Again sorry for the rambling. Wrote a lot of these down as was watching/rewinding etc.
- really impressed with the hot start. Might be the first I've seen in a while from a Tech team.
- Kliff had these kids ready to play at 11am after that loss. Kudos coach for keeping your kids' head up and ready to play.
- I felt our staff knew that KU had no chance once things got rolling and used this game as a live scrimmage/let's fix our shit running game situation. Even with overloaded boxes we chose to run the ball. Which I'm fine with. Still lots to go and lots to work on.
- My defensive MVP was the entire DL. This group dominated from start to finish and played very well in run fits and getting in backfield. We are finally playing with hands up and ready to make plays.
- Jordan Brooks quietly had himself another solid game. Consistent gets boring so you sorta tune him out because he's all over.
- Find me a better coverage LB than Dakota in the Big 12? You can't.
- We have 5 picks in 4 games this season. Think we had 6 all of last season. Wow.
- Nik had a pretty "off" game if you want to call it that. Nothing really special or memorable but that's fine given the running results and the defense.
- Derrick Willies might have played himself out of rotation. He got in late and sulked. Not sure what his deal is but he had a GARBAGE game vs UH and isn't playing like he's supposed to.
- Batson finally flashed his speed on returns. Still just haven't seen him do that as a WR yet......
- I liked leaving starters in through 4th a bit. They need game conditioning and need to learn how to put teams away. Make no mistake, the starters didn't put KU away. The backups did in garbage time.
- Keeping on that note: if KU doesn't have a dumpster QB this game is a lot closer.
- Jawshawn Johnson has actually regressed in coverage IMO. I think he's still playing more center fielder as he's used to everyone around him sucking balls at football so he's not playing within his reads. Not the WORST problem to have but he MUST tighten up when we play better QB's.
- I really liked KU's rb and had a DL and LB I liked a lot. Rest of their team is hot garbage and I'm being nice. Coach Beatty has a waaaaaaaays to go as he just doesn't have the horses to compete in the Big 12 yet. Almost felt bad at some points as they called some plays to really put them in perfect position and they just can't execute.
- Did we see a, gasp, counter from the pistol? That's a first.
- Also saw a few trap plays pulling backside tackles. Nice. The evolution of the OL is starting but they still have so so so so so much work to do when it comes to routine plays. Really scary when KU rushes 4 and we can't protect.
- Coutee is good. Need to keep him healthy.
- I'm ok I suppose with Nisby/Stockton/King. Stockton has lost a step from last year. Not sure if he put on some muscle to help him run through tackles but he's been caught from behind too many times. King is our most balanced RB at this time. I actually really like him. Can't put a finger on who he reminds me of. Nisby needs to develop into a more rounded RB or we are tipping our hand every time he's in.
- Some folks got a little peeved over Parker's borderline flag after his pick late in game. I did not. I LOVE that this defense has some fire behind them. Talking shit is part of being competitive IMO. If you have the balls to get in someone's face you have the balls to man someone up and say you're beating them. I like it. Been a while since anyone on that side of the ball can run their mouth. Sometimes you need a spark.
- Overall: they did exactly what they were supposed to and really surprised me more than I thought with the quick start for an 11am game vs. an inferior opponent. Again though, I temper saying "inferior". This Tech team is far from good enough to screw around and will get the living piss kicked out of them if they come out flat. And, yes, this will happen this year. I have no idea when but it will. ALSO THOUGH, I think this team is going to come out hot vs a team not ready and we are going knock someone's teeth out too. Again, I have no idea when or who, but it'll happen. That's what happens in college football with kids. If KU has some better folks that execute really really basic stuff this is a game late 2nd/3rd qtr. They should have taken that 28-7 lead and ran like they stole something. They did not. Good teams put teams away. We aren't good YET. This in all honesty is still an average Big 12 team. It got ugly late vs backups. This is still concerning. Saturday will be really tough and I'm expecting a close loss to WVU. Back to back 11am road games are just so so hard to win in college. And Morgantown is a black hole. Can they win? Absolutely. They're going to have to play really well to pull it off though and cannot give WVU any breaks. We haven't had pressure this season without the blitz so going to need to throw off their game. I'll chance 1 on 1's with our DB's vs their WR's. They'll win some but we can't sit back and let Dana pick us apart. Need to pressure their QB and stretch the field and score some points to pull out the W. 11am games usually are sleepers though so who knows.
