Just some things to keep in mind...

[JasonB]

- Braden Smith will not replace BLM because he can't make the throws the offense needs to make. A significant number of throws have to be made towards the sideline, not just over the middle of the field. He doesn't have the arm strength to make those.
- BLM was horrible last night, worst I have ever seen him play.
- Defense is much improved. They could not stop Sam Houston last year. They dominated the first quarter and a half until SFA went hurryup and started throwing the wide receiver screens. DC tried to stay generic as he could, not playing the nickel much and not blitzing out of the 3-4. A 3 man front NEVER pressures the QB on its own. When Yenga was sent, it was very generic, from the outside. No multiple blitzes.
- Notice on our offensive side, we didn't call wide receiver screens. That was a change from last year. Jones was doing everything he could to force BLM to throw the ball down the field and not take the easy way out. Ditto with not sticking with the running game, which was there all night if we wanted it.
- On the long TD drive resulting in the TD pass to DJ, JJ called plays so that BLM rolled out to one side, thus cutting the field in half. BLM immediately got into a rythem and the team moved down the field. Obviously, against a better opponent we will see that adjustment made faster.
- BLM wasn't pulled because JJ knows that if we have a chance this year, BLM has to play.

In short, there were a lot of things done in this game to work on things down the line for the rest of the season. If we go to UAB and struggle in the passing game, you will see the field cut in half or the WR screen a lot sooner. If the other team runs the WR screen, you will see the Hudman nickel package a lot sooner.

Just saying... don't get too frustrated with this game other than the obviously disappointing performance from BLM. This offense is expected to fail miserably if the QB hits at a 50% clip.

[OC Mustang]

Absolutely agree. I'd add the full moon, the fact that I think the offense got frustrated with the first three drives, and I'd back up what you said about JJ forcing BLM to throw deep. SFA's safeties played deep the whole game which is what made McNeal so deadly on the sweep.

My concerns are not BLM physically. He's strong...can fire the ball...no doubt. But he wasn't going through his progressions. That's mental.

[Stallion]

Is he really that strong or even accurate? Compared to what? Click through the starting QBs in Texas, CUSA and the Big 12 South during the this year and last year. I think he is near the very bottom of the list. Seriously go through that exercise and tell me Mitchell has a strong arm. Cause I actually watch these other teams why some of you guys are spending all day on the Boulevard. I'm not convinced.

[Treadway21]

Spending time on the Blvd is a good thing. There was plenty to watch there.

[CalallenStang]

Why is it so hard to realize that we did not play Sam Houston last year? Texas State and Sam Houston are two very different teams! SHSU is an average 1-AA team, whereas Texas State was one of the better 1-AA teams last year.

JasonB, I'm not attacking you. With the amount of times I've seen Sam Houston mentioned on this board as the 1-AA team we played last year, it's easy to get confused. I agree with your post.

[ponyscott]

JasonB good observations and well taken......I didn't notice cutting the field in half with the play calling..thanks for the heads up and positive notes.....so much on the blogs lines right now are so negative but we just expected so much more from the first game but your points make sense...thanks!

[ozfan]

- Braden Smith will not replace BLM because he can't make the throws the offense needs to make. A significant number of throws have to be made towards the sideline, not just over the middle of the field. He doesn't have the arm strength to make those.
- BLM was horrible last night, worst I have ever seen him play.
- Defense is much improved. They could not stop Sam Houston last year. They dominated the first quarter and a half until SFA went hurryup and started throwing the wide receiver screens. DC tried to stay generic as he could, not playing the nickel much and not blitzing out of the 3-4. A 3 man front NEVER pressures the QB on its own. When Yenga was sent, it was very generic, from the outside. No multiple blitzes.
- Notice on our offensive side, we didn't call wide receiver screens. That was a change from last year. Jones was doing everything he could to force BLM to throw the ball down the field and not take the easy way out. Ditto with not sticking with the running game, which was there all night if we wanted it.
- On the long TD drive resulting in the TD pass to DJ, JJ called plays so that BLM rolled out to one side, thus cutting the field in half. BLM immediately got into a rythem and the team moved down the field. Obviously, against a better opponent we will see that adjustment made faster.
- BLM wasn't pulled because JJ knows that if we have a chance this year, BLM has to play.

In short, there were a lot of things done in this game to work on things down the line for the rest of the season. If we go to UAB and struggle in the passing game, you will see the field cut in half or the WR screen a lot sooner. If the other team runs the WR screen, you will see the Hudman nickel package a lot sooner.

Just saying... don't get too frustrated with this game other than the obviously disappointing performance from BLM. This offense is expected to fail miserably if the QB hits at a 50%


Ok maybe he can make the throws, if as some posters on the board suggest he can't see and will not get glasses and other suggest his glove is causing the problem. Then the coach should give him the choice get vision correction and get rid of the glove or get splinters in the back side. If he is not making his reads, then that is head spacing and this also calls for bench adjustment. It is better to
go with an accurate short range passer than give up 2 or 3 intercepts a game and a 50% completion average.