Here is another game review I put together. I try to focus on the o-line, because I have a decent understanding of it and it is easy to figure out their assignments. But I watch both sides of the ball, so lets give is a go. Also, so far, doing these this year is way more enjoyable than last year.
Offense:
On the offenses first drive, we run on first and second. It goes for 1 yard and then 2 yards. Knevel is the reason why it was 3rd and 7 and not 1st and 10. On the first play, it is a zone blocking scheme and he just doesn’t stay engaged long enough. On second down, it’s a gap blocking scheme and he takes a bucket step and gets pinched down. If he fires off and gets any push (or no push and just doesn’t step back) the run goes for 5-7. --- I must say though, Knevel did a lot better in pass pro this week compared to last. Pass pro in general for the entire line was great on Saturday.
On our second drive, our o-line dominated. On first down, it was either a bad read by Tommy or a hell of a play by the DE (zone read). Blocked really well though. The next play was a QB power and it was blocked superbly. Just didn't get the first down. On 3rd down, TA had a great pocket. It was either great coverage or a poor throw. Can’t tell from the broadcast.
You want to see how to block a screen? Go to 34:24. Then pause it at the 35:00 mark and marvel at the beauty of it. Damn fine screen.
You want to see a well blocked run? Go to 50:31. That is hat-on-hat, engaged run blocking. Love seeing linemen engaged 5 yards past the LOS.
Armstrong had clean pockets to throw in all game. This game has been the best pass pro I have seen out of our o-line in a very long time.
I said this last week and I am going to say it again, we ask our TEs too much in the run game. They fail on the edge a lot. The fly sweep to DPE, Carter and Cotton are the reason that play failed.
O-line overall –
Knevel and Utter struggle at times. Knevel struggles in run blocking and pass pro, where Utter struggles more in run blocking. (2:12:16 - example of a poor Utter play. High snap, missed block. Ugly.)
Despite those two struggling some, the o-line dominated. I mean really dominated most of the game. Every starter had at least one play where they didn't get their job done. But for the most part, they were impressive.
The RBs -
It was nice to see Wilbon get playing time early. He got more snaps on Saturday that his entire career combined. Maybe the light has switched on for him?
Newby is a different back this year. He used to have trouble being decisive, but he seems to hit the hole so much better now.
Ozigbo is a really, really good RB. He can pound it. He can read defenses. He makes nice cuts. Always falls forward. He is a stud.
Bryant has a future, gotta clean up the fumbles.
Play calling –
I have read some criticism over it. I think they need to rewatch the game and take another look. I thought it was great. The screens, the QB draws/powers/counters.
The swing pass to Wilbon get some flack. Watch the play before (where Bryant fumbles). Wilbon is wide open on the swing route in the flat. That is why the next play was a swing route. I don’t think it was a bad play call, it was poor execution. In fact, I loved that how Langs was setting up plays. And that play is a nice example of it.
Langs did a great jobs setting up plays in the run game all day, IMO. – Also, he didn’t abandon the run. Look at our last drive for the TD. We pounded the rock. Last year, Langs is throwing like there is no tomorrow.
He setup play action in the zone read game a lot. It was beautiful. On 3rd and short and 4th and short, we did what we were supposed to and ran the QB sneak. I thought he showed how much he has grown as a playcaller on Saturday. Color me impressed.
QB-
Last week I was critical of Armstrong's decision making. This week, I think he showed a lot of growth. I only counted two decisions that I thought were really bad. The first (1:05:04) was the 3rds and goal and he threw into double coverage and it was almost a pick. Luckily it was a PI. The second is where Tommy gets flushed from the pocket and heaves it to Morgan. That was somehow not called pass interference (we had a lot of questionable PI's go our way, but somehow this one wasn't called). Dangerous pass, could have got Morgan hurt and could have been picked. That is where he needs to throw it out of bounds. (A third could be the very next play where he takes a sack instead of throwing it away on the sideline - but I feel that is being too nitpicky. I am only talking about really poor decisions).... So all in all, I call that decision making growth.
He threw the ball well all day. He ran the ball very well. And he is one hell of a competitor.
Defense:
I love how we blitz off the edge with the CBs. It gets good pressure and they can do the fake blitz action and it makes the QB think. On the first play of the game, Kalu acts like he will be blitzing and the QB has to stop, talk to his line and makes an adjustment.
Young is a good LB. Outside of MRI, I think he is our best. He fills the gaps hard and is fast to the hole. He is a stud. MRI was also fantastic yesterday.
Banderas on the other-hand, gets blocked too easily and looks slow to react to the plays. But he did make a heck of a play on the first play of their third drive. Nice tackle on the edge, he was moving. But overall, he is slow to react and get to the play.
Kalu played really well in the run and the pass. He is the best corner on the team, by far.
The defense struggled against the zone read where they read Maurice. The long TD run (after our fumbled swing pass) and one after we scored to make it 28-20 went for 15 or so. I am surprised they didn't run that more at us. It was killing the D.
Overall:
Freeman’s injury sure helped. That guy is a stud. We had a hard time getting him to the turf.
Boy, I am glad DPE is back. It is pretty clear his confidence in the beginning wasn’t fully there. On the second return he called for a fair catch and the closest player was 6 yards away when he caught it. And he had room to run (18:29). But his return that he broke, holy smokes that was the DPE of old. Caught it while getting hit, eludes 3 guys that are on top of him and busts it for 42 yards. Welcome back kid, we missed you.
It is nice to have some things break our way. The fumble on the fake fly sweep that hit Morgan in the chest would have been devastating. That false start could not have come at a better time. We had some pass interference calls that were questionable that went our way and a holding call that seemed borderline. It is the opposite of last year and I will take every one of them.
This is a different team this year. When things are turning against them, they bow up and stick it out. After the swing pass fumble, they scored on a long run the next play. We come out and have a short 5-6 play drive. They get the ball back and we stop them 3-and-out. Last year, and frankly for the last 5-6 years, they would score again and the game would start to get away from us. It happened again late in the game too. They drive 95 yards and take the lead. We go 3-and-out. And the defense makes them go 3-and-out to keep us alive. It is great to see. It seems like they finally have some composure and leadership.
Lastly, the secondary is much improved this year. Crazy compared to last year. Stats of the first 2 games of 2015 were:
BYU - 28/46 (60.87%), 379 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
S. Alabama - 26/45 (57.78%) 313 yards, 1 TDs, 1 INT
Miami - 25/42 (59.52%) 379 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Fresno St. - 24/43 (55.81%) 243 yards, 1 TDs, 2 INT
Wyoming - 16/32 (50.00%) 189 yards, 1 TDs, 5 INT
Oregon - 14/23 (60.87%) 146 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT
EDIT- Forgot to mention, Lightbourne was lights out. ANd we had too many drops. Mainly by Morgan and Carter.
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