We shall see!
- really impressed with the hot start. Might be the first I've seen in a while from a Tech team.
- Kliff had these kids ready to play at 11am after that loss. Kudos coach for keeping your kids' head up and ready to play.
- I felt our staff knew that KU had no chance once things got rolling and used this game as a live scrimmage/let's fix our shit running game situation. Even with overloaded boxes we chose to run the ball. Which I'm fine with. Still lots to go and lots to work on.
- My defensive MVP was the entire DL. This group dominated from start to finish and played very well in run fits and getting in backfield. We are finally playing with hands up and ready to make plays.
- Jordan Brooks quietly had himself another solid game. Consistent gets boring so you sorta tune him out because he's all over.
- Find me a better coverage LB than Dakota in the Big 12? You can't.
- We have 5 picks in 4 games this season. Think we had 6 all of last season. Wow.
- Nik had a pretty "off" game if you want to call it that. Nothing really special or memorable but that's fine given the running results and the defense.
- Derrick Willies might have played himself out of rotation. He got in late and sulked. Not sure what his deal is but he had a GARBAGE game vs UH and isn't playing like he's supposed to.
- Batson finally flashed his speed on returns. Still just haven't seen him do that as a WR yet......
- I liked leaving starters in through 4th a bit. They need game conditioning and need to learn how to put teams away. Make no mistake, the starters didn't put KU away. The backups did in garbage time.
- Keeping on that note: if KU doesn't have a dumpster QB this game is a lot closer.
- Jawshawn Johnson has actually regressed in coverage IMO. I think he's still playing more center fielder as he's used to everyone around him sucking balls at football so he's not playing within his reads. Not the WORST problem to have but he MUST tighten up when we play better QB's.
- I really liked KU's rb and had a DL and LB I liked a lot. Rest of their team is hot garbage and I'm being nice. Coach Beatty has a waaaaaaaays to go as he just doesn't have the horses to compete in the Big 12 yet. Almost felt bad at some points as they called some plays to really put them in perfect position and they just can't execute.
- Did we see a, gasp, counter from the pistol? That's a first.
- Also saw a few trap plays pulling backside tackles. Nice. The evolution of the OL is starting but they still have so so so so so much work to do when it comes to routine plays. Really scary when KU rushes 4 and we can't protect.
- Coutee is good. Need to keep him healthy.
- I'm ok I suppose with Nisby/Stockton/King. Stockton has lost a step from last year. Not sure if he put on some muscle to help him run through tackles but he's been caught from behind too many times. King is our most balanced RB at this time. I actually really like him. Can't put a finger on who he reminds me of. Nisby needs to develop into a more rounded RB or we are tipping our hand every time he's in.
- Some folks got a little peeved over Parker's borderline flag after his pick late in game. I did not. I LOVE that this defense has some fire behind them. Talking shit is part of being competitive IMO. If you have the balls to get in someone's face you have the balls to man someone up and say you're beating them. I like it. Been a while since anyone on that side of the ball can run their mouth. Sometimes you need a spark.
- Overall: they did exactly what they were supposed to and really surprised me more than I thought with the quick start for an 11am game vs. an inferior opponent. Again though, I temper saying "inferior". This Tech team is far from good enough to screw around and will get the living piss kicked out of them if they come out flat. And, yes, this will happen this year. I have no idea when but it will. ALSO THOUGH, I think this team is going to come out hot vs a team not ready and we are going knock someone's teeth out too. Again, I have no idea when or who, but it'll happen. That's what happens in college football with kids. If KU has some better folks that execute really really basic stuff this is a game late 2nd/3rd qtr. They should have taken that 28-7 lead and ran like they stole something. They did not. Good teams put teams away. We aren't good YET. This in all honesty is still an average Big 12 team. It got ugly late vs backups. This is still concerning. Saturday will be really tough and I'm expecting a close loss to WVU. Back to back 11am road games are just so so hard to win in college. And Morgantown is a black hole. Can they win? Absolutely. They're going to have to play really well to pull it off though and cannot give WVU any breaks. We haven't had pressure this season without the blitz so going to need to throw off their game. I'll chance 1 on 1's with our DB's vs their WR's. They'll win some but we can't sit back and let Dana pick us apart. Need to pressure their QB and stretch the field and score some points to pull out the W. 11am games usually are sleepers though so who knows.
We shall see!
