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There is no question but that, in the first game of the Mora era, there was a lot to like. We came out and punched a team that finished last year ranked in the mouth on their home field. And then, after losing our QB and our top returning offensive player, dealing with heat and altitude, a hostile environment, and some absurd looking calls (the non-pass interference when our wideout was literally tackled on a long ball and the key 4th quarter call on us that was absolutely not a penalty), we were in the game for 55 minutes. We fought, we didn’t give up when we got run over in the 2d Q, and we kept at it. All good things. A lot has been said already, and the TV coverage was such that I don’t have a lot of depth to add, but my thoughts are as follows.
The running game was unbelievably strong. Whether it’s improvement in Carter, improvement in run blocking or the schemes/plays, too early to tell, but wow were we impressive until they loaded the box. Carter wasn’t top of the depth chart and there was a mention he was limited in camp. I wonder if that’s why he only got 20 carries instead of just being run again and again and again. Passing game was abysmal. Just abysmal. Chase Lundt and anyone who relieved him were overrun constantly, Turner didn’t look like he was anywhere near ready and we’ve lost our two best WRs. Ugh. To be fair to everyone, we have no idea if Roberson was or was not clearly ahead of where Turner is. He didn’t run enough plays that we would know. But in a game where you lose your QB in the second series and then your top WR, I’m not going to even begin to criticize the coaches on personnel and schemes. Let’s give Charlton a few games before fair minded people think they know enough to do that. Bottom line — if we can develope just a competent passing game we could be good offensively, but I’m concerned whether we have the talent yet to do that.
Defense was outstanding to start, got overrun in the 2d Q and then was really really solid in the second half. I got criticized for saying it looked to me like USU took their foot off the gas in the second half, and was willing to play conservatively on O until we cut it to 4, but I still think that might have happened. But we’ll see. Overall, on the road against a good, experienced team with everything happening around them, it was a solid effort. But note that, in a solid effort, we gave up 31 points and a boatload of total yards. So some good things, to be sure, but I’m not totally sold. Mitchell was a God. Didn’t see Bembry make as many plays as I was expecting/hoping. And still no hint of a pass rush, and we clearly don’t have the talent at DB to cover folks without a pass rush. So solid effort but will our D be good? Jury out
Congrats to the walk on kicker from Hall for a fabulous performance (not just the FGs but no returns allowed on 5 KOs) and I thought special teams as a whole — punting, kick returning and coverages — were reallly good. But can we please catch a punt? Even if we go Sanchez and just fair catch them all?
So I wasn’t optimistic coming into the year. A lot of good yesterday, but with all the injuries I’m not as bullish as some that there is going to be a huge improvement this year in terms of wins. But the staff gets good grades for coming in prepared and turning attitudes around, and if they can recruit adequate talent to a team without a conference in Storrs, CT, we could get better. While I was far from being on the bandwagon, I’m also not going to be criticizing if we start 1-5 with a few blow outs. This was a good start. Let’s keep building, even if the injuries make it hard to win as many games as we’d like.
The running game was unbelievably strong. Whether it’s improvement in Carter, improvement in run blocking or the schemes/plays, too early to tell, but wow were we impressive until they loaded the box. Carter wasn’t top of the depth chart and there was a mention he was limited in camp. I wonder if that’s why he only got 20 carries instead of just being run again and again and again. Passing game was abysmal. Just abysmal. Chase Lundt and anyone who relieved him were overrun constantly, Turner didn’t look like he was anywhere near ready and we’ve lost our two best WRs. Ugh. To be fair to everyone, we have no idea if Roberson was or was not clearly ahead of where Turner is. He didn’t run enough plays that we would know. But in a game where you lose your QB in the second series and then your top WR, I’m not going to even begin to criticize the coaches on personnel and schemes. Let’s give Charlton a few games before fair minded people think they know enough to do that. Bottom line — if we can develope just a competent passing game we could be good offensively, but I’m concerned whether we have the talent yet to do that.
Defense was outstanding to start, got overrun in the 2d Q and then was really really solid in the second half. I got criticized for saying it looked to me like USU took their foot off the gas in the second half, and was willing to play conservatively on O until we cut it to 4, but I still think that might have happened. But we’ll see. Overall, on the road against a good, experienced team with everything happening around them, it was a solid effort. But note that, in a solid effort, we gave up 31 points and a boatload of total yards. So some good things, to be sure, but I’m not totally sold. Mitchell was a God. Didn’t see Bembry make as many plays as I was expecting/hoping. And still no hint of a pass rush, and we clearly don’t have the talent at DB to cover folks without a pass rush. So solid effort but will our D be good? Jury out
Congrats to the walk on kicker from Hall for a fabulous performance (not just the FGs but no returns allowed on 5 KOs) and I thought special teams as a whole — punting, kick returning and coverages — were reallly good. But can we please catch a punt? Even if we go Sanchez and just fair catch them all?
So I wasn’t optimistic coming into the year. A lot of good yesterday, but with all the injuries I’m not as bullish as some that there is going to be a huge improvement this year in terms of wins. But the staff gets good grades for coming in prepared and turning attitudes around, and if they can recruit adequate talent to a team without a conference in Storrs, CT, we could get better. While I was far from being on the bandwagon, I’m also not going to be criticizing if we start 1-5 with a few blow outs. This was a good start. Let’s keep building, even if the injuries make it hard to win as many games as we’d like.
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