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That was probably the worst college football game I've ever seen. It was absolutely unwatchable, and reminded me of bad high school games. You know what you learn about how good your offense or defense is on a day like yesterday? Close to nothing. The weather was obviously such that passing was unproductive at best, or impossible at worse. And, with passing not a threat, neither team could block well enough to have any semblance of a running game. All there was to get out of yesterday was a win or a loss, because at the end of the year the game counts the same as a game played on a perfect fall afternoon. And we won. Jamar Summers made a remarkable pick, and after not making the right moves to put the ball in the end zone against BYU a month ago, this time he made a great return. After that, our Defense totally manhandled Tulane's offense, only letting them inside our 40 once. And our offense, while it couldn't generate much (and, with help from our FG blocking, failed to score on the one drive where it had a chance), outgained Tulane 3 to 2 and, with the exception of the hail Mary to end the first half, didn't turn the ball over. And the result was, in a must win game where the weather took everything but the fact that one team could and would come away with a win, we won. And, notwithstanding that was only a 4 point game and we were always one play from losing, at no time in the second half did Tulane ever threaten to actually win the game. It was the most comfortable 4 point win ever.
A special shout out to the UConn fans who were in NO. On a day where any sane person would have left by halftime, you guys not only stayed but, in the empty stadium, were heard chanting "defense" and at other times. My hat is off to every one of you (although to be clear, if I had been there my rainhat wouldn't have come off for anything short of an order at gunpoint).
Offense, defense and specials. The OL went back to being overmatched yesterday, especially against the run. Hopefully, that was just weather and Tulane knowing we couldn't throw effectively, and the improvement we had been seeing comes back against Houston. Shirreffs clearly couldn't handle the weather, but injured or worn down or not (and I don't know where the injured rumor has come from -- if someone actually knows something please share), but he played mistake free football and was able to be the most effective offensive threat either team had running the ball, helping us shorten the game. The receivers did not come through -- Bloom's drop especially was a killer, weather or not. So Ron Johnson, finally, sat. I don't think we learned much about Mariner in the weather, but damn -- after the first run didn't Max deserve more of a chance? Doesn't he still. And kudos to the staff for designing the TD play to Bloom. The fact that he dropped it doesn't change the fact that they put our players in position for a very easy TD
On defense, it's tempting to say we were great, but we were just able to overwhelm them on a day that they threw the ball 40 times for basically no net yardage if you subtract the interception return and the sacks. Yes, Stewart looked great and Jamar won the game and I thought both Obi and Campennis played great as well, but I'm not willing to praise defensive players any more than I'm willing to beat up on offensive players. Control Houston in two weeks and talk to me. And I understand the desire to be over aggressive when the offense can't move the ball, but neither Summers allowing the first down because he played the ball exclusively and not the man, or Graham not going to the ground on the fumble because he wanted 6, can happen. Make the plays that are there. Any gambles against Houston will be punished.
On specials, a rare but deserved shout out to Dominick Manco, who for four years has done his job so perfectly that he's never been mentioned (except that weird snap at MIzzou where he thought he had an offsides). But in yesterday's conditions, and constant snaps, he came through when we most needed it. Same with Wain, who wasn't great kicking but made the catches clean and got the ball off every time without a disaster. Last comment on specials -- I love it when walk ons contribute and I know Vitale played at Stony Brook but he can't put the ball on the ground every game and hope nothing bad happens. Can Beals do it?
So yesterday was not a step back or a step forward for the program -- it just was a win that we needed to extend this season. We will easily be double digit dogs each of the next two games, and winning a sixth will require a major upset. But getting to a bowl -- whether deserved at 6-6 or luckily at 5-7 -- will be the start to next year with the extra practices and a reward for our departing seniors who have never been. To paraphrase Bachmann Turner Overdrive, yesterday was taking care of business. The bigger question, however, is whether "we ain't seen nothing yet." if we haven't, it's more likely to be at home against Houston. We will be coming off our much needed and delayed off week, they will be in a trap week between Memphis and Navy, and maybe we'll have frigid New England weather that slows down the mostly Texan roster. We ain't seen nothing yet? We will see. But it's good to be playing big games right to the end of our season. And, to answer some of the discussions the Board has been having, 5 wins is not the goal to be a good season for this program. But for this year, 5 wins and the play we've had -- the incredible jump we've had in the computer rankings -- has been nothing short of remarkable. If people are "settling" for the program being stuck at 5 wins going forward that will be another matter altogether.
