echeese
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THUD
One word to describe the 2015 opener. . . ..THUD
3 games in a row. . ..3 blow out losses. . . .
Caveat: I have not read nor watched any commentary up to this point so my opinions are my own with no outside influence. You are welcome to agree or disagree.
From the very beginning of the game, ND set the tone. . .we were whipped on both sides of the ball. If there was ever a game that highlighted the importance of EXECUTION as the key element of football, this was the game, what we lacked in ability to block, we made up for in the ability to tackle, take good angles and make plays.
Another truism. . . the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. Whether it was continuing to roll Swoopes out at QB to the complete failure to send someone one defense as our front 4 repeatedly failed to put pressure on Zaire.
Now "give them credit" . . ...this was a better/more talented team than either Arkansas last year or what we saw this year from TCU. ND is LOADED. But that is no excuse for failures to tackle, piss poor angles or a complete lack of execution.
Before we get too depressed, there were a few (very few) positives. Malik Jefferson is a freaking beast. Nashan Hughes is a very athletic player, still needs to become a smarter football player but expect him to do well. John Burt, he's good, he's very good. Generally speaking our punter had a good night. . . but he got plenty of chances. 9 punts in all, 7 after 3 and outs. . . . .
To those claiming that uptempo/spread was the solution to our problems. . . . .I am back to reminding you that in real world football. . . .the style of offensive is far less important than the quality of execution. Now ND being more talented is a factor but we never even got into their red zone. So much for red zone effectiveness. . . maybe vs Rice.
Can someone tell Jonathan Gray to worry less about throwing his arms in the air and a whole lot more focus on blitz pick up. . . .saw him get blown up at least once then complete whiff and almost cost Jerrod Heard to get sacked for a safety. And since we are singling out some individual players. . . . Duke Thomas wasted no time re-establishing his "Toast" moniker. Our opponents have to be licking their chops. They are seniors, I expect more from them. But they were hardly alone in missed tackles and blown assignments.
One positive, if this game is any indication. . . no worries about Harsin Ridgeway jumping to the show early. . .. oh lordy how we missed Malcom Brown. More than a little blame on Bedford for the complete lack of adjustments. . . was getting no push all night from the front 4 but we seldom saw a blitz. . .when we did (and the blitzer wasn't faked completely out of his jock) . ..we got pressure. . . .but hey, let's not do that. . it worked.
They say the biggest improvement comes between week 1 and week 2. . . another piece of good news. . we have LOTS of room for improvement.
Sorry. . .not sure what the staff sees in Swoopes. . . same guy as last year. I can only hope/assume Heard got hurt, otherwise cannot understand why he was limited to 2 series. . . .
I was going to post this last night . .. .then I thought, sleep on it maybe you will find some future "glimmers' of hope". I do like the new offense better. . .I do think our OL gets better in time . . .I thought the D would be a strength but their fundamentals were not existent . . .Hughes and Jefferson are studs. Having to really work to find the pluses.
One word to describe the 2015 opener. . . ..THUD
3 games in a row. . ..3 blow out losses. . . .
Caveat: I have not read nor watched any commentary up to this point so my opinions are my own with no outside influence. You are welcome to agree or disagree.
From the very beginning of the game, ND set the tone. . .we were whipped on both sides of the ball. If there was ever a game that highlighted the importance of EXECUTION as the key element of football, this was the game, what we lacked in ability to block, we made up for in the ability to tackle, take good angles and make plays.
Another truism. . . the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. Whether it was continuing to roll Swoopes out at QB to the complete failure to send someone one defense as our front 4 repeatedly failed to put pressure on Zaire.
Now "give them credit" . . ...this was a better/more talented team than either Arkansas last year or what we saw this year from TCU. ND is LOADED. But that is no excuse for failures to tackle, piss poor angles or a complete lack of execution.
Before we get too depressed, there were a few (very few) positives. Malik Jefferson is a freaking beast. Nashan Hughes is a very athletic player, still needs to become a smarter football player but expect him to do well. John Burt, he's good, he's very good. Generally speaking our punter had a good night. . . but he got plenty of chances. 9 punts in all, 7 after 3 and outs. . . . .
To those claiming that uptempo/spread was the solution to our problems. . . . .I am back to reminding you that in real world football. . . .the style of offensive is far less important than the quality of execution. Now ND being more talented is a factor but we never even got into their red zone. So much for red zone effectiveness. . . maybe vs Rice.
Can someone tell Jonathan Gray to worry less about throwing his arms in the air and a whole lot more focus on blitz pick up. . . .saw him get blown up at least once then complete whiff and almost cost Jerrod Heard to get sacked for a safety. And since we are singling out some individual players. . . . Duke Thomas wasted no time re-establishing his "Toast" moniker. Our opponents have to be licking their chops. They are seniors, I expect more from them. But they were hardly alone in missed tackles and blown assignments.
One positive, if this game is any indication. . . no worries about Harsin Ridgeway jumping to the show early. . .. oh lordy how we missed Malcom Brown. More than a little blame on Bedford for the complete lack of adjustments. . . was getting no push all night from the front 4 but we seldom saw a blitz. . .when we did (and the blitzer wasn't faked completely out of his jock) . ..we got pressure. . . .but hey, let's not do that. . it worked.
They say the biggest improvement comes between week 1 and week 2. . . another piece of good news. . we have LOTS of room for improvement.
Sorry. . .not sure what the staff sees in Swoopes. . . same guy as last year. I can only hope/assume Heard got hurt, otherwise cannot understand why he was limited to 2 series. . . .
I was going to post this last night . .. .then I thought, sleep on it maybe you will find some future "glimmers' of hope". I do like the new offense better. . .I do think our OL gets better in time . . .I thought the D would be a strength but their fundamentals were not existent . . .Hughes and Jefferson are studs. Having to really work to find the pluses.
