I posted that I was really optimistic about beating WSU. Much of this was based on the following factors:
1. We really dominated Norfolk St. I know that they are hardly a true measure, but we did.
2. WSU was unable to beat their cupcake and looked really bad and now had to travel 3000 miles.
3. We were getting a full game out of Caroo who seemed to be Lavaino's favorite target.
4. I assumed that their D was still pretty bad and would allow us to match their offense.
5. I incorrectly assumed much of the crap going on was coming to an end.
6. I thought our special teams was much better than theirs.
Although the final score of the game would lead one to think that we were pretty even, I disagree. Our defense looked absolutely flat and was unable to pressure their QB which I believed we would do. He picked us apart. Our offense also seemed to be unable to do all that much as our running game did little when it was so important to do so. I put a lot of this on the o-line not getting any real push.
If you take away Grant's two spectacular run backs for TD's, we get beat pretty handily.
Add in the stupid penalties (2 TD's nullified) and we just looked to be poorly coached and unprepared.
So, overall, we looked less than great on both sides of the ball. Is this really what this team is?
Of my original 6 beliefs, only #6 turned out to be correct.
If so, we will not be winning too many games this year as the continuing crap about this program just keeps coming. Who knows if it is even done!
We are definitely facing a much better D that last week.
Who knows how our replacement coach will do? With no Caroo anymore, will we be able to move the ball as well through the air? Can our o-line open holes for the running backs? Is our defensive line anywhere near the level of Temple or even Buffalo? Hack, given time and our secondary, may well duplicate what we saw last week.
This game may well be our watershed moment for the rest of the season. Hard to think that after just two games and winning one of them, we are probably already looking at a absolute must win if we have any bowl hopes but there it is. If it turns out that what we saw last week is pretty much this team we will not be all that happy when the season ends. Hope it all comes together.
Although I am definitely not anywhere near my optimism for the outcome of this game, I am still looking for something to finally go right for this program for a change. Go RU!
1. We really dominated Norfolk St. I know that they are hardly a true measure, but we did.
2. WSU was unable to beat their cupcake and looked really bad and now had to travel 3000 miles.
3. We were getting a full game out of Caroo who seemed to be Lavaino's favorite target.
4. I assumed that their D was still pretty bad and would allow us to match their offense.
5. I incorrectly assumed much of the crap going on was coming to an end.
6. I thought our special teams was much better than theirs.
Although the final score of the game would lead one to think that we were pretty even, I disagree. Our defense looked absolutely flat and was unable to pressure their QB which I believed we would do. He picked us apart. Our offense also seemed to be unable to do all that much as our running game did little when it was so important to do so. I put a lot of this on the o-line not getting any real push.
If you take away Grant's two spectacular run backs for TD's, we get beat pretty handily.
Add in the stupid penalties (2 TD's nullified) and we just looked to be poorly coached and unprepared.
So, overall, we looked less than great on both sides of the ball. Is this really what this team is?
Of my original 6 beliefs, only #6 turned out to be correct.
If so, we will not be winning too many games this year as the continuing crap about this program just keeps coming. Who knows if it is even done!
We are definitely facing a much better D that last week.
Who knows how our replacement coach will do? With no Caroo anymore, will we be able to move the ball as well through the air? Can our o-line open holes for the running backs? Is our defensive line anywhere near the level of Temple or even Buffalo? Hack, given time and our secondary, may well duplicate what we saw last week.
This game may well be our watershed moment for the rest of the season. Hard to think that after just two games and winning one of them, we are probably already looking at a absolute must win if we have any bowl hopes but there it is. If it turns out that what we saw last week is pretty much this team we will not be all that happy when the season ends. Hope it all comes together.
Although I am definitely not anywhere near my optimism for the outcome of this game, I am still looking for something to finally go right for this program for a change. Go RU!
