by Pony4Life » Sun Oct 05, 2003 1:18 pm
I'm not sure if the blocked punts are Mentzel's fault or his blockers' fault. I know that last night, when he got blocked, someone dipped inside of D.D. Johnson, who was blocking from the right wing position. D.D. is a smart guy, and he knows that if you get beat - whether it's your fault or that of the guy next to you - you tackle the guy from behind if you have to. Take a holding penalty, rather than getting a punt blocked for a TD.
The Bonds thing was hard to stomach. I know he's a freshman and he's excited, etc., but good god, he's right over the ball. I'm sure Cruz was doing a hard cadence to try to make the young DLs jump, but after one or two, you've got to block out the sound and move only when you SEE the ball move from the center's hand.
On that 40-something-yard pass to the 1-yard line, it wasn't Humphrey's fault. His assignment there was to stop forward to pick up a crossing receiver. One of the safeties was supposed to shift over and get that receiver. The only reason they didn't score is because Humphrey is amazingly fast and was able to get there in time to cover for the other guy's blown coveragee.
I've been a big believer in the varied skills of both Bartel and Wallis -- hoping they somehow could teach each other -- but I'm starting to wonder if the best QB isn't waiting his turn on the bench (and wearing #7).
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One part vermouth