So I wasn't able to watch the game live.
I checked the score on the phone and watched brief highlights and read this board afterwards for input. After all the calls for doom and gloom from the pessimists, I figure I look for the game on Youtube, which a lot of times can be found after a while. (I have it embedded below). I watched the whole thing by myself without being biased from optimists (though I consider myself one) or pessimists and I have to say...
As a team, there IS potential and growth.
One of the main things that stood out to me was the improvement in tackling. Missed tackles are one of the most infuriating things to watch and even though we lost pretty bad, our tackling was pretty solid. If you can make tackles, that is a major start and I think it would be interesting to compare yards after catch stats versus last year. The only really bad missed tackle was on the punt return for the TD, which was by Patton playing special teams. He should make that play, but then again he plays offense. Still no excuse, but he'll move on and learn his lesson.
Besides that, our defense was okay. People need to calm down. First game ever for this coaching staff against a quality, veteran coach in Chris Peterson. There were two missed opportunities for interceptions besides the one that Cioffi had. Two of the big plays in the first quarter, we got matched up one-on-on against John Ross, their most dynamic player. It's days like this that we really learn what our team is made of. Now we know, if we come across a guy like Ross, we'll need just a tad bit more help over the top and/or some more DB improvement. We learn from these things. Coach and player, so let's calm down.
Everyone is up in arms over special teams. I don't think it necessarily is the coaching. I think it is our legs. I feel like there is not enough hangtime for our guys to get down the field. Maybe we need to do what Ito used to do and let him run sideways a little before he kicks. Obviously, the strength of kicks is not going to change overnight, so we'll just have to deal with it over the season unfortunately.
The running game. Goodwin improved as the game went on. I agree, he's not as strong of a runner as probably Hicks or Martin, so I'm looking forward to seeing Martin play soon, but he is a good receiver as advertised. He made a nice one-handed grab along with a few others.
The D-line. They were okay. They didn't get much push, but they held Gaskin and the running game in check. After all the media promoting how our DL is the strength, you think Peterson wouldn't have his guys ready? Even though he hasn't done anything so far, I'd like to see when Turay is ready to contribute.
Now after all this positivity, I have saved the negativity for last. I don't think Laviano needed to get pulled. When you pull people in and out, you mess with people's confidence and create QB controversies, but no doubt, he needs to improve. He should do okay on paper against Howard, but his real test will be against New Mexico, which is also a game that we really need to win. If he struggles in that game, even I (the optimist) will become frustrated. He's seems like a jack of all trades, but master of none sort of deal. He's not super fast, nor throws really hard, but he can manage the game respectably at times. The interception was pretty bad and when he runs left, he still tucks the ball in his right arm, leaving it vulnerable. Also, he still doesn't throw many deeper balls. There was always criticism for Teel and Nova when they played, but at least, they weren't afraid to sling it, even though at times they threw their fair share of interceptions. We need a QB who is capable of scrambling a little bit to buy the WR's some time, if the OL is struggling. I just wish for a QB to throw the ball long enough for the TV screen to actually pan across for once. lol.
Well, anyway for my long rant, I have attached the video. See for yourself and see if you agree. We got beat, but it's not all doom and gloom.
I checked the score on the phone and watched brief highlights and read this board afterwards for input. After all the calls for doom and gloom from the pessimists, I figure I look for the game on Youtube, which a lot of times can be found after a while. (I have it embedded below). I watched the whole thing by myself without being biased from optimists (though I consider myself one) or pessimists and I have to say...
As a team, there IS potential and growth.
One of the main things that stood out to me was the improvement in tackling. Missed tackles are one of the most infuriating things to watch and even though we lost pretty bad, our tackling was pretty solid. If you can make tackles, that is a major start and I think it would be interesting to compare yards after catch stats versus last year. The only really bad missed tackle was on the punt return for the TD, which was by Patton playing special teams. He should make that play, but then again he plays offense. Still no excuse, but he'll move on and learn his lesson.
Besides that, our defense was okay. People need to calm down. First game ever for this coaching staff against a quality, veteran coach in Chris Peterson. There were two missed opportunities for interceptions besides the one that Cioffi had. Two of the big plays in the first quarter, we got matched up one-on-on against John Ross, their most dynamic player. It's days like this that we really learn what our team is made of. Now we know, if we come across a guy like Ross, we'll need just a tad bit more help over the top and/or some more DB improvement. We learn from these things. Coach and player, so let's calm down.
Everyone is up in arms over special teams. I don't think it necessarily is the coaching. I think it is our legs. I feel like there is not enough hangtime for our guys to get down the field. Maybe we need to do what Ito used to do and let him run sideways a little before he kicks. Obviously, the strength of kicks is not going to change overnight, so we'll just have to deal with it over the season unfortunately.
The running game. Goodwin improved as the game went on. I agree, he's not as strong of a runner as probably Hicks or Martin, so I'm looking forward to seeing Martin play soon, but he is a good receiver as advertised. He made a nice one-handed grab along with a few others.
The D-line. They were okay. They didn't get much push, but they held Gaskin and the running game in check. After all the media promoting how our DL is the strength, you think Peterson wouldn't have his guys ready? Even though he hasn't done anything so far, I'd like to see when Turay is ready to contribute.
Now after all this positivity, I have saved the negativity for last. I don't think Laviano needed to get pulled. When you pull people in and out, you mess with people's confidence and create QB controversies, but no doubt, he needs to improve. He should do okay on paper against Howard, but his real test will be against New Mexico, which is also a game that we really need to win. If he struggles in that game, even I (the optimist) will become frustrated. He's seems like a jack of all trades, but master of none sort of deal. He's not super fast, nor throws really hard, but he can manage the game respectably at times. The interception was pretty bad and when he runs left, he still tucks the ball in his right arm, leaving it vulnerable. Also, he still doesn't throw many deeper balls. There was always criticism for Teel and Nova when they played, but at least, they weren't afraid to sling it, even though at times they threw their fair share of interceptions. We need a QB who is capable of scrambling a little bit to buy the WR's some time, if the OL is struggling. I just wish for a QB to throw the ball long enough for the TV screen to actually pan across for once. lol.
Well, anyway for my long rant, I have attached the video. See for yourself and see if you agree. We got beat, but it's not all doom and gloom.
