First half D with Ross was night and day better than second half without Ross. Not a coincidence. Captain, and leader of a very inexperienced group. QB of the defense. Our D looked to be scrambling at times when subs came in. I don't think that they were all on the same page; needed Ross to not only play his position and be where he needs to be, but also to keep the the LBs in position and ready at the snap. We certainly would have contained their QB and the rpo game much better than what we saw.
Cade CAN be better than he was in the second half. I the first half, he was hitting guys in stride with catchable balls. Sanristil dropped a perfectly throw ball in the end zone. The Rutgers defender bothered the catch, but only because Mike didn't catch it cleanly. Cade missed the TE in the end zone at the end of the half, but he hit Sanristil perfectly on a crossing route that allowed Mike to use his speed to take it inside the 5 just two plays earlier. The play where the targeting was called.
In the second half we tried to lean on the run, but Rutgers kept 8 in the box and the safeties tight. The result was getting behind the chains and having to pass on obvious passing downs. That ups the difficulty. Cade doesn't call the plays. Having said that, his accuracy was not good in the second half, but on at least one occasion, his receiver could and should have helped him out. He hit Sanristil across the deep middle with a pass that a little low but very catchable. Mike dropped it.
We didn't actually pass out of play action that much. A few were empty backfield. That won't draw up the LBs and safeties to open up the underneath stuff. With a 20-3 lead, maybe we were in the mode that we could simply continue to pound the ball and wouldn't have to show much to future opponents. If so, that was a mistake and not respecting Rutgers or trusting your QB.
Cade CAN be better than he was in the second half. I the first half, he was hitting guys in stride with catchable balls. Sanristil dropped a perfectly throw ball in the end zone. The Rutgers defender bothered the catch, but only because Mike didn't catch it cleanly. Cade missed the TE in the end zone at the end of the half, but he hit Sanristil perfectly on a crossing route that allowed Mike to use his speed to take it inside the 5 just two plays earlier. The play where the targeting was called.
In the second half we tried to lean on the run, but Rutgers kept 8 in the box and the safeties tight. The result was getting behind the chains and having to pass on obvious passing downs. That ups the difficulty. Cade doesn't call the plays. Having said that, his accuracy was not good in the second half, but on at least one occasion, his receiver could and should have helped him out. He hit Sanristil across the deep middle with a pass that a little low but very catchable. Mike dropped it.
We didn't actually pass out of play action that much. A few were empty backfield. That won't draw up the LBs and safeties to open up the underneath stuff. With a 20-3 lead, maybe we were in the mode that we could simply continue to pound the ball and wouldn't have to show much to future opponents. If so, that was a mistake and not respecting Rutgers or trusting your QB.
