Well, I did get to watch some football this weekend. I then was able to stay awake for the OSU game. I am getting old and was dead tired from not sleeping the night before (We are 0-4 so I don't sleep well on Friday nights). Here are some things that popped into my head.
- I am hoping this is a very, very successful season for OSU. The main reason why is I want to see Ryan Day recognized for his efforts. Seriously, can anyone else claim themselves to be assistant coach of the year over Day after he lead the team to a 3-0 start and a win in Texas?I don't think so. Then you throw in how his QB has performed. Heck, thrown in how all of his QBs have performed (Joe B and Tate). Right now, he is the leader and it isn't close.
- A hall of fame high school coach once told me that you should expect 3 bad things to happen to your team each year. How you handle that and even overcome it will define you. Well, OSU has had 2 of them happen already. They lost Urban and now they have lost Bosa for a period of time to be determined. So far, they have overcome all of it and it has defined them to this point. This team is tough and kids have stepped up when needed so far. So have the coaches.
- Chase Young now needs to become the player everyone knows he can be. I don't know why he didn't start or play a bunch, but when he plays he needs to produce. Cooper got out there and produced on Saturday. Bosa is out so here is where preparation meets opportunity for some guys at DE.
- I know this will make some people go nuts, but during the game I kept thinking on the run plays if JT was at QB, he would have 200 yards rushing. TCU was ignoring the QB because those runs were just fakes. He never had the choice to pull it. To me, that is stupid. If you aren't going to run him, then stop faking it. Block that backside guy and RPO the linebacker. Just stop faking the QB keep. When they finally called it, it was a TD. By the way, much credit to Berry for his effort on that play. He sold the zone blocking, slipped outside and blocked the force player so Haskins could stumble in.
- Now Haskins isn't the greatest runner in the world, but he sure can throw it. 24 of 38 for 344 and 2 TDs. I don't want to harp, but the drops might have put him around 400 yards. It was his THIRD start and first on the road.
He took apart a defense that spent almost a year scheming to stop him. Call me impressed. What I love about him is, as a young QB, he isn't falling in love with the deep ball. In fact, he embraces the short to intermediate passes. As a coach, I absolutely love that. He realizes that getting in 3rd and short helps him out. Also, he realizes that moving the chains is most important. When the chains move, you score. You can't rely on the big plays (unless you play against OSU). If you look at his stats, he isn't chucking it deep. Sure, he does it a few times. However, he is taking teams apart underneath which opens up the deep ball. Young, inexperienced QBs normally do not do that.
- I am not sure I have seen a more stat defying defensive performance. In the second half, they were dominating. Yet, big plays just keep killing them. They play great defense 90% of the time. That other 10% is just a killer to them. I feel like if the DL doesn't blow a play up, then OSU is in trouble. Statistically, when you give up over 500 yards, you have played some really bad defense. When you force 3 turnovers and turn 2 of them into defensive scores while getting 2 sacks and 7 tackles for loss, you have played good defense. Which one was it? Some young guys need to improve and step things up. They are learning, but it needs to happen a little bit faster. The talent and schemes are there.
- Austin Mack drove me nuts. Being a line guy, I have no patience when skill kids don't do their job. That is my fault. I am telling you, I would have pulled him were I his position coach. Luckily, I am not in that capacity. Hartline did the right thing and he showed steel balls in doing so. They were able to win, Mack eventually caught more passes, and Hartlein also probably kept from destroying the kid for the year. Much respect to him for doing that.
- Davon Hamilton is a fumble recovering machine. Has anyone else noticed that? For a kid who goes relatively unnoticed out there due to being surrounded by studs, he jumps on fumbles unlike anyone else. He had the big one in the endzone for a TD. Can you guys remember his other huge fumble recovery?
- Man, OSU found something in their counter trey play. I was going nuts over that. I haven't seen them use that in that way since their win over Oregon. I hope we see more of that this season. It might be my most favorite play in the sport.
- Man, the B1G took one on the chin this weekend. I am not sure what happened to Maryland. I started to watch it and thought, "I am watching Maryland and Temple" and immediately changed it. Looks like I chose wisely. 195 total yards and 1-12 on 3rd down conversions. Maryland offense didn't show up. Wisky had the one turnover that appeared to be the difference. They were definitely underwhelming.
