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Message: [QUOTE="OttoinGrotto, post: 11626, member: 297"] I'll begin with the negatives so that the post ends on a positive note. The crap: - Others have mentioned it, but we have an extremely undisciplined defense. I don't know how much that will improve over the course of the season, because some of the worst offenders are found among our most experienced players. - I really do not think los hermanos Thomas have what it takes to play together [I]right now[/I] in pass defense. They just aren't very good in coverage together, and I think their individual weakness there compounds the problem. - Compounding problems are an issue on the offensive line too. I think having weak guys next to each other is killing us. I didn't realize it was so bad that a subdivision team could push us around though. - I do not like the way Bailey is being deployed on offense. Last year he was a very efficient and effective two-way back. This season he's being used as a one-dimensional player, and no, splitting him wide with an empty backfield is not the same. I think posters are right to be concerned about whether Ant is an everydown back. I also think we should be concerned about whether he is being placed in a position that maximizes his strengths and to be successful. - I think a lot of people are barking up the wrong tree thinking that AAM is a difference maker right now. If he was ready I think he would be out there and featured somewhat. I am certain that even if he does play and carry the rock he doesn't magically improve our run blocking by simply gracing the backfield with his presence. - SWC said elsewhere that he'd take Long punting out of the endzone, but Raupers from midfield to pin the opponent. I think that's an extremely nice way of saying that Raupers doesn't have the requisite leg to be an average D-1 punter. - Our tackling and inability to make stops on third down is really, really discouraging. The good: - I think between Chew and Lemon we have two really, really good wideouts (Sales could have made the mix really special). I'm curious just how good Chew really is. I think he might be an NFL wideout - he's certainly not the skinny kid he once was. I think we're seeing what those guys can do now that they're healthy. The problems Lemon had with drops seem to be gone now that his hands aren't injured. Funny how that works. I never understood how a guy with issues catching the ball left highschool as his state's all-time leader in receptions (people are picking up on what I'm saying, right? Right? Injuries to the hands affect guys when they try to catch the ball, right?). You can go ahead and call me Ottostradamus, because on the exGF board I called him as our breakout player during the slow summer days of few posts, and that's how he's going to finish the season. I don't expect him to maintain his current pace, but if he does he'll demolish the school's career receptions record [U]this[/U] season. - The interior DL has performed better than I expected. I'm cautiously optimistic that we're ok here. - Shamarko is so good against the run. If there's a better safety in run support I'd like to see him. - I LOVED that we were aggressive on 4th down. It was the right call to go for it instead of pooch punting or opting for a field goal. LOVE it. Now, if we end up in similar situations against USC and the other name teams on our schedule and aren't as aggressive, I'm going to bemoan the return to scaredy cat football. Play to win guys, not to have a close game late that we hope to pull out. - Nassib's on a ridiculous run. I'd say 6 TDs against 1 int averaging 250 yards and completing better than 70% of his passes is a pretty good start. Two games in he's also 25% of the way to breaking his own record for pass completions in a season. He also has got to have a ridiculous 4th quarter efficiency rating. Close and late the guy just gets the job done. - We just need 4 more. [/QUOTE]

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