Game analysis

[davisbrin]

Here is what I took from the game:
1. Michigan State Defense against the run is very good and our O line was really overmatched (really no shame in that as many teams will have that problem with Sparty).
2. Our defense did a pretty damn good job; especially if you take away the penalties that relate to inexcusable things like the late hit etc. Analysts say the Sparty offense was not good but part of that is because our defense has some talent. That will be more evident as we continue the schedule.
3. At times Smith appeared to operate the offense with a strong arm and effective passing (that was more enjoyable than watching nothing but handoffs) but it was hard to have good balance because of absolutely no run game. We also gave away points with a center who was really bad. I felt like I was watching a high school replacement center without any experience. That was very bizarre and unfortunate.
4. Our O line got very tired in 2nd half and there was very little protection. Smith is not a mobile QB so that is a really bad combination.
5. Smith has got to protect the ball better. He is not mobile and holds the ball away from himself with one hand a lot. He will consistently get it knocked out of his hand if he doesn't change that.
6. We will win more games than last year starting with our first win next week. We will lose to OSU but beat Wyoming and start conference play 2-2.

 

[jesterondirt]

My only knock on Smith is his pocket presence is slim to none. Sure our O-line needs some help, but there were a couple sacks last night that were on him.

I still think we'll be better this year. Defense alone will keep us in most games, we might even get some turnovers next week. I wouldn't be surprised to see our defense actually putting some points on the board themselves.

It looks like we are definitely trying to setup the run with the pass, which is going to be more effective going forward.

Minus a blocked punt and a shank, Bennet looked pretty good on the other 6.

Just my opinion, Stokes is way too important at wide receiver to have him returning kicks.

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

My only knock on Smith is his pocket presence is slim to none. Sure our O-line needs some help, but there were a couple sacks last night that were on him.

I still think we'll be better this year. Defense alone will keep us in most games, we might even get some turnovers next week. I wouldn't be surprised to see our defense actually putting some points on the board themselves.

It looks like we are definitely trying to setup the run with the pass, which is going to be more effective going forward.

Minus a blocked punt and a shank, Bennet looked pretty good on the other 6.

Just my opinion, Stokes is way too important at wide receiver to have him returning kicks.

Roll back the game film and notice the time difference that each quarterback had in the pocket . Put the sparty QB behind our o-line and how do you think he would have fared ?

 

[jesterondirt]

Roll back the game film and notice the time difference that each quarterback had in the pocket . Put the sparty QB behind our o-line and how do you think he would have fared ?

Thats a horrible comparison, their qb is awful. Im way happier with ours

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

I think having a more mobile QB in the game might have meant a couple extra rushing yards, but not too many unless we had someone like Houston’s kid back there.

 

[TU_BLA]

My only knock on Smith is his pocket presence is slim to none. Sure our O-line needs some help, but there were a couple sacks last night that were on him.

I still think we'll be better this year. Defense alone will keep us in most games, we might even get some turnovers next week. I wouldn't be surprised to see our defense actually putting some points on the board themselves.

It looks like we are definitely trying to setup the run with the pass, which is going to be more effective going forward.

Minus a blocked punt and a shank, Bennet looked pretty good on the other 6.

Just my opinion, Stokes is way too important at wide receiver to have him returning kicks.

With the way the game is these days, the odds of returning a KO for a TD is roughly 1 in 100. Turnovers occur at a higher rate. Unless the ball is kicked short, we should be fair catching it every time and taking the ball at the 25. I’d like to see the frequency of KOs inside the 20 that were returned that were stopped short of the 25 vs those that went beyond the 25. My guess is stats would show that more teams give up yards for the smaller chance they get out beyond the 25. We should fair catch it every time.

 

[TULOYAL]

Here is what I took from the game:
1. Michigan State Defense against the run is very good and our O line was really overmatched (really no shame in that as many teams will have that problem with Sparty).
2. Our defense did a pretty damn good job; especially if you take away the penalties that relate to inexcusable things like the late hit etc. Analysts say the Sparty offense was not good but part of that is because our defense has some talent. That will be more evident as we continue the schedule.
3. At times Smith appeared to operate the offense with a strong arm and effective passing (that was more enjoyable than watching nothing but handoffs) but it was hard to have good balance because of absolutely no run game. We also gave away points with a center who was really bad. I felt like I was watching a high school replacement center without any experience. That was very bizarre and unfortunate.
4. Our O line got very tired in 2nd half and there was very little protection. Smith is not a mobile QB so that is a really bad combination.
6. We will win more games than last year starting with our first win next week. We will lose to OSU but beat Wyoming and start conference play 2-2.

