UM needs another deep threat to emerge.

A couple people tried starting this kind of thread right after the game or on Sunday, and that was just buzzkill.  But now it's Tuesday.  At some point we need to get back to the analysis stuff.  

Wow, chill out man.  Its a discussion topic.  Don't like the topic, don't partake in the discussion.  Simple as that.  The whole point of the Board is creating discussion topics and this one is kind of interesting.  Things are great so far but I bet the coaches aren't telling players "we've played TWO games so there's nothing to be changed."

Plus, purposely replying to an early comment just so everyone can see is both egotistical and douchy.  Just sayin'.

As for the substance, I may have been imagining things but it appeared as though Reynolds had a step or two down the middle deep on plays where Gardner targeted Gallon underneath.  Did anyone else see those plays I'm recalling?

Mr Yost needs a hug.

Mr. Yost, you need a Snickers and quick!

Speaking of Chesson, I didn't realize that his jersey reads "Chesson II" on the back until that magical bowling block GIF on the front page.

I'm not too worried about that unless they double Gallon, which seems unlikely because they're cocky on defense and he's not Calvin Johnson.  It's not like ND was "allowing" touches for him.  He was blanketed the whole game but Gardner was dropping dimes and Gallon was catching them.  There was really nothing else the ND secondary could do in that game other than use telepathy to jump the routes.

IBut they are keep defenders back, including safeties over the top, to stay on him, rather than have the safeties come up to take away the crossing routes. They might not respect him as a great playmaker or someone they need to scheme for, but they respect him enough to cover him within the scheme of their defense rather than changing their defense and scheming around Gallon or some of the underneath guys.

I don't think Chesson is a great downfield target yet. I don't know if he's even good, but I suspect he is at least good. And defenses are respecting him enough to play him as such. They are daring DG to throw it deep like they did with Denard yet.

But his top end speed isn't great. He's much more quick than fast. He won't necessarily threaten defenses over the top with his speed like Ginn Jr or Breaston.

Is ND brought a ton of pressure from the LBs (like 5+ man blitz packages) and dropped the safeties deep. What they were daring DG to do was to beat them underneath and on the outside. Then they started running some man and DG hit Gallon and targeted his tall TEs in single coverage. But in the zone blitz scheme that ND ran often between the 20s, it's the intermediate that comes open as long as the safeties stay back, which they did.

Have not been as plugged in this season as my 1-year old keeps me busy on the weekends. I just remember from last season, when Funchess broke through the first level of defenders and bolted down the field for the end zone it usually resulted in a TD. The guy is 6'5", almost 240, with a nice vertical, so most safeties are like smurfs trying to take on Andre the Giant.

And will be targeted more as safeties start helping corners over the top on Gallon. If they want to stop Gallon's hitches, slants, and outs they need to play tighter, which means they need help over the top or risk getting burned often on double moves. Funchess to open grass is a big concept within Borges's playbook off play action and this sort of look. Matching up Funchess on a safety with Funchess having body position will result in some big catches from Funchess this season.