- I have to take some back on what I said about McSorely for PSU. He still doesn't impress me as a passer really. However, you have to look at what he does with his feet. He really is just like JT Barrett. He wins. He isn't the greatest QB but he also is far from the worst. For whatever reason, the PSU kids believe in him and follow him. You can't put a price tag on that. He is a winner.
- IU is quietly 3-0. The schedule is deceivingly good too. They beat a solid UVa team. They whipped Ball State who just hung with ND. They are the only loss FIU has. I am not saying they should be a top 10 team based off of this. However, they have played a decent schedule and are 3-0. Good for them. I also really like Ramsey at QB for them. He is a coach's son and plays like it. Between him and their RB, IU has a nice future the next two years on offense. As always, their defense will determine their success.
- Scott Frost did not envision this situation at Nebraska. However, I think he really is handling it well. He went into the game with zero scholarship QBs. To me, their situation is showing us a new trend in college football and we will see teams stock up more on QBs because you just can't be left with one or two guys at that spot. There are a lot of teams in the same boat and just one injury away from where Nebraska is right now. What Frost needs to fix is the penalties and turnovers. If those weren't problems, then they probably would have won. They have outgained the other team in both losses, but have 6 turnovers and 21 penalties in the two games. Those are some big, big numbers.
- LSU is the opposite of Nebraska. They play solid offense, but they aren't great at it. However, they do NOT turn the ball over. You win games when you do it that way. There was a coach here a little while back who knew this. People hated that style. However, you win with it.
- Last week I said it was pretty clear Bama is the best team and many people disagreed. After this weekend, I am not sure anyone can disagree with it. Yeah, Ole Miss isn't the greatest team in the world. However, Bama just destroyed them. Then Clemson looked mortal against Furman. OSU came from behind against a good TCU team. UGa beat up on Middle Tennessee. It is early, but Bama is the best team right now. Right now.
- I am loving the 0-3 start for Miami of Ohio. Absolutely loving it.
- Why was Miami of Florida playing in Toledo?
That is all I can think of for now. Hope this interests some of you guys.
- I am hoping this is a very, very successful season for OSU. The main reason why is I want to see Ryan Day recognized for his efforts. Seriously, can anyone else claim themselves to be assistant coach of the year over Day after he lead the team to a 3-0 start and a win in Texas?I don't think so. Then you throw in how his QB has performed. Heck, thrown in how all of his QBs have performed (Joe B and Tate). Right now, he is the leader and it isn't close.
- A hall of fame high school coach once told me that you should expect 3 bad things to happen to your team each year. How you handle that and even overcome it will define you. Well, OSU has had 2 of them happen already. They lost Urban and now they have lost Bosa for a period of time to be determined. So far, they have overcome all of it and it has defined them to this point. This team is tough and kids have stepped up when needed so far. So have the coaches.
- Chase Young now needs to become the player everyone knows he can be. I don't know why he didn't start or play a bunch, but when he plays he needs to produce. Cooper got out there and produced on Saturday. Bosa is out so here is where preparation meets opportunity for some guys at DE.
- I know this will make some people go nuts, but during the game I kept thinking on the run plays if JT was at QB, he would have 200 yards rushing. TCU was ignoring the QB because those runs were just fakes. He never had the choice to pull it. To me, that is stupid. If you aren't going to run him, then stop faking it. Block that backside guy and RPO the linebacker. Just stop faking the QB keep. When they finally called it, it was a TD. By the way, much credit to Berry for his effort on that play. He sold the zone blocking, slipped outside and blocked the force player so Haskins could stumble in.
- Now Haskins isn't the greatest runner in the world, but he sure can throw it. 24 of 38 for 344 and 2 TDs. I don't want to harp, but the drops might have put him around 400 yards. It was his THIRD start and first on the road.
