As it still rains here in Ohio, and I have a small pond in my back yard... Some thoughts (well a lot of thoughts) on the first two games.
QB Play: Ramsey still has a long way to go, but he has the tools to take this team to a 6 win (or more) season. Several very nice throws to Hale, Westbrook... Looking forward to nicer weather because I think that it could open up the offense for Ramsey. They need to have him throw deep a few more times a game but last night is understandable. He needs more confidence, his scrambling is not great.
WRs Depth and Talent: Very very impressed with the WRs and how talented they are. Hale looks like the STUD on the outside. He has great hands and grabs the ball if its in his area. Timian is still impressive in the slot, but where the hell is Whop? Need to get whop involved... Fryfogle will be the dude in a few years, he has Cobbs 2.0 written all over him. If Taylor isn't catching 3 passes per game in the flats then Debord is miss using him. Westbrook will figure it out.
TE play: Dorris shouldn't see the field with dudes like Hendershot and Bjorson, but this group needs to block better all around.
OL: Incomplete resume- They opened up some nice holes for Scott last night, but they haven't had the push under hiller that we saw under Frey. Better than last year for sure, but hopefully they can improve as the season goes on.
RB: Hail to ol Stevie Scott. I got 3 texts about Stevie Scott and how he runs like Lev Bell. He was incredible patient waiting for gaps to open up and made great cuts to find gaps to get to the second level. If Ronnie Walker can develop next to him as well, IU could have a two headed monster. Ivory Winters (if he stays for IU) is another big back down the line. Mike Hart should be licking his chops about the potential the next 4 years.
Defense: Bend don't break. Outside the two drives for UVA the defense made things work.
DL: Pressuring the QBs alright, just not getting TO the QB. They were able to contain and not let the qb scramble too many times, just want to see them get a few sacks. The pass rush players that were freshman and in the recruiting classes can't come soon enough. Talent there moving forward that will only get better IMO.
LB: I actually like what I see from the TD Roof, Allen combo. 44 & 45 impress playing the gaps to stop the run and get to the qb. Another group that looked better from game 1 to game 2. The speed however, is not there as it was in years past. McFadden looks like he could be a big time get if he keeps it up. So much for that 2* ranking
CBs : Yikes, what happened to Riggins? He looks lost and a step slow out there. He's blown several coverages in the first few games that led to big big plays. This was the group that Allen said was one of his deepest spots and they've been a big weakness. Williams has been ok but freshman mistakes... They have 1 more game before MSU comes in to make things interesting.
DB: Paging #42... Mr. #42 please stand up. What happened to Mr. Ball? He's probably been the biggest disappointment. He has to figure it out because he's the X factor for the defense. He can make plays all over the field, but he looks lost. Crawford cleaning up a bunch of mistakes for the defense but has to be more consistent. If he can be, he has the potential to be a high round pick in the NFL. The young talent in the SS, FS spots (broken record) looks promising. Khalil Bryant made some nice plays but he's had his miscues as well.
Coaching: As people noted on Twitter, the staff looked to be getting the plays in to the defense late. There were plays that the team was scrambling to get set as they hiked the ball. Something is seriously wrong with the special teams kick team. Those issues almost cost them the game.
I don't know where to start with Debord. Allen needs a change here, he need to go out and find a young OC that bring some excitement on that side of the ball.
I also have no problem with how TA reacted to the win. He's an excitable guy and I get the Tom Crean comparison but this is IUFB not IUBB. IU hasn't been there and its trying to get there. I get it, carry on and keep winning. Turds like this guy in the Indy Media don't help:
Overall: The plan was to be 2-0 after 2 games. They're 2-0 (even better PU is 0-2) with Ball St coming in next weekend. Next weekend the forecast calls for 80s and sun. Lets see what this team can do with normal weather. The path to being 4-1 or 5-0 heading in to Ohio State is there... I'll settle to 3-0
QB Play: Ramsey still has a long way to go, but he has the tools to take this team to a 6 win (or more) season. Several very nice throws to Hale, Westbrook... Looking forward to nicer weather because I think that it could open up the offense for Ramsey. They need to have him throw deep a few more times a game but last night is understandable. He needs more confidence, his scrambling is not great.
WRs Depth and Talent: Very very impressed with the WRs and how talented they are. Hale looks like the STUD on the outside. He has great hands and grabs the ball if its in his area. Timian is still impressive in the slot, but where the hell is Whop? Need to get whop involved... Fryfogle will be the dude in a few years, he has Cobbs 2.0 written all over him. If Taylor isn't catching 3 passes per game in the flats then Debord is miss using him. Westbrook will figure it out.
TE play: Dorris shouldn't see the field with dudes like Hendershot and Bjorson, but this group needs to block better all around.
OL: Incomplete resume- They opened up some nice holes for Scott last night, but they haven't had the push under hiller that we saw under Frey. Better than last year for sure, but hopefully they can improve as the season goes on.
RB: Hail to ol Stevie Scott. I got 3 texts about Stevie Scott and how he runs like Lev Bell. He was incredible patient waiting for gaps to open up and made great cuts to find gaps to get to the second level. If Ronnie Walker can develop next to him as well, IU could have a two headed monster. Ivory Winters (if he stays for IU) is another big back down the line. Mike Hart should be licking his chops about the potential the next 4 years.
Defense: Bend don't break. Outside the two drives for UVA the defense made things work.
DL: Pressuring the QBs alright, just not getting TO the QB. They were able to contain and not let the qb scramble too many times, just want to see them get a few sacks. The pass rush players that were freshman and in the recruiting classes can't come soon enough. Talent there moving forward that will only get better IMO.
LB: I actually like what I see from the TD Roof, Allen combo. 44 & 45 impress playing the gaps to stop the run and get to the qb. Another group that looked better from game 1 to game 2. The speed however, is not there as it was in years past. McFadden looks like he could be a big time get if he keeps it up. So much for that 2* ranking
CBs : Yikes, what happened to Riggins? He looks lost and a step slow out there. He's blown several coverages in the first few games that led to big big plays. This was the group that Allen said was one of his deepest spots and they've been a big weakness. Williams has been ok but freshman mistakes... They have 1 more game before MSU comes in to make things interesting.
DB: Paging #42... Mr. #42 please stand up. What happened to Mr. Ball? He's probably been the biggest disappointment. He has to figure it out because he's the X factor for the defense. He can make plays all over the field, but he looks lost. Crawford cleaning up a bunch of mistakes for the defense but has to be more consistent. If he can be, he has the potential to be a high round pick in the NFL. The young talent in the SS, FS spots (broken record) looks promising. Khalil Bryant made some nice plays but he's had his miscues as well.
Coaching: As people noted on Twitter, the staff looked to be getting the plays in to the defense late. There were plays that the team was scrambling to get set as they hiked the ball. Something is seriously wrong with the special teams kick team. Those issues almost cost them the game.
I don't know where to start with Debord. Allen needs a change here, he need to go out and find a young OC that bring some excitement on that side of the ball.
I also have no problem with how TA reacted to the win. He's an excitable guy and I get the Tom Crean comparison but this is IUFB not IUBB. IU hasn't been there and its trying to get there. I get it, carry on and keep winning. Turds like this guy in the Indy Media don't help:
Overall: The plan was to be 2-0 after 2 games. They're 2-0 (even better PU is 0-2) with Ball St coming in next weekend. Next weekend the forecast calls for 80s and sun. Lets see what this team can do with normal weather. The path to being 4-1 or 5-0 heading in to Ohio State is there... I'll settle to 3-0
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