#5 This is the reason Luke Skipper washed out. He was a fumble machine and that kind of thing can be taught. It was apparent then, and is now, that ball protection is not taught to QB's correctly if at all. Coaching.

 

[tupatsfan]

#5 This is the reason Luke Skipper washed out. He was a fumble machine and that kind of thing can be taught. It was apparent then, and is now, that ball protection is not taught to QB's correctly if at all. Coaching.

Dumb take. Will look much better next week

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

I’m going to stick a ball in your hands and bring a DE at you from your weak side. We’ll see how good you are with ball protection.

 

[davisbrin]

I am not saying it's easy to protect the ball but we don't want to increase the chance of losing it by the way we handle it.

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

Best way to protect the ball is to keep the defenders away from the QB

 

[davisbrin]

True, but I did see Smith start to run at one point and the ball flew out of his hand with nobody touching him.

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

True, but I did see Smith start to run at one point and the ball flew out of his hand with nobody touching him.

That’s fair. I’d have to go look at that play again. He did scramble a couple of times and get brought down from behind and he was fine.

 

[alchemy]

Smith put the ball on the receivers through some tiny windows. The yards after the catch were probably close to zero.

 

[drboobay]

He was more accurate than what we have seen the past couple of years. Will give him that. And he can get the ball down field.

 

[drboobay]

Player quote.

“We knew their game plan inside and out from last year. It was kind of the exact same matchup with it,” linebacker Joe Bachie, who tied Willekes with seven tackles. “We were very confident out there, and we were calling out some plays. It helps you play faster. Once you get a couple big plays it starts to roll, and that's what happened tonight.”

 

[rusty-c]

Player quote.

“We knew their game plan inside and out from last year. It was kind of the exact same matchup with it,” linebacker Joe Bachie, who tied Willekes with seven tackles. “We were very confident out there, and we were calling out some plays. It helps you play faster. Once you get a couple big plays it starts to roll, and that's what happened tonight.”

If we're nothing else then obviously we are predictable.

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

Player quote.

“We knew their game plan inside and out from last year. It was kind of the exact same matchup with it,” linebacker Joe Bachie, who tied Willekes with seven tackles. “We were very confident out there, and we were calling out some plays. It helps you play faster. Once you get a couple big plays it starts to roll, and that's what happened tonight.”

The coaching staff did exactly the correct strategy by passing first because of their run defense . Smith did fine passing when he had some time . No QB in America at any level can be successful with a collapsing pocket and no run game .

 

[HuffyCane]

Player quote.

“We knew their game plan inside and out from last year. It was kind of the exact same matchup with it,” linebacker Joe Bachie, who tied Willekes with seven tackles. “We were very confident out there, and we were calling out some plays. It helps you play faster. Once you get a couple big plays it starts to roll, and that's what happened tonight.”

Some assistant coach at Memphis said the same thing last year.

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

Some assistant coach at Memphis said the same thing last year.

After a while every playbook becomes predictable every season unless you’re like Graham and you change OC’s every 2 years

 

[TU1NNJ]

After a while every playbook becomes predictable every season unless you’re like Graham and you change OC’s every 2 years

It isn’t just the play book, it is the predictability. You have to scout yourself and tendencies on down and distance. If you run the same play on similar situations even with almost flawless execution it is unlikely to be successful if the other teams is expecting it. We have too many posters on this board that know what is coming so you can imagine what an opposing coach that has scouted us knows.

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

It isn’t just the play book, it is the predictability. You have to scout yourself and tendencies on down and distance. If you run the same play on similar situations even with almost flawless execution it is unlikely to be successful if the other teams is expecting it. We have too many posters on this board that know what is coming so you can imagine what an opposing coach that has scouted us knows.

I mean, I suppose you could make that argument, but last nights game was a completely new play calling set from Montgomery, at least as far as run pass tendencies go.

 

[TU1NNJ]

I mean, I suppose you could make that argument, but last nights game was a completely new play calling set from Montgomery, at least as far as run pass tendencies go.

Agree about the play calling last night starting out with more 1st down passing. Our situational play calling on the type of pass plays on 2nd or 3rd and 8 or more yards were the same as always. That is what the MSU players were keying. As a few others mentioned we really needed to use the MSU speed and our inability to slow them down to our advantage (e.g middle screen, etc..).

When Monty and Briles were at Houston they used a lot of wide receiver crossing in front of the QB at the snap. They would occasionally pitch the ball (technically a pass) to the receiver on the sweep. This keeps the DE and outside LBs at home and helps the inside run game. This is not something we have seen much in the last few years.

