Some thoughts:
1.Poyser and Chase Smith were absolutely HORRIBLE in zone coverage and in pursuite/space tonight. Chase Smith plays way too upright in space and Poyser is way to stiff. What this staff sees in playing Poyser at free safety - when he should be playing strong safety or nickel - I will never know. He is no Jakobe Thomas, and he needs to play in coverage in shorter zones and in the box. Man on man, he would do fine against tight ends whereas Dunnigan was horrid in man coverage tonight.
2. Bryce was lost tonight because they've been playing him all over the field: I saw him at field corner, nickel, and ss. He needs to lock down the free safety/center field position in this cover three scheme; he needs to watch things unfold from the middle because he is not being utilized effectively right now, and Poyser is a complete liability in cover three back there (too slow to react).
3. Dunnigan played poorly except at blitzing, setting the edge, and crashing down on runs from the backside tonight: he was poor at tackling, poor in man coverage, and a bit lost in zone. His run fits were good, but he is a work in progress (slow at processing) in the passing game.
4. Blount is not very good - way too stiff and frequently lost the edge/got pushed inside. Lightfoot was turned inside to to a lesser extent as well. Blount needs to gain weight and play DT.
5. Wilson needs to play more downs, and be allowed to just rush with less thinking.
6. Lightfoot is our best edge by a mile and needs to play every down; we are really missing Hayden Lowe's potential. As a side note, Lightfoot needs to stop flicking people off on camera lol.
7. The OL played an elite-level game, and ran the ball at will when needed - what more can you ask for?
8. Special teams were also good/fine.
9. The refs called a good, fair game. They made all of the right calls on those onsides. If the refs treated us like they did in years passed, we lose. Whatever has changed, I like it.
Really curious to see how we bounce back, and what changes are made.
