The Obvious Thread...

[Orangeman]

First, think NW is a very good team...haven't seen their schedule, but with Mack I'd be surprised if they lose more than 2 games from here. I guess we didn't really test them phsyically to know if they can hold up in the Big 10...

So we've played two pretty good teams...Probably the one big glaring long-term concern was today's pass defense. One thing: 3-4 years ago NW looked positively lost vs our blitzes if I recall correctly...today they were 100x better. Off-setting this is their mobile QB probably saved 2-3 sacks or hurries but still a testament to coaching consistency and learning over the years. So is the Pass Defense that bad, or did we hit a worm-hole? Hoping it's a bad match-up...I will say it makes NO SENSE to me to blitz AND play 10 yards off the outside receivers.

Offense, we basically have 3 key questions: 1) Can the line be serviceable? 2) Is it the QB? 3) Are we playing the right skill players in the right spots?

My thoughts:

1) Probably yes...remember, we're running the read option but we don't actually present the QB-running part of the option (the one keeper today went for like 7 yards). Foy looked scary early on the right side but pressure wasn't really the problem. So let's say the line can be average...

2) QB. Boy...the basic throws are fine...everything else seems sub-average: command. Ball Security. Reads before snap. Reads after snap. Am I drunk or is the "balls-tipped-or-batted-down" stat here off the charts? The real problem I see here is we only saw TH vs. the 3rd teamers...to me, that's on the coaches, of the 40 or so drives this season we should have seen him on more than 1 (see NW use of QBs). This may be an unknowledgable call but to me the team just lifted when Hunt was in there: faster to the line, faster to get plays off, crisper, more confident, etc etc. What's the risk? We lose Allen psychologically? Well, the 3rd-stringer was our back-up all last year...I say give Hunt a chance

3) Funderburke needs a go. Broyld's role needs to be expanded but kept within 10 yards of the LOS (the 15 yard seam route when we needed a first was comical know-your-personnel coaching and quarterbacking, if you ask me...that was bad, ESPECIALLY after seeing Funderburke look like an actual WR out there later). Estime needs to play. Smith more, Gully gets pushed by the young bucks...not down on #88, but he's not a one-WR, he's a 2. #25 should be situational.

I think there's hope. As I see it, this coaching staff has clearly whiffed on a few items but I'm not ready to give up on them. They'll learn...other programs start with cupcakes, we don't...

Going to enjoy watching these expected developments play out...and hoping that Hunt's performance wasn't an illusion.

 

[orangeinjersey]

Broyld was open on that seam route, Allen just missed the throw. It was behind him and high

 

[Orangeman]

Broyld was open on that seam route, Allen just missed the throw. It was behind him and high

Don't disagree, he was "open". The throw wasn't that bad though, it's just thrown to the wrong guy. Ashton Broyld probably hasn't made that catch in his entire life. He didn't even try to catch it in fact, just threw a hand up...he's not trained to make that play.

If the throw was any lighter we'd be talking about another Int from Allen.

That's not the guy you'd want trying to catch that against a Big 10 team when you need a first down, in my opinion. Unless you had noone else, which I thought initially, then I saw that we got guys that are probably pretty good at that.

 

[orangeinohio]

I'm cherry picking but there was an easy 3rd down pass to Jerome Smith in the 2nd half that Allen airmailed somehow. I just don't think he has, so far, shown much touch on his passes and he isn't progressing.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I'm cherry picking but there was an easy 3rd down pass to Jerome Smith in the 2nd half that Allen airmailed somehow. I just don't think he has, so far, shown much touch on his passes and he isn't progressing.

He finished 27-41, Take out the interceptions, and he only missed 10 times in 41 throws. He was getting 10-15 yards per catch from his receivers in the 2nd half. He had a good rhythm in the 3rd and early 4th quarters. He just forced way too many passes instead of throwing them away.

He seems like a smart kid. Maybe with a couple easy opponents now, and some film work, he polishes up. I see him as not starting out as well as I hoped, but visibly improving.

 

[florange44]

I'm cherry picking but there was an easy 3rd down pass to Jerome Smith in the 2nd half that Allen airmailed somehow. I just don't think he has, so far, shown much touch on his passes and he isn't progressing.

You are cherry picking but there are too many examples of mis-using the personnel. That pass in the flat, while not the best throw, should have been thrown to gulley or estime. We know that smith is not much of a pass catcher. Another time on 3rd & 2, we ran gulley off tackle. I'd rather see smith get that carry. The seam route to broyld and the long pass down the sideline to broyld both indicate that those are not his best plays. We seem to be using the wrong players for the plays. Feed your playmakers! I'm not giving up on McDonald, he needs to grow into the role though.

Florange44