I haven't posted these this year but felt compelled to do so after having attended the bowl game. Sorry, it is late. Been a crazy week.
Overall, I felt that the absence of a DC and OC killed us more than the players. It looked like we stuck with the pregame plan no matter how the game played out. Why? My guess is that nobody had the authority to change it. It had to be changed "by committee" and that didn't happen. I've heard rumors that the banished OC wasn't taking recommendations from CJF and that is why he was fired mid-season. If that was the case, I am sure position coaches didn't want to look like they were crossing CJF in this game, even when the game dictated adjustments were needed. In defense of CJF, with LoI day, portals, looking for an OC and filling for a DC all within a few weeks was an impossible ask.
General:
Our Defense with Ole Miss' offense
Overall, I felt that the absence of a DC and OC killed us more than the players. It looked like we stuck with the pregame plan no matter how the game played out. Why? My guess is that nobody had the authority to change it. It had to be changed "by committee" and that didn't happen. I've heard rumors that the banished OC wasn't taking recommendations from CJF and that is why he was fired mid-season. If that was the case, I am sure position coaches didn't want to look like they were crossing CJF in this game, even when the game dictated adjustments were needed. In defense of CJF, with LoI day, portals, looking for an OC and filling for a DC all within a few weeks was an impossible ask.
General:
- Just a great venue. Mercedes Benz Stadium, or the "MBS" as the locals call it, is just phenomenal. This has been posted several times so won't get into game experience but it was really good. The stadium is easily the best I've attended. I hear SoFi and the Vegas stadiums are great but I haven't been there.
- I had seats in the first row of the upper deck. Not having anyone in front is great but the view was really fantastic for watching plays develop. I was just above the PSU band. I bought the seats on Megaseats a few days before. I probably should have waited until the night before but didn't want these front row seats to get away.
- The Ole Miss gals were the most attractive I've ever seen at a football game. Most were dressed up. Many wore white cowboy boots and short skirts (dallas cowboy cheerleader-ish). But many just wore high heeled boots with a skirt, dress or tight jeans. But most, even the older, were in good shape. I contrast this to most PSU gals that wore jeans or sweats with running shoes. I know, our academic standards are higher, amiright?
- I am not a big fan of the ATL but the city is just right for these big events. We flew into ATL and checked into the AC Gateway hotel. There were a half dozen hotels there and it is off the first stop on the tram that takes you to the rental cars. So we could take the tram to the hotel, take it back to the airport and get on the MARTA. MARTA literally stopped at the basketball arena in the sports complex area. So we were at the stadium a half hour after walking out of our hotel: No parking, no traffic, no hassles. Friday night we watched a bowl game at Champions Sports bar while getting some bar food at the Marriott a block from the AC hotel. In the end, transportation was better, faster and more comfortable at almost no cost, parking, rental or hassle.
- Our band members can really dance. Much better than the Ole Miss band.
- I am not sure if people say it but Ole Miss had an assistant make up a burner X (twitter) account like it was a PSU reporter and reported that Kalen King said that PSU was going to hammer Ole Miss. It was exposed before the game, and admitted to by Kiffin, that this was done with his knowledge by a coaching staff member. I think that is really bush league and why a guy like Kiffin, an offensive genius, isn't coaching a blue blood program.
Our Defense with Ole Miss' offense
- We were clearly undermanned with several blown coverages. We were better in the trenches. I know we started some young CBs but how can you NOT KNOW giving up inside leverage when you line up two yards from the OOBs line isn't ideal?
- Giving credit where due, Dart was throwing dimes (see, I didn't say "dart") and the receivers (all of them) were catching everything. Their offense was very creative and very well-called. The quick toss, faked or real, would probably still be working today if we played the game for five days straight. The CB/S play seemed blind to the play.
- Hardy, I read, played in all 85 defensive snaps. He had to be 100% gassed. Carter getting hurt killed us and he wasn't 100% starting the game. I much appreciate Carter and Hardy's effort.
- We blitzed on every 3rd or 4th and long. It was the book. Often, we dropped a DE but no way in hell was Vanover going to be able to cover their TE or RB in the flat.