He took apart a defense that spent almost a year scheming to stop him. Call me impressed. What I love about him is, as a young QB, he isn't falling in love with the deep ball. In fact, he embraces the short to intermediate passes. As a coach, I absolutely love that. He realizes that getting in 3rd and short helps him out. Also, he realizes that moving the chains is most important. When the chains move, you score. You can't rely on the big plays (unless you play against OSU). If you look at his stats, he isn't chucking it deep. Sure, he does it a few times. However, he is taking teams apart underneath which opens up the deep ball. Young, inexperienced QBs normally do not do that. - I am not sure I have seen a more stat defying defensive performance. In the second half, they were dominating. Yet, big plays just keep killing them. They play great defense 90% of the time. That other 10% is just a killer to them. I feel like if the DL doesn't blow a play up, then OSU is in trouble. Statistically, when you give up over 500 yards, you have played some really bad defense. When you force 3 turnovers and turn 2 of them into defensive scores while getting 2 sacks and 7 tackles for loss, you have played good defense. Which one was it? Some young guys need to improve and step things up. They are learning, but it needs to happen a little bit faster. The talent and schemes are there.
- Austin Mack drove me nuts. Being a line guy, I have no patience when skill kids don't do their job. That is my fault. I am telling you, I would have pulled him were I his position coach. Luckily, I am not in that capacity. Hartline did the right thing and he showed steel balls in doing so. They were able to win, Mack eventually caught more passes, and Hartlein also probably kept from destroying the kid for the year. Much respect to him for doing that.
- Davon Hamilton is a fumble recovering machine. Has anyone else noticed that? For a kid who goes relatively unnoticed out there due to being surrounded by studs, he jumps on fumbles unlike anyone else. He had the big one in the endzone for a TD. Can you guys remember his other huge fumble recovery?
- Man, OSU found something in their counter trey play. I was going nuts over that. I haven't seen them use that in that way since their win over Oregon. I hope we see more of that this season. It might be my most favorite play in the sport.
- Man, the B1G took one on the chin this weekend. I am not sure what happened to Maryland. I started to watch it and thought, "I am watching Maryland and Temple" and immediately changed it. Looks like I chose wisely. 195 total yards and 1-12 on 3rd down conversions. Maryland offense didn't show up. Wisky had the one turnover that appeared to be the difference. They were definitely underwhelming.
- I have to take some back on what I said about McSorely for PSU. He still doesn't impress me as a passer really. However, you have to look at what he does with his feet. He really is just like JT Barrett. He wins. He isn't the greatest QB but he also is far from the worst. For whatever reason, the PSU kids believe in him and follow him. You can't put a price tag on that. He is a winner.
- IU is quietly 3-0. The schedule is deceivingly good too. They beat a solid UVa team. They whipped Ball State who just hung with ND. They are the only loss FIU has. I am not saying they should be a top 10 team based off of this. However, they have played a decent schedule and are 3-0. Good for them. I also really like Ramsey at QB for them. He is a coach's son and plays like it. Between him and their RB, IU has a nice future the next two years on offense. As always, their defense will determine their success.
- Scott Frost did not envision this situation at Nebraska. However, I think he really is handling it well. He went into the game with zero scholarship QBs. To me, their situation is showing us a new trend in college football and we will see teams stock up more on QBs because you just can't be left with one or two guys at that spot. There are a lot of teams in the same boat and just one injury away from where Nebraska is right now. What Frost needs to fix is the penalties and turnovers. If those weren't problems, then they probably would have won. They have outgained the other team in both losses, but have 6 turnovers and 21 penalties in the two games. Those are some big, big numbers.
- LSU is the opposite of Nebraska. They play solid offense, but they aren't great at it. However, they do NOT turn the ball over. You win games when you do it that way. There was a coach here a little while back who knew this. People hated that style. However, you win with it.
- Last week I said it was pretty clear Bama is the best team and many people disagreed. After this weekend, I am not sure anyone can disagree with it. Yeah, Ole Miss isn't the greatest team in the world. However, Bama just destroyed them. Then Clemson looked mortal against Furman. OSU came from behind against a good TCU team. UGa beat up on Middle Tennessee. It is early, but Bama is the best team right now. Right now.
- I am loving the 0-3 start for Miami of Ohio. Absolutely loving it.
- Why was Miami of Florida playing in Toledo?
That is all I can think of for now. Hope this interests some of you guys.
