OFFENSE
Our offense is explosive! The first half was pretty frustrating and I would be mumbling about how the offense was looking a little stalled after a penalty or Barnes getting stuffed, and then we would make a play. Harris caught a ball in stride, spun, turned up field and separated from his defender was the kind of play we have been missing from receivers. It was the kind of skill that Lockett or Chris Harper would bring to the table. I like Zuber, he is competent and capable of making a big play, and he is clearly #3. Pringle and Harris are going to be monsters.
For the first game, we seemed willing to let Ertz operate and he clearly has a good rapport and trust with the receivers. 10/16 for 333 and 4 TD is pretty incredible and makes me think that maybe YPC is back as a core metric for the offense. We certainly went after 1 on 1 coverage very aggressively and several incompletions were overthrows on deep balls vs. 1-on-1 coverage.
Offensive line looked good in pass pro, running lanes against an FCS team were not as clean as you would like, but they were putting a lot of pressure and extra guys in the box and that was reflected in the passing game where we took advantage.
Not sure what to make of the running game. Ertz had a couple nice runs but Barnes was largely held in check and we were making so many big plays in the passing game it didn't seem to matter.
DEFENSE
The corners looked good, even in the first half, they kept things in front of them. Obviously DJamer Reed is a playmaker all over the field, but Shelley was solid. Safeties were solid tacklers and outside of the collision on the INT, and a couple breakdowns in the first half on coverage the secondary played well.
Linebackers I think we will get better as the season goes on (maybe when the #2's start) but we looked slow against the option and Snyder will hopefully be able to get that corrected. It might not even matter as much anyway as almost every QB in the Big 12 is running more air raid style than spread option.
I thought the line played well getting pressure and they almost completely disrupted the inside running game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sean Snyder coaches an elite, top 3 special teams in the country for like the 4th year running? Facts is facts. DJamer Reed is amazing and we already know Pringle is explosive so our return game is going to be a huge factor throughout the year.
FG kicking was solid as any time you go 1-2 from 50+ at the college level you accept it. No worries there.
NO PUNTS!