Hope the players get some physical and mental rest and everyone enjoys the week off. And then here is hoping that every Boneyarder does what he can to get a few extra people into the building for Houston.
A special shout out to the UConn fans who were in NO. On a day where any sane person would have left by halftime, you guys not only stayed but, in the empty stadium, were heard chanting "defense" and at other times. My hat is off to every one of you (although to be clear, if I had been there my rainhat wouldn't have come off for anything short of an order at gunpoint).
Offense, defense and specials. The OL went back to being overmatched yesterday, especially against the run. Hopefully, that was just weather and Tulane knowing we couldn't throw effectively, and the improvement we had been seeing comes back against Houston. Shirreffs clearly couldn't handle the weather, but injured or worn down or not (and I don't know where the injured rumor has come from -- if someone actually knows something please share), but he played mistake free football and was able to be the most effective offensive threat either team had running the ball, helping us shorten the game. The receivers did not come through -- Bloom's drop especially was a killer, weather or not. So Ron Johnson, finally, sat. I don't think we learned much about Mariner in the weather, but damn -- after the first run didn't Max deserve more of a chance? Doesn't he still. And kudos to the staff for designing the TD play to Bloom. The fact that he dropped it doesn't change the fact that they put our players in position for a very easy TD
On defense, it's tempting to say we were great, but we were just able to overwhelm them on a day that they threw the ball 40 times for basically no net yardage if you subtract the interception return and the sacks. Yes, Stewart looked great and Jamar won the game and I thought both Obi and Campennis played great as well, but I'm not willing to praise defensive players any more than I'm willing to beat up on offensive players. Control Houston in two weeks and talk to me. And I understand the desire to be over aggressive when the offense can't move the ball, but neither Summers allowing the first down because he played the ball exclusively and not the man, or Graham not going to the ground on the fumble because he wanted 6, can happen. Make the plays that are there. Any gambles against Houston will be punished.
On specials, a rare but deserved shout out to Dominick Manco, who for four years has done his job so perfectly that he's never been mentioned (except that weird snap at MIzzou where he thought he had an offsides). But in yesterday's conditions, and constant snaps, he came through when we most needed it. Same with Wain, who wasn't great kicking but made the catches clean and got the ball off every time without a disaster. Last comment on specials -- I love it when walk ons contribute and I know Vitale played at Stony Brook but he can't put the ball on the ground every game and hope nothing bad happens. Can Beals do it?
So yesterday was not a step back or a step forward for the program -- it just was a win that we needed to extend this season. We will easily be double digit dogs each of the next two games, and winning a sixth will require a major upset. But getting to a bowl -- whether deserved at 6-6 or luckily at 5-7 -- will be the start to next year with the extra practices and a reward for our departing seniors who have never been. To paraphrase Bachmann Turner Overdrive, yesterday was taking care of business. The bigger question, however, is whether "we ain't seen nothing yet." if we haven't, it's more likely to be at home against Houston. We will be coming off our much needed and delayed off week, they will be in a trap week between Memphis and Navy, and maybe we'll have frigid New England weather that slows down the mostly Texan roster. We ain't seen nothing yet? We will see. But it's good to be playing big games right to the end of our season. And, to answer some of the discussions the Board has been having, 5 wins is not the goal to be a good season for this program. But for this year, 5 wins and the play we've had -- the incredible jump we've had in the computer rankings -- has been nothing short of remarkable. If people are "settling" for the program being stuck at 5 wins going forward that will be another matter altogether.
Hope the players get some physical and mental rest and everyone enjoys the week off. And then here is hoping that every Boneyarder does what he can to get a few extra people into the building for Houston.
