| 07 September 2009
You are always looking to get better. Looking back on this game we can make out several areas where we need to improve.
I am not going to talk about the offensive line. A fix is not in order. We need an overhaul and that is not going to happen over the next few weeks. We can try to fix other problem areas, free safety, linebacker and the backs, yes, FB too.
Lets start with the backs. I did not note the play of the fullbacks in this game until I went back over the game. Technician and Sherman on Bucknuts have already alerted everyone to the fact that the play of the fullbacks had an impact on this game. I in the spring that fullback was a problem area. It remains so. Late and confused too often is what I saw. Maybe first game jitters as the players who took the bulk of the reps, Boren and Homan, were both true freshmen. I don't think we need to start switching things up. There is really nowhere to go anyway. We are going to have to accept the growing pains. That is hard to swallow with USC coming in but there it is. Running back is going to be better with better blocking but again, after review, I don't see a special guy in Herron. I see one that can be brutally effective and one who is going to do little things that are very important. He came out of high school as one of those rare backs who could and would block. With the direction of our offense likely to be more of a quarterback oriented offense, a back that can do those little things can be more important. I would like to see more Saine. On review I was evern more impressed. He has regained his burst. He is explosive again. He is not going down easy. I think he can learn to be a blocker like Herron. He was always a good receiver, something else Herron is very good at, and remember that we threw a very well executed screen in this game easier than I see Herron becoming a special runner. I think that could very well be the fix we are looking for at running back.
Safety gets complicated and I don't know what can be done. Don't mention Gant, Oliver or Damicone. They can't help us at free safety. Do we really want to play Wood against USC? That sounds like taking trial by fire too far. I saw a suggestion about Coleman to free and dropping Hines back to strong. If Moeller was here that would be a great suggestion. Something very much worthy of consideration. After all, Hines played safety here for a little while. It is not like he has no familiarity with the position. With no Moeller we are missing a Star. That is a position that is going to be very important against USC who uses alot of the underneath stuff. I have always been against the move of Schwartz to wide receiver. He is fast, smart and tough. He would be a perfect option right now. Pentello is smart and tough but I don't want to see him trying to run somebody down in the last third of the field. Now that I have gotten this far in look at free safety I realize I do not have an option for you. None of the few that are available are very attractive. Moving Coleman over and letting whatever strong safeties are healthy compete for the starting job is about the best I can come up with. Keep in my USC victimized Russell last year. With that in mind and after watching this game film I suspect he is going to be a target. I don't know how you leave him out there.
I don't think anything needs to be done about the linebackers. I was not impressed with Spitler but it looks like he is injured. Maybe sitting him for a while until healthy would be a good idea.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
