My synopsis of our game (long).

[drt7891]

*The one thing to keep in mind is the fact we played a sloppy, slow team that was not quick off the ball. We were able to control the game from the second drive on because Memphis... well... sucks... but we can certainly learn some things about our team.<div>
</div><div>On Offense: Relf is a leader. It gives me goosebumps to see what he is doing as the clear leader at quarterback. 3 years ago, if you would have asked me if I thought we'd miss Chris Relf after he left, I would have called you a dubmass. He has one of the best rags to riches stories out there and he is poised to be the clear leader and owner of our offensive unit (and hopefully one of the best QBs in the conference). Great job by him and Russell both tonight. </div><div>
</div><div>Our Offensive line, for the most part, controlled their line of scrimmage. We had some miscues with communication (picking up blitzes and snap counts... resulting in some false starts... at least we knew how to line up... unlike Memphis), but for the most part, they were very much servicable. I think Carmon will be solid once he gets some of the jitters out of his system by getting some experience. Everyone else on the line looked very solid. Running backs get the MVP of the game. Picture perfect game. Could not have asked them to do anything more. Ballard was a beast. Elliott even looked good tonight. He had great speed. Wide receivers looked good, too. I was glad to see us throwing over the top tonight and for the first time I can remember, we had no trouble completing deep passes. Very explosive tonight. My only concern is our short "high percentage passing." We looked sloppiest there, and although the panic meter isn't on yet, we will need to clean that up in order to begin stringing long drives together against faster, more disciplined defenses in the SEC. </div><div>
</div><div>On Defense: Our defensive line was very solid. PJ Jones is a BEAST. Him and Boyd are clear standouts on that line. I can't wait to see what they can do when Cox gets back in the mix. They were able to get pressure on the quarterback throughout the night and, for the most part, control the run. A little wishy-washy at times, but overall, a good night. Our defensive backs made some key plays tonight for us, as well. I think they will meet our expectations for the season, maybe go a little above and beyond. Nickoe Whitley and Corey Broomfield were very solid tonight. The linebackers... well... were either really good or really bad. I guess it's what I expected after losing two big leaders off that unit. I will say they played with outstanding effort, but their gap discipline, at times, was pretty bad (they made some really good plays, too... so I don't take that from them). Overall, our defense, I think, is in good shape... but has a ways to go.</div><div>
</div><div>Special Teams: Kickoff coverage was AWESOME. No other way to put it. We have a kicker that can consistently put it at the goal line (or behind) and we swarmed to the ball. Awesome to watch. Our punter has a very strong leg and had some BOMBS tonight. If he can get the distance he was getting tonight with the hang time he was getting, we will be fine. As long as he can have good, high, hanging punts, we will be in good shape. Place kicking looked pretty good. Even his DePasquale's miss wasn't bad off (for 47 yards), and he should pick up where he left off last year. Should be fine there.</div><div>
</div><div>Overall, about what I expected for a first game. Obviously, we were a little sloppy at times (and a littlelackadaisical on both sides), but watching this team play with the effort they played with tonight, I have very high hopes for the season. 600 offensive yards is INCREDIBLE, I don't care who we are playing. We have played way worse defenses and haven't been able to put up those kinds of yards. We gave up 338 yards in offense and 2 scores, so that's not terrible. Both scores were on miscues on defense and special teams, so hopefully, those things can be fixed.</div><div>
</div><div>My only whatthe17 moment of the night was that fake punt. That was the first time since Mullen has been here I literally said, "what the 17 are you thinking?" We won, so I won't complain too much about that. </div>

 

[RocketCityDawg]

Many times on the passes out to the sidelines for 5-10 yards or so.

That concerns me.

And they ran on us better than I'd expected.

But you wrote a great analysis. Like ^.

