Here are a few thoughts and observations from today and the season:
Offensively:
I thought today was John Donovan's best gameplay not vs a quality opponent in the last 2 years.
Chris Godwin and SaQuon Barkley are true difference makers and should enter next year as first team B1G selections.
Offensively we just cant matchup at the line of scrimmage it doesn't help that we started 8 different combos in 12 games the future (2017) lies with Nelson Mahon Beh Bates Sorrell Jenkins Gonzales and Menet
Defensively:
We were just missing too many difference makers to play against a top 5 team on the road. Nassib is a killer and then having to move Zettel to DE thus weakening 2 spots killed today. Lucas would have made a difference and I know Wartman has been out the whole year but Cabinda really got exposed in 1-1 situations. Also I hope Bell is hurt because he is a non factor lately.
Next year could be a tough year defensively if we don't get things straightened out up front
Special teams:
It is embarrassing to not have someone who can kick past the 15 yard line with Gilliken and hopefully Nordin these issues are solved.
While I touched on a lot of good things one thing that concerns me is how things have snowballed on this team not being able to get over big plays given up that happens with young teams but that concerns me as the fragile mental state and mind blowing mental errors when the game started going the other way. Again it's a young team and hopefully as this team progresses someone will make a play or two and reverse this trend and gain confidence when things start going wrong.
Overall I'm still optimistic mainly because of Barkley and Godwin and I do like some of the young guys in the secondary. The aggressive game plan today also encourages me. The coaches can't punt kick off tackle or block sometimes you just don't have the horses I hope the young OL starts to develop during bowl practices.
Offensively:
I thought today was John Donovan's best gameplay not vs a quality opponent in the last 2 years.
Chris Godwin and SaQuon Barkley are true difference makers and should enter next year as first team B1G selections.
Offensively we just cant matchup at the line of scrimmage it doesn't help that we started 8 different combos in 12 games the future (2017) lies with Nelson Mahon Beh Bates Sorrell Jenkins Gonzales and Menet
Defensively:
We were just missing too many difference makers to play against a top 5 team on the road. Nassib is a killer and then having to move Zettel to DE thus weakening 2 spots killed today. Lucas would have made a difference and I know Wartman has been out the whole year but Cabinda really got exposed in 1-1 situations. Also I hope Bell is hurt because he is a non factor lately.
Next year could be a tough year defensively if we don't get things straightened out up front
Special teams:
It is embarrassing to not have someone who can kick past the 15 yard line with Gilliken and hopefully Nordin these issues are solved.
While I touched on a lot of good things one thing that concerns me is how things have snowballed on this team not being able to get over big plays given up that happens with young teams but that concerns me as the fragile mental state and mind blowing mental errors when the game started going the other way. Again it's a young team and hopefully as this team progresses someone will make a play or two and reverse this trend and gain confidence when things start going wrong.
Overall I'm still optimistic mainly because of Barkley and Godwin and I do like some of the young guys in the secondary. The aggressive game plan today also encourages me. The coaches can't punt kick off tackle or block sometimes you just don't have the horses I hope the young OL starts to develop during bowl practices.
