them. And Shirreffs may, by the end of three years, be the best QB we've had since Orlovsky. Wasn't flash, but extended plays, hit 60% of his throws for really good ypa, had few mistakes and should only get better as he plays. Yes, the O is behind the D, but with a team with only 1 senior starter what did you expect? Give the line a year, and Shirreffs some experience, and I would expect a big jump forward in '16.
Not much to say about specials, as there was not much kicking last night. Puyols may have a short leash before Tarbutt has his job. Wain was good. Kickoff coverage was disappointing and needs to improve quickly.
And the coaches showed that they are trying to win this year, and are capable. Way, way too early to throw praise at them, or determine if all the sacrifices made to last year's record were necessary or worth it, but the staff had the team prepared -- prepared in the weight room, prepared in attitude and prepared to eliminate mistakes. And while fans will never think a game was called perfectly, we certainly weren't giving up points and yards to the coaches on the other side. In fact, the only thing I would beat on them for was the not one but two fourth quarter dead ball lack of poise personal fouls by RonJon and Fatukasi, either of which could have cost us the game. But the players and coaches came through and it didn't.
I refuse to talk about the season until after the Army game, but any thoughts at bowling required a 2-0 start, so let's take care of business and get revenge for last year against Army. Saturday game, better known opponent and Army bringing people and maybe we can get the attendance right back over the 30k level. If you know anyone to convince to buy tickets and come, do so.
Good, hopeful start. Not just to this year but the future. We still have a long, long way to go to get back to where we were pre-P, but you have to start somewhere, and for the first time I'm allowing myself to believe that we've started.
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