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While I'm disappointed in the overall result, I'm pleased that for maybe the first time since the Troy game, the team actually played pretty well against at least decent competition. I don't include FIU and the FCS school because those were games we should have won anyway.

I like that McGee focused on the ground game. He should have been doing this weeks ago. I wish it wasn't so rigid, however. I'm fine with being primarily a run-oriented team, but we had what maybe 1 pass in the 1st half? I'd be okay with more like a 70% running game, but you need an occasional pass just to keep the defenses honest.

In spite of that rigid commitment to the run, we still had a chance late in the 4th quarter. That's not something that we could say about many of our games. I know that JP feels terrible about his INT, because it did amount to being the difference in the game. But he played well otherwise and gave us a chance to win against a pretty decent opponent.

No, I'm not satisfied with this nor do I consider it a moral victory, but it did appear like there was some improvement. We executed a game plan, we played decent on defense (INT, took over on downs deep in UAB territory, forced a number of punts), we played physically, and we dominated possession. Our offense had been a little more efficient and gotten TDs instead of 2 FGs, we could have put a little distance between us and MTSU.

The game is over. The result is the all-too-familiar loss. But I saw some things that were encouraging. I haven't been too positive on McGee very much this season, but this was a better effort by him and the staff today.

The rest of the season is very much important. It might not lead to a bowl or CUSA championship, but we have to get better so we have something to build off of going into next season. McGee needs to put the greatest emphasis on recruiting OL and DL.

When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

(11-02-2013 04:41 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  While I'm disappointed in the overall result, I'm pleased that for maybe the first time since the Troy game, the team actually played pretty well against at least decent competition. I don't include FIU and the FCS school because those were games we should have won anyway.

I like that McGee focused on the ground game. He should have been doing this weeks ago. I wish it wasn't so rigid, however. I'm fine with being primarily a run-oriented team, but we had what maybe 1 pass in the 1st half? I'd be okay with more like a 70% running game, but you need an occasional pass just to keep the defenses honest.

In spite of that rigid commitment to the run, we still had a chance late in the 4th quarter. That's not something that we could say about many of our games. I know that JP feels terrible about his INT, because it did amount to being the difference in the game. But he played well otherwise and gave us a chance to win against a pretty decent opponent.

No, I'm not satisfied with this nor do I consider it a moral victory, but it did appear like there was some improvement. We executed a game plan, we played decent on defense (INT, took over on downs deep in UAB territory, forced a number of punts), we played physically, and we dominated possession. Our offense had been a little more efficient and gotten TDs instead of 2 FGs, we could have put a little distance between us and MTSU.

The game is over. The result is the all-too-familiar loss. But I saw some things that were encouraging. I haven't been too positive on McGee very much this season, but this was a better effort by him and the staff today.

The rest of the season is very much important. It might not lead to a bowl or CUSA championship, but we have to get better so we have something to build off of going into next season. McGee needs to put the greatest emphasis on recruiting OL and DL.

It was MUCH better. Even the defense made more stops today. Just couldn't stop them at the end.

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

And AB is the one passing.

Agree. Thought McGee's game plan was very good. It gave us a chance to win.

Drew Champlin ‏@DrewChamplin
3 more key UAB players got injured today, statuses going forward right now are unknown: OL Roscoe Byrd, DE Diaheem Watkins, DE Chris Rabb

I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm not understanding the love affair with sticking to the ground game for so long. The bottom line is that plan produced one TD and 13 points in 3 1/2 quarters against a team that was giving up 33 points per game against FBS opponents.

