Smurph's smack - week 7

[smurph]

Same as last week.

[smurph]

Actually, my feelings are the same as last week. WE won the game, but I am still not satisfied with our play. However, we are 6-1, will probably be in the top-20 this week, this was the best team we've beaten this year, maybe the best team we've played, and we gave them their worst loss so far this season.

1. Quarterback - B-plus. Not his best game of the year, but good enough to win. Glad he was able to play.
2. Running backs - A-minus. Devine was not good in the first half. He danced too much instead of putting his head down for a couple yards. I realize that is not his style. He more than made up for it in the second half, and his tiptoe down the sidelines to win the game is one for the annals. Tavon Austin opens the game with a 98-yd kickoff return, our first KO/punt return TD in more than 2 years. The Ryan Clarke experiment is a success. Converting 3rd and short is the biggest improvement on this team over last year.
3. Receivers - C-plus. Passing game didn't do much in the first half, but they made plays when they were needed. Jock Sanders had his usual stellar game.
4. Offensive line - C-plus. We were beaten in the trenches in the first half by a good UConn defense. Again they did enough to win the game in the 2nd half. Step forward last week. Small step backward this week.
5. Pass defense - C-minus. Despite a huge game by the UC QB, I thought our pass D wasn't all that bad. There were several very good catches. I realize we seem to make every QB look good. Despite the numbers this wasn't our worst game. Our safeties were not up to their past games. Sowers got faked out and beaten a few times, as did Glover. I thought the CBs played pretty well. Pass rush is still not good enough.
6. Run defense - B-minus. They got some good yardage in the first quarter. After that we brought our LBs and safeties up a little tighter and pretty much shut them down. Give UConn coaches credit. They saw that and went to their passing game and exploited our commitment to stop the run.
7. Special teams - C. Wemissed an important FG attempt, our coverage still sucks. Austin's TD was major, obviously.
8. Coaching - C-plus. I thought our game plan on offense was very vanilla. I would have liked to see a trick play or 2 in the first half against their aggressive defense. A bublle screen or 2 would have helped also. I know most people don't like the bubble, but it forces the defense to cover the field horizontally if you throw a couple. A large majority of the sets were one tight end, one RB, an H-back and 2 slotmen, so we have officially changed from the Rodriguez spread. I would have liked to see them mix it up a little more. I agree with committing to stop the run against a very good running team. Give UConn coaches credit for going to the pass and being effective.

We're still OK, but the road gets tougher now. Our 3 toughest opponents are still ahead, including USF Friday night. We need to play just a little better and we will be 7-1 (8-1 after we beat Louisville).

POG -Noel Devine (again). Biggest play of the year, a truly beautiful TD run. 2nd -team All-American?
Honorable mention - Jock Sanders, Tavon Austin, Chris Neild, Selvish Capers, Josh Taylor (I love this kid. Not as much talent as Scooter, but gives everything on every play)>

[smiteedawgwv]

Pretty much agree as usual smurph. I think the adjustments need to happen quicker, we can't wait until halftime every game or it's eventually going to be too late. Although Devine's touchdown was a thing of beauty, my Player(s) of the game are the 55,000 plus Mountaineer fans who gave the Huskies a thunderous standing ovation as they ran onto the field. It was sincere, it was heartfelt and it was a very touching moment that I was glad to be a part of as our fans showed their compassion for the Huskie nation in mourning the loss of Jazz Howard. I'm glad the announcers made note of the support of our fans several times throughout the game. We truly have the best fans in college football, although our reputation is not as such.

[rainman]

Yes, the fans get a huge A++ for their actions and compassion shown yesterday, made me very proud to be a Mountaineer