Tulane-MSU analysis

[Big Easy Pony]

Tulane analysis: Loss to Mississippi State not all bad

By Fred Robinson
Staff writer
New Orleans Times-Picayune

Tulane coach Chris Scelfo knows there are some positive things to build on from the Green Wave’s 21-14 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday night.

Playing the way the Wave did after three weeks of uncertainty, coming back after being down 14-0 and forcing the Bulldogs to come up with a huge defensive series at the end of the game were all positives for Scelfo’s team.

For Tulane’s players, getting through the first game had to be like lifting a boulder off their shoulders. The past two weeks, especially last week, the team was bombarded by interview request from the national media.

Now the Wave, which entered fall came with the potential to be a bowl team, has to have its leaders move this team forward and put Hurricane Katrina behind it. When it does that, it will begin to win games.

OFFENSE – C-

Yes, Tulane came back in the second half with two scores, both fine plays – a stretched-out catch by Damarcus Davis in the end zone and an 18-yard, tackle-breaking run by backup tailback Jovon Jackson – but the offense let too many opportunities get away in the first half.

Quarterback Lester Ricard, the catalyst of this team, did not have a particularly good game (he completed 26 of 47 passes without an interception). He looked a lot the way he did in last year’s game against Mississippi State. His fumble in the first half was actually a good defensive play by State’s Clarence McDougal.

Running back Matt Forte had a couple of good runs, but did not have the type of game (66 yards on 20 carries and 10 yards on four receptions) the Wave needed to win. That was due mostly to the offensive line’s inability to handle the Bulldogs’ front in the second half. With senior Chris McGee out for a good portion of the game, the Wave’s offensive line had a pair of freshmen logging a good bit of playing time.

DEFENSE – A

It was deja’ vu all over again.

For the second straight year, the defensive job was good enough to secure a win against the Bulldogs. The Green Wave gave up a couple of big plays in the second half, but it repeatedly turned back Mississippi State’s offense.

Led by Anthony Cannon’s 11 tackles, the defense held State to 225 yards and forced it to punt 10 times. The Bulldogs were held to just one first down in the first half. The total performance was better than any performance by Tulane’s defense last season. The problem is the Wave’s defense is far ahead of the team’s offense. It must again wait for the offense to catch up, put more points on the scoreboard and take the pressure off of the defensive unit.

SPECIAL TEAMS – F

In spite of converting two fourth-down plays to extend drives, the Green Wave’s special teams failed miserably. This was a major concern going into fall camp, and with Fred Smith’s season-ending knee injury several weeks ago, the concern about Tulane’s return game has grown.

A muffed punt by cornerback/returnee Izzy Route put Mississippi State in superb position to break a 14-all score late in the fourth quarter was the coupe de grace.

But the truth of the matter is there were more than enough blunders to go around. On the opening kickoff, a penalty negated a 50-yard return by Route.

Overall, the kickoffs were not very good, there were two fumbles on punt returns, an onside kick was botched, and even first team all-conference punter Chris Beckman had a terrible game. After averaging 43.7 yards a punt last season, Beckman averaged 38.6 yards on 10 kicks, and had one punt that traveled just 16 yards. This is an area that must improve immediately.

[The PonyGrad]

Sounds similar to SMU

[SMUguy]

Sounds like Coach Schumann is still a hell of a coach.

And if their special teams are that bad .... how about we get a couple blocks of our own this week? Talk about a way to build momentum.

Go Mustangs!