Post Game: Props to EWU

[timlevin]

Wow, play to win or play to lose? Quite the dilemma!The hierarchy of a team flows from the coordinators to the players implementing the strategies!! The disconnect happens when the strategy is flawed. Look to the hierarchy for correcting the strategy!!!

 

[Plainsman]

Some observations:

-The running game was impressive most of the night and the O line,QB and backs (with the exception of one inexcusable and costly fumble) deserve huge props for the yards we ground out. But we failed to grind out a first down when it really counted after the Adams turnover due to three straight highly predictable runs. No matter how successful the running, there are going to come times in a game where the run will not be there for you (i.e. the whole second half against NAU and those three critical prectable downs at EWU when we really could have cemented the momentum with a score or even a time eating drive.) Instead, 3 and out and we never saw the ball again until we trailed. McKinney, while not an elite passer, seems fairly efficient in the short to mid range, and even an occasional long ball when he is not under pressure.These coaches need to develop a passing scheme Trent can be comfortable with and trust him to use it as a regular part of our rotation of plays in a game.This offense needs a creditable alternative to the run that Trent and his receivers have confidence in and it is the coaches responsibility to craft such a system and, most importantly trust Trent and the receivers to execute it when game conditions call for it. If the coaches cannot build a credible passing attack based on Trent's skills or won't trust him to use it if he is capable, then this is a serious coaching mistake that will hamper this offense in many more games that just the EWU game tonight. This staff needs to get some cojones and trust this kid to throw the ball when the situation warrants.

-The front seven on defense are a pretty formidable group in pass rushing and run stopping. Another poster stated that one problem we had was no pressure on their passer. I don't know what game he was watching but I saw plenty of pressure by Wagenman, Harris, Holmes, etc. with several sacks and hurries. Coyle really blew him up on one occasion. I think they could have gotten to him more but he was an adroit scrambler and I am sure they received instructions to rush hard but try to hold their lanes to prevent him from getting out in the open field. Unfortunately, the efforts of the front seven are being cancelled out by the worst secondary play I have seen by the Griz in the last 17 years or so. In a program that has had such stellar safeties in the past, it is sad to see the low level of play back there. Goodwin has been the only cornerback to impress at all and he doesn't seem to get a lot of playing time. I am hopeful things will improve back there but these guys have a lot of experience at safety and if they aren't coming around by now, we are going to be very vulnerable to teams with any kind of effective passing attack.

 

[kurtismichael]

Some observations:

-The running game was impressive most of the night and the O line,QB and backs (with the exception of one inexcusable and costly fumble) deserve huge props for the yards we ground out. But we failed to grind out a first down when it really counted after the Adams turnover due to three straight highly predictable runs. No matter how successful the running, there are going to come times in a game where the run will not be there for you (i.e. the whole second half against NAU and those three critical prectable downs at EWU when we really could have cemented the momentum with a score or even a time eating drive.) Instead, 3 and out and we never saw the ball again until we trailed. McKinney, while not an elite passer, seems fairly efficient in the short to mid range, and even an occasional long ball when he is not under pressure.These coaches need to develop a passing scheme Trent can be comfortable with and trust him to use it as a regular part of our rotation of plays in a game.This offense needs a creditable alternative to the run that Trent and his receivers have confidence in and it is the coaches responsibility to craft such a system and, most importantly trust Trent and the receivers to execute it when game conditions call for it. If the coaches cannot build a credible passing attack based on Trent's skills or won't trust him to use it if he is capable, then this is a serious coaching mistake that will hamper this offense in many more games that just the EWU game tonight. This staff needs to get some cojones and trust this kid to throw the ball when the situation warrants.

-The front seven on defense are a pretty formidable group in pass rushing and run stopping. Another poster stated that one problem we had was no pressure on their passer. I don't know what game he was watching but I saw plenty of pressure by Wagenman, Harris, Holmes, etc. with several sacks and hurries. Coyle really blew him up on one occasion. I think they could have gotten to him more but he was an adroit scrambler and I am sure they received instructions to rush hard but try to hold their lanes to prevent him from getting out in the open field. Unfortunately, the efforts of the front seven are being cancelled out by the worst secondary play I have seen by the Griz in the last 17 years or so. In a program that has had such stellar safeties in the past, it is sad to see the low level of play back there. Goodwin has been the only cornerback to impress at all and he doesn't seem to get a lot of playing time. I am hopeful things will improve back there but these guys have a lot of experience at safety and if they aren't coming around by now, we are going to be very vulnerable to teams with any kind of effective passing attack.

I'm no expert but Coyle seemed to be all over the field tonight. He was my choice for Defensive Player of the Game.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Hell of a game, per usual, Griz. Glad we could come out on top this time. This team never quits or panics. Hope to see you guys rebound and make the playoffs!

