(09-20-2015 07:12 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(09-20-2015 06:54 AM)djsfw57 Wrote:  but our passing defense has LOTS of work to do.

How may passes did you see that weren't covered? I'm thinking years past, giving up to wide open WRs. I think maybe yesterday UT ran into a very good QB. His passes were generally right on, his players blocking downfield running good routes and they had some speed....

Richardson is one of the top two QB's UT will face all season. ISU's Receiving Corp. is also very solid.

If you add our receivers with those at BG to field a new team, we don't have a starter on that team.

A few thoughts on things the Rockets still really need to improve on:

- ISU was 8-14 on 3rd down and long, with plays of 21, 14, 15, 21, 16, 9, 21, 59 and 18 yards. So the positive is that the D forced them into 3rd and long a lot, but they still couldn't consistently get off the field. This has been a problem with Rocket defenses for a long while.
- ISU QB scrambled for 42 yards on 6 carries. Another long time issue with Rocket defenses, is letting QBs scramble for big yardage.
- Stats say UT was 5-6 in the red zone, but out of 6 trips, there were 4 FG attempts and 1 fumble that was luckily recovered for a TD. So, really only 1-6 for TDs. Need to be able to finish drives.

There were positives too, including special teams already mentioned & good pass protection (which is in part because of Ely's quick releases), and a win is a positive no matter how it happens. But there is plenty that needs to be improved on before we get to the likes of NIU, WMU and that school down south. Capability is clearly there, need to focus on execution.

Regarding the wideouts, Zo did have 3 drops (1 was knocked out of his hands, but he still should have held on). The TD grab was clutch though, with a defender grabbing his jersey the whole time. Thompson had the 1 crucial drop, and Jones had the controversial one which was also knocked out of his hands, although again, he should have hung onto it.

There were several other passes that Ely put a little behind where they should have been, allowing the defenders to get in and influence the catches. Great receivers should be able to come down with many of those to help out the QB, but they didn't tonight.

I actually thought Jones had a good game. Other than that one "fumble", he made some big plays with his feet to turn a couple yard gains into big gains.

I'm surprised no one has commented about the lack of almost any screen or spread passes. I think there were about 3, and Jones was able to get yards on the ones he caught. Surprised that we didn't go back to those more often, as ISU was clogging up the middle of the field. Similar story on the run, I think all the big runs, were runs off the edge, but we kept trying to jam the ball up the middle when that was going nowhere all night.

One more horrible stat. Rockets had 5 yards on 6 plays in the 4th quarter. No commentary needed.

(09-20-2015 09:24 AM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  One more horrible stat. Rockets had 5 yards on 6 plays in the 4th quarter. No commentary needed.

I was going to try to figure out some second half numbers (like how many first downs and how many three and outs) UT had last night. But I think this sums it up.

And I don't think I've ever seen a team commit a holding penalty on a fair catch. At least not until last night.

(09-20-2015 09:24 AM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  One more horrible stat. Rockets had 5 yards on 6 plays in the 4th quarter. No commentary needed.

Rockets started to move the FB and the Officials made the crappy call on the Jones' first down catch. The television angles showed it was clearly a catch with a fumble and the TV analysts concurred. The review booth made a call in virtually no time and got it wrong. Such a blatant blown call makes you wander.

(09-20-2015 09:02 AM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  I'm surprised no one has commented about the lack of almost any screen or spread passes. I think there were about 3, and Jones was able to get yards on the ones he caught. Surprised that we didn't go back to those more often, as ISU was clogging up the middle of the field. Similar story on the run, I think all the big runs, were runs off the edge, but we kept trying to jam the ball up the middle when that was going nowhere all night.

I did mention, there seems to be no or little middle passing game. It's long or run. I don't recall any slot over the middle. I recall two with Zo, the miraculous catch that wasn't and I think a drop. They were able to control line with three lineman as I recall? Correct? They might have had the middle pretty well clogged up with that extra secondary defender.

I had to wonder whether there were really so many holds and off-sides, or was that officiating crew trying way too hard to be a part of the game? I can't remember when I've seen so many flags. It got to where I was looking for a flag every time we moved the ball. I imagine ISU felt the same way.

(09-20-2015 12:34 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(09-20-2015 12:23 AM)emanoh Wrote:  Even with the revamped line, heck you're telling me we can't get Hunt into the endzone.

