RE: CMU Gamethread
A few random thoughts after a highly entertaining (and nerve-racking) game yesterday:
- First and foremost, any win over CMU is a great win. A number of legitimate concerns, yes, but let's not forget that. Congratulations to the team, especially our seniors, who will finish their careers with a 3-1 (or, in the case of fifth-year seniors, a 4-1) record against the Chips. Well done!
- Terrell's game yesterday wasn't his finest, but he didn't turn the ball over and made big plays - including ones that kept drives alive and, on the last play, won the game - at big times. It seemed like there was more of an effort to get him involved in the running game at times to keep the defense honest. I kind of wonder if we had been keeping that club in the bag throughout most of the nonconference season, considering that we saw this from him at times last season.
- Outside of the one fumble, the running game looked pretty good and was effective most of the game. Franklin looked more like his 2014 self at times. I would still like to see a little more of Bogun at times. I've been impressed with him when he's been out there.
- Solid O-line play. Established the running game and didn't give up a sack on the day. Nitpicking, the penalty that caused the safety was probably the only real negative.
- I thought the receivers played well. Davis made plays at big moments, and Braverman was obviously fantastic on the day. We probably still rely on the two of them a bit too much, but Henry and Bellamy both made big plays at times in the fourth quarter when both were badly needed.
- I'm in agreement with the majority that we left far too many points on the board in the first half. Ultimately, that almost came back to bite us. We have to find ways to put the ball in the end zone when we're in the red zone, especially considering our extremely shaky (at best) kicking game.
- Defensively, we're going to need to get a lot better if we're going to contend for a MAC title. I expected CMU to have more success running than they had up to this point given their high level of nonconference competition. That said, the yards came too easily at times, and Rush picked us apart far too often.
- I'm very glad P.J. made the decision to go for it at the end of the game and relieved that the play worked out. I hated the idea of settling for three (if we made the kick, hardly a safe assumption) and giving CMU the ball with a chance to win it.
CMU has a pretty good team, and this was an excellent win. Now, we need to build on it. Beat Ohio, and we've got a great chance to build some momentum going forward in the MAC.
(This post was last modified: 10-11-2015 10:18 PM by The Colonel.)
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CMU Gamethread
