Memphis recap
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 12:05 pmHere are my thoughts about the game:
- First and foremost, I thought we were done. To give up that lead and all momentum, and turn it around and somehow win... there is a lot of mental strength on the team. It was unexpected and very impressive.
- Full credit to Memphis. Every team coming off of Covid has been awful. I thought they would wear down, especially with how intense that sun was and how hot it was out there. They held up the entire game. They have a hell of a team, especially on both sides of the line. They are legit top 25.
- I thought Shane had kind of lost it a little, he made a couple bad throws in the fourth. But those last two completions. Wow. Granson on the long third down over the middle, he fit into a tiny box. And the touch on the pass to the sideline to keep it from being a pick six was great. Those were pro throws. He passed on some first down scrambles early and it kept us from retaining our offensive momentum, but he ran at other times and just was great at the end.
- Ran into a relative of Reggie on the way out, who said knee sprain, and I hope it is just that. That kid has the "go" button, we haven't seen since Emmanuel was here. That cut and sprint was incredible. He doesn't need to worry about pro scouts. He just needs to stay healthy.
- It was interesting to watch our WR after Reggie was out and Gray was banged up. We ran out Page, Rice, Upshaw, and Granson, and immediately tried to go deep with Granson. He is the only player in that group who can stretch the field. If we don't have someone to stretch the field, it impacts the passing game, but also the running game, because the other team can compress the field. This bye week is going to be key to get TQ, Burns, and Wiggins in the mix because our burners are clearly injury prone and we need a 3rd and 4th WR who can stretch the field. That TQ release is going to end up being really key for us.
- Our OL is good enough to be run first against teams with a below average d-line. But against a really good DL, we have to use the pass to open the run. The Auburn transfer is the only guy we have who has the ability to dominate in the run game. Everyone else is an above average blocker in the pass game, and average in the run game.
- For one series of downs in the 4th quarter, C Davis and Massey were playing safety. That scared me. Not sure if that was done because of injury or frustration, but it was a little iffy.
- Our LBs don't make enough plays. There was a series where 50 dominated. 16 had the pick. But just not enough plays, not consistent enough. At the beginning of the game, our corners and safeties made a ton of plays, and it stopped Memphis. Our safeties were great against the run. But once B White found the holes in the zone over the middle, all of that stopped. Our D Line isn't BAD. They can handle 1v1 blocking. They good pushed a little on the double team in the run game. But for the most part, they are standing things up a yard or two off the line. But our LBs are easy to block off a play and aren't able to get around blockers. So, we require the safeties to make tackles in the running game.
- Until Williams came in. He was in both series in the 4th quarter, and it made such a massive difference. Memphis was aware of him immediately. They doubled him, but he just stopped it, right on the line. We played a 4 man front, and finally, for the first time all game, everyone else on the line was 1v1 and got a push forward and started to win 1v1 battles. White stood back there forever all game, waiting for players to break open in the zone. He finally faced a pass rush and we won the game. Similar to the OL, we have a bunch of decent players. But it is amazing how adding one "plus" guy to that group really makes a difference. The extra week needs to be spent getting him fit, Levelson fit, and seeing if we can get Levelson, Aho, 90, or 55 to take a next step.
- And, please, more 4 man fronts with a true nickel package. I would much rather have Crossley out there than 16 or any of the Fox players on passing downs. I like the swap of Hailey for McBride in those situations, but lets get all 3 corners on the field as well.
This team has the chance to make an all-time great run. But over the next two weeks, they need 51 to get fit and dominate, they need another deep threat to emerge, they need WIlliams fit, and they need another dominant DL to emerge to make it happen.
As it stands, Tulane and Navy both scare the hell out of me, because both have schemes that can really take advantage of your LB and DL play. We can generate some turnovers, but overall don't generate enough negative plays in the running or passing games to slow those teams down. We have the corners and safeties to make Navy very one dimensional. But I can see us giving up 3.3 yards on every single running play and giving up long, grueling TD drives that eat clock and keep our offense cold.
