Yuppp. This is it right here. We’re not good enough to overcome mistakes to win and we avoided the big ones yesterday that have plagued and defined us this year.
Game Thoughts: WVU
- Thread starter cyclone1209
- Start date
they weren't so predictable. Got Deckers on the move in the passing game, did more outside runs, ran some options, misdirection, etc... So refreshing. If they would have done these things in the other games instead of just inside runs and pocket passing plays, we would certainly have a lot more wins. And having Norton healthy is huge. I felt he was rusty in the first half, which is completely understandable, but once the rust wore off, oh man, he showed a lot and I think he has more upside on top of that.
Glad that you mentioned officiating. It was pretty good and should be mentioned as that has been a big problem in some of our past games. A little iffy on the PI call but overall very good.
About time! I’m so sick of the slow shotgun runs on short yardage, they got blown up every time.
The O line was better by a little, but still not good. Once WV gave up late in the game they had success.
On Noel (not) returning punts. Yes it was frustrating to watch, to be sure. Seemed to me he was consistently lined up 5 or 10 yards to close to the LoS. Causing almost every punt to go over his head. But the "go stand on the X yard line" isnt on him, right? Some coach does the math. Seemed to me like the punter either crushed his avg all day or they just screwed up the math. Idk what really is the deal, but it def sucked.
On Noel (not) returning punts. Yes it was frustrating to watch, to be sure. Seemed to me he was consistently lined up 5 or 10 yards to close to the LoS. Causing almost every punt to go over his head. But the "go stand on the X yard line" isnt on him, right? Some coach does the math. Seemed to me like the punter either crushed his avg all day or they just screwed up the math. Idk what really is the deal, but it def sucked.
I would be curious what @brentblum thinks is truly needed to keep our key guys for next year. I know Brent and Chris have talked about how important the next 2 months will be but I’m wondering if we are even in the ballpark of what we think is needed to at least try and compete with what they’ll most certainly get elsewhere.
Like many already mentioned, I was baffled by Noel not fielding some of those punts.
Then I took a look at the flags on top of the stadium…..now mind you I am far from being a JTS newb, but I swear those flags were pointed in at least three different directions…at the same time. It was unlike anything I had ever seen in a game there before.
Given that, the other factors, and the fact we won, to me, Jaylin gets a pass.
Then I took a look at the flags on top of the stadium…..now mind you I am far from being a JTS newb, but I swear those flags were pointed in at least three different directions…at the same time. It was unlike anything I had ever seen in a game there before.
Given that, the other factors, and the fact we won, to me, Jaylin gets a pass.
Regarding your comments about Jaylin Noel, have you ever tried to return a low line drive rugby style punt when you're starring straight into a low hanging November sun? A fumbled punt deep in our own territory could have changed the game entirely.
If you insist on blaming someone for our constantly horrible starting field position, you'd be better off blaming our coaching for not choosing to have 2 returners back to field the punts.
Surprised this hasn't been mentioned but we almost had 2 punts blocked. The roughing the punter on the second one was the turning point in the game. I wish we did more unpredictable things on offense like that run heavy formation and throw it to X when we were on the 3 or the Noel reverse. I also liked the speed option looks. Maybe this game can be like Iowa's northwestern where we get confidence and roll next week too but I am not counting on it.
We don't mention that name.
Because it gets you banned on the main board.
Was the one in the south endzone tipped? I couldn’t tell live or on the big screen.
One was right in front of me and I thought they got it. Definitely coming after the punter and it was affecting punts, because he was booming them in warmups. Other teams will continue to pressure him, not sure what the solution is.
I thought it was a clean drop too until I saw the broadcast. Defender absolutely got a fingertip on it. Whitver mentioned on the postgame show how difficult those really are to haul in and I’ll give him a break there. Largely I think we just wanted to see a much larger step forward from him this year, fair or not. Our expectations likely just got away from us a bit.
First of all on punts, glad to see us try to block the punt on a few because our standard play is for 90% of the team to stand in place neither attempting to block the punt nor attempting to block any defenders going down field to tackle or returning. More than not, it's the returner catching the ball with 5 defenders standing around waiting for him to muff it. I agree that someone else should be given the chance, but whoever is back there is not set up for success due to the scheme or lack thereof. We don't even chip the gunners.
