The Good the Bad and the Ugly

[The PonyGrad]

The Good - Punt and KO returns seem to have been fixed and gave record results. They put us in a position to win. Honorable mention for the goal line stand for the defense.

The Bad - The defensive results were not as expected and no turnovers forced. The D gave up 6.39 ypp way above our previous 5.15 against one of the weaker offenses in the country, though I suspect UTEP is getting their act together.

The offense generated only 313 yards and 4.74 YPP against a poor defense and gave up three turnovers. That is not getting it done. Though I must say it did not help when the ref called a ball trapped that looked like a good catch by Rushbrook on the replay, then we fumbled the next play.

The Ugly - despite all the marginal play by the offense and defense we could still have won the game but for the punt team. A blocked punt for a touchdown let UTEP back in the game and allowed them to run the ball instead of pass, playing to their strength.

[Hoop Fan]

Rushbrook just has to do the punting until Mentzels hand heals or something. A team just can't have that many blocked punts.

[buspen]

It's more than just Mentzel, we have slow high snaps, porous blocking, and coverage that is improving but has been filled with holes.

[Lefty]

I don't know if Rushbrook is the answer there. I watched him punt some in warm-ups, and he was wildly inconsistent. He hit a few nice ones, then he'd shank them worse than Mentzel. I think the snap has to get back there more quickly, and the blocking simply has to improve. Four blocked punts in five games is inexcusable.

[Hoop Fan]

The blocking is part of the problem, but I don't see it getting much better if it hasn't already in 5 games. Mentzel has to get rid of it quicker. I know Rushbrook is not a punter but I would take some inconsistency to stop the blocks.

[KnuckleStang]

Meeks was an honorable mention all-state punter, or something like that. I'm not advocating taking the redshirt off, but supposedly the kid can kick the ball.

<small>[ 10-06-2003, 08:30 AM: Message edited by: KnuckleStang ]</small>

[Pony_Fan]

It's just weird to me - if you have gotten blocked that many times, wouldn't you want to get it away as fast as possible or at least sit on it if you see 5 guys coming at you. It seems like at least 10 seconds. I guess the coaches are fine with it. What about a quick kick on 3rd down? haa haa

[Arkpony]

It is so OBVious that Mentzel is slow in kicking the ball. Everyone around us at the game Saturday was commenting about how it took him forever to kick it. It's terrible when we cringe whenever e have to kick. A slow kicker, porous blocking..recipe for disaster. How many blocked this year? 7-8? how many for touchdowns? Can't the coaches see this??!!!

[alummom]

There are lots of changes to be made, it seems Mentzel is our only punter. We need new line and I know Eidson is the fair haired boy who's mom keeps the coaches kids and dad the coaches sidekick, but his snaps look like slow rainbows. Slow kick, slow snaps and an defensive player through the line is going to mean a block or more a game. I'm sure Mentzel is getting gun shy and I bet his first look is at the line not the ball.