- First and foremost, I thought we were done. To give up that lead and all momentum, and turn it around and somehow win... there is a lot of mental strength on the team. It was unexpected and very impressive.
- Full credit to Memphis. Every team coming off of Covid has been awful. I thought they would wear down, especially with how intense that sun was and how hot it was out there. They held up the entire game. They have a hell of a team, especially on both sides of the line. They are legit top 25.
- I thought Shane had kind of lost it a little, he made a couple bad throws in the fourth. But those last two completions. Wow. Granson on the long third down over the middle, he fit into a tiny box. And the touch on the pass to the sideline to keep it from being a pick six was great. Those were pro throws. He passed on some first down scrambles early and it kept us from retaining our offensive momentum, but he ran at other times and just was great at the end.
- Ran into a relative of Reggie on the way out, who said knee sprain, and I hope it is just that. That kid has the "go" button, we haven't seen since Emmanuel was here. That cut and sprint was incredible. He doesn't need to worry about pro scouts. He just needs to stay healthy.
- It was interesting to watch our WR after Reggie was out and Gray was banged up. We ran out Page, Rice, Upshaw, and Granson, and immediately tried to go deep with Granson. He is the only player in that group who can stretch the field. If we don't have someone to stretch the field, it impacts the passing game, but also the running game, because the other team can compress the field. This bye week is going to be key to get TQ, Burns, and Wiggins in the mix because our burners are clearly injury prone and we need a 3rd and 4th WR who can stretch the field. That TQ release is going to end up being really key for us.
- Our OL is good enough to be run first against teams with a below average d-line. But against a really good DL, we have to use the pass to open the run. The Auburn transfer is the only guy we have who has the ability to dominate in the run game. Everyone else is an above average blocker in the pass game, and average in the run game.
- For one series of downs in the 4th quarter, C Davis and Massey were playing safety. That scared me. Not sure if that was done because of injury or frustration, but it was a little iffy.
- Our LBs don't make enough plays. There was a series where 50 dominated. 16 had the pick. But just not enough plays, not consistent enough. At the beginning of the game, our corners and safeties made a ton of plays, and it stopped Memphis. Our safeties were great against the run. But once B White found the holes in the zone over the middle, all of that stopped. Our D Line isn't BAD. They can handle 1v1 blocking. They good pushed a little on the double team in the run game. But for the most part, they are standing things up a yard or two off the line. But our LBs are easy to block off a play and aren't able to get around blockers. So, we require the safeties to make tackles in the running game.
- Until Williams came in. He was in both series in the 4th quarter, and it made such a massive difference. Memphis was aware of him immediately. They doubled him, but he just stopped it, right on the line. We played a 4 man front, and finally, for the first time all game, everyone else on the line was 1v1 and got a push forward and started to win 1v1 battles. White stood back there forever all game, waiting for players to break open in the zone. He finally faced a pass rush and we won the game. Similar to the OL, we have a bunch of decent players. But it is amazing how adding one "plus" guy to that group really makes a difference. The extra week needs to be spent getting him fit, Levelson fit, and seeing if we can get Levelson, Aho, 90, or 55 to take a next step.
- And, please, more 4 man fronts with a true nickel package. I would much rather have Crossley out there than 16 or any of the Fox players on passing downs. I like the swap of Hailey for McBride in those situations, but lets get all 3 corners on the field as well.
This team has the chance to make an all-time great run. But over the next two weeks, they need 51 to get fit and dominate, they need another deep threat to emerge, they need WIlliams fit, and they need another dominant DL to emerge to make it happen.
As it stands, Tulane and Navy both scare the hell out of me, because both have schemes that can really take advantage of your LB and DL play. We can generate some turnovers, but overall don't generate enough negative plays in the running or passing games to slow those teams down. We have the corners and safeties to make Navy very one dimensional. But I can see us giving up 3.3 yards on every single running play and giving up long, grueling TD drives that eat clock and keep our offense cold.