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

Pick-6

(11-02-2013 05:26 PM)BlazerGrad88 Wrote:  I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm not understanding the love affair with sticking to the ground game for so long. The bottom line is that plan produced one TD and 13 points in 3 1/2 quarters against a team that was giving up 33 points per game against FBS opponents.

more importantly, it kept our defense off the field and allowed zero points in the first half…
ball control offense is our best defense

(11-02-2013 05:50 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 05:26 PM)BlazerGrad88 Wrote:  I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm not understanding the love affair with sticking to the ground game for so long. The bottom line is that plan produced one TD and 13 points in 3 1/2 quarters against a team that was giving up 33 points per game against FBS opponents.

more importantly, it kept our defense off the field and allowed zero points in the first half…
ball control offense is our best defense

Also, if Staples was in there I think we would have thrown it more.

(11-02-2013 05:16 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

And AB is the one passing.

But which WR would catch it? Former cornerbacks don't count.

(11-02-2013 06:41 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 05:16 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

And AB is the one passing.

But which WR would catch it? Former cornerbacks don't count.

None of em if its a pass down field by JP. He threw 3 more than 5 yds past the line of scrimmage as I recall: 1 went into no mans land and nobody was even close to it. The second went nowhere near a UAB reciever but right in the hands of a guy in blue and white for a pick 6. The only one completed was at the end to JJ for the TD. I almost broke my stadium seat when I saw that pass to the Blue Raider,,, horrible call knowing how erratic JP is passing and down near our own gold line...

(11-02-2013 06:41 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 05:16 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

And AB is the one passing.

But which WR would catch it? Former cornerbacks don't count.

Maybe the guy who has now scored a TD every 4.67 offensive touches on the season? I can promise you that MT is grateful we crafted a gameplan that completely took JJ Nelson out of the game. I just kept expecting a shot downfield to him, but it never came (until we were forced into passing mode). Or how about an occasional WR screen? We just kept running the ball right at them, even after it stopped working in the second half.

Running the ball = good.
Running the ball to the point you make the Callaway/Helton offenses look creative = bad.

I agree. Even if JP doesn't have the zip on his passes for downfield passing, I'm sure he can throw a few screens or slants. Again, it's about keeping defenses honest. We're pretty good, but not so good we can have teams absolutely stack the box on us and us still run it straight down their throats... at least not consistently.

70-30 run-pass would be ideal when we're in front. But when you are trailing, then you have to tweak that a little bit and use a bit more of the passing game.

(11-02-2013 06:41 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 05:16 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

And AB is the one passing.

But which WR would catch it? Former cornerbacks don't count.

Clearly not Nolan Smith or Ricky Hrabowski.

It was far from perfect but was the best game plan all year. Controlled the clock and had a shot. Not sure what else you can ask for considering the number of injured players. We are better with Perry, he's a better leader overall. He threw the pick but came back with a TD pass. I'd give the spot to him going forward as Brown most likely won't start over Briscoe next year. It wasn't perfect but it was much better.

Yeah. I thought that was probably the best overall game we've played this year. Defense still can't tackle and there were plenty of mistakes on both sides but all in all, I wasn't that upset with how we played.

(11-02-2013 05:16 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  

(11-02-2013 04:45 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  When you run that much, that successfully, the play action pass is going to work.

If you call it. Sigh.

And AB is the one passing.

Wrong on that.

What a surprise, more complaining about the quarterback position. JP is the guy. Now until he graduates. He played well enough for us to win. I feel better about what I saw today about the whole team than I have in awhile. We looked good.

I usually hate getting on here after losses because of all the negativity. It's okay to be negative and critical, and certainly this is the venue for it. I just don't like reading it. BUT today is an exception. The coaching staff reacted to what they saw last week, made adjustments, and those adjustments payed dividends. We easily could have won that game, and I think we'll beat a couple of teams down this final stretch.

I LOVED the unflinching commitment to the run. Let's do it some more. Keep that defense off the field until they get it together. It shows that we can line it up over and over, no surprises, and get yards anyway. MTSU knew what was coming, and they couldn't stop it. It was awesome.

After last week's disaster, this was a welcome contrast, and I still think this coaching staff can and will get it done. GO BLAZERS!!!

If we win 4-5 games I'll still live because that would mean we are improving from 3 wins last year.