That game was the opposite of anything I wanted, less the winning. There were/are so many elements of mid-major concern, especially in the trenches.
But there are these things, which I believe to be true:
1) App State played well and could be a reasonably good team.
2) App State also had everything happen (KO touchdown - another major special teams event - a QB, who is not elite, playing at Steph Curry levels of unconsciousness - opposing team's defense takes a 4th quarter colonic, etc.) that you need to upset a major team. And didn't.
3a) This was the first game. Improvements are almost as guaranteed as they are necessary.
3b) The scare of almost losing everything you've worked for before you even really started also might clear out the ego cobwebs of being told they are a team with a good chance to make the playoffs all offseason. And there is a different target on their backs this year than the last or the year before. They should know this now and adjust their hunger/work rate/body language accordingly. Because, while #1 may be true, so is most every other team we'll face.
4) There was talent displayed, however inconsistently. And the youth will catch up. There was a jet sweep App State ran on one of their latter drives. There were multiple players on the field with the speed to not let it go for a solid gain but, though it wasn't all that hard to diagnose, not one single player outside of Jan Johnson noticed it. That should change (and hopefully in time).
5) They're better than that. Right? Please?
But there are these things, which I believe to be true:
1) App State played well and could be a reasonably good team.
- Follow up question: with all the other Albanys you could put in their place, why does anyone in the country schedule them? What is there to gain?
2) App State also had everything happen (KO touchdown - another major special teams event - a QB, who is not elite, playing at Steph Curry levels of unconsciousness - opposing team's defense takes a 4th quarter colonic, etc.) that you need to upset a major team. And didn't.
3a) This was the first game. Improvements are almost as guaranteed as they are necessary.
3b) The scare of almost losing everything you've worked for before you even really started also might clear out the ego cobwebs of being told they are a team with a good chance to make the playoffs all offseason. And there is a different target on their backs this year than the last or the year before. They should know this now and adjust their hunger/work rate/body language accordingly. Because, while #1 may be true, so is most every other team we'll face.
4) There was talent displayed, however inconsistently. And the youth will catch up. There was a jet sweep App State ran on one of their latter drives. There were multiple players on the field with the speed to not let it go for a solid gain but, though it wasn't all that hard to diagnose, not one single player outside of Jan Johnson noticed it. That should change (and hopefully in time).
5) They're better than that. Right? Please?
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