 

[FlabLoser]

Our KO kicking was better than we've had in many years, but he still didn't get a touchback like the MEMPHIS CUSA kicker did. I am both thankful and disappointed in our kickoff kicking still.<div>
</div><div>Our CBs looked really good. Our safeties looked really good.</div><div>
</div><div>Our DL with Cox better be as good as advertised because our LBs are a weakness.</div><div>
</div><div>We are set at RB.</div><div>
</div><div>The fake punt looked like a neat idea, but if it doesn't work against Memphis its not going to work a against anybody. I have a theory that fake was to give Auburn something to think about.</div><div>
</div><div>QBs looked good.</div><div>
</div><div>Kick coverage was good.</div><div>
</div><div>Dameon Robinson!!!!! Give that man the David Fair award. The next big thing. He is going to be a super stud allstar. I think he'll learn to not fumble punts and not run himself out of bounds inside the 5. But MAN can he run with the football. Looks like we have our homerun threat. We still need a Jason Croom on this team, but having a Dexter McCluster type sure helps too.</div>

 

[coach66]

the only thing that really concerned me was the linebacker play. I hope we are better in that area than we looked last night or we are going to get exposed big time against better teams.

 

[PBRME]

I couldn't get a read on Baker. His short punts were absolutely horrible looking, but he pinned Memphis deep. When he needed a longer punt he'd boom a perfect spiral. I hope that was what he intended to do because all I could keep thinking of was McShank.</p>

 

[MSUArrowCS]

Damien Robinson is 6'6" 310lbs.

 

[Frances Drebin]

...I would prefer not having the touchbacks. The kicks were to the two yard line, and several times they didn't get past the 15 due to coverage. They would've had better starting field position with touchbacks.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

1. Eulls and P.J. Jones will help us on the D-Line

2. Jameon Lewis looked electric with the ball in his hands, but looked like a lost ball in high weeds on punt and kickoff returns.

3. Lots of mistakes that are the correctable type. Typical first game stuff that can and will get cleaned up.

4. The days of Norwood and nobody else are over. Lots of offensive weapons. We can spread it around. We got over 600 yards of offense despite Perkins being a nonfactor, Ballard only getting 10 carries, and Bumphis only having 1 reception.

5. There is some talent on special teams. Bure, Slay, Dee Arrington, etc. are guys that can get down the field and cover kicks.

6. Have we ever felt so good about QB? Relf is a productive 5th year senior, Russell looks great, Favre was Parade AA, Prescott could have gone to LSU or TCU.

7. Redshirting/development/retention/teaching is the Mullen way. This staff can "build" a productive football player better than any we've ever had.

8. I don't like the fact that Memphis gashed our defense at times. Got to clean some of that up. Malzahn's offense will be much better than Memphis.

 

[AssEndDawg]

Many times on the passes out to the sidelines for 5-10 yards or so.

That concerns me.

Have you watched this team play the last two years? We play a bend but don't break defense. We have been playing this defense for two years now. If you wanna take small chunks off the pass we are going to let you have that. We will even let you move it down the field some. But you make one mistake, and we got your ***. We run a very patient defense designed to stop big plays and we look for opportunities to blitz and get interceptions along the way.

We have not been a lock-down pass defense ever under Mullen. I have no clue why people are all of a sudden expecting that to change. The d-backs played a masterful game running <span style="font-weight: bold;">OUR DEFENSE</span>.

 

[drt7891]

We intentionally don't get aggressive and try to break up passes on those type plays when it's one on one. Reason being is the sideline acts like a second defender, anyway. Essentially, the corners are there to protect the middle of the field and yardage, so positioning is key. First off, those are very tough throws to make... throw it too wide, it's probably intercepted, throw it too narrow, it's out of bounds. It also has to be thrown very hard, or defenders can make a play on it. So I say all that to say this: those throws require a tight window, anyway, and if the corner gets too aggressive and jumps the route and the catch is made, 9 times out of 10, it's a touchdown (or a big play at least). If you are playing a single-high or even cover 2 with your safeties, it would be tough for them to come over and make the tackle if the corner gives up his position on the play. So to play it safe and not take any risks, the corners play soft coverage on the sidelines and if the catch is made, he is there to push him out of bounds. For the most part, we did that very well.