1) Trace struggled yesterday for the first time in several years. Outside of one drop by Hamler, he missed open receivers five times by make count. It looked like he was pressing the whole game. Also, the MSU coaching staff was committed to make sure that McSorley was not going to beat them with his runs.
2) The much hyped offensive line has regressed in my opinion. The lack of consistent pass blocking had us dumping off to short passes most of the day.
3) As Gem mentioned in a post several weeks ago, we have a lot of nice players on defense. The question is do we have any great players on defense. We have become a very average and mediocre defense that consistently cannot generate a pass rush without blitzing. When we blitz, we end up not be able to defend the pass. In particular, the slant routes over the middle become wide open.
4) Special teams continue to be a mess. We practice all week for a fake punt, but do not recognize that a running back is the only person back in punt protection formation. If our coaches saw this, why did not we not call a timeout? In my view, the fake punt gave MSU life and put them back in the game. Also, we clearly do not have confidence in Pinegar as a kicker. Unless we get to the 20 yard line, we are not going to kick and end up going for it on fourth down. At the Ohio State game several weeks ago, he was struggling to make kicks in warm up and at halftime. Is it time to give another kicker a chance?
5) It bothered me that when Sanders went out for a few series that we only gave Ricky Slade one carry. Is this signaling to defenses that we are concerned on his ability to hold on to the ball? McSorley ran the ball every time Slade was in the backfield in the second half.
6) Which leads to some thoughts on our coaching staff. I have read several posts is Franklin the guy. Let's go back to the 2014 coaching search. The only other coach that had some interest in us was Al Golden. Would we have been better off with him in charge?
Coach Franklin appears to be a CEO type of coach which means that he will live and die by his assistants. He may be at a crossroads and have to make at least a change with Pry (maybe Spencer) on defense. Except for yesterday, we have scored enough points to win all of the close games that we have lost since 2016. With respect to Rahne, I would give him a chance to see what he could do in 2019. However, the wide receiver coach Corley in my view has to go. Results are measured on the field and clearly he has not gotten it done.
The next two games in my view are extremely important to the future of this program (very similar to the Minnesota game in 2016). If we are not careful, we could be 4-4 after Indiana and Iowa. This could have a significant impact in recruiting for the future.
2) The much hyped offensive line has regressed in my opinion. The lack of consistent pass blocking had us dumping off to short passes most of the day.
3) As Gem mentioned in a post several weeks ago, we have a lot of nice players on defense. The question is do we have any great players on defense. We have become a very average and mediocre defense that consistently cannot generate a pass rush without blitzing. When we blitz, we end up not be able to defend the pass. In particular, the slant routes over the middle become wide open.
4) Special teams continue to be a mess. We practice all week for a fake punt, but do not recognize that a running back is the only person back in punt protection formation. If our coaches saw this, why did not we not call a timeout? In my view, the fake punt gave MSU life and put them back in the game. Also, we clearly do not have confidence in Pinegar as a kicker. Unless we get to the 20 yard line, we are not going to kick and end up going for it on fourth down. At the Ohio State game several weeks ago, he was struggling to make kicks in warm up and at halftime. Is it time to give another kicker a chance?
5) It bothered me that when Sanders went out for a few series that we only gave Ricky Slade one carry. Is this signaling to defenses that we are concerned on his ability to hold on to the ball? McSorley ran the ball every time Slade was in the backfield in the second half.
6) Which leads to some thoughts on our coaching staff. I have read several posts is Franklin the guy. Let's go back to the 2014 coaching search. The only other coach that had some interest in us was Al Golden. Would we have been better off with him in charge?
Coach Franklin appears to be a CEO type of coach which means that he will live and die by his assistants. He may be at a crossroads and have to make at least a change with Pry (maybe Spencer) on defense. Except for yesterday, we have scored enough points to win all of the close games that we have lost since 2016. With respect to Rahne, I would give him a chance to see what he could do in 2019. However, the wide receiver coach Corley in my view has to go. Results are measured on the field and clearly he has not gotten it done.
The next two games in my view are extremely important to the future of this program (very similar to the Minnesota game in 2016). If we are not careful, we could be 4-4 after Indiana and Iowa. This could have a significant impact in recruiting for the future.
