Ok, so its not really a manifesto, but that rimed with 7-0...sooooo...here is my review of MTSU and outlook going forward.
The last time we went to Bama undefeated Shaun Alexander crushed our souls on a wheel route...and I am afraid the results won't be any different this time around, but this still is a lot of fun isnt it?
QB - Tyler Russell is outstanding. For stretches of a game, he can look as good as you could possibly look as a QB. He does have some tough stretches too, but I personally believe those aren't all on him, and I will talk about that a little more in the WR section. He is exuding so much confidence, looks to be in total control of the offense and has emerged as the unquestioned leader of this team. As good as Russell is, we may be an even better offense when Prescott is a JR. He looks like Mullen's dream QB - will be able to execute the read-option and passing game to perfection. Mullen finally has 2 studs at QB and we finally see a rotation that makes sense. We are using Prescott perfectly right now.
RB - LDP isnt getting nearly enough love. He has been so good. Really shocking to see how well he is moving between the tackles and in traffic. If Tobias Smith played every game this season from start to finish, there is no telling what his stats would look like. Milton is a pretty impressive one-cut runner. There is no wasted effort on his runs and he hits the holes with malice aforethought.See Black's Law Dictionary. Nick Griffin gets a lot of unnecessary criticism here and elsewhere. Just like I said re: Robert Johnson, Griffin still has something to show. Robinson is also highly effective despite the brain fart Saturday night. We have a stable of running backs, that is for sure. The cool thing is, they all have different styles.
WR - the glowing praise stops here. And it isnt that I think we have a bunch of hacks, but the lack of a true vertical threat is really going to kill us going forward. Wonder why we never throw the deep ball? Because we can't get open. Wonder why it always seems like Tyler has to throw a perfect pass because the opposing defenders are in our hip pocket? Because they arent on their heels AT ALL worried about the deep ball. We have exactly 2 ways to bust a play in the passing game, Bumphis on a crossing route with some blocking help or Malcolm Johnson up the middle. Maybe you could throw in a RoJo post into the mix. That really shortens the field for us and makes things difficult on every phase of the offense. Clark and Smith are solid, yet unspectacular. Tubby is too unreliable at this stage. aGAIN, RoJo might be our most physically gifted receiver - and needs more targets.
TE - this is where we have a chance to be a mismatch. You better believe we used M. Johnson sparingly against UT and none against MTSU to get ready for this game.
OL - workmanlike job thus far. Priceless experience for Malone that will pay dividends going forward. If Smith can stay healthy over the last 5, we are in business.
DL - A little better effort this week with the expanding roles of PJ Jones and Quay Evans. Cherrington is a sieve and needs to be behind PJ and Quay without question. Eulls really needs to learn how to be more disruptive. Quay taking Eulls spot, with a line of Autry/PJ/Boyd/Quay on select "heavy" sets, would be interesting, as Quay may be the best linemen we have when it comes to getting in the backfield. At this point, Eulls is just occupying a blocker. Autry has ability and is definitely playing well, just not the gamebreaker we expected. However, I think he will have a standout game or 2 before its over. This group needs to step it up more than any other going forward.
LB - this group is coming along. Skinner and McKinney get better every game. Lawrence has been a little slow getting to the point of attack and in coverage, but is crucial from an on-field coaching standpoint. I still feel like we are under-using Matt Wells. I just cant get it out of my head that he was born to be a Laron Landry type safety.
CB - child please.
Safety - though both have impressive individual moments, the middle of the field is still our biggest weakness. The play of our DTs, MLB and Safeties will determine whether we give Bama a scare or get boat raced.
Special Teams - really dont think you can do anything but keep running Bell out there. Huge leg, just inconsistent. You just have to hope he gets hot. Allegedly, Bell can kick it deep in the endzone whenever he wants on kickoffs, we just dont do that because of the opportunity to set someone back well behind the 25 with good hangtime. Well, multiple TD returns should squash that immediately. Swedenburg continues to do a solid job.
