Probably won't be able to do this every game, but for those that I can find time, I will continue to post my thoughts on the team and our outlook. You will notice a trend here, that as far as the players go, I don't have much negative to say...but I still have some complaints.
Offense
QB - Dak looks like he picked up right where he left off last year. Just outstanding. I hated the pick, but I will get to that a little bit later. I already hate the feeling of saying in my head, "don't get hurt, don't get hurt" every time he takes a hit. Damian is a fine backup QB. PERSONNEL ISSUE: Don't bring in your damn backup in the second series, give your entire fanbase a heart attack and the other team a reason to pin their ears back. Come on man. I swear if I see Damian trotting out there on the reg this season I will lose it. And don't act like it's not a distinct possibility. Mullen has never rode his horses. It is time. Blowing someone out? Fine, bring him in. Otherwise, its Dak's show.
RB - Robinson is a healthy upgrade over Perkins. Never down on first contact, always falls forward, quick one-cut into the hole perfectly suited for this offense. Griffin is a great 1B. Have always liked Nick. I hope he caps off a solid career with a big season. Not having Shumpert hurt us, especially since we are dead set on using 3 RBs apparently. PERSONNEL ISSUE: Holloway is just not going to work back there. He is a gimmick player, not a damn every down back. Like Perkins last year, he has a role he could play if we just limited him to a few jet sweeps or screens a game. Instead, we have this STUPID "It's YOUR series, buddy" gameplan, which causes multiple issues. 1.) Holloway in there the series Dak threw the pick. They knew we werent going to run the damn ball, corner is on the balls of his feet instead of his heels, cue interception. Granted, it wasn't a good throw, but still. 2.) Griffin totes the ball 60 yards down field on 2 or 3 carries, is CLEARLY gassed, and instead of bringing in a fresh J-Rob, we give it to him again at the 1. Luckily we blocked it perfectly and he walked in, but why not bring in some fresh legs there?
OL - no need to hit a panic button, but definitely some things we can clean up. The difference in this team having a good year and a great year will be how this line comes together (that and whether we stop trying to out-think ourselves with personnel and playcalling) (and whether we can actually make some field goals). The first time Dak got sacked was on a simple 4 man stunt. Both tackles got absolutely burned on the inside slant. Ironically, I think Beckwith was the only one who washed out his man on that play. Other than that, I think it was more assignment than talent problems, and that is a silver lining.
TE - SOLID. We could block a touch better here, but our TEs are designed to be playmakers, and they fill that role nicely. Hutcherson looks incredibly fluid for his size, Brandon Hill continues to be an underrated pass catcher, and MJ is just a weapon.
WR - save the best for last. Just simply the finest group of wideouts we have ever had. I can't really expound on it much more. Tubby was essentially our 4th choice Saturday! Gabe Myles would have probably been the best receiver on any Croom team. Bear, Ross, F. Brown, Tubby, RoJo, etc. Zero drops, speed, size, hands...it's a weird feeling. Thankfully we can't really screw this group up with questionable personnel groups or playcalling.
Defense
DL - so nasty. Not much to say here. Again, I hate bringing in a whole 2nd unit in alternating drives. Just rotate players in a staggered order. Jones and P. Smith need to be on the field together more often. Easy solution to that problem.
LB - this group is going to be ridiculous by the end of the year. Beni Brown looked like a head hunter. McKinney is as advertised. Richie is always in the right place. Only issue here is that I always feel like we've wasted Matt Wells' career at LB. He shouldve been a safety his whole career, in the mold of Matt Elam from Florida. He showed it again Saturday when he perfectly defended that deep ball over the middle. Zack Jackson and Dez Harris look like they will be really good players for us this year as well. Can't believe Turtle is still out there.
CB and S - lots of moving parts here, and all of them are good. I felt we over-rotated at these positions a little as well. Hopefully I am just over-reacting and we will really stick with our best when the big boys come calling, but I have seen us do it before, so I remain pessimistic.
ST - devon bell good, everything else bad.
Season Outlook (Updated): I still feel about the same after this one. Still looking at 9-10 wins. I don't think this team will ever feel it's out of a game. That should make for a fun season. We are a damn good football team, and at some positions, we are elite. But our Special Teams, Playcalling/Personnel, and OL (in that order) will have to all be perfect for us to do anything historic this year, and will have to be better than expected to get to that 10 win mark. LSU, A&M, Auburn, Bama, Ole Miss. You tell me what 3 of those we are going to win? I don't think anyone really knows. Hell, Kentucky and Arkansas aren't going to just roll over either. It's going to be an intense season.
