First Chance to Watch

[All4SU]

I would not usually do a “my thoughts” on a game post. I leave that to the experts here on this board. People who are more football experienced and see more than I do. But I didn’t get a chance to watch the game yesterday as we were away, and just sat down so I could see what people on this board were talking about.

After seeing just the first half of the first quarter (2 offensive possessions for each team) here is my reaction.

I thought TD got the ball out quickly. The only time he held on too long, he looked right and there was nothing, he looked to the middle of the field and it was too late. The line collapsed into him and he took the sack.

There were two dropped passes by WRs, both of which should have been caught.

Both TD and Culpepper probably should have handed off the ball to the end around in the red zone. Instead both tried to keep it, both got stuffed. That wasn’t a pass problem, and both QBs read it the same way.

Punter and PR are doing well. Hope they can keep it up.
Play by the LB on the lateral pass was great anticipation! Love this defense.

 

[All4SU]

Next drive, a couple good quick passes by TD, nice run by the WR after a bubble screen, a good run by TD. A good roll and throw long by TD didn’t work out because of some tight D by the DB. Two breakdowns by OL to end the drive.

 

[All4SU]

Next Pitt drive they mix it up with some wildcat, gets the SU D to bend. Great sack by Thompson. Pitt misses the kick, and SU dodged a bullet.

 

[All4SU]

Next SU possession TD gets crushed by three Pitt players. Maybe TD stuck with his first option too long, but Even still there was no place to “feel the pocket change.” Whoever he went he was surrounded.

Rex comes in and throws a nice pass for a good gain, then the touchdown pass.
I haven’t watched anything else yet, but I’m guessing TD was not 100% after that play.

 

[Trueblue25]

Next SU possession TD gets crushed by three Pitt players. Maybe TD stuck with his first option too long, but Even still there was no place to “feel the pocket change.” Whoever he went he was surrounded.

Rex comes in and throws a nice pass for a good gain, then the touchdown pass.
I haven’t watched anything else yet, but I’m guessing TD was not 100% after that play.

Just end it there. Dont do this to yourself

 

[sufandu]

Next SU possession TD gets crushed by three Pitt players. Maybe TD stuck with his first option too long, but Even still there was no place to “feel the pocket change.” Whoever he went he was surrounded.

Rex comes in and throws a nice pass for a good gain, then the touchdown pass.
I haven’t watched anything else yet, but I’m guessing TD was not 100% after that play.

On the play where he had to go out Pitt brought 6 guys and TD never saw it coming. He had a guy immediately open for at least a 5 yard gain if he reads that blitz and gets rid of it.

 

[sufandu]

I saw the same things on that first possession though. The ball came out quicker. The WR drops were frustrating. There were a few times in the second half the RBs had a little room to run.

It's not all on one guy. It seems like a variety of people take turns killing drives.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Just end it there. Dont do this to yourself

I think he listened to you, hasn’t posted here since ... or maybe the rest wasn’t worth documenting

 

[All4SU]

From what I saw, TD getting the ball out quickly enough was not the issue most of the time. As someone said above. Breakdowns from various pieces at different times, and maybe some play calling that isn’t taking advantage of the TEs. Overall, it was not as hopeless as I assumed it was from looking at the stats live and reading this board. On to the home opener.

 

[RMH44]

I saw the same things on that first possession though. The ball came out quicker. The WR drops were frustrating. There were a few times in the second half the RBs had a little room to run.

It's not all on one guy. It seems like a variety of people take turns killing drives.

First drive was decent...at least they moved the sticks and it wasn't a 3 and out. I thought TD looked good and was hopeful that was a sign of improvement. Hope can be fleeting.

 

[sufandu]

First drive was decent...at least they moved the sticks and it wasn't a 3 and out. I thought TD looked good and was hopeful that was a sign of improvement. Hope can be fleeting.

Yeah, it almost looked like they worked on some specific things in practice and then as soon as things didn't go exactly as planned they reverted back to what we had seen previously. It was almost like when we heard that Dungey was trying to practice sliding to avoid taking hits, only to watch him truck someone during the next game.

 

[upperdeck]

you have 5 oline dudes.. We need to be trusting 2 of them will make a block most of the time.. When teams send 6 and we block 6 that needs to be a 50/50 at worst. When teams send 4 and we block 7 that needs to be 95% at worst.. You cant have every pass play be 3-5 yd in/out passes all day and move the ball consistently. WRs are open but it wont always be the first read so we need some blocking..

I do see signs the running game got better. needs to be 2-3x better to be functional.

 

[sufandu]

you have 5 oline dudes.. We need to be trusting 2 of them will make a block most of the time.. When teams send 6 and we block 6 that needs to be a 50/50 at worst. When teams send 4 and we block 7 that needs to be 95% at worst.. You cant have every pass play be 3-5 yd in/out passes all day and move the ball consistently. WRs are open but it wont always be the first read so we need some blocking..

I do see signs the running game got better. needs to be 2-3x better to be functional.

Sometimes you need to see that more are coming than will be blocked and be able to get the ball out for positive yardage. Some of that is play design and some is execution. On a couple of plays when they brought 6 rushers, we had a chance to make them pay for it. If we do that even for just 5 yards, they have second thoughts about bringing 6 again. Maybe we hit the short pass and they miss a tackle for a longer gain.

 

[upperdeck]

yup.. my question is how much Hot read do we allow vs progression read? For all we know he is making the correct hot read based on game prep? Or he is making the wrong one and needs more film study. I also see guys who would be open but I get the sense the WRs also are not on the same page all the time.. Harris and Tommy sure are not on some of these sight throws.

 

[sufandu]

yup.. my question is how much Hot read do we allow vs progression read? For all we know he is making the correct hot read based on game prep? Or he is making the wrong one and needs more film study. I also see guys who would be open but I get the sense the WRs also are not on the same page all the time.. Harris and Tommy sure are not on some of these sight throws.

I think about the play where he got hurt. I think it was Benson that looked back at him. I know some said that was meant to be a pump and go, but the receiver was looking back and you gotta let it fly there. At worst on that play, Benson turns up field just as Devito lets it go and it's rifled out of bounds. It didn't end up mattering there because we got the touchdown but it's those plays that get us off schedule, get the qb killed, and add to our sack numbers. If we have two sacks like that per game, that's 24 unnecessary sacks that people will fault the oline for.

 

[Ozcuse]

I think about the play where he got hurt. I think it was Benson that looked back at him. I know some said that was meant to be a pump and go, but the receiver was looking back and you gotta let it fly there. At worst on that play if Benson turns up field just as Devito lets it go and it's rifled out of bounds. It didn't end up mattering there because we got the touchdown but it's those plays that get us off schedule, get the qb killed, and add to our sack numbers. If we have two sacks like that per game, that's 24 unnecessary sacks that people will fault the oline for.

The defense smells blood and is teeing off. If we just let the ball fly on the play you're referencing and he gets hit late that's a good chance of 15 yards and auto 1st down. That will also make them think twice and hesitate on hitting the qb.

Things like that sustain drives when your offense is in a funk.

 

[AAM62]

I rewatched a bit and man, Servais had a terrible game. The running backs are really bad at pass pro, so we might as well just try and leak them out. Adams and Howard are missed solely for being more experienced/stronger when it comes to pass pro. I give Elmore all the credit in the world for what he's trying to do but he's getting bullied in pass pro as well. I just don't see this as being fixable without better personnel.