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- Aug 24, 2011
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O.K., I'm sure that I would have seen more if I was at the stadium, and not stuck at a Bar conference in Chicago, but I did see the game so here goes. First, that was an outstanding defensive effort. The D played more than well enough to win against an explosive opponent. If we can continue that .... Andrew Adams was great. I thought Graham Stewart played his best game as a Husky by far. I thought Adeyami played really well. Great team effort. Just two negatives I would point out. We must, must be training the DBs to not turn and find the ball in the air. I know the college rules are different than the NFL rules and not as many penalties are called, but you can't play the ball if you don't find it. As for individuals, I've been saying I think Melinfonwu is overrated for two years now, but enough is enough. He is just making mistake after mistake after mistake. There needs to be another answer at Safety, no matter who it is.
Special teams, overall, played Boise more or less to a draw, and then made the big play on the fumble recovery. I wish we were better returning kicks (making athletic plays against Stony Brook don't count), but we're getting reliable kicking and coverage and the year to year improvement has been noticeable.
So if the D played well enough to win and the special teams played well enough to win, ... ? Oh yes, the offense. The offense showed some signs of life with the QB play (more in a minute), but you can only win with the amount of total offense we have if you play Edsall ball and don't turn it over. The difference in the game was we turned it over 3 times and they turned it over once. Period. Nothing more. So look at the three turnovers. Three games, and three different TBs have changed the complexion of the game with early fumbles. I assume Ron Johnson will be the culprit in Tampa on Friday night. Ugh. And then two late picks after taking good care of the ball by Chandler for most of the game. As for Mr. Whitmer, given the fact that the OL got totally overrun in the first half, and couldn't run block either, I thought he played well. Add to that that he is still not getting help from his receivers and after a crips start he got pulled so Boyle could play the third series, and it was a promising start to his last chance. Certainly much better than the first two games. But, but, but, it all gets undone when he then throws the two 4th Q picks and takes us out of the game. Is this what HCBD's choice is with him? Ever reign him in and watch him play poorly or let him play and watch the TOs kill us? I don't know. I think off this game it's too early to beat up on him, but it is a legitimate Q. I like the way Ron Johnson runs. Maybe we do give him an early chance to fumble this week? OL has to be better. Not much else to say.
So exhibition season is over. Do I think we maximized our chance to beat BYU and Boise? No. No argument. But were we likely to be 1-2 anyway, but now we are there with the whole team feeling like their play matters and practicing harder? I don't think, in hindsight, you can criticize HCBD here for anything other than a poor choice of words. Do I like all the play calling? NO. But no one ever likes all the play calling of a staff, and this is a new one. People have to lighten up on this. Do I hope the substitutions slow down? Yes. Please. Especially as to WR. But now we start playing the conference games so let's see what happens.
So we're 1-2. BYU was about what I expected. Stony Brook was far, far, far worse. But Boise was hopeful. So the next two games will go a long way towards shaping this season. Sweep them and bowling is probable. Get swept and bowling will be near impossible. Split them and we'll be fighting for a spot all year. Which, as I've been saying, would not be a bad result for what HCBD inherited. The D played more than well enough Saturday to give us a chance to win every game remaining against the crap teams our schedule is littered with. The O has to either step it up a bit in the running game and pass protection, or it has to eliminate the turnovers. We will have to see. But I'm far, far, far more optimistic than I was a week ago. Ask me again in two weeks.
Special teams, overall, played Boise more or less to a draw, and then made the big play on the fumble recovery. I wish we were better returning kicks (making athletic plays against Stony Brook don't count), but we're getting reliable kicking and coverage and the year to year improvement has been noticeable.
So if the D played well enough to win and the special teams played well enough to win, ... ? Oh yes, the offense. The offense showed some signs of life with the QB play (more in a minute), but you can only win with the amount of total offense we have if you play Edsall ball and don't turn it over. The difference in the game was we turned it over 3 times and they turned it over once. Period. Nothing more. So look at the three turnovers. Three games, and three different TBs have changed the complexion of the game with early fumbles. I assume Ron Johnson will be the culprit in Tampa on Friday night. Ugh. And then two late picks after taking good care of the ball by Chandler for most of the game. As for Mr. Whitmer, given the fact that the OL got totally overrun in the first half, and couldn't run block either, I thought he played well. Add to that that he is still not getting help from his receivers and after a crips start he got pulled so Boyle could play the third series, and it was a promising start to his last chance. Certainly much better than the first two games. But, but, but, it all gets undone when he then throws the two 4th Q picks and takes us out of the game. Is this what HCBD's choice is with him? Ever reign him in and watch him play poorly or let him play and watch the TOs kill us? I don't know. I think off this game it's too early to beat up on him, but it is a legitimate Q. I like the way Ron Johnson runs. Maybe we do give him an early chance to fumble this week? OL has to be better. Not much else to say.
So exhibition season is over. Do I think we maximized our chance to beat BYU and Boise? No. No argument. But were we likely to be 1-2 anyway, but now we are there with the whole team feeling like their play matters and practicing harder? I don't think, in hindsight, you can criticize HCBD here for anything other than a poor choice of words. Do I like all the play calling? NO. But no one ever likes all the play calling of a staff, and this is a new one. People have to lighten up on this. Do I hope the substitutions slow down? Yes. Please. Especially as to WR. But now we start playing the conference games so let's see what happens.
So we're 1-2. BYU was about what I expected. Stony Brook was far, far, far worse. But Boise was hopeful. So the next two games will go a long way towards shaping this season. Sweep them and bowling is probable. Get swept and bowling will be near impossible. Split them and we'll be fighting for a spot all year. Which, as I've been saying, would not be a bad result for what HCBD inherited. The D played more than well enough Saturday to give us a chance to win every game remaining against the crap teams our schedule is littered with. The O has to either step it up a bit in the running game and pass protection, or it has to eliminate the turnovers. We will have to see. But I'm far, far, far more optimistic than I was a week ago. Ask me again in two weeks.