Let's Be Fans and Praise Our Team
Let's not forget to be fans and give some positive support to our team. What did you find encouraging and praiseworthy from last night's close loss to a tough team on the road? I'll start us off by saying that Peppers was terrific in getting past blocks and tackling in space. Can't wait to see him develop and make plays!
September 4th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
It will take a little time but Wormley was just an absolute monster and Butt looked fantastic. Wow, reading that could be taken the wrong way. I was encouraged by Darboh (drop notwithstanding) and he looked legit. The hole that Deveon Smith made me scream and then really miss Drake Johnson as I think he would hit that and took it to the house. Overall I think it was a game they can build on and the future will be bright.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
Not only had a plan, but made adjustments to the plan to keep a (let's face it) out matched offense from stalling completely.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
were both very pleasant surprises. Darboh had a quicker first step than I remember and was impressive picking up nice chunks of yardage on what amounts to long handoffs directly after the snap. Wormley moves around pretty unbelievably for someone his size and looks like he has improved his technique to the point that he can actually utilize his ridiculous athleticism for a 300 pounder.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
I had a couple scurred thoughts he might look at early draft entry. Am I crazy? And if so, if he has one year left do we think he has Frank Clark-draft-level potential?
September 4th, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
The defense looked like it could be very good.
On offense, it looked like the bones were there. I felt like with more time and coaching the shortcomings can be smoothed out.
I just felt like if we could have completed a couple of those deep passes (even if they didn't reach the endzone), the run game would have opened up a lot more. It seemed like Utah was just going to sell out against the run and count on us eventually missing on one of the resulting 3rd and 3s.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^
passes - we very likely have a different outcome.
The play calling wasn't crazy but generated opportunites we didn't see last year.
Offensive line play happens as a unit and this was the first game for this unit. The good thing was their pass protection was great against a top 5 sack defense from last year.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^
Encouraged indeed. The difference this time around is this staff will improve both sides of the ball and shore those leaks up either tomorrow or in a year or two, unlike our two prior coaches that proceeded to implode and make laughingstocks of our defense (RR) and offense (Hoke).
Big picture.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^
Perry had some awesome blocks on the outside, I loved that.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
Yes. He made the bloks that were missed in the past few years. Good to see.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
best part about actually making those blocks is it'll open up the fake screen deep pass for perry later in the year.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
-Butt looked like an all-American
-Peppers 1 return looked really good. 2nd half he was all over the field making plays
-Lewis was a blanket at CB
-Not a single sack was given up
September 4th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^
As do I, good sir.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^
Really, was it the expert commentating or the in-depth analysis?
September 4th, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
Something tells me it was the shallow analysis.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^
Woooah down there. She's MY TV girlfriend
September 4th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
The all white uniforms looked better than I expected.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^
Agreed I actually thought they were pretty great.
As long as the experimentation is kept to the road uniforms and stays away from the home uniforms I say go for it.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
I'm encouraged because I know there will be week to week improvement and by the end of the season, the team will be much better than this game. Rudock will get better and the offensive line will start to move guys off the ball. I just know the improvement will happen.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
week to week improvement and a group of guys that wont quit on the team. Im not mad about last night although I hoped for a better outcome.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
The mistakes looked very fixable and Butt and Peppers are living up to and even seeming to exceed the hype.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
Our receivers are legit.
Butt is as advertised.
Smith runs like a mad man. Sure he misses some holes, but the first guy has trouble bringing him down.
Harbaugh
September 4th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
If we could give Smith Drake Johnson's vision we'd have a great running back. Those missed holes were so damn frustrating.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
you're doing it wrong
September 4th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^
Dammit you're right, I'll try.
I thought the running backs did an excellent job of really running when they had the ball! They weren't walking, and they damn sure weren't skipping. It's nice to see a group of guys who know what their job is and execute it perfectly every play.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:07 PM ^
sorry son, but I'm pulling your for Shane. Tonight's not your night.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
Peppers adjusted really well as the game went on. He was having a ton of trouble getting off his blocks early but decided to simply juke the blocker in the 2nd half. The KO return was awesome too. I wanted him to take a knee but by the time he hit the 5 yard line you could tell he just had another gear and it was going to go a long way.
Grant Perry's blocking was impressive for a freshman. Despite the route running issues, I can see why they got him involved so early in his career. That's usually the thing that keeps freshman off the field.
Take out the glaring mistakes, and I thought Rudock was dead on most of the night. He hit his guys in stride, threw them open, and fit some nice throws in tiny windows.
Jake MF Butt, 'nuff said.
Chris Wormley was a man amongst boys for much of the night.
That punt inside the 5 was a thing of beauty, that part of the game will at least be an instant upgrade.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
Rudock couldn't throw the ball into the lake if he was standing on the dock. Worse, he'd stare down the spot he was trying to throw to. Ugh. Weak arm is one thing but that shit ain't 5th year sr.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
I am actually about as excited as you can be after a loss. We have 3 receivers who can play and a top shelf TE. The running game will need some work but Utah is a great front 7 and we have 2 softer opponents before we play BYU. Pass protection was excellent. The defense was elite aside from maybe 5 plays - held an NFL runningback to under 70 yds/4ypc and held Wilson to a lesser ypa than Rudock. Peppers gonna Pep. If Rudock doesn't throw the pick six and/or hits Chesson on the first deep ball we probably win. Utah will finish top 20 and is a tough place to play. I still think we are a 9 win team.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
He's already redshirted so no big deal ... I just don't remember him being out there at all, and he was obviously not targeted. Maybe they're taking it slow with him.
But in the spirit of the OP, it will be good to have Perry, Cole and Harris in the receiving corps for the next four years, with Hawkins, Mitchell and Evans coming in next year. And Canteen may still fit in there as well, we'll see.
September 4th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
all that passing depends on a running game, which we sorely need, and didn't have last night.
Rudock doesn't look like a guy who you can depend on to throw 40+ times a game, and he can't hit the deep ball now. That leaves stuff underneath, and that'll get real tight if we can't keep LBs close to the LOS with some play action.
September 4th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^
Donno man. At Maryland/min-maxed Minn/ShitholeprogramIhatePennState is tough to come out 3-0.
September 4th, 2015 at 5:12 PM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
Peppers had a pretty rough game.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^
Nobody could block him, which is encouraging. He's gonna be great.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
Peppers looked great playing box safety/OLB in the second half.
In the first half he was gettng blocked... and his coverage was all around bad the whole game. Based on that game the idea that he is their "break in case of emergency" stud CB looks like a farce.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
In the first half yeah, but he was definitely better as the game went on.
Less blown coverages, and he blew up a couple plays
September 4th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
He made some outstanding tackles in that second half.
Peppers also blew up a play late in the game for a TFL that caused a 3rd and 18 for Utah.
I saw a lot of guys going low and getting a foot and holding on while help came to finish the job. Didn't see that much a year ago. They'd just be broken tackles.
Those kinds of tackles, while having risk, can lead to a turnover as the man is essentially stuck and is an open target to get drilled by the help, possibly resulting in a fumble.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
showed some big-time, big-boy skills out there. Hopefully they can keep it going more consistently and more often as the season progresses.