Had a very early tee time, so couldn't post until after my round:
1. I hate ESPN3. Just wanted to get that out there.
2. You know your on the road against Akron, why I have no idea, it's pouring, small stadium but you come away with a boring, workmanlike effort. Take it and move on. We're 2-0. We've got a ton to work on but the team showed some improvement in some areas.
3. I think the interior of the OL and DL are showing to be strength. Officer/Johnson/Rowell if healthy are going to be very solid and get better as the year goes. All three are solid at the point of attack. Our D/L, wow, are not being moved at all. Nice to see and it's creating some lanes for Blair, Soto, Price and whoever blitzes. Good to see.
4. The D looks way more aggressive and really flows to the balls. Whitehead is going to be a superstar. Weakness is going to be our LB's. Not enough speed there and I really worry about teams isolating backs in space against our LB's. I think as the season goes on our MLB play is really going to get exposed.
5. I trust the coaches but O'Neill I thought had a tough game. Clearly he's not strong enough, got bull rushed a few times and his initial punch is a work in progress. He has good feet obviously and is athletic but man he needs at least another 20 lbs of muscle. Doesn't anchor. Very worried here as we go into big boy portion of the schedule.
6. Are you really surprised that PSU didn't want to continue our series? We'll see what ends up happening but Coach Franklin wants give mes before the Big Ten schedule so be it. Glad we extended the Brawl.
7. I thought it was crazy to pull Voytik after he was 6 for 6, but obviously the coaches aren't happy with something and the final straw might have been when he threw behind Zeise on the look in when he was wide open. I don't like doing this with your qb's but I get it. Peterman wasn't asked to make reads, he had one option didn't look away to second and third options but give him credit he made some nice throws especially the TD to Holtz on the seam pass. He does look better throwing the ball. Seems to stand taller in the pocket.
8. Anyone who thinks that we aren't going to miss Conner is crazy. Ollison and Hall played ok but I didn't think they ran through tackles like Conner would have or followed their blocks like Conner would. We'll miss big number #24 big time.
9. Watched a little of the Iowa game. Expecting it to be a very tough game, Bethard the QB is mobile and dangerous. I'm not expecting a win but hoping for the best. I can't make an adequate judgement of where we are after Akron and YSU. Good test though.
10. Kudos to Michigan State for a very good win and kudos to Oregon for playing this game. This is what P5 teams should do. Shame about Malik Zaire. Exciting player and that's really going to hurt ND. But it's football.
11. Interesting that on many formations we split Holtz a few times out wide. Haven't seen that before. Over time if a LB goes out with him, you could run drag routes with Boyd and Henderson as Chaney develops more comfortable with the offense. I never thought I'd see a better blocker than Parish but boy this kid Aston can really lay the number.
12. I'm feeling very queasy about Blewit in a big spot. Especially on the road. that's a real issue.
13. RIP to Moses Malone one of my favorite NBA players. I'm a huge NBA guy and remember those Philly teams very well. Shame.
14. Not much else to say but being 2-0 really feels good. We did what we had to do. I'm cautiously optimistic about the defense simply because they seem to understand the scheme and are playing free. The offensive output is disconcerting. The qb issue is part of it. The lack of playmakers outside of Boyd is an issue. Let's see.
Pitt82
1. I hate ESPN3. Just wanted to get that out there.
2. You know your on the road against Akron, why I have no idea, it's pouring, small stadium but you come away with a boring, workmanlike effort. Take it and move on. We're 2-0. We've got a ton to work on but the team showed some improvement in some areas.
3. I think the interior of the OL and DL are showing to be strength. Officer/Johnson/Rowell if healthy are going to be very solid and get better as the year goes. All three are solid at the point of attack. Our D/L, wow, are not being moved at all. Nice to see and it's creating some lanes for Blair, Soto, Price and whoever blitzes. Good to see.
4. The D looks way more aggressive and really flows to the balls. Whitehead is going to be a superstar. Weakness is going to be our LB's. Not enough speed there and I really worry about teams isolating backs in space against our LB's. I think as the season goes on our MLB play is really going to get exposed.
5. I trust the coaches but O'Neill I thought had a tough game. Clearly he's not strong enough, got bull rushed a few times and his initial punch is a work in progress. He has good feet obviously and is athletic but man he needs at least another 20 lbs of muscle. Doesn't anchor. Very worried here as we go into big boy portion of the schedule.
6. Are you really surprised that PSU didn't want to continue our series? We'll see what ends up happening but Coach Franklin wants give mes before the Big Ten schedule so be it. Glad we extended the Brawl.
7. I thought it was crazy to pull Voytik after he was 6 for 6, but obviously the coaches aren't happy with something and the final straw might have been when he threw behind Zeise on the look in when he was wide open. I don't like doing this with your qb's but I get it. Peterman wasn't asked to make reads, he had one option didn't look away to second and third options but give him credit he made some nice throws especially the TD to Holtz on the seam pass. He does look better throwing the ball. Seems to stand taller in the pocket.
8. Anyone who thinks that we aren't going to miss Conner is crazy. Ollison and Hall played ok but I didn't think they ran through tackles like Conner would have or followed their blocks like Conner would. We'll miss big number #24 big time.
9. Watched a little of the Iowa game. Expecting it to be a very tough game, Bethard the QB is mobile and dangerous. I'm not expecting a win but hoping for the best. I can't make an adequate judgement of where we are after Akron and YSU. Good test though.
10. Kudos to Michigan State for a very good win and kudos to Oregon for playing this game. This is what P5 teams should do. Shame about Malik Zaire. Exciting player and that's really going to hurt ND. But it's football.
11. Interesting that on many formations we split Holtz a few times out wide. Haven't seen that before. Over time if a LB goes out with him, you could run drag routes with Boyd and Henderson as Chaney develops more comfortable with the offense. I never thought I'd see a better blocker than Parish but boy this kid Aston can really lay the number.
12. I'm feeling very queasy about Blewit in a big spot. Especially on the road. that's a real issue.
13. RIP to Moses Malone one of my favorite NBA players. I'm a huge NBA guy and remember those Philly teams very well. Shame.
14. Not much else to say but being 2-0 really feels good. We did what we had to do. I'm cautiously optimistic about the defense simply because they seem to understand the scheme and are playing free. The offensive output is disconcerting. The qb issue is part of it. The lack of playmakers outside of Boyd is an issue. Let's see.
Pitt82
