Game Report: Good but not great start

[ordigger]

Also remember 6-5 and losing to the Cats? Deja Vu?

Possibly. Possibly not. Should we judge the season based on the FIRST two quarters or the last two?

Neither. That was kind of my point. Overall I think the team seems more promising than last year but still not as good as the Hype that surrounded Fall camp. There is potential there for sure though. Will have to see how it comes together

Agreed. But there's a ton of people on the game thread who have already written the season off based on the first two quarters...that was kind of my point.

Heck, they wrote of the season before that game began. The naysayers were only looking for an excuse to get their hate out there, and thump their chests - and say look, I'm right - we suck. We could've hung 60 on them the first two quarters, faded in the 2nd half and 70% of them would've still whined - because thats what they do.

 

[Ringneck]

My nowhere near expert level armchair analysis and opinions:

• Vika was a serious liability in pass coverage. He looked confused and slow, and Valpo noticed.

• Pass protection looked really good, Phillips wasn't pressured much at all.

• Run blocking seemed, I don't know...nonchalant? Like they were relying on the backs to find holes rather than working to create running lanes.

• I thought Calhoun looked tentative running the ball. I'm sure that will improve with reps

• Reese Phillips is good. He didn't rush throws, didn't overthrow his receivers, and threw some pellets into tight coverage. As our young WRs get better at running routes and shedding defenders, I think we'll see a few more 350 yard, 4 TD performances this year.

• D-Line appeared unable to get much pressure on the Valpo QBs. Don't know if that was due to the game plan, or what

• I was expecting more action in Simis' direction. That H-back position, or whatever we call it, could be our ace in the hole as the season goes on.

 

[PlayerRep]

My nowhere near expert level armchair analysis and opinions:

• Vika was a serious liability in pass coverage. He looked confused and slow, and Valpo noticed.

• Pass protection looked really good, Phillips wasn't pressured much at all.

• Run blocking seemed, I don't know...nonchalant? Like they were relying on the backs to find holes rather than working to create running lanes.

• I thought Calhoun looked tentative running the ball. I'm sure that will improve with reps

• Reese Phillips is good. He didn't rush throws, didn't overthrow his receivers, and threw some pellets into tight coverage. As our young WRs get better at running routes and shedding defenders, I think we'll see a few more 350 yard, 4 TD performances this year.

• D-Line appeared unable to get much pressure on the Valpo QBs. Don't know if that was due to the game plan, or what

• I was expecting more action in Simis' direction. That H-back position, or whatever we call it, could be our ace in the hole as the season goes on.

Looks like a good analysis to me, and as good as any other I've seen, including my own.

 

[Ursus1]

Only got to see it on TV so due to camera following the ball....can someone that saw live tell me how much zone vs man coverage was used

 

[SaskGriz]

My Takeaways: (I was in the NEZ where it must have been 100 in the weird scale you Americans insist on).

1. We played most of the game without 3 of our 4 starters at DB. So it was no surprise that Epperly, Delaney, Cowans and Alexander had their coverages go pear shaped a couple times. McKinley also looked to be on the limp most of the game. That being said, I'm wondering why we didn't seem to play much nickle or dime and/or maybe zone the safeties deep. It's easy to say the Vika couldn't run with the slots/TE but that is a big ask for any Mike 30 yards down field.

2. We have major weapons at H and we need to get the ball there. We held them in to help with pass protect but let them chip an end and then put them in the pattern. The Valpo backers were sitting in short zones which allowed them to cheat on the run plays, make them turn their heads to see if Horner, Simis or Bingham are going to catch a three yarder and go for 12.

3. You can't get DOLA in a pass blocking stance. I understand that our blocking scheme is dictated by the QB checks in the shot gun which is great, but every so often you've got to pot commit and let the hoggs come off the ball and just impose their mass on some lads. It might only get a yard or two but they won't soon forget.

GO GRIZ!

 

[PlayerRep]

Selle and Leonard in box, Ferriter on the field.

 

[bgbigdog]

Long travel weekend - my almost annual pilgrimage to the land of my ancestors. Just had a chance to watch a replay. Thoughts & impressions:

Valpo isn't going to finish @ the bottom of their conference. They have much more athletic talent than advertised, and two good QB's. Their nose tackle is as good as the bridge abutments we saw @ CPSLO last season.

Cap'n P was very good. Minus the fumble, an interception that was on JLM & with only an exception or two, the balls were thrown right where they needed to be. Best pure thrower I've seen in the home colors in a long time. You can tell he's the leader that side of the ball was minus all last season. The Akem throw early was a great play by the Valpo defender or it was 6. Bob needs to exploit that kind of matchup whenever he can.

Semore actually came through with the 3/4 he was claiming to have in the playbook last year. Vika was outside rushing & Banks was inside. There were also a significant number of three-man rushes, which supposes the coach is looking to do a better job of covering & gets that they aren't necessarily going to get big pressure. It sounds like they are more banged up in the secondary than anyone knew with RM being the only guy without some kind of nagging issue. Clean up of the big plays has got to be the focus. & getting the group comfortable switching back & forth between schemes. I do think it will get better. Banks showed me leadership & play I don't recall seeing last season. Stepped up & then some. & it may be my old eyes, but the tackling looked better. Not going for the knock out shot & simply getting in position & wrapping up is a step forward. Two dropped INT's weren't Semore's fault. One was likely a pick 6.

I don't always agree with Delaney, but he's right with his observation that JLM should get a minimum of 15 touches per game.

Punting appears to be a real advantage, though Niekamp has got to make sure he doesn't out-kick the coverage, much like Ursa & his Oligarc-ordered bride.

Ps. The scotch & golf in Scotland are not over-rated. Food is still, & unfortunately, marginal. My first fly-fishing outside North American & in truth, every f$&king fish I caught was expensive. Not recommending you add it to your itinerary if you're there & lacking something to do should you happen to visit.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Long travel weekend ...
Ps. The scotch & golf in Scotland are not over-rated. Food is still, & unfortunately, marginal. My first fly-fishing outside North American & in truth, every f$&king fish I caught was expensive. Not recommending you add it to your itinerary if you're there & lacking something to do should you happen to visit.

All good information. A few additions (been there, done that): You can get good food there (we did) ... but, like the fishing, it's gonna cost you. (At least when you do pay those prices, the service is wonderful. :thumb: )

The scenery is great, including the streams. Every time we passed a Highland stream, I had an almost uncontrollable urge to sign up with a guide. But, as bbdog notes, that's going to set you back some. Plus, from what I've heard, and read, the fish are at least as skittish as those on the Madison (been there, done that, a lot). Beyond that, they really do have "respectable" mountains in Scotland. Don't be misled by the listed altitudes -- some of those peaks go up from surf, like Haleakala in Hawaii.

But the real takeaway: Bring on the Scotch! arty: