DomeHolmes
2nd String
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- Sep 3, 2024
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Like everyone on here. I’m a big fan of Nixon. This is the first game I’ve seen him call that I would say was sub par. Some of the things he did worked out, but they were questionable and risky.
Starting with the fourth down play with Villari sneak. It was fourth and almost 2. That play call is only really safe for fourth and a foot or two. (And he followed Collins who somehow wound up at the second level after whiffing his initial block). Hate using a gimmick to get short yardage against UConn, and fail.
It seemed like it took a long time for him to figure out what Yukon was doing. They would rush five and then drop four straight across about 7 yards deep with two safeties. We kept running short patterns right into that 4 man shell coverage without enough deep routes. Sometimes they would rush four and drop five across with two safeties.
Every time we sent a post or seam route to drive off one safety, and ran Villari under it, it worked. Not sure why he did not do that more. I believe every target to villari was a completed pass. He loves to spread the ball around, but should have done that until they stopped it.
Later in the game, he started running multiple receivers between the second and third level and had success. Again, I don’t know why it took so long to do that.
Ross Simmons first TD would have ended the game right there if incomplete. It was fourth and four and all three receivers were 15 yards deep with nobody underneath. (Villari released too late) Very fortunate because the other two were blanketed. A 5 yard crosser for a check down probably would’ve made sense. He put all his eggs in one basket on that play. Grateful it worked out.
The overtime touchdown on third and one. That catch was so good, It made the ESPN top five catches. ( but it’s probably complete one out of 10 times). Had it fallen incomplete, we would’ve been all in on another fourth down play inside the 10 and sweating it out. I can’t imagine what it would be like here if that play was stuffed. I get the result was good, but would like to see him pick up the first down there.
Finally, coordination with the offensive line. (Running backs were much better picking up blitzes this game. (Nixon was huge on the two point conversion and Willis was huge on the first touchdown with excellent blocks). But it was clear the word is out Spoon still can not block a wide set speed rush or corner blitz. They attacked his side like Tennessee. Nixon has seen enough of that defensive formation to make sure everyone is coached how to beat it. One time, Nixon released out to the opposite side, which is what he should do, but was not ready for a pass and Angeli was not looking to throw it to him. Until Nixon, Angeli, and our running backs learn how to take advantage of that look, teams will use it against us.
I wish we had a real oponent next week. Playing Colgate will not tell us if we learned anything or not.
Starting with the fourth down play with Villari sneak. It was fourth and almost 2. That play call is only really safe for fourth and a foot or two. (And he followed Collins who somehow wound up at the second level after whiffing his initial block). Hate using a gimmick to get short yardage against UConn, and fail.
It seemed like it took a long time for him to figure out what Yukon was doing. They would rush five and then drop four straight across about 7 yards deep with two safeties. We kept running short patterns right into that 4 man shell coverage without enough deep routes. Sometimes they would rush four and drop five across with two safeties.
Every time we sent a post or seam route to drive off one safety, and ran Villari under it, it worked. Not sure why he did not do that more. I believe every target to villari was a completed pass. He loves to spread the ball around, but should have done that until they stopped it.
Later in the game, he started running multiple receivers between the second and third level and had success. Again, I don’t know why it took so long to do that.
Ross Simmons first TD would have ended the game right there if incomplete. It was fourth and four and all three receivers were 15 yards deep with nobody underneath. (Villari released too late) Very fortunate because the other two were blanketed. A 5 yard crosser for a check down probably would’ve made sense. He put all his eggs in one basket on that play. Grateful it worked out.
The overtime touchdown on third and one. That catch was so good, It made the ESPN top five catches. ( but it’s probably complete one out of 10 times). Had it fallen incomplete, we would’ve been all in on another fourth down play inside the 10 and sweating it out. I can’t imagine what it would be like here if that play was stuffed. I get the result was good, but would like to see him pick up the first down there.
Finally, coordination with the offensive line. (Running backs were much better picking up blitzes this game. (Nixon was huge on the two point conversion and Willis was huge on the first touchdown with excellent blocks). But it was clear the word is out Spoon still can not block a wide set speed rush or corner blitz. They attacked his side like Tennessee. Nixon has seen enough of that defensive formation to make sure everyone is coached how to beat it. One time, Nixon released out to the opposite side, which is what he should do, but was not ready for a pass and Angeli was not looking to throw it to him. Until Nixon, Angeli, and our running backs learn how to take advantage of that look, teams will use it against us.
I wish we had a real oponent next week. Playing Colgate will not tell us if we learned anything or not.