The last time we went to Bama undefeated Shaun Alexander crushed our souls on a wheel route...and I am afraid the results won't be any different this time around, but this still is a lot of fun isnt it?
QB - Tyler Russell is outstanding. For stretches of a game, he can look as good as you could possibly look as a QB. He does have some tough stretches too, but I personally believe those aren't all on him, and I will talk about that a little more in the WR section. He is exuding so much confidence, looks to be in total control of the offense and has emerged as the unquestioned leader of this team. As good as Russell is, we may be an even better offense when Prescott is a JR. He looks like Mullen's dream QB - will be able to execute the read-option and passing game to perfection. Mullen finally has 2 studs at QB and we finally see a rotation that makes sense. We are using Prescott perfectly right now.
RB - LDP isnt getting nearly enough love. He has been so good. Really shocking to see how well he is moving between the tackles and in traffic. If Tobias Smith played every game this season from start to finish, there is no telling what his stats would look like. Milton is a pretty impressive one-cut runner. There is no wasted effort on his runs and he hits the holes with malice aforethought.See Black's Law Dictionary. Nick Griffin gets a lot of unnecessary criticism here and elsewhere. Just like I said re: Robert Johnson, Griffin still has something to show. Robinson is also highly effective despite the brain fart Saturday night. We have a stable of running backs, that is for sure. The cool thing is, they all have different styles.
WR - the glowing praise stops here. And it isnt that I think we have a bunch of hacks, but the lack of a true vertical threat is really going to kill us going forward. Wonder why we never throw the deep ball? Because we can't get open. Wonder why it always seems like Tyler has to throw a perfect pass because the opposing defenders are in our hip pocket? Because they arent on their heels AT ALL worried about the deep ball. We have exactly 2 ways to bust a play in the passing game, Bumphis on a crossing route with some blocking help or Malcolm Johnson up the middle. Maybe you could throw in a RoJo post into the mix. That really shortens the field for us and makes things difficult on every phase of the offense. Clark and Smith are solid, yet unspectacular. Tubby is too unreliable at this stage. aGAIN, RoJo might be our most physically gifted receiver - and needs more targets.
TE - this is where we have a chance to be a mismatch. You better believe we used M. Johnson sparingly against UT and none against MTSU to get ready for this game.
OL - workmanlike job thus far. Priceless experience for Malone that will pay dividends going forward. If Smith can stay healthy over the last 5, we are in business.
DL - A little better effort this week with the expanding roles of PJ Jones and Quay Evans. Cherrington is a sieve and needs to be behind PJ and Quay without question. Eulls really needs to learn how to be more disruptive. Quay taking Eulls spot, with a line of Autry/PJ/Boyd/Quay on select "heavy" sets, would be interesting, as Quay may be the best linemen we have when it comes to getting in the backfield. At this point, Eulls is just occupying a blocker. Autry has ability and is definitely playing well, just not the gamebreaker we expected. However, I think he will have a standout game or 2 before its over. This group needs to step it up more than any other going forward.
LB - this group is coming along. Skinner and McKinney get better every game. Lawrence has been a little slow getting to the point of attack and in coverage, but is crucial from an on-field coaching standpoint. I still feel like we are under-using Matt Wells. I just cant get it out of my head that he was born to be a Laron Landry type safety.
CB - child please.
Safety - though both have impressive individual moments, the middle of the field is still our biggest weakness. The play of our DTs, MLB and Safeties will determine whether we give Bama a scare or get boat raced.
Special Teams - really dont think you can do anything but keep running Bell out there. Huge leg, just inconsistent. You just have to hope he gets hot. Allegedly, Bell can kick it deep in the endzone whenever he wants on kickoffs, we just dont do that because of the opportunity to set someone back well behind the 25 with good hangtime. Well, multiple TD returns should squash that immediately. Swedenburg continues to do a solid job.