 

[maverickfp]

There is zero misdirection, creativity in the football mind of Monty.

 

[astonmartin708_rivals]

I do think monty should work in a screen pass out of the shotgun. MSU ran a couple of those and they gashed us every time.

 

[drboobay]

I have a work 'frenemy' that is a big Michigan State fan. I told him...

They should give their offense a break because the TU defense is legit.

The payout pretty much paid Monty's salary for the year.

We paid our last coach half as much for the same results.

 

[quincy101]

There's been a few blurps on here about the new Johnsons, but dang, these guys came virtually out of nowhere & really contributed. Brandon has a team high 9 tackles & Josh has 2 or 3 catches. Does anyone know how dinged up he is?

Yes, our O-line really stunk it up. On the other hand, they won't be trying to block a fistfull of all-B10 D linemen every week. And poor X. Gadlin. All he had to do was block the B10's defensive player of the year for 2018 with zero game experience. Ouch!

So proud of our defense. Future opponents will feel the pain.

 

[tupatsfan]

There's been a few blurps on here about the new Johnsons, but dang, these guys came virtually out of nowhere & really contributed. Brandon has a team high 9 tackles & Josh has 2 or 3 catches. Does anyone know how dinged up he is?

Yes, our O-line really stunk it up. On the other hand, they won't be trying to block a fistfull of all-B10 D linemen every week. And poor X. Gadlin. All he had to do was block the B10's defensive player of the year for 2018 with zero game experience. Ouch!

So proud of our defense. Future opponents will feel the pain.

Amen. Let’s pump the breaks on negativity. Now, if we struggle next weekend then I will be concerned. But, I think that’s a perfect opponent after Michigan state.

 

[maverickfp]

Mine are pumped...until potentially next saturday night.

 

[Hurricane Drummer]

The only concern about next week is the game is half way across the country. It's pretty far to travel.

 

[TulsaRising1]

The only concern about next week is the game is half way across the country. It's pretty far to travel.

If we win next week, it will be our 1st win away from Chapman Stadium since the Miami Beach Bowl

 

[HuffyCane]

If we win next week, it will be our 1st win away from Chapman Stadium since the Miami Beach Bowl

Ouch.

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

If we win next week, it will be our 1st win away from Chapman Stadium since the Miami Beach Bowl

Find an offensive lineman who can play the center position and is capable of snapping an oblong sphere “DIRECTLY “ to the quarterback . The goof they started is a fabulous “Drive Killer” and really knows how to demoralize a team and fan base ,

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

If we win next week, it will be our 1st win away from Chapman Stadium since the Miami Beach Bowl

Find an offensive lineman who can play the center position and is capable of snapping an oblong sphere “DIRECTLY “ to the quarterback . The goof they started is a fabulous “Drive Killer” and really knows how to demoralize a te

 

[Hurricane Drummer]

Find an offensive lineman who can play the center position and is capable of snapping an oblong sphere “DIRECTLY “ to the quarterback . The goof they started is a fabulous “Drive Killer” and really knows how to demoralize a team and fan base ,

Whoever it was they eventually put in there seemed to do a better job with the snaps. Didn't see if they could block any good or not, but at least they got step 1 right.

 

[quincy101]

That was Gerard Wheeler(So.,6'3", 325) back up center who did a fine job after entering. Still can't explain Couch's "performance". Presumably did OK in practice. You know he was nervous about blocking & schemes against toughest D we will face all year.

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

That was Gerard Wheeler(So.,6'3", 325) back up center who did a fine job after entering. Still can't explain Couch's "performance". Presumably did OK in practice. You know he was nervous about blocking & schemes against toughest D we will face all year.

I had a saying to grade school basketball players who were playing timid on the court in an effort to get them to just play hard and quit being intimidated....” IF YOU’RE SCARED, JUST SAY YOU’RE SCARED “ .
So we’re in a game and I have a kid who’s guarding a Jenks football player and is using his best “Matador “ defense and during a time out I used the “Scared “ routine to make him mad . Instead , he replies “ Yes coach I’m scared” .,,,At least the kid was being truthful . Couch needs to just go play and play hard without any intimidation.

 

[HuffyCane]

Is that kid available?

 

[slacker48_rivals109525]

The center was moving to the left or right as he hiked the ball, instead of hiking he moved before the hike, bad combination.

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

Is that kid available?

I’ll check my old roster , It was too long ago to be Mr. Couch .