Longtime lurker on a different account. First time poster.
This is just a collection of my thoughts from Saturday without looking too much at the stats. I am going to run through the five facets of any football game.
Rushing Offense: I thought our offensive line did really well especially considering there were 3 new starters. I noticed Cethan Carter multiple times really setting the edge allowing our backs to get to the linebackers or DB's before they get touched. Ozigbo easily looks the best of the backs, Bryant did well in the fourth quarter, I am still not impressed with Newby as he rarely makes a man miss or runs over somebody. In short he will get what the play is blocked for and nothing more. What I like about Ozigbo and Bryant is that they dont go down to arm tackles and have vision on our zone blocked plays to find the hole or the cutback lane.
Passing Offense: Very hard to judge where we are in this area considering we didn't throw the ball much. Tommy had a few nice throws. The rollout to Alonzo Moore that went for 20-something could have been a touchdown if he lead him up the field but thats really nitpicking and it couldve been drawn up as a back shoulder throw. I believe we are going to see a lot of the same this Saturday against Wyoming so that all Oregon has to look at is run heavy offense then we can open the rest of the playbook against them and going into B1G play without showing too much.
***Defense Disclaimer*** Fresno's points came on a blocked punt (32yd drive for TD) and Giffords targeting penalty that gave them new life after 3rd & 12ish.
Rushing Defense: Not much to worry about here. Kept them under 50 yards for the game. Our defensive line did a good job holding the Line of Scrimmage and the linebackers did not let much get past them. Their longest run was a 19 yard run on a scramble on 3rd & 20.
Passing Defense: Missing Gerry hurt more in the pre-snap game than it did once the play actually started. Kieron Williams played really well, he had double digit tackles and a pick. Pass rush was a concern going in and it still is but Ross Dzuris had 2 of the teams four sacks. Banker also showed that he really like Kalu coming from the nickel spot and trusts Aaron Williams in man-to-man coverage in spots. Alex Davis looked good late rushing the passer. A lot of Fresno States throws were three step curls to the outside which is where the Cover 3 is the most vulnerable. Lamar Jackson seemed to be on the wrong end of alot of Peck's (fresno wr) best catches but its his first game as a true freshman, he will get better and could be a force come mid October.
Special Teams: I noticed a lot of ppl unhappy with Bruce Read last year and nothing is new already this year. The blocked punt is because the middle guy in our wall fell over instead of blocking anybody and the middle was open which is where the block came from. The punt return game was disappointing but Fresno States punter never gave us anything to work with. Would I have liked to see DPE out there? Yes. Is it worth him trying to make a play and taking a big hit on a play he shouldnt be on the field for? No.
These are just things I noticed and I really think we could be in for a special season this year. Wisconsin looks a lot tougher now and I hope everyone else enjoyed the SEC losing all those games as much as I did.
This is just a collection of my thoughts from Saturday without looking too much at the stats. I am going to run through the five facets of any football game.
Rushing Offense: I thought our offensive line did really well especially considering there were 3 new starters. I noticed Cethan Carter multiple times really setting the edge allowing our backs to get to the linebackers or DB's before they get touched. Ozigbo easily looks the best of the backs, Bryant did well in the fourth quarter, I am still not impressed with Newby as he rarely makes a man miss or runs over somebody. In short he will get what the play is blocked for and nothing more. What I like about Ozigbo and Bryant is that they dont go down to arm tackles and have vision on our zone blocked plays to find the hole or the cutback lane.
Passing Offense: Very hard to judge where we are in this area considering we didn't throw the ball much. Tommy had a few nice throws. The rollout to Alonzo Moore that went for 20-something could have been a touchdown if he lead him up the field but thats really nitpicking and it couldve been drawn up as a back shoulder throw. I believe we are going to see a lot of the same this Saturday against Wyoming so that all Oregon has to look at is run heavy offense then we can open the rest of the playbook against them and going into B1G play without showing too much.
***Defense Disclaimer*** Fresno's points came on a blocked punt (32yd drive for TD) and Giffords targeting penalty that gave them new life after 3rd & 12ish.
Rushing Defense: Not much to worry about here. Kept them under 50 yards for the game. Our defensive line did a good job holding the Line of Scrimmage and the linebackers did not let much get past them. Their longest run was a 19 yard run on a scramble on 3rd & 20.
Passing Defense: Missing Gerry hurt more in the pre-snap game than it did once the play actually started. Kieron Williams played really well, he had double digit tackles and a pick. Pass rush was a concern going in and it still is but Ross Dzuris had 2 of the teams four sacks. Banker also showed that he really like Kalu coming from the nickel spot and trusts Aaron Williams in man-to-man coverage in spots. Alex Davis looked good late rushing the passer. A lot of Fresno States throws were three step curls to the outside which is where the Cover 3 is the most vulnerable. Lamar Jackson seemed to be on the wrong end of alot of Peck's (fresno wr) best catches but its his first game as a true freshman, he will get better and could be a force come mid October.
Special Teams: I noticed a lot of ppl unhappy with Bruce Read last year and nothing is new already this year. The blocked punt is because the middle guy in our wall fell over instead of blocking anybody and the middle was open which is where the block came from. The punt return game was disappointing but Fresno States punter never gave us anything to work with. Would I have liked to see DPE out there? Yes. Is it worth him trying to make a play and taking a big hit on a play he shouldnt be on the field for? No.
These are just things I noticed and I really think we could be in for a special season this year. Wisconsin looks a lot tougher now and I hope everyone else enjoyed the SEC losing all those games as much as I did.
