Nothing to cleanup last week, not much more this week and another cupcake next week so let's hope that continues along with week over week growth... because we need to get better in some small things and can't afford to take a step back.
At this point all we have to deal with are high net worth first world problems.
With possibly two exceptions, the rest of the B10 is sleeping on the sidewalk with a shopping cart. We play them both, and possibly one of them twice... we need to use all of our remaining games to improve and apply the wood when we have a quality match up.
As for the things we can control, I couldn't have asked for a better 3 game start. I could have asked for a better noncon opponent, but given what the schedule gods gave us we have checked all the boxes.
Most importantly to me, we have taken back the A gap. Like the Alsace-Lorraine in European history, this is the prized territory in a football game. You have to fight to get it, and then fight to keep it. And right now, we own it.
We have to prove we can continue owning it against better opponents, but last season and parts of the last few seasons we were cavalier with it and let teams worse than the ones we just played toyed with it.
The rushing totals tell the story. On D we have given up 57 net YPG. On O we are netting 271.
When you own the A Gaps the rest takes care of itself. If you remove the 4th quarter garbage time from the stats we are outscoring our opponents 121 to 16.
Quick thoughts on both sides of the ball.
When The Bucks are on O
It took the better part of Game 1 to get film on the running game and evidently the study execution and make some needed tweaks. To say they are working would be an understatement.
As good as the running game is going, I think we are just scratching the surface as the passing game is still being expanded, Dobbins is regaining his freshman form and Master Teague is developing into a quality threat before our eyes.
The staff is also sorting out and the players evolving to establish the true identity they want but clearly it is/will be a mix of pro power with spread to run.
The days of a team (quality D or not) lining up in a tite front with and overhang defender in the alley soft coverage behind it and shutting down/or stalling our O for long periods are OVER.
The use of QB run along with pro sets with YON and use of the H back as blocker are exposing the C gap bubble in the Tite front.
The OL has sorted all this out and are responding with some quality blocking
The passing game is behind the running game which where it should be a first year starter at QB. That said, the passing game is still potent largely b/c the WRs are playing at a SUPER high level.
Otherwise, I think there would be concerns... but Fields is GOOD now with a ceiling that is off the charts. He is making good decisions, throws a good ball with some inconsistency, and everything close is a catch. With the running game and WR's playing at a high level it's been an easy ride for Fields. He was shaky early at IU and then responded with some really nice throws.
His technical errors manifests themselves in throws that are high and sail. The fix is easy to describe but hard for a young QB to master. Fields has shown his mechanics can be excellent, it's just getting it that way more often.
I think the staff wanted some film on the deep ball into soft coverage and they got it. As Tress used to say.... don't overthrow it. It's the common mistake.... look for this to get more film next week.
If he starts hitting that throw and reduces the sailing away throws he is generally making....the O is going to be awfully difficult for any D scheme to stop.
When the Bucks are on D
With the running game stopped cold the Bucks DBs have gotten A LOT of film, and this IU team chucked up 300+ on them last year.
I can't even explain how happy I am that Arnette had a big game. The pick 6 was nice but multiple pass break ups without a silly penalty was better.
Teams don't want to throw at Okudah, if Arnette can lock down the other side and Wade continues his solid play on the slot dude... that leaves the TE, screens and gadget plays. These are the only plays that have had even moderate success.
Nebraska and Whisky run all of the above and Miami will have no choice, so look for the interior LBs to be asked to get more involved in covering the underneath zones and middle seams.
So far they have been blitzing which has helped the deep coverage, but better teams with mobile QBs will attack this area of the field and hope we can't cover it or are forced to back the ILBs off and open up the run game.
Borlands INT against Cincy was a good play. It would be good to see Harrison or Browning pick one against Miami and give Frost something to think about.
At this point all we have to deal with are high net worth first world problems.
With possibly two exceptions, the rest of the B10 is sleeping on the sidewalk with a shopping cart. We play them both, and possibly one of them twice... we need to use all of our remaining games to improve and apply the wood when we have a quality match up.
As for the things we can control, I couldn't have asked for a better 3 game start. I could have asked for a better noncon opponent, but given what the schedule gods gave us we have checked all the boxes.
Most importantly to me, we have taken back the A gap. Like the Alsace-Lorraine in European history, this is the prized territory in a football game. You have to fight to get it, and then fight to keep it. And right now, we own it.
We have to prove we can continue owning it against better opponents, but last season and parts of the last few seasons we were cavalier with it and let teams worse than the ones we just played toyed with it.
The rushing totals tell the story. On D we have given up 57 net YPG. On O we are netting 271.
When you own the A Gaps the rest takes care of itself. If you remove the 4th quarter garbage time from the stats we are outscoring our opponents 121 to 16.
Quick thoughts on both sides of the ball.
When The Bucks are on O
It took the better part of Game 1 to get film on the running game and evidently the study execution and make some needed tweaks. To say they are working would be an understatement.
As good as the running game is going, I think we are just scratching the surface as the passing game is still being expanded, Dobbins is regaining his freshman form and Master Teague is developing into a quality threat before our eyes.
The staff is also sorting out and the players evolving to establish the true identity they want but clearly it is/will be a mix of pro power with spread to run.
The days of a team (quality D or not) lining up in a tite front with and overhang defender in the alley soft coverage behind it and shutting down/or stalling our O for long periods are OVER.
The use of QB run along with pro sets with YON and use of the H back as blocker are exposing the C gap bubble in the Tite front.
The OL has sorted all this out and are responding with some quality blocking
The passing game is behind the running game which where it should be a first year starter at QB. That said, the passing game is still potent largely b/c the WRs are playing at a SUPER high level.
Otherwise, I think there would be concerns... but Fields is GOOD now with a ceiling that is off the charts. He is making good decisions, throws a good ball with some inconsistency, and everything close is a catch. With the running game and WR's playing at a high level it's been an easy ride for Fields. He was shaky early at IU and then responded with some really nice throws.
His technical errors manifests themselves in throws that are high and sail. The fix is easy to describe but hard for a young QB to master. Fields has shown his mechanics can be excellent, it's just getting it that way more often.
I think the staff wanted some film on the deep ball into soft coverage and they got it. As Tress used to say.... don't overthrow it. It's the common mistake.... look for this to get more film next week.
If he starts hitting that throw and reduces the sailing away throws he is generally making....the O is going to be awfully difficult for any D scheme to stop.
When the Bucks are on D
With the running game stopped cold the Bucks DBs have gotten A LOT of film, and this IU team chucked up 300+ on them last year.
I can't even explain how happy I am that Arnette had a big game. The pick 6 was nice but multiple pass break ups without a silly penalty was better.
Teams don't want to throw at Okudah, if Arnette can lock down the other side and Wade continues his solid play on the slot dude... that leaves the TE, screens and gadget plays. These are the only plays that have had even moderate success.
Nebraska and Whisky run all of the above and Miami will have no choice, so look for the interior LBs to be asked to get more involved in covering the underneath zones and middle seams.
So far they have been blitzing which has helped the deep coverage, but better teams with mobile QBs will attack this area of the field and hope we can't cover it or are forced to back the ILBs off and open up the run game.
Borlands INT against Cincy was a good play. It would be good to see Harrison or Browning pick one against Miami and give Frost something to think about.
