My observations & high frustrations

[Griffdawg]

1.Sure the defense played well and caught some breaks to keep USC out of the end zone a few times but I would have dialed up pressure on Shaw at different times and fromvarious spots to keep him uncomfortable in the pocket. He was making his first SEC start on the road. There were drives where he had literally all day long to stand back thereand pick out a receiver. That drove me crazy. They moved the ball between the 20's on us way too easily. That being said, we need a few difference-makers on the defensive side of the ball, especially at DE.

2. Our offensive play-calling continues to baffle me and it's just as much to blame for these losses as our patchwork OL.Is there a rule in place saying that Ballard & Perkins can only carry the ball between the tackles and can only see the edge during an option play? Speaking of Ballard, there seems to be times during the game where our OC or Mullen totally forgets that he was a key component of our success last year. Vick has to be completely frustrated with his lack of touchesthis year. He's a great pass-catcher out of the backfield but oddly enough, we haven't utilized him nearly enough.

3. I'm really beginning to question Mullen's sanity especially after seeing that dumb-assed reverse play call with Bumphis & Farve. This is not pee wee football and that had to have been one of the single worst decisions I've ever seen given the circumstances. He looked like Uncle Bret chucking it up for grabs on that play. That was Division II quality right there.

4. Terrible play-calling on the first and goal series from USC's 4 yard lineand on USC's 48 yard line after the shanked punt gave us great field position and momentum.It seems likewe do this at least 1 time in every meaningful SEC home game. We get great field position and go 3 and out after 3 consecutive idiotic play calls.

5. Has anyone seen the following players on a milk carton because I think they must bemissing for some reason?Darius Slay (one of our fastest DB'swith decent size), Malcolm Johnson (made a brief appearance to demonstrate how to catch a football and then was called back to the sideline), Nick Griffin,Dee Arrington, PJ Jones. In my opinion, we are batshit crazy to play Ricco Sanders instead of Malcolm Johnson. We are playing too many "smurf" sized receivers while Malcolm & Robert Johnson stand on the sideline. If we are going to play Russell as our # 1 QB, then give him some SEC-size targets to hit out there.

6. DePasquale picked a really bad time to have a ****** game. We HAD to have that first FG try to regain the lead and momentum.It turned out to bite us in the butt as I knew it would. The second FG try was just stupid as hell. No other way to sugarcoat that.

7. My request for the offensive coaching staff.Please learn/utilize the following plays: screen pass, toss sweep,quick slant, QB sneak,play-action roll-out pass. Thanks in advance.

 

[LimpinDawg]

The three and out after the shanked punt had me shaking my head. Great field position and we just waste a great opportunity to put our foot on the gas and grab a 14-0 lead by calling three running plays up the middle. I thought we got away from the Crxxm/McCxrvey error. </p>

 

[thunderclap]

bottom line is we've lost 2 games now that we could have just as easily won, and 3-4 feels a lot worse than 5-2.

 

[PBRME]

I have no problem with #3. We need to pull something out of our *** every once in a while to keep the defense on their toes. If mini-Farve hadn't bobbled the ball that play had potential, but it threw the timing off allowing USC to recover and then he made a bad decision.

If it would've worked the fans would be yelling why we wait until now to run that play.

 

[wchsdawg]

I thought the game came down to our coaches play calling. Play that game conservative like Florida and Georgia last year we win.

 

[Dawgzilla]

1. We do not get enough pressure on the QB with our linemen. That has been true every single game. You simply cannot blitz every single play or you will get burned (I know, JL Dunn begs to differ, but he had better DBs). We need to get better pressure out of our linemen.

2. I agree that the play-calling baffles me. But I also don't really understand how our particular brand of the spread option is supposed to work. Are those runs up the middle actually option plays? Is the QB supposed to be reading the end, and only giving the ball to the RB if the end stays wide, or is it a called run up the middle? And, if the QB has the option there, what is the alternative? Is it just a QB run off tackle that Relf always ran, or is there some other option? In short, we really need a better understanding of what the plays actually are, before we complain about he play calling.

3. I posted this above. The Wildcat formation with Favre throwing back to Bumphis was a good call, particularly since Russell needed a breather. It was a perfectly acceptable play call, but when Favre dropped the ball he should have just run with it rather than forcing up the pass. I think we need much, much MORE imagination like this, not less.

4. Agree with the play-calling on the goal line, particularly calling a fade pass to Bumphis. Try using one of the Johnsons there, or anyone who is closer to 6 feet tall. Very frustrated with not taking advantage of the shanked punt. As stated above, I don't know if those up the middle plays were options or not, but a little play action would have bee nice there. Maybe they should have tried something like a reverse to Favre with a throw back to Bumphis.

5. Totally agree regarding the MIA players. Can only assume they aren't grading out well in practice.

6. I also did not like the 53 yard FG attempt, but the wind was at their backs. I would have punted. Maybe Pasqualie was adamant he would make it?

 

[fleabittenmonkey]

I thought the game came down to our coaches play calling. Play that game conservative like Florida and Georgia last year we win.

We won those games last year by controlling the line of scrimmage. Other than the memphis game and the second half of the uab game, we have yet to controll it.

 

[patdog]

That play got Mississippitheir only offensiveTD against UGA in a game they should have been shut out in. The play call wasn't bad, the execution was terrible.

 

[myusernamesucks]

Good God that was AWFUL.

Then, we failed to down that punt inside the five, when we had a great chance to do so. What happens? They get the ball at the 20, and go down and score!