Good:
- Devin Bush is still an animal, no surprise. Alot of time his plays are based on his explosiveness but on several occasions yesterday I saw him read through the oncoming interior blocks, shed, and tackle. That's my concern with a sub 6' ILB but it doesn't appear to be much for him.
- Brandon Watson (And really the entire secondary) is a ballplayer as well. I'd never been that excited about having Watson in the game but he really is assignment sound and tough on the outside.
- Ty Issac is turning the corner in his career here. He actually is running with some enthusiasm behind those pads. Still a bit stiff in his lateral movements but he fits this scheme pretty well just running downhill. I know Issac was rolling yesterday but still surprised with how he got the featured role and little else went to Evans and Higdon.
- WRs/TEs- Outside of that awful Shoenle hold, I really like this group. It's a shame Speight can deliver a few more within a semi's reach of them (even if they have someone on their hips). Perry was awesome and on that long ball for Gentry--he did a nice job of turning the LBs hips one way and swimming underneath for separation. If he can become more physical there's a chance. Crawford/Perry/Black/DPJ are going to be a tough group by the middle of the B10 Schedule.
- Tyree Kinnel I believe he whiffed on that long run by Moore? But outside of that he's a damn heady player that seems to always find himself around the ball.
Bad:
- Wilton Speight bothers me (and most) to no end. Let me say, I love his presence in the pocket and the way he views the game but he's too cautious at times and has very average arm talent. He was not seeing THAT much pressure to sail those balls. I know some of this is Harbaugh taught but he doesn't even give the receiver a chance if theres a defender near them, he just tosses it a mile in the stands. I know he's our best hope at this point but I'm still holding out that we can get Peters some reps to see his in-game ability.
- Mike Mccray
It's really glaring now just how limited he is in movement with Bush next to him. Mccray will be nice to have against those power teams but tough to have him out there with teams that want to spread us out.
- The OL was bad but I re-watched it a bit last night and it also wasn't AS BAD as I originally thought. Big Mike had trouble adjusting to stunts up front on a few occasions and overall he's a little slow to pop off and head to the 2nd level. I think Bredeson has moments where he looks like Braden (whether thats good or bad for a true So. is up to you), a little stiff and like hes just running around not finding someone to block. Kugler was OK, Cole I thought played much better than last week and same with Ulizio. Overall though our pad level across the board is significantly improved and we are moving people off the line but until we can develop a consistent down field passing game..teams are going to send LBs through gaps and load up the front.
- Defense against the screen game was a little leaky today. It's always going to be an issue with a blitz heavy scheme like ours so I'm sure it's coached up but Hurst seems to recognize the interior screens quickly, meanwhile Gary almost always screams 2 or 3 yards to hard upfield. Against bigger/better outside playmakers, one or 2 of those yesterday could've been big.
- Rashan Gary in general needs to develop a counter move that he trusts. That dude can fly off the ball and uses his post arm or a rip to the outside almost everytime. It's not that it isn't being taught but he needs to start trusting an up and under move of some sort, the sacks will start coming for him either way but I think he's doing just fine so far.
Overall I think we just played sloppy, your standard big game hangover in my books. Several terrible mental mistake on our part gave them some hope. Special Teams was a mess in execution. After a weekend of some big names falling, lets be happy to have a 22 points win and our health and let our coaches use this as a learning tool.
But looking forward, we will obviously need more from Speight--needs to happen, stay healthy, and continue to gain valuable depth/experience at those younger positions.
- Devin Bush is still an animal, no surprise. Alot of time his plays are based on his explosiveness but on several occasions yesterday I saw him read through the oncoming interior blocks, shed, and tackle. That's my concern with a sub 6' ILB but it doesn't appear to be much for him.
- Brandon Watson (And really the entire secondary) is a ballplayer as well. I'd never been that excited about having Watson in the game but he really is assignment sound and tough on the outside.
- Ty Issac is turning the corner in his career here. He actually is running with some enthusiasm behind those pads. Still a bit stiff in his lateral movements but he fits this scheme pretty well just running downhill. I know Issac was rolling yesterday but still surprised with how he got the featured role and little else went to Evans and Higdon.
- WRs/TEs- Outside of that awful Shoenle hold, I really like this group. It's a shame Speight can deliver a few more within a semi's reach of them (even if they have someone on their hips). Perry was awesome and on that long ball for Gentry--he did a nice job of turning the LBs hips one way and swimming underneath for separation. If he can become more physical there's a chance. Crawford/Perry/Black/DPJ are going to be a tough group by the middle of the B10 Schedule.
- Tyree Kinnel I believe he whiffed on that long run by Moore? But outside of that he's a damn heady player that seems to always find himself around the ball.
Bad:
- Wilton Speight bothers me (and most) to no end. Let me say, I love his presence in the pocket and the way he views the game but he's too cautious at times and has very average arm talent. He was not seeing THAT much pressure to sail those balls. I know some of this is Harbaugh taught but he doesn't even give the receiver a chance if theres a defender near them, he just tosses it a mile in the stands. I know he's our best hope at this point but I'm still holding out that we can get Peters some reps to see his in-game ability.
- Mike Mccray
It's really glaring now just how limited he is in movement with Bush next to him. Mccray will be nice to have against those power teams but tough to have him out there with teams that want to spread us out.- The OL was bad but I re-watched it a bit last night and it also wasn't AS BAD as I originally thought. Big Mike had trouble adjusting to stunts up front on a few occasions and overall he's a little slow to pop off and head to the 2nd level. I think Bredeson has moments where he looks like Braden (whether thats good or bad for a true So. is up to you), a little stiff and like hes just running around not finding someone to block. Kugler was OK, Cole I thought played much better than last week and same with Ulizio. Overall though our pad level across the board is significantly improved and we are moving people off the line but until we can develop a consistent down field passing game..teams are going to send LBs through gaps and load up the front.
- Defense against the screen game was a little leaky today. It's always going to be an issue with a blitz heavy scheme like ours so I'm sure it's coached up but Hurst seems to recognize the interior screens quickly, meanwhile Gary almost always screams 2 or 3 yards to hard upfield. Against bigger/better outside playmakers, one or 2 of those yesterday could've been big.
- Rashan Gary in general needs to develop a counter move that he trusts. That dude can fly off the ball and uses his post arm or a rip to the outside almost everytime. It's not that it isn't being taught but he needs to start trusting an up and under move of some sort, the sacks will start coming for him either way but I think he's doing just fine so far.
Overall I think we just played sloppy, your standard big game hangover in my books. Several terrible mental mistake on our part gave them some hope. Special Teams was a mess in execution. After a weekend of some big names falling, lets be happy to have a 22 points win and our health and let our coaches use this as a learning tool.
But looking forward, we will obviously need more from Speight--needs to happen, stay healthy, and continue to gain valuable depth/experience at those younger positions.
