Game Thoughts: WVU

[cyclone1209]

CMC was yelling at Noel after the second kick so it wasn’t the coaches telling him not to field the kicks.

Yeah like if he was getting a big return once every three games, I think most would say the upside is there. But it's zero upside (he rarely gets a decent return ever) and the ones he lets roll break our backs. We should have started at the 22 yd once today and we started at the 3. That cannot happen.

 

[simply1]

I remember a couple of those punts looking like knuckleballs

 

[cygrads]

The crowd was bigger than I thought it would be and into the game.

Also the reverse, option and I think there was a naked bootleg that finally made the defense pay for over pursuing.

 

[bozclone]

Why is no one talking about how awesome our grass field performed today?

Sort of

 

[Nelcyn]

Crowd also cheered when we converted 4 and1 behind center QB sneak with what seemed a push from behind. Even the ESPN announcer was like that is basically impossible to stop.

 

[carvers4math]

I remember a couple of those punts looking like knuckleballs

On the post game show, He Who Shall Not Be Named said the knuckleball nature of the kicks, wind, and sun on the one end were all factors. He indicated they were all on the same end and that coaches prefer if he has doubt that he can catch it clean that he let it go.

 

[jsb]

On the punts, the wind was kind of weird today, so I wondered if that played into Noel not catching a few. Either way, I'd rather he not lose the ball.

 

[joefrog]

As uninspiring as the first half offense was, the fourth quarter was excellent.

Had a few bad plays of pass protection vs a 3 man rush, but they definitely turned it on late. Getting the running game going really got the OL on the attack. Great to see.

What else can you say about this defense? 7 points in meaningful minutes. This D is so good.

That first half TD was all on the offense. Should have had a nice half ending drive there.

 

[fnclone]

CMC was yelling at Noel after the second kick so it wasn’t the coaches telling him not to field the kicks.

Walter's and Heft made it sound like the punts were lost in the sun...I would expect that to be reasonable looking to the south in November. Also a good reason to let it go, if there is no confidence in catching it.

 

[Frak]

Crowd also cheered when we converted 4 and1 behind center QB sneak with what seemed a push from behind. Even the ESPN announcer was like that is basically impossible to stop.

I've been pleading for that for years. Absolutely stupid to be in the shotgun on 4th and inches. Especially with a big QB.

 

[joefrog]

After watching highlights again, offense had better playcalling.

And the backs looked like they knew what to do.

Loved the option plays.

Norton could be special.

Defense deserves so much more credit than even we can give them. Incredible team play and execution.

 

[cyfanatic13]

I understand the Noel frustration, and was frustrated myself today... but the second he tries to catch one of those line drive punts in a swirling wind and muffs it, this board would crucify him and tell him just to let it go. It's not an easy job, but I'll always be on the side of letting it go. Losing 10-20 yards of field position is better than losing possession

 

[Acylum]

CMC was yelling at Noel after the second kick so it wasn’t the coaches telling him not to field the kicks.

Well if he’s unhappy with his play but keeps trotting him out there it’s more of a CMC problem than a Noel problem.

 

[cyclone1209]

Well if he’s unhappy with his play but keeps trotting him out there it’s more of a CMC problem than a Noel problem.

Where I’m frustrated too is that he also had two drops as a receiver. To me he’s on a worse trajectory than where tarique Milton was as a soph, and he’s not even close to deshaunte jones as clonerjams said

 

[ZuriCyclone]

Reading to much into the WVU game. it is one of the worst teams in the conference.

The test will be against an OSU team that has lost all momentum

 

[t-noah]

Why is no one talking about how awesome our grass field performed today?

Sort of

Glad you asked. I do wonder how the hybrid thing is working, about 3 weeks into it only, this late in the year.

I'm sure they know what they are doing. 10 year guarantee and all that.

 

[t-noah]

Where I’m frustrated too is that he also had two drops as a receiver. To me he’s on a worse trajectory than where tarique Milton was as a soph, and he’s not even close to deshaunte jones as clonerjams said

Was the first one the near TD pass that he appeared to drop, late in the 1st Qtr., right before the field goal? If so, the replay on that one clearly showed the ball being tipped by the defender. That's why he dropped it and you couldn't tell without looking at the slo-mo replay.

So I'd give him a pass on that one. Don't know about the other.

 

[simply1]

Was the first one the near TD pass that he appeared to drop, late in the 1st Qtr., right before the field goal? If so, the replay on that one clearly showed the ball being tipped by the defender. That's why he dropped it and you couldn't tell without looking at the slo-mo replay.

So I'd give him a pss on that one. Don't know about the other.

Yep, probably could have caught it still but the tip made it an extremely tough catch.
I may watch the punts again just to see if my memory is failing or not, but the ones he let go after the first one looked really difficult to handle given the trajectory, wind, and funky movement of the kick.

 

[bozclone]

Fielding punts in Jack Trice has to be tough on a windy day. Losing field position sucks, but I trust Noel is making the decisions he has been told to make. As for the dropped TD pass. Ball was tipped at the line changing the trajectory of the ball. Plus there was a defender that was close to Noel trying to make a play on the ball too. It looked like a classic drop live, but on replay it was clearly a really tough catch to make. Noel is a bright and talented true sophomore, some people need to cut him some slack.

 

[JUKEBOX]

My thoughts on why we won game:
* Defense is still solid
* 0 turnovers
* Special teams didn't have any critical mistakes
* Running game wasn't terrible
* Officiating wasn't terrible

Offense certainly still has a lot of room for improvement, but I thought this game showed that we can win a lot of games by not "losing them" because of the defense.