Did the masochistic thing, and forced myself to rewatch the tape of the game. I will let
@Lance Roffers do his thing, but I have some general observations:
- As I mentioned last week and this, I expected TVD to make some good plays, some bad ones, and some puzzling ones that next season, would not be repeated. That happened as I predicted, and not because it’s not obvious, but we all need to keep reminding ourselves that the circumstances for anything else to happen is just not there. Freshman “phenoms” only show up when the team around them (coaches, players), can support that. Clearly, we are not that team. (And no, the results for the team would likely not have been any better if Garcia had played. For the numerous reasons I mention below).
- Throw away that glorified scrimmage last week against CCState. THIS was TVD’s first real game.
- Probably the best thing to happen to the kid (for his and the team’s long term benefit), was for the game to play out as it did. He struggled in the first half. That was a good thing. For a kid to run out on the field in his first game and go 20-24 with 3 TD’s, is not always such a wonderful thing. Let him struggle and fight through it. (which he did). Bernie Kosar, Ken Dorsey, Brock Berlin, Brad Kaaya, and others … none of them played well their first game, and some of them were downright miserable.
- NO picks. TVD’s ball handling and penchant for keeping the ball out of harm’s way is very good.
- Our receivers are not helping. TVD’s first two third down throws were drops. After missing the throw on the wheel route to Rooster in the 3rd quarter, he comes back the next play with a great throw to Romello on the Dig route. It’s a first down and a chunk play. He hits him in stride, and it was not a mentally easy throw. After missing the way he did the prior play, a tendency of the QB (and I’ve been there), is to short arm and “aim” the next one. He did the opposite. He threw with confidence and purpose. You can build on stuff like that.
- It’s difficult to overstate how bad our OL played for 3 ½ quarters of the game. It had an effect on TVD, and here’s how. I agree with @Lance Roffers that avoiding sacks are a joint responsibility of the QB and the OL. People were wondering, “why didn’t TVD shuffle out of a couple of those sacks? ” that’s a fair question when you have a collapse of a defender through a single rush lane. The QB needs to shuffle to another protected lane. The problem arises, when you have multiple rush lanes closing on you. I don’t care if you’re dan marino in that pocket, you’re going to have problems you can’t avoid in that situation, and multiple times last night, that was the case. Not having a credible running game that can churn out 5 yards a clip is also just kryptonite to any QB, let alone one that’s making his first start.
- As he did in the game (scrimmage) against CCSt, he had some big boy throws. For the second game in a row, he went across the hash on an out route against a rolled up corner. There are guys who play on Sundays whose OC’s don’t call that because it’s too much to ask. We’ve now seen him nail it multiple times. That’s the kind of stuff that you can build on.
- He got better as the game went on. The closer it got to the final gun, the more dialed in he was. It also coincided with better OL play. Funny how that works out.
- His run for the TD showed some moxie. Most QB’s run out of bounds in that situation. He kept his feet under him, and his eyes on the end zone, and saw Mallory engaging the DB. So he pressed on.
- There are so many calls that had me scratching my head on offense. The lack of checkdowns in the pattern on multiple occasions, in circumstances where you expect to see it, are not doing the offense good. There were 2 sacks where downfield, there was ZERO separation, nowhere to push the ball, yet, no checkdown in the pattern for the QB. That’s OC malpractice. I don’t get it. TVD was hanging in the pocket on more than one occasion where our WR’s had defenders pasted to their jerseys. I counted 2 sacks where a throw to any guy in the pattern would have been a likely pick. You need to stack the pattern vertically so there is a credible checkdown option for the QB. Period.
- Where are the TE’s? in this offense, if Lashlee is calling it correctly, the TE’s should have half a dozen catches by accident. Add in Mallory’s standard of play, and this is the most disappointing part of the offense after the OL
- On the plus side, however Lashlee managed TVD mentally during the game, it worked. The kid never lost his confidence, and just kept playing. Give credit to Lashlee where it’s due.
- I’m not sure who had the worse game on defense: 44-Jennings, 8-Ivey, or 21-Bolden. That 44 and 8 keep getting thrown in there is a damning indictment of our depth, and development of those guys. Bolden is almost just as bad. NO coverage instincts, and his tackling is way too inconsistent to be a reliable safety in run support.
- I saw plenty of freshman mistakes and freshman negatives from james Williams, Taylor, Arroyo, Chantz Williams, Brinson, and George. I also saw things that told me, like TVD, there’s a lot there to work with and the only way they all get better at this point, is to keep playing.
- If Restrepo was in Mallory’s body and playing TE, assuming Lashlee made it happen, he’d finish every game with 9 or 10 catches. Even as it is, he needs to start in the slot. LOVE that kid.
- Bolden, Nevaughn, and Hall are poster children for why there’s not a direct line between recruiting stars and college success.
Finally, the thing that most disturbs me, is that this team doesn’t play with consistent intensity. They have some guys who show up on some plays, but it’s woefully inconsistent, and I don’t see the across the board ferociousness that you need to have to be a championship caliber team, at any level.
There are some talented younger players on this roster: Garcia ad TVD, taylor, restrepo, the Williams boys, etc …. They need to see reps. And more importantly, they need to be coached better.
