Good:
Does anyone who watched the game believe that RU had more talent on that field than UCLA did?
There has been so much hand wringing about losing to UCLA, but I for one saw few RU players who would start on that UCLA team. Yes KM Strong Powell Pierce and perhaps Dixon would (and maybe I'm missing someone) but the UCLA 2 deep appeared to be a talent upgrade from RU so it's a little ridiculous to have such a reaction. Especially where Bienemy put on a master class of how to exploit poor lb play. The result is in some ways predictable and not surprising in retrospect.
Now I see in some media that RU will be disappointed in not getting a win at USC. Think RU's talent level (now post injury) is the same as USC? Sure tackling and a healthy KM (hopefully) gives us a shot, but the goal posts seemed to have been moved not internally but externally about talent and expected results. Deception, good fundamentals and a running attack give it a shot but lets keep the eyes open as to talent differential--and especially the type of game plan needed to address that differential.
- Monangai. As good as Pacheco was with a bad OL, Monagai has been better. His second half performance was gritty and successful. When we got down 5 and it was rolling (until that rb screen), it looked like one could point to KM's second half as turning around the season. He is special and while we will likely have some good backs, it will likely be some years before we see one like KM and we should appreciate it down the stretch this year.
- TE blocking. This is something I've been repetitive on. Fletcher's pass catching was a nice surprise, but his blocking blew up so many plays it was my take his snaps needed to go down before injury. The TE blocking was very good Saturday.
- QB play. Some nice passes and gave the team a chance to win. Would be nice to see some of the rb throws and TE wide open looks Bienemy created rather than the LONG OUTS we see so often.
- Patel--While not booming deserves judos for making the fg including one long one.
- Strong, Dremel and Duff-Nice catches and all weapons in their own regard.
- LB play--there have been many threads already. Huge portal need.
- DL--Lot of young guys and some did some nice things like Walker and Hamilton, but really not sufficient to win.
- Tackling--WTF had happened this year. Routine plays turn into Chris Ash era big gains out of nowhere. The qb run was a thing we would never seen under GS. While I think he is still the guy for this job, self examination is always helpful for a program. Tackle better and give the ball to KM. Perhaps it can be that simple.
- Anyone else think the "call your shot" was almost the same as the 2004 post WVU game presser where he said some people coming to this building don't want this program to succeed but we will be just fine or something like it rant?
- Football IQ--Tackling angles---zone defense concepts etc. This years edition so far just doesnt seem to have a high fball IQ and whether coaching or players, it has made small gains and issues into larger ones.
- Repetitive offensive play calling----Have harped on this all year--So much even casual fans can see coming. KC just does the thing that worked once again and again and loses deception. ON the interception even the announcers said that RU ran the same play 4 or 5 times before and the dback so it coming and jumped the route. Need to get more motion and deception to address talent level issues.
Does anyone who watched the game believe that RU had more talent on that field than UCLA did?
There has been so much hand wringing about losing to UCLA, but I for one saw few RU players who would start on that UCLA team. Yes KM Strong Powell Pierce and perhaps Dixon would (and maybe I'm missing someone) but the UCLA 2 deep appeared to be a talent upgrade from RU so it's a little ridiculous to have such a reaction. Especially where Bienemy put on a master class of how to exploit poor lb play. The result is in some ways predictable and not surprising in retrospect.
Now I see in some media that RU will be disappointed in not getting a win at USC. Think RU's talent level (now post injury) is the same as USC? Sure tackling and a healthy KM (hopefully) gives us a shot, but the goal posts seemed to have been moved not internally but externally about talent and expected results. Deception, good fundamentals and a running attack give it a shot but lets keep the eyes open as to talent differential--and especially the type of game plan needed to address that differential.