 

[Potomac Griz]

Sorry, BW. The play calling on offense didn't cost us the game. The Griz lost Moore and still rushed for more than 400 yards. The play calling was conservative, but given the five turnovers of a week ago conservative was the right call. The two score lead should have been defensible.
The secondary play is not just a personnel issue. It's a coaching issue. The coverge shells are way too soft and need to be adjusted. Last week the D wasn't adjusted to deal with an overloaded line. This week the secondary wasn't adjusted to deal with the vertical passing game. Gregorak is in way over his head.

When we get a decent lead the play calling seems to go into "run clock" mode even... we took our foot off the gas and it burned us again. Around 8 minutes to go with a 9 point lead and we go away from what was working to run some clock after their QB fumbles. We did similar things against NAU where we just took our foot off the gas and let NAU back into the game. I think that's why some people have issues with the play calling... playing not to lose doesn't seem to work too well... no killer instinct at all.

As for the secondary play, it could be a coaching issues too as you stated.. however what's not really a coaching issue is that our safeties are the most passive safeties I've ever seen. They don't hit people to try to jar the ball loose, they miss tackles frequently, and how many times are we going to get beat deep because the WR got behind the safeties? Our other DBs cant count on any safety help anywhere on the field...that's not good.

I miss the days of safeties back there who WRs and QBs had to worry about... right now there's none of that. No big hits, no ball hawking, just poor tackling, getting to the play late, and watching WRs run by them.

What's the answer at safety? Who knows.... do we really have no other safeties on the team that could do a little better?

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

When we get a decent lead the play calling seems to go into "run clock" mode even... we took our foot off the gas and it burned us again. 8 minutes to go with a 9 point lead and we go away from what was working to run some clock. We did similar things against NAU where we just took our foot off the gas and let NAU back into the game. I think that's why some people have issues with the play calling... playing not to lose doesn't seem to work too well... no killer instinct at all.

Personally, I wish the Griz "did" run some clock. When Vernon Adams fumbled the ball over to the Griz at the 7:32 mark at the Griz 49 the Griz went three-and-out and only burned 1:46; that, to me, was the turning point. A change in the momentum. Canada didn't run the clock; he went out of bounds and stopped the clock. Three plays = 1 yard gained. Real problem there. The Griz "needed" to run the clock by getting a couple first downs and leaving but a couple minutes left, if that, if they had to punt. Made a complete difference in the game at that moment with that lackadaisical way of grasping the "moment." EWU got the ball back with 5:46 left instead.

 

[Potomac Griz]

When we get a decent lead the play calling seems to go into "run clock" mode even... we took our foot off the gas and it burned us again. 8 minutes to go with a 9 point lead and we go away from what was working to run some clock. We did similar things against NAU where we just took our foot off the gas and let NAU back into the game. I think that's why some people have issues with the play calling... playing not to lose doesn't seem to work too well... no killer instinct at all.

Personally, I wish the Griz "did" run some clock. When Vernon Adams fumbled the ball over to the Griz at the 7:32 mark at the Griz 49 the Griz went three-and-out and only burned 1:46; that, to me, was the turning point. A change in the momentum. Canada didn't run the clock; he went out of bounds and stopped the clock. Three plays = 1 yard gained. Real problem there. The Griz "needed" to run the clock by getting a couple first downs and leaving but a couple minutes left, if that, if they had to punt. Made a complete difference in the game at that moment with that lackadaisical way of grasping the "moment." EWU got the ball back with 5:46 left instead.

You're right that it sure wasn't even an effective run out the clock series... It was a quick 3 and out where we had great field position and a chance to put EWU away.

 

[MrG]

What happened to Lebsock???

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

 

[putter]

still playing soft giving receivers 10 yds at the line and still getting beat......i was at the game and dennard got beat on several plays and with luck adams passes were under thrown to save his butt on some of those plays....then he gets a flag in the endzone on the crossing pattern from kaufman, ew gets the ball on the 2 yd line.
then he gets beat twice in the 4th quarter by kaufman, one kaufman does not have possession in the endzone and the other he does for the first of two touchdowns in the last 3 minutes of play in the 4th.

at this point, any opponent that can throw with qb protection will take control of the game......which can ultimately be a win.....do not like our odds, unless there are as big changes in our secondary as what happened to our oline tonight......very impressed with their game- the run (B+) and pass protection (c)

That PI call in the endzone was complete BS. No contact and there is no way Kaufmann catches that ball. On the TD throw, Hermanson was way out of position. Unless, that is, Denard was playing outside shade and the D call was something else. That is what makes me nervous, many many people out of position.