So I'll start with the good part, obviously our defense played much better last night than they did at any point of last season sans maybe the KU game. At this point, do you think that last year was primarily just a lack of depth that mumped us rather than scheming, and in your opinion do you think that it looks like Cosh might have learned from last year's mistakes?
Now, the bad/weird parts:
-Why are we having defensive players like Ty field punts and kickoffs? First of all, they're not going to be as fresh as a non-defensive player who hasn't just played a series, so the chances of them having breakaway speed seem minimal.
-What on earth are we doing running outside toss plays with Braden Wilson? He's obviously a good bruiser and can gain some yards by taking some people with him, but he's not fast enough to run a successful toss play. What is Snyder/Dimel trying to do here?
thanks, ima hang up and listen
I wouldn't refer to myself as an "expert" but might know a few things I see.
The defense is better, or at least it was better in game 1. Challenges still remain and some good running teams will gash us at times though I don't see it being quite to the extent as last year. In the first game Kibble does look improved from last year. We should expect this of a JC DT who does have some abilities much the way Daniel Calvin improved from year 1 to year 2. I think we're better at NT and DE as a collection...especially at Felder's spot. LBs are night and day though they will be had because Walker still struggled with the physical component in game 1 and it was obvious that Art Brown will be a LB prone to taking himself out of position from overpursuit. A physical OL with good run blockers in space from the OL or some adequate run blockers at TE, FB, slot receivers, will gash us with some cut back runs to the weakside. I still think when Harold's at his best (but only at his best) he's more disruptive at End than A. Davis or Voelker though Meshak has some nice upside. We're quicker in the front 7...a LOT quicker. I don't see us as being as good at the 3 tech as last year (Lutui vs. Prizell Brown). It's a wait and see approach from the secondary because that wasn't a competent passing team in EKU. We'll be harder to run against on the edges but will still have issues stopping the ground game between the tackles.
We put Ty Z back to return punts because he has sure hands, will make good decisions, and he's a good athlete. He had two punt returns of 40-plus yards last year (CU & Syracuse). Being solid on punt return is more about trusting the returner (the choices he makes and hands) and having good people surrounding them in your scheme as it is tremendous athletic ability. It's not uncommon across the country to see reliable, less spectatcular vets go back to field punts even for the more talented teams.
We ran the outside toss play to Braden Wilson because we had leverage on EKU if Harper could make his block. It was a good scheme and something they were not prepared for. Think of it as a comparison to the throwback pass to McDonald last year against UCF. The strongside backer is typically responsible for the fullback and when the initial option look flows to his side all it takes is a false step from read recognition of the OL to fullback and direction of the play to force LB in a position to shoot the gap or scrape around the contain...Harper was in a position to prevent that contain from being spilled the ball carrier. We had it and it was a good play call but wasn't executed (which was the story of the night).
