Virgil Cain
Member
Will try and make it shorter than last week. First- how on point is it for SMU to buy their way into a conference? Any big wins over the last 3 decades? Any conference championships? Nope. Do they have a bunch of cash? Yup! This game doesn’t matter to anyone but the 10-12 SMU fans that are left. I’m okay with the series being paused/cancelled.
Offense:
1. SMU was another attacking D similar to UH. They brought pressure often and were slanting and using run blitzes to affect our offense. They were a well coached group but got beat by better talent.
2. The OL was very good in pass protection. Morris had time to survey the field and distribute the ball. Very good work by this group against an attacking defense.
3. Towards the end of Q2 the OL had taken over the game. SMU was getting pushed off the ball and stoned in pass protection. I saw 56 and 68 downfield blocking LBs and safeties several times. Talent in the trenches wins games and we have more of it than we’ve had in a decade.
4. Emani Bailey is playing at a different level than everyone else, but can we please get 21 the ball? He took an outside handoff, made a move and picked up 7 yards on what should have been a loss. The talent jumps off the screen.
5. WR’s were still inconsistent. There are so many options It’s hard to keep up with who is getting reps. Did anyone else notice Morris chewing out a few guys for breaking off or taking routes upfield when they shouldn’t have?
6. TCU TEs taking over a game is strange sight.
7. This offense is better than it was a year ago. Last years frogs relied way too much on the big play to impact games. We need to clean it up and quit allowing TFLs, but I like this style of consistent run based offense better. It has advantages for the defense too.
8. If this group can learn to score TDs in the red zone we’ll be tough to beat. I would rather us run it 3 times from the five yard line and get pushed back instead of trying the east-west stuff. Just pound the rock.
9. Morris is awesome. Great feel in the pocket. Great accuracy. Uses his legs. Converts in big situations. Easy to see why he won the job last year.
Defense
1. We absolutely sold out to stop the pass this week. The DC didn’t use any designed pressure until they were in the hurry up in the second half. I was okay with the strategy because we absolutely blanketed their WRs. If the ball bounces differently we could have ended the game with 2-3 more INTs.
2. This was the back ends best game by a mile. Not only did they lock up WRs, but they rallied and tackled in space better than they have in the past 2-3 seasons.
3. Shad Banks has the most physical talent of any linebacker on the team. He absolutely ran through a few blockers and wrecked plays. When Hodges comes back, #0 should still get a good chunk of reps. #6 registered a few TFLs in big spots. The dude is a gamer.
4. We were beat by alignment on a lot of defensive downs last week. The announcers highlighted how we only kept 5 in the box on a few 3rd downs. I can’t tell if this is an adjustment to the formation or a call coming from the sideline? Either way, we were definitely willing to give up yards in the run game instead of getting beat for 7.
5. I would have liked us to adjust better to the “speed zone” where OLs don’t double block lineman and instead release to the second level. Usually you’re taught to get upfield and disrupt the RB but it didn’t seem like we did that very often. We gave up too much on these plays.
6. Defense was really good on 3rd and 4th downs. Camara knocking down the 4th down pass was brilliant. He knew exactly what was coming. Good coaching and great execution.
7. Obiazor almost made an unbelievable play for the INT late in the game. He was pissed that he missed it, but Newton bailed him out on the very next play with an INT. Both guys are playing at a high level.
8. CBs are all starting to get it. Newton was a known quantity but Helm, Canada and the rest are finally playing without thinking.
9. Sonny talked about hiring Gillespie away from Tulsa because his defenses were difficult to gameplan against, they were versatile, and they got better the longer that he was coaching in one spot. Hopefully we’re seeing that last part take effect.
Offense:
1. SMU was another attacking D similar to UH. They brought pressure often and were slanting and using run blitzes to affect our offense. They were a well coached group but got beat by better talent.
2. The OL was very good in pass protection. Morris had time to survey the field and distribute the ball. Very good work by this group against an attacking defense.
3. Towards the end of Q2 the OL had taken over the game. SMU was getting pushed off the ball and stoned in pass protection. I saw 56 and 68 downfield blocking LBs and safeties several times. Talent in the trenches wins games and we have more of it than we’ve had in a decade.
4. Emani Bailey is playing at a different level than everyone else, but can we please get 21 the ball? He took an outside handoff, made a move and picked up 7 yards on what should have been a loss. The talent jumps off the screen.
5. WR’s were still inconsistent. There are so many options It’s hard to keep up with who is getting reps. Did anyone else notice Morris chewing out a few guys for breaking off or taking routes upfield when they shouldn’t have?
6. TCU TEs taking over a game is strange sight.
7. This offense is better than it was a year ago. Last years frogs relied way too much on the big play to impact games. We need to clean it up and quit allowing TFLs, but I like this style of consistent run based offense better. It has advantages for the defense too.
8. If this group can learn to score TDs in the red zone we’ll be tough to beat. I would rather us run it 3 times from the five yard line and get pushed back instead of trying the east-west stuff. Just pound the rock.
9. Morris is awesome. Great feel in the pocket. Great accuracy. Uses his legs. Converts in big situations. Easy to see why he won the job last year.
Defense
1. We absolutely sold out to stop the pass this week. The DC didn’t use any designed pressure until they were in the hurry up in the second half. I was okay with the strategy because we absolutely blanketed their WRs. If the ball bounces differently we could have ended the game with 2-3 more INTs.
2. This was the back ends best game by a mile. Not only did they lock up WRs, but they rallied and tackled in space better than they have in the past 2-3 seasons.
3. Shad Banks has the most physical talent of any linebacker on the team. He absolutely ran through a few blockers and wrecked plays. When Hodges comes back, #0 should still get a good chunk of reps. #6 registered a few TFLs in big spots. The dude is a gamer.
4. We were beat by alignment on a lot of defensive downs last week. The announcers highlighted how we only kept 5 in the box on a few 3rd downs. I can’t tell if this is an adjustment to the formation or a call coming from the sideline? Either way, we were definitely willing to give up yards in the run game instead of getting beat for 7.
5. I would have liked us to adjust better to the “speed zone” where OLs don’t double block lineman and instead release to the second level. Usually you’re taught to get upfield and disrupt the RB but it didn’t seem like we did that very often. We gave up too much on these plays.
6. Defense was really good on 3rd and 4th downs. Camara knocking down the 4th down pass was brilliant. He knew exactly what was coming. Good coaching and great execution.
7. Obiazor almost made an unbelievable play for the INT late in the game. He was pissed that he missed it, but Newton bailed him out on the very next play with an INT. Both guys are playing at a high level.
8. CBs are all starting to get it. Newton was a known quantity but Helm, Canada and the rest are finally playing without thinking.
9. Sonny talked about hiring Gillespie away from Tulsa because his defenses were difficult to gameplan against, they were versatile, and they got better the longer that he was coaching in one spot. Hopefully we’re seeing that last part take effect.
