Big Mike is coming on. Dude is really starting to play well. We were just caving shit in in the middle of the PSU defense; tons of movement inside.
So what's the problem? Well, we struggle on the edges. Cole really, really struggled with #97. That kid was everywhere. JBB's better than Ulizio but he also tends to get beat inside. His holding penalty right before halftime was huge. Crawford had just made a catch at the 50 yard line with 29 seconds left. We had two timeouts remaining and realistically only needed 10 more yards to give Nordin a shot. Were we going to win had that play stood? Probably not, but putting 3 more points on the board would've bought us more time.
Not only that but our TE's and FB's still do stupid things sometimes:
Unfortunately it looks like we just don't have a lot of talent at T. Cole's okay but he's playing LT; you're supposed to have your best lineman at that spot. JBB brings some positives in the run game but gives up too much pressure. And our TE's & FB's are too inconsistent.
We're still not good enough to protect the QB against heavy blitzes when we're down 2 + scores in the second half, and I'm not sure how much upside remains at the OT positions. But I see growth from the young guys and now would be a great time for the TE's to begin their ascension.
I know the final score was ugly, but I'm a little excited to see the pieces begin to emerge though.
So what's the problem? Well, we struggle on the edges. Cole really, really struggled with #97. That kid was everywhere. JBB's better than Ulizio but he also tends to get beat inside. His holding penalty right before halftime was huge. Crawford had just made a catch at the 50 yard line with 29 seconds left. We had two timeouts remaining and realistically only needed 10 more yards to give Nordin a shot. Were we going to win had that play stood? Probably not, but putting 3 more points on the board would've bought us more time.
Not only that but our TE's and FB's still do stupid things sometimes:
- On the play right before Isaac's TD McKeon blocks out on a LB instead of blocking down on the DE, who runs into the backfield and tackles Higdon. The pile was moving and Higdon may have scored if McKeon protected that inside gap.
- On the first play of our second drive we ran a draw play to Higdon; Onwenu diverts his man deep and to the right of the play which opens a hole for Higdon to run through. Poggi leads up but somehow ends up wide of the hole and runs right into Onwenu's DT. The LB that Poggi was supposed to block buried Higdon after a 1 yard gain. There was an alley for Higdon had Poggi done his job.
Unfortunately it looks like we just don't have a lot of talent at T. Cole's okay but he's playing LT; you're supposed to have your best lineman at that spot. JBB brings some positives in the run game but gives up too much pressure. And our TE's & FB's are too inconsistent.
We're still not good enough to protect the QB against heavy blitzes when we're down 2 + scores in the second half, and I'm not sure how much upside remains at the OT positions. But I see growth from the young guys and now would be a great time for the TE's to begin their ascension.
I know the final score was ugly, but I'm a little excited to see the pieces begin to emerge though.
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