Post USF Thoughts
A bit late with the post USF thoughts, traveling up to Cuse for the weekend and then getting the machinery cranked back up here took a bit more time than planned.
It was a great weekend overall as I got a chance to press the flesh with several CO board members, always good to do that!
Photo via LVO Sister!
I was a bit disappointed by the crowd, considering the opponent and it being alumni weekend and all. I’ll spare the bloody details of all the turnovers and such as it has been dissected to death on the other SU sites. I will say that we played them pretty well and the game plan was well thought out. The execution and our weaknesses were large factors in the outcome of the game.
Since we are almost half way through the season, I have decided to do is re-evaluate my position primer from before the season and see where things stand as of today going forward.
So let’s take a look at the respective positions and re-rank where things stand as of today. We will again go from most comfortable to not so comfortable.
1. Coaching staff – (Preseason rank #5) There was some doubt going in, mainly because our man DM had yet to actually coach a football game. With that out of the way, I shoot him and the staff up to number one for a few reasons. First and foremost the staff has shown an ability to game plan, witness the preparedness versus Penn St and what I thought was a nice plan against USF. It seems we have left the era of the expected blowout losses. All the coaches and opponents have mentioned that the team has changed from previous seasons. We also have seen a no quit attitude in the team. In years prior a 2 TD deficit would have led to a 4 TD deficit. This year we have seen the team come back. Credit the staff 100% here. Pass me the kool-aid, but I label this a concern level zero out 10.
2. Running back. (Preseason rank #1) I slid the RB position down just one notch. I contemplated dropping them lower based on the fact that we haven’t had a 100 yard rusher this year, but I find it hard to blame the players here. Delone Carter has run with a purpose, often dragging players down the field with him. Antwon Bailey has executed the Stallion runs nicely as well. Mike Jones looks like he has a nice future here as well. Does Averrin Collier change positions in the spring? I like the personnel they just need some more holes to bust through. Put my worry level to a 1 here.
3. Punting . (Preseason (#2) Rob Long has done the usual Rob Long stuff. I would still like to see him do a better job with the coffin corner kicking. For that I dropped him one on the place on the worry rankings. He either kills the punt or bricks it, as evidence in his 2 kicks for 53 yards versus USF. I would like better consistency from him but overall I am not worried at all about the position. Score it a 1+ on the worry meter.
4. QB. (Preseason #6) Pleasantly surprised would be an understatement to describe the play of Greg Paulus. His 5 INTs not withstanding last week. GP has done more than what has been expected of him. He is a leader, he has a nice pump fake and is progressing with his footwork and progressions. I’d like to see him get rid of the ball quicker and it would be nice if he could find another reliable target to go with Mike Williams but he is making idiots out of unnamed BE coaches and Pat Forde (who is a douchewaffle after all). Even Ryan Nassib has looked comfortable in the short time he has had to throw the ball. I don’t think the QB spot is a liability at all. Rate it a 2+ on the worry meter.
5. K. (Preseason rank #10). Wow, I would not believe if you told me that Ryan Lichtenstein would be 9-10 from FG including a game winner. Tons and tons of doubt going in – I mean c’mon the dude didn’t even have a scholly when camp opened. Kudos to Ryan for making the most out of his opportunity. Give this a 3 on the worry meter.
The bigger concerns come after the jump…
6. WRs. (Preseason rank #3) Let’s get one thing straight, Mike Williams has been all world so far. Yeah he drops a couple of balls a game, but the guy gets open on almost every play. He is making big catches, hard catches, next level catches and is racking up yards like no one’s business. Some circles are putting him as the top WR in college. If only he had a reliable option next to him. Alec Lemon got a go, Marcus Sales is working his way back in, Donte Davis and even Lavar Lobdell have seen action. None of them have been able to consistently catch the ball or block well enough to prevent this group falling a few slots since preseason. You have to wonder how well the offense would be without the all world play of Mike Williams. Someone needs to step up and play better. Put my concern at 5 for another player emerging.
7. LB. (Preseason rank #7). This unit has actually played quite well and maybe should have moved up, but at the expense of what position? Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue have been in on alot of tackles. They have elevated the unit and increased the team speed. Ryan Gillum and EJ Carter have held their own as well, even with each player missing time for an injury and suspension. The depth is still a huge concern, but at least we have some playmakers here – my concern now is only for health purposes. Put it at 6.
8. DL. (Preseason rank #8). Art Jones has returned to his pre-injury form and that has made overall unit better. Brandon Sharpe looks like a promising player. If he didn’t get hurt they may have risen in the rankings. As it is, there still isn’t much pressure being applied by the front four. We always have to blitz and put our secondary at risk in order to make plays. I’d like to see some pressure off the edge by Marinovich and Kimmel but it hasn’t been there. I do like the job the unit has done against the run. Overall we need better play here so I rank this area a 7.
9. CB/S. (Preseason ranking #4) I was 50/50 with concern going in, but I should have been even more worried. The Scotts have been on an island most of the season and Nico has been burned several times for deep pass plays. Max Suter and Mike Holmes have really concentrated on run support at the expense of the big play defensively. The 85 yarder to open the second half was a game deflater and these types of free points have to be eliminated in order for the defense to improve. Da’mon Merkerson has even switched back to CB to try and improve the overall unit. Freshmen Shamarko Thomas and Philip Thomas have a bright future, but it is asking alot for them to step in and do more than play nickel at this time. Concern is a 9 going forward as this is a major area that needs to be addressed.
10. OL. (Preseason #9). Really a no brainer here. We haven’t had a 100 yard rusher, our third down efficiency, last week not withstanding, is still GRE bad. The effectiveness of the line impacts all facets of the offense. We throw alot of bubble screens to get the ball out of Paulus’ hands quicker. If we could cut down the sacks, and start blowing open some holes, I guarantee that Ws would start to follow in quick fashion. There haven’t been any changes to the lineup by the coaching staff. It makes me wonder if a guy like Andrew Tiller still isn’t in shape to play or are they trying to undue all the bad things learned by the previous staff. It’s gotta be killing DM and I wish we could see some progress. Heck, I’m even concerned that we haven’t gotten a commitment from an offensive line prospect. Gotta give this area the top score of 10. If they play better we win, its that simple.
