game observations

[Hoop Fan]

I really liked the special team coverage today. The punt and kick off coverage was so much better than past years. Utep had some good athletes and we did a good job containing them. To me, its a real good sign that special teams are playing better and much more physical. Obviously the D Line played great today, even though they started off slow and allowed alot of big gains on the ground early. All 4 linemen are back next year which is huge. Demyron Martin was a workhorse stud again. 3 more years of this guy is just what the docter ordered.

My only complaints are that we made no progress this season in getting any experience or gametime for any qbs who will be here next year. OL still has to get tougher. We got stuffed on too many possessions today and had to settle for field goals. And for god sake, quit blocking people in the back on returns. How many block in the back penalties did we get today?

[Stallion]

I was going to post about the great kick coverage too and it bodes well for one of the big questionmarks next year. I counted 5 outstanding open field tackles 4 of them were huge blow-up hits by SMU CBs. 2 huge hits by Lindley, two huge hits by Haynes and one good open field tackle by Cortley Blackmon. Fitzerald also had a great open field tackle but he's positioned himself to see a lot of action next year at RB.

[Hoop Fan]

Fitzgerald looks like someone chiseled him out of rock. I don't know where he was earlier in the season, but he looks something like the Under Armour spokesmen these days. We must protect this house! His runs to the outside were pretty impressive.

[The Q]

Right you are -- I thought Lindley had killed Higgins with that one hit at the south end. Easily the hit of the year. And I was afraid Haynes would get there before the ball did on his hit. Perfect timing! For all of the braincramps we had on special teams early this season, that group deserves major kudos for their performance today.

[Treadway21]

Fitzgerald looked very good on the touchdown and the critical 3 and 2. Maybe he will solve our goal line offense for next year. It has killed us all season and we blew 2 chances today (or was it 3). He looks very hard to stop on that pitch.

[BrianTinBigD]

I still think that when Willis gets in at QB next year(yes I said Willis) we will see a vastly improved running attack. He is faster and quicker than Romo and is a threat all by himself. Mix in a one more back that can run besides Martin and things look good. Oh yeah, we have 9 months to figure out how to throw to 2 TEs as opposed to 2 micro possession receivers that we never throw to anyways.

[Nacho]

Can someone explain why Fitzgerald hadn't played RB this season until today? Just asking? Don't get defensive. Geez you guys are touchy.

[tmustangp]

Offense: well at the end of the first half i wanted to strangle mr. burns, but i have to give the O alot of credit for exploding in the third quarter.. I wish i knew Martin's YAC (yards after contact) it seems like he gets hit at the line 90% of the time and still gets 5 more yds. Our line is really gelling and i can't wait to see what they can do next year. Fitzgerald what a change of pace is he goin to be, i mean wow.. not too mention how about Dorsey, nice change of pace also.. Chase, scared us a few times but that effort on that one catch and run for the td, was great and he has proved that he can go over the middle and will catch the slant (td the last two weeks)
lets hope we figure out how to use McKinney (6-4 245 FB) and Kennedy next year

Defense:
UNBELIEVABLE, enough said.. muse, haywood, bonds and rogers have been a nightmare for o lines the last month...
Cant think of a better way to end a career than DD Lee did, with that badass one handed pic (i came in w/ him in 2000) and he is a great guy and intimidating competitor...
Hopefully everyone can now see why Bennett was such a sought after DC coach in teh big 12 @ A&M and Kstate..

Special teams:
we are really goin to miss mentzel and mcmurtry.. but other than the dumba$$ penalties they were really putting the hat to some people out there today..

I could be picky about the game today, who cares.. we won 5 games and what a better way to end the year!!!

[Stallion]

I was so excited about Fitzgerald's spring game 3 years ago I was sure he would be a big time RB. But then he got in Bennett's doghouse and never got out. I was a little disappointed they moved him to defense in the first place. BTW that is one improvement in Bennett's coaching strategy. Before this year he was known as a coach that liked to go with his starter at RB and nobody else got carries. I like getting a fresh RB into the game in the second half and it paid off today with about 90 yards between Fitzgerald and Dorsey who also played well.

[Roach]

I was so excited about Fitzgerald's spring game 3 years ago I was sure he would be a big time RB. But then he got in Bennett's doghouse and never got out. I was a little disappointed they moved him to defense in the first place. BTW that is one improvement in Bennett's coaching strategy. Before this year he was known as a coach that liked to go with his starter at RB and nobody else got carries. I like getting a fresh RB into the game in the second half and it paid off today with about 90 yards between Fitzgerald and Dorsey who also played well.

Where do you get the doghouse idea? Did Bennett say something about that? Did Fitzgerald say something? Bennett has said publicly for three years that "he's such a great athlete, we've got to find a place for him." You've said many times that being a great athlete on the track and in the weight room doesn't necessarily mean being a great football player. I don't know if Johnnie was in any doghouse, or maybe he just struggled because he was switching positions every other day. Whatever the reason .... he sure looked good yesterday!

[Stallion]

because he ran for about 175 yards in the spring game about 3 years ago and then got about 6 carries the next year even when Keylon's legs were falling off. Apparently being player of the game in the spring games merits ZERO playing time the next year-I see the pattern. He never tried to give Fitzgerald a chance at running back-I don't care what he said-he never had a fair shot. Bennett rarely substituted running backs before this year and that's a fact.

[ponyboy]

I was so excited about Fitzgerald's spring game 3 years ago I was sure he would be a big time RB.

Ditto. Perhaps our need for secondary help proved just too tempting. Great to see him back in his natural position.