@jj_mcclure people that get on the internet to bash kids playing a game are just @$$ holes. You should ignore them like the players do. As pointed out earlier FM looked a lot like Rourke did in the first game last year. He will get a lot better over the next few weeks.
Something is seriously wrong when you have a Big Ten line and cannot push back a G5 line a grand total of 2 yards to get the ball across the goal line….and do it multiple times and multiple downs.
I was in error though. It likely isn’t a personnel issue as we opened up holes everywhere else on the field. We have a scheme problem when the field is compressed and they put 10 guys in the box. We either missed blocks, didn’t block the correct people or didn’t target the runs to the right area.
The OL run blocking up the middle needs fixed asap! But from what I saw(and I wasn’t able to watch a lot of the game), IU kept trying to run up the gut and got stuffed every time! Needed to run to the outside of the OTs more. My drunk ass was on Broadway, Nashville with too much distraction though. So, I may be wrong?
I found it interesting in Cigs presser that he partly blamed the game plan for our goal line struggles.
Said there really wasn't any tape on them at the goal line because they give up so many big plays (he then joked we had our fair share, just didn't score with them).
We'll be okay.
@boogie I'm glad he said that, because he will most certainly focus on those issues. Watching the replay right now, we could have been up 38-7 going into the half. The two goal line stops, Omar Cooper dropping the TD pass, and Radicic needed one more inch on that last attempt. If my maths correct, that would be 38-7. Also, Mendoza's touch will come as he gets more comfortable in the system. His throws were a little juiced all half.
No need to put the good stuff on tape against a team you're going to beat on talent.
Have to be able to win the trenches against Old Dominion. Not being able to get one yard when all that is needed is to out muscle them in concerning. I know its game one, but it shows how special Rourke was last year in this offense. I almost think Mendoza struggled because he WASN'T scrambling all game like he did all year at Cal. Being sacked 41 times and running for your life is certainly different from having ample time in the pocket. He will be serviceable over these next couple games, and then we will know the direction of the season on the night we play Illinois.
Couple of comments:
1) Don't forget how pedestrian Rourke and IU looked in the opener last year against a very poor FIU team (not as good as ODU). I was not sold on him until the UCLA beat down (I know we smoked WIU, but let's be real).
2) Mendoza isn't that fast or athletic to be honest. He's fast enough to get out of the pocket when he needs, but I don't think he should be looking to run based on what I saw live. That being said, I do like the idea of getting him rolling out a bit more where he has a run/pass option because I think he seems a bit more comfortable that way.
3) The playcalling didn't give him much of a chance. We should have been able to punch it in on the ground inside the 5 against ODU. But, when they were run blitzing everyone, we should have pivoted. We ran nothing except a few fades in the EZ for Mendoza inside the 10. We have Staes and big bodies (EJ, Sarratt, etc.). Run some slants, slot outs, get leverage, give Mendoza the chance to make throws.
my bigger concern with FM was not seeing wide open deep shots.
Yep, he missed Cooper twice on deep posts in the 1st Half (before Cooper dropped the TD) and missed two other reads (EJ Williams running deep - beat his man in the 3rd and Sarratt on a deep cross in the 4th).
He didn't look very comfortable in the pocket today - not sure why exactly as he was sacked only once and pressured a few times.
@jj_mcclure Am I wrong is thinking that 500 yards passing/rushing isn't too shabby, even though we couldn't punch it across the goal line.
Mendoza has to learn to trust his protection and go through his reads.