Man, in my desperation for football to start, I've been watching a lot if replays on BTN. Super frustrating how close UM was to being undefeated. They were the best team on the field in every game besides (maybe FSU). A few things that should be easy to clean up this season:
1. Stop f-ing trying to block punts. It's just not worth the risk, especially when you are controling the game. You don't need a momentum changing play when you have all the momentum. Iowa got a free possession and Perry's roughing call versus OSU was the most important play of game for OSU. Instead of getting the ball back on the 35, UM got the ball back on the 2. Next play was the pick 6, game completely changed.
2. Stop dropping the ball. Darboah, Butt, and Chesson all had huge drops that cost 1st downs and potentially the game versus OSU and Iowa. Darboah's drop versus OSU in the 4th quarter with about 4 minutes left on 3rd and 6 was way worse than Chessons versus Iowa. Both of them struggled with catching the ball with their hands versus trapping it against their chests.
3. The Pep-cat was a wasted down by the end of the season. Your offense is working, why force it?
4. Kalis was absolutely terrible and it's more noticeable when rewatching. He didn't even try to block his man versus Iowa when they got the safety - the guy he was supposed to block tackled Smith in the end zone. Potential area for addition by subtraction.
5. The dline should be great this year, but Taco was a monster.
6. Super excited about Evans/Higdon. That's a rare combination of speed and elusiveness.
7. I may eat my words, but I think the WR's could be better this year. AD and JC were both great #2 WR's, but neither had the ability to take over a game in 2016. Black/Crawford/DPJ/Martin/Johnson/Doom/Perry (who had some important catches) have a much higher ceiling.
8. We are going to miss Kenny Allen.
1. Stop f-ing trying to block punts. It's just not worth the risk, especially when you are controling the game. You don't need a momentum changing play when you have all the momentum. Iowa got a free possession and Perry's roughing call versus OSU was the most important play of game for OSU. Instead of getting the ball back on the 35, UM got the ball back on the 2. Next play was the pick 6, game completely changed.
2. Stop dropping the ball. Darboah, Butt, and Chesson all had huge drops that cost 1st downs and potentially the game versus OSU and Iowa. Darboah's drop versus OSU in the 4th quarter with about 4 minutes left on 3rd and 6 was way worse than Chessons versus Iowa. Both of them struggled with catching the ball with their hands versus trapping it against their chests.
3. The Pep-cat was a wasted down by the end of the season. Your offense is working, why force it?
4. Kalis was absolutely terrible and it's more noticeable when rewatching. He didn't even try to block his man versus Iowa when they got the safety - the guy he was supposed to block tackled Smith in the end zone. Potential area for addition by subtraction.
5. The dline should be great this year, but Taco was a monster.
6. Super excited about Evans/Higdon. That's a rare combination of speed and elusiveness.
7. I may eat my words, but I think the WR's could be better this year. AD and JC were both great #2 WR's, but neither had the ability to take over a game in 2016. Black/Crawford/DPJ/Martin/Johnson/Doom/Perry (who had some important catches) have a much higher ceiling.
8. We are going to miss Kenny Allen.
