Smaug's $0.02
Apologies for the delay. Fridays are pretty busy for me, so I'm just now sitting down to my laptop. Like most of you, I live on my phone, but I'm enough of a geezer that I don't want to pound this whole thing out with my thumbs.
Anywho, on to the observations.
It was a great day to be a Blazer. I'm admittedly a bit of a lightweight, but that Dragon's Milk is an ass-kicker. Beautiful day, great tailgating, fun atmosphere, and we won.
Let me type that last part a second time. We won.
Was it what we were expecting? No. Disappointing? Yes.
But that goes directly to the heart of the mantra that Bill Clark has been preaching since he landed on the south side. Raising expectations. Have you seen such bitching after a win? We're going to be okay. What makes me think we'll be okay?
A couple of things. One, this is a talented team. What it's not is an experienced team. And there's only one way to get that. Two, I saw an unnamed football player tweet, "If I can't sleep after a win, I know we have work to do."
That tells me their minds are right. Satisfied with that performance? Of course you're not. I'm not, and you can bet your ass the coaches and team aren't, either.
This was a learning game. A lot of these guys were in a real game lined up next to these other guys for the first time in their lives. It takes time and experience to mesh (and nowhere more so than the offensive line). We looked a smidge off so many times on offense Thursday night. This isn't surprising. Offense depends on timing in ways defense doesn't.
This was a game a lot of teams lose, and one we almost certainly would have in the past, but we didn't. Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning gets to be a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." When a good team gets down, they keep grinding, because experience has taught them that if they do, they'll be okay. When bad teams get down, you get the eye roll and "here we go again" shoulder slump, because that is what experience has taught them.
We as Blazer fans know both these positions. I like the new one better.
Okay, so where was I?
Observations. Right.
1.Myron Mitchell. Junior. Jasper, Alabama. Comparisons to JJ Nelson are premature and unfair, but damn, this guy's got a set of wheels. I know State is not the best team we'll play, but they simply could not run with him. When this offense gets its feet under it, he's going to be a weapon. That kickoff return was electric.
2. Nick Vogel. Senior. Jacksonville, Florida. All his PATs, a 46 yard field goal (Not a given. His record outside 40 yards has been spotty to date) and 5 more touchbacks. Making them go the long way is about as big a defensive weapon as any. Speaking of...
3. Garrett Marino. Senior. Mission Viejo, California. Yeah, the unsportsmanlike call when he jawed at the QB on the ground was not cool, but we've always known the dude was a brawler. Check this out, though. I opened up the box score and see he had a STUNNING 9 solo tackles from the DT spot. That is not a typo (at least, not mine) but holy Fess, NINE?
The Good
I think as the game ground on, the defense got better and better. They grew up a little bit right in front of us. That goal line stand was a great moment and likely saved the game. We held them to under 300 yards of total offense and 3 of 15 on third down. This is game winning football.
The Bad
Ugh. It was a real scuffle on offense. We were also under 300 yards and were 1 of 13 on third down. It was not without bright spots, however. That touchdown pass to Kendall Parham may be the best pass TJ3 has ever thrown. A dart into a tiny window. We did put together a nine play drive for a touchdown. Markus Grossman had one catch for 6 yards. Arguably the biggest play of the game. It's the only third down we converted, but it was a timely one, because...
The Ugly
I do not remember a football game where we were cursed with such rotten field position in the 4th quarter. We started three possessions. One at our 3 yard line, one at our 4 yard line and one at our 36 after Will Boler's game-icing interception.
Okay, one more ugly thing. State's conditioning program. I've never seen so many cramps in one game. I don't know what we paid them for this game, but I hope they spend some of it on pickle juice.
So, what does this mean, Barbara?
It means we've got work to do. I don't think anyone is surprised by this, though. The month of September will be a very interesting one. We WILL mesh. I believe that. The question then becomes how quickly will we mesh?
If Coach is the coach I think he is, the Zips better buckle up.
That's all I got. For now. I think.
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