I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts from the OU game and others in general.
The fans
The crowd that was there showed up and made their presence known in this game. I was very pleasantly surprised. I know a lot of you were giving up your tickets throughout the week, so I was afraid I was going to see a lot of crimson in normal season ticket holders' spots. I was glad that wasn't the case.
The crowd was loud and on its feet most of the game. Even toward the end of the game, when our defense could just not get a stop, the crowd encouraged them anyway. That spoke volumes to me about our program. When we get this defense thing figured out, our fans are going to be ready for the call. Even though they didn't make plays, I felt like the defense was responding to the crowd.
The Raider Power chants were as in sync as ever, even though during one of them I'm pretty sure both sides of the stadium were yelling "Power." The part I loved the most though, was when we were exiting the stadium, there was a loud Raider Power chant going on in the concourse. This was after the game, mind you! I really think we are about to turn the corner on this thing, and the fans are ready.
If you weren't able to make it, I feel for you, because the atmosphere was really special that night. It's too bad the team couldn't get the second half stop they needed.
The Defense
I haven't been that big of a supporter of Gibbs in his time here, but I haven't called for him to be fired. I'm still not, as I believe we really need continuity, but I've seen some things that concern me. One, is that we absolutely fall hard for misdirection every time. Another is that offenses easily exploit our spacing on the field.
Also, I feel like somewhere in the teaching of how to react to offensive keys, our players have gotten in a habit of ending up exactly where the offense wants them to, which puts them in position where it's so easy for them to be blocked.
Another thing that concerns me is that we try to run around blockers rather than taking them on in the open field.
I still feel that a lot of it has to do with talent, but I'm also starting to feel like when Setencich was here and would say that a defensive players needs about 35 games under his belt to be able to fully run his defense. There just isn't that kind of time these days. Those things concern me.
But we really are tackling better. I mean, rarely are we close enough to anyone to tackle them, but when we get there, we're largely doing a pretty good job of getting the ball carrier down, Mixon excluded.
I don't want to see turnover, but I do wonder what a philosophy like Ruffin's would do for the players we do have right now.
The Receivers
This is probably the best wall-to-wall receiver group I have ever seen. These guys play hard and fast and rarely have negative plays. The interception by Mahomes in the first half makes me wonder what would have happened had Cantrell been in the game at that point. I know he would have fought for the ball at least, and if the past is any indicator, he probably would have come down with it. Coutee and Giles are really making a name for themselves. Batson supplies the consistency that Jakeem didn't always show, and Sadler is a gutsy SOB. We are drowning in riches here.
Officiating
There is a lot of criticism of officiating, but what I think we're seeing this year is just a recalibration of what they have decided to take notice of. For years, Big 12 officials just flat out didn't call holding on pass plays. We benefitted from that. Well they have started calling it now, and it is taking us time to adjust. Same for ineligible men downfield. They have made it a point of emphasis, and in the process have become too OP on such calls. I saw Reggie "Mr. IMD" Smith and his crew throw the flag for it a lot in a game yesterday as well. It is taking time for players, coaches, and fans alike to get used to what is acceptable and what's not.
The fans
The crowd that was there showed up and made their presence known in this game. I was very pleasantly surprised. I know a lot of you were giving up your tickets throughout the week, so I was afraid I was going to see a lot of crimson in normal season ticket holders' spots. I was glad that wasn't the case.
The crowd was loud and on its feet most of the game. Even toward the end of the game, when our defense could just not get a stop, the crowd encouraged them anyway. That spoke volumes to me about our program. When we get this defense thing figured out, our fans are going to be ready for the call. Even though they didn't make plays, I felt like the defense was responding to the crowd.
The Raider Power chants were as in sync as ever, even though during one of them I'm pretty sure both sides of the stadium were yelling "Power." The part I loved the most though, was when we were exiting the stadium, there was a loud Raider Power chant going on in the concourse. This was after the game, mind you! I really think we are about to turn the corner on this thing, and the fans are ready.
If you weren't able to make it, I feel for you, because the atmosphere was really special that night. It's too bad the team couldn't get the second half stop they needed.
The Defense
I haven't been that big of a supporter of Gibbs in his time here, but I haven't called for him to be fired. I'm still not, as I believe we really need continuity, but I've seen some things that concern me. One, is that we absolutely fall hard for misdirection every time. Another is that offenses easily exploit our spacing on the field.
Also, I feel like somewhere in the teaching of how to react to offensive keys, our players have gotten in a habit of ending up exactly where the offense wants them to, which puts them in position where it's so easy for them to be blocked.
Another thing that concerns me is that we try to run around blockers rather than taking them on in the open field.
I still feel that a lot of it has to do with talent, but I'm also starting to feel like when Setencich was here and would say that a defensive players needs about 35 games under his belt to be able to fully run his defense. There just isn't that kind of time these days. Those things concern me.
But we really are tackling better. I mean, rarely are we close enough to anyone to tackle them, but when we get there, we're largely doing a pretty good job of getting the ball carrier down, Mixon excluded.
I don't want to see turnover, but I do wonder what a philosophy like Ruffin's would do for the players we do have right now.
The Receivers
This is probably the best wall-to-wall receiver group I have ever seen. These guys play hard and fast and rarely have negative plays. The interception by Mahomes in the first half makes me wonder what would have happened had Cantrell been in the game at that point. I know he would have fought for the ball at least, and if the past is any indicator, he probably would have come down with it. Coutee and Giles are really making a name for themselves. Batson supplies the consistency that Jakeem didn't always show, and Sadler is a gutsy SOB. We are drowning in riches here.
Officiating
There is a lot of criticism of officiating, but what I think we're seeing this year is just a recalibration of what they have decided to take notice of. For years, Big 12 officials just flat out didn't call holding on pass plays. We benefitted from that. Well they have started calling it now, and it is taking us time to adjust. Same for ineligible men downfield. They have made it a point of emphasis, and in the process have become too OP on such calls. I saw Reggie "Mr. IMD" Smith and his crew throw the flag for it a lot in a game yesterday as well. It is taking time for players, coaches, and fans alike to get used to what is acceptable and what's not.