- We were very unfortunate with two bang-bang plays that could have been early turnovers. I am not saying they were bad calls but had one or both gone our way, things may have been different. And a key PI penalty was BS. But, alas, such is referring in football these days.
- Kiffen's use of tempo is the best in college football. I noticed that he would sub players in on offense when the play went out of bounds near the Ole Miss bench and the refs missed the sub in and PSU didn't have time to sub in to respond. This happened at least six times that I saw. How they execute that so fast in this detailed game situation is genius. And the refs are trying to run the clock, set the ball and too busy to notice. I think they started to notice late in the game as PSU started the "slow sub" game and the refs stopped Dart from initiating the offense but it was too late to effect the game.
- Again, coaching by committee killed us. It was clear that Singleton was on a mission and Ole Miss wasn't going to stop him. But the game plan called for a balanced offense. Despite running the ball down Ole Miss' throats, we went to the pass. Why? I have to believe nobody had the authority to go off script and thus, we played the game with the intention to follow the plan rather than win the game.
- I have to believe that there is plenty of infighting on offense. Cephas didn't play a single snap. We didn't complete a pass to a WR until well into the 4th quarter. KLS disappeared. The first two completions to a WR were to Clifford and then he disappeared.
- From my vantage, KLS was getting blown off of his routes. They were being physical with him and the QB couldn't depend on his route or cut. So he was a non-event. The other guys were getting no separation in "man" and seemed to hesitate against zone. They seemed like they were so concerned about the route that there was no physical effort.
- Singleton was wide open all day when he was in there. The TEs were superior and played well. Theo was limited due to "opting out" and that hurt us in the second half when he played sparingly (if at all). Dinkins will be good but he's not there yet.
- I like Pribula a lot but....if you watch closely, he almost drops the ball on his TD run when starting out and trying to tuck it away. Dang. And that gadget play to Allar was being set up all day and Beau threw it 16 yards too high. With some of his odd stumbles earlier in the season, he needs to learn to play within himself. I don't think the staff trusts him to be consistent and that is hurting the second QB package being used much.
- Allar actually looked better. He had a couple of good runs and extended plays. But he is often inconsistent with accuracy. It is hard to say if it is the WR or him but I don't see that inconsistency when he's throwing to a TE or RB. So....assuming we don't lose too much in the portal, next year is all about getting the WRs engaged with this offense. I hear the noise about Allar but no pocket passer is going to be good unless he's got WRs engaged. And since he plays well with TEs and RBs, I have to assume the WR is the problem.
- Having said that, not sure why we didn't run Beau more. And not sure whey we tried to kick a 53 yard FG down by 14 with 4:20 left in the game. There is less than a 50% chance of making the kick and we'd still be kicking off with a two TD deficit (11 points). I know it was 4th and 16 but even a punt to try and limit their offense deep in their own territory would have been a better outcome at that point in the game IMHO.
- why so many opt-outs late? I get that the staff may have known about some but others were clearly a surprise. while some opt outs traveled and were on the sideline, one didn't make the trip. Why? Was there a fight?
- While it is there right to opt out, I have come to the conclusion that it disgusts me. The teammate and fans invested a lot and they turned their back. It is there right. There are no rules against it. But there are lots of things in life that are "legal" but "not cool". I've lost respect for them, to be honest.
- You spend a lot of time and resources to support the team and then have a have dozen kids not show up. So why support them in bowls? Next year, the CFP teams tickets will be $400 or more. I went this year thinking it was a NYD6 game that would keep the kid's interest and still be at a reasonable price. Next year, you'll have the CFP 12 and a bunch of weed eater/poptart bowls between directional texas university and another team that just moved up a division that will be attended by 15,000 fans (mostly family and students). Big deal.
- If something doesn't change, I'll go to MAC games and will limit myself to watching major college football on TV. For three people, we probably spent $2,500 to $3,000 and that was on the cheap. (three round-trip flights, three-night hotel, three days of overpriced meals and three-days away from the rest of the family). It was fun. But I could have also spent a week at Snowbird in Utah or Key West.