This game reminded me of Indiana minus the turnovers and add in the punt return for a TD. In many ways, the game summary is that the Freshmen came to play. Unexpectedly, we have a very young team. Young teams are inconsistent and make mistakes. So we physically dominated a team that got destroyed by tOSU the week before. However, we made so many dumb mistakes that it let them gather themselves and gain momentum. Who's idea was it to let a freshman QB stand in the pocket and pass with no pressure? Regardless, after getting punched in the nose in Q2, we stabilized and punched back. That is a maturing step for us.
O
Overall, a healthy win. The team made some mistakes in Q2 but given our conservative O in Q4 it was a solid win against an opponent that isn't very good. This team beat Michigan before they folded, and Northwestern so they are capable. This is what we are getting: some spotty play due to a lot of young kids getting substantial playing time with little or no time to prepare. But we are improving and the future is not quite bright but promising. It will be interesting to see who comes back.
Let's go beat ILL and then escape without a losing season.
O
- Looks like K-Lee is our #1 back. I love the kid and love what he does. Let's see if he can improve his straight-line speed. RB will be a heck of a competition next spring assuming we don't get 18 injuries.
- I still think that SC is thinking too much. he makes a great pass then a few that look like Hackenberg after a banger. He throws the slant pattern well. I am not sure why we run the fade so much other than we need to take the top off and don't have that burner. But I did notice the absence of the fade in this game. baby steps!
- Sparty came in to stop the run. Our first play was a run, then three passes in a row. If not for a dumb hold inside the ten, we get a TD but ended up settling for a FG.
- after a Sparty TD, we drive the field for a TD with a nifty run by SC for 31 yards that looked like Sparty was way out of position. So the O was moving with 10 points in our first three drives.
- We then punted twice and the D gave up two TDs in the 2nd leading to a 21 -10 halftime lead and it looking pretty bleak for the seniors in their last games
- We then go TD, TD, Punt, TD in our next four possessions.
- The Levis "sneak" is interesting. There is no sneak about it. But it is working and working well. Why change? I gut when he gets in our third of fourth and short it is predictable but I believe it was only stopped once all game. He is listed at 230 but I suspect he is bigger than that, and he is all muscle so the weight isn't wasted weight. I mean, the entire defense knows that is happening and can't seem to stop him. He took, and delivered, a heck of a shot late in the game. Levis also had three passes for 18 yards (3 for 3)
- I've got no problem with going into a shell late with a sizable lead for this team. It is fragile, mentally, and is prone to turnovers.
- I love that fake WR screen play to Dotson. The coaches dialed it up at the right time. Dotson was having a day. No way to stop a WR quick screen without the CB and S crashing. So Washington fakes the block and takes off. I recall us getting a TD on a fake to Barkley years ago. It was a poor pass, however, and Washington made a good move to get into the endzone.
- Washington with TWO TDs and he and SC seem to be able to complete that slant play at will.
- over 200 yard receiving between Dotson and Washington. it's great when you have more than one threat...in fact, it is needed.
- Again, we play a QB with little experience and make him look like an all American. I have no idea what our staff was thinking in the second quarter letting this kid stand back and pick us apart in a cover two. At least against Neb the kid could run. Thorne isn't a good runner, at all. So dialing up blitzes seems to be a no brainer. Maybe we were just afraid of blown assignments as we used a lot of kids, young ones to boot.
- Looked to me like Sparty avoided JP Jr. Pretty cool to be avoided when you are a true Frosh CB.
- Having said that, Spary was making plays. The QB was putting it on a dime and the WRs were making some great cached, including a 6-7 WR.
- Sparty's RB, Simmons, was giving us fits at only 200 lbs. Kid is a Frosh. I think Sparty is going to be OK with their new coach and roster in the coming years.
- Having said that, the D made a stand when it counted.
- Brisker may be our second-best defensive player as he had 9 tackles, the second really good game in a row. After him, Simmons and Brooks had 7. I'd love to have Brisker and Simmons back next year.
- This was the ST best game of the year. Doton's punt return TD (surprise) was key to putting an end to the game. But we also had another good kickoff return (Wade) and made a FG (1 for 1 in the game)
- the only gaffe was Tarburton returning a kickoff. I have to think Sparty kicked it to him as part of something they saw on film or during the game. We can't have DE's returning kickoffs.
Overall, a healthy win. The team made some mistakes in Q2 but given our conservative O in Q4 it was a solid win against an opponent that isn't very good. This team beat Michigan before they folded, and Northwestern so they are capable. This is what we are getting: some spotty play due to a lot of young kids getting substantial playing time with little or no time to prepare. But we are improving and the future is not quite bright but promising. It will be interesting to see who comes back.
Let's go beat ILL and then escape without a losing season.
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