Miscellaneous - stadium looked amazing, commercials and in-game atmosphere still needs help (even the worst songs just before we get lined up or kick off get the crowd jacked, yet we only do this about 50% of the time).
Offense
QB - Dak looks like he picked up right where he left off last year. Just outstanding. I hated the pick, but I will get to that a little bit later. I already hate the feeling of saying in my head, "don't get hurt, don't get hurt" every time he takes a hit. Damian is a fine backup QB. PERSONNEL ISSUE: Don't bring in your damn backup in the second series, give your entire fanbase a heart attack and the other team a reason to pin their ears back. Come on man. I swear if I see Damian trotting out there on the reg this season I will lose it. And don't act like it's not a distinct possibility. Mullen has never rode his horses. It is time. Blowing someone out? Fine, bring him in. Otherwise, its Dak's show.
RB - Robinson is a healthy upgrade over Perkins. Never down on first contact, always falls forward, quick one-cut into the hole perfectly suited for this offense. Griffin is a great 1B. Have always liked Nick. I hope he caps off a solid career with a big season. Not having Shumpert hurt us, especially since we are dead set on using 3 RBs apparently. PERSONNEL ISSUE: Holloway is just not going to work back there. He is a gimmick player, not a damn every down back. Like Perkins last year, he has a role he could play if we just limited him to a few jet sweeps or screens a game. Instead, we have this STUPID "It's YOUR series, buddy" gameplan, which causes multiple issues. 1.) Holloway in there the series Dak threw the pick. They knew we werent going to run the damn ball, corner is on the balls of his feet instead of his heels, cue interception. Granted, it wasn't a good throw, but still. 2.) Griffin totes the ball 60 yards down field on 2 or 3 carries, is CLEARLY gassed, and instead of bringing in a fresh J-Rob, we give it to him again at the 1. Luckily we blocked it perfectly and he walked in, but why not bring in some fresh legs there?
OL - no need to hit a panic button, but definitely some things we can clean up. The difference in this team having a good year and a great year will be how this line comes together (that and whether we stop trying to out-think ourselves with personnel and playcalling) (and whether we can actually make some field goals). The first time Dak got sacked was on a simple 4 man stunt. Both tackles got absolutely burned on the inside slant. Ironically, I think Beckwith was the only one who washed out his man on that play. Other than that, I think it was more assignment than talent problems, and that is a silver lining.
TE - SOLID. We could block a touch better here, but our TEs are designed to be playmakers, and they fill that role nicely. Hutcherson looks incredibly fluid for his size, Brandon Hill continues to be an underrated pass catcher, and MJ is just a weapon.
WR - save the best for last. Just simply the finest group of wideouts we have ever had. I can't really expound on it much more. Tubby was essentially our 4th choice Saturday! Gabe Myles would have probably been the best receiver on any Croom team. Bear, Ross, F. Brown, Tubby, RoJo, etc. Zero drops, speed, size, hands...it's a weird feeling. Thankfully we can't really screw this group up with questionable personnel groups or playcalling.
Defense
DL - so nasty. Not much to say here. Again, I hate bringing in a whole 2nd unit in alternating drives. Just rotate players in a staggered order. Jones and P. Smith need to be on the field together more often. Easy solution to that problem.
LB - this group is going to be ridiculous by the end of the year. Beni Brown looked like a head hunter. McKinney is as advertised. Richie is always in the right place. Only issue here is that I always feel like we've wasted Matt Wells' career at LB. He shouldve been a safety his whole career, in the mold of Matt Elam from Florida. He showed it again Saturday when he perfectly defended that deep ball over the middle. Zack Jackson and Dez Harris look like they will be really good players for us this year as well. Can't believe Turtle is still out there.
CB and S - lots of moving parts here, and all of them are good. I felt we over-rotated at these positions a little as well. Hopefully I am just over-reacting and we will really stick with our best when the big boys come calling, but I have seen us do it before, so I remain pessimistic.
ST - devon bell good, everything else bad.
Season Outlook (Updated): I still feel about the same after this one. Still looking at 9-10 wins. I don't think this team will ever feel it's out of a game. That should make for a fun season. We are a damn good football team, and at some positions, we are elite. But our Special Teams, Playcalling/Personnel, and OL (in that order) will have to all be perfect for us to do anything historic this year, and will have to be better than expected to get to that 10 win mark. LSU, A&M, Auburn, Bama, Ole Miss. You tell me what 3 of those we are going to win? I don't think anyone really knows. Hell, Kentucky and Arkansas aren't going to just roll over either. It's going to be an intense season.
Miscellaneous - stadium looked amazing, commercials and in-game atmosphere still needs help (even the worst songs just before we get lined up or kick off get the crowd jacked, yet we only do this about 50% of the time).
