W2W4 - next week

[JasonB]

What to watch for in the next game, where a lot of things need to be figured out with a bye the following week before A&M.

- Competition at RT. Weeks vs Ashcraft. I expect a lot of rotation there to see who can play better. Was Ashcraft taken out due to injury? Or just poor performance?
- Competition at RG. Hughes vs McCarty. Hughes got beat a couple of times early, and McCarty looked pretty good. I would expect the winner to be decided after next week's game to give them two weeks of practice with the first team line ahead of A&M.
- Competition at RB. Assuming Shead is injured, who will be able to pick up the delayed running play and the appropriate blocking schemes quicker? Line was more effective than Shead at running the ball last night, but Nlemchi wasn't used and has the ability to be a playmaker.
- Competition at WR. I would expect to see a lot more of Gaines and Taylor, Lancaster if healthy, in the next game. The WR group stepped up after sub par execution last year. But still missing that playmaker. I have hopes for Holman, maybe Johnson (although he dropped 3 last night). It looks like it isn't going to happen from DT. Can Gaines, Taylor or Lancaster provide that extra "pop" and work their way on the field?
- Who replaces Rambo? Henderson was used a lot last night, but struggled in coverage. Can Yenga make something happen?
- Competition at CB. Top three right now are obviously Acker, JR, and Parks. But nobody really made plays (JR had a nice breakup in the endzone, and the nice breakup/BS PI call on Parks). Expect a lot of rotation with them, Montes and Horace to see who can make things happen on the field. The team was much more focused last night on preventing the big play than playing a spot and creating a turnover.

[Rebel10]

Good points. Henderson did struggle in coverage. I wonder if Halverson is going to play or redshirt. I heard a lot of good things about him in the practice reports. I hope KC get an opportunity.

[mrydel]

How about watching for the zone read running game that was going to be an integral addition this year and not used once last night.

[PonySnob]

Ashcroft had a history of taking plays off at Texas.......

[SMUer]

Sounds like what most training camps are used for...most teams have things pretty much ironed out by Game 1

[ALEX LIFESON]

Ashcroft didn't play until mop-up time because he is slow, real slow. When he did get in, he was replaced by Seaver Meyers after a few plays, because the defenders were doing the same thing they did in camp, run right around him. Meyers spent a large part of camp in a boot.

[JasonB]

Halverson is stuck behind Holman and Taylor right now... maybe someone gets moved to challenge Thompson? But I don't know how difficult it is to switch sides.

I think Ashcroft is probably struggling with an injury. Logically, if he had started that slow, they would have played him at guard from the start and not moved Gottshaulk inside during practice...