Yeah...I want to give the O line some slack since they're not that experienced--and Ely wasn't sacked once this game--but they struggled to get much push tonight. Really unacceptable to not convert the TD there. It seemed to signal a shift in momentum towards Iowa State and the Cyclones almost pulled it off.

Look at the play calling, 3 run plays right into the heart of IS. defense. Has me scratching my head.

Ok so I've already re-watched much of the game (I did fast forward thru some spots).

Reasons I say we were "lucky" to win:

Time of possession was huge difference. Same problem last week. This can't continue. Dropped passes on 1st & 2nd down were drive killers.

Iowa State committed 2 big defensive penalties that kept our only 2nd half TD drive alive, resulting in Elys fumble in the end one which we luckily recovered.

ISU killed a couple of their own drives with penalties, and fumbled in UT territory.

Cyclones missed what would have been the game-winning field goal.

Rockets have 1st & goal at the 1 and settle for a FG.

Reasons why we "deserved" to win:

Vest kicks a clutch FG in the 1st OT

Rocket D came up big in the 2nd OT

(09-20-2015 10:34 AM)FrickerRon Wrote:  Look at the play calling, 3 run plays right into the heart of IS. defense. Has me scratching my head.

He could have at least tried the jump pass again, LOL.

And what about the trick plays we try when we don't need to run a trick play? We couldn't run it, we couldn't catch it, and we don't even have a trick play to try to see if we can move the ball?

(09-20-2015 10:25 AM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  I had to wonder whether there were really so many holds and off-sides, or was that officiating crew trying way too hard to be a part of the game? I can't remember when I've seen so many flags. It got to where I was looking for a flag every time we moved the ball. I imagine ISU felt the same way.

If you look at the ISU big gainers there was holding on virtually every play.

(09-20-2015 01:41 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(09-20-2015 10:25 AM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  I had to wonder whether there were really so many holds and off-sides, or was that officiating crew trying way too hard to be a part of the game? I can't remember when I've seen so many flags. It got to where I was looking for a flag every time we moved the ball. I imagine ISU felt the same way.

If you look at the ISU big gainers there was holding on virtually every play.

Well, I guess that's how they handled our defensive line.

Speaking of defense, after the fight song down at the students end, Treyvon Hestor came trotting past me on his way to the locker room. The guy was in tears he was so emotional over the win.

(09-20-2015 12:40 AM)falconplucker Wrote:  I cut the O-line slack for the learning curve. I do not cut the wrs slack. I also don't like delay of games and taking time outs, because you're not ready after coming out of timeout. Just glad we're 2-0. I would not want a loss coming from them. IowaSt is not a good team.

How many delay of games were there? 4 maybe?
It was a lot

(09-20-2015 10:56 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Ok so I've already re-watched much of the game (I did fast forward thru some spots).

Reasons I say we were "lucky" to win:

Time of possession was huge difference. Same problem last week. This can't continue. Dropped passes on 1st & 2nd down were drive killers.

Iowa State committed 2 big defensive penalties that kept our only 2nd half TD drive alive, resulting in Elys fumble in the end one which we luckily recovered.

ISU killed a couple of their own drives with penalties, and fumbled in UT territory.

Cyclones missed what would have been the game-winning field goal.

Rockets have 1st & goal at the 1 and settle for a FG.

Reasons why we "deserved" to win:

Vest kicks a clutch FG in the 1st OT

Rocket D came up big in the 2nd OT

Iowa St penalties were frequently our best play.
They really helped us out a ton.

(09-20-2015 05:07 PM)owen Wrote:  Iowa St penalties were frequently our best play.
They really helped us out a ton.

These were Big 12 refs and the refs last week were SEC refs. Based on only these two games, on balance I believe that I prefer either of them over the usual MAC/BiG refs.

(09-20-2015 01:41 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(09-20-2015 10:25 AM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  I had to wonder whether there were really so many holds and off-sides, or was that officiating crew trying way too hard to be a part of the game? I can't remember when I've seen so many flags. It got to where I was looking for a flag every time we moved the ball. I imagine ISU felt the same way.

If you look at the ISU big gainers there was holding on virtually every play.

Cue Redwingtom to explain the holding rule. In his defense fans around me screamed "Holding" on every ISU play and we never held.