Its amazing how quickly and profoundly the most fundamentally sound team in the country became a fundamentals train wreck.
We host Texas and give an elite team the ball THREE times inside our 50 (results in only 10 points). Down 14-3 we throw an interception to give them the ball at the 37. Defense holds, then our all-american tight end sets the ball on the ground unforced. Now 24-3. Ballgame.
Take away those turnovers and what kind of a game is it?
USC we're clinging to a 20-17 lead and on first and ten from our 12. Fumble Edwards. Almost give the game away save for Mullings miraculous run.
Minnesota - We start Minnesota's rally while up 24-3 missing a wide open receiver. Like USC, we barely escape the miscue.
Washington. Hand the game to the Huksies with two fourth quarter turnovers in our own zone the first of which occurs the game is tied 17-17. They convert those own zone turnovers for the 10 decisive points.
Illinois might be the most ridiculous. Halftime score 13-7 Illinois. 3 of those 13 were handed to them on a Tuttle fumble at our 25. Defense held for the field goal.
In the second half their only score came from us giving them a free path to a fake punt that put them at the 16 yard line. Everything else was a stop.
We manage to get a field goal blocked and throw a pick near the goal line.
Finally, in our eighth game of the season we play our first turnover free game of the year and beat State. We repeat against Oregon and despite being down our top two corners are in a fourth quarter game with the number one team in the country.
Its really profound how big an impact turnovers had on this season. This after being elite the previous two years (18 total 22, 23 lowest in the country across those two years).
The difference between knowing how to take care of the ball and not at all knowing how to take care of the ball (plus a free pass fake punt allowed) is what doomed this team from not having a shot at a good season.
Young quarterbacks are one thing....but the Loveland and Edwards' game impacting own zone turnovers? What the heck?
Hope this was a blip and something we never see again under Moore.
We host Texas and give an elite team the ball THREE times inside our 50 (results in only 10 points). Down 14-3 we throw an interception to give them the ball at the 37. Defense holds, then our all-american tight end sets the ball on the ground unforced. Now 24-3. Ballgame.
Take away those turnovers and what kind of a game is it?
USC we're clinging to a 20-17 lead and on first and ten from our 12. Fumble Edwards. Almost give the game away save for Mullings miraculous run.
Minnesota - We start Minnesota's rally while up 24-3 missing a wide open receiver. Like USC, we barely escape the miscue.
Washington. Hand the game to the Huksies with two fourth quarter turnovers in our own zone the first of which occurs the game is tied 17-17. They convert those own zone turnovers for the 10 decisive points.
Illinois might be the most ridiculous. Halftime score 13-7 Illinois. 3 of those 13 were handed to them on a Tuttle fumble at our 25. Defense held for the field goal.
In the second half their only score came from us giving them a free path to a fake punt that put them at the 16 yard line. Everything else was a stop.
We manage to get a field goal blocked and throw a pick near the goal line.
Finally, in our eighth game of the season we play our first turnover free game of the year and beat State. We repeat against Oregon and despite being down our top two corners are in a fourth quarter game with the number one team in the country.
Its really profound how big an impact turnovers had on this season. This after being elite the previous two years (18 total 22, 23 lowest in the country across those two years).
The difference between knowing how to take care of the ball and not at all knowing how to take care of the ball (plus a free pass fake punt allowed) is what doomed this team from not having a shot at a good season.
Young quarterbacks are one thing....but the Loveland and Edwards' game impacting own zone turnovers? What the heck?
Hope this was a blip and something we never see again under Moore.
