I’m not trying to defend Howell here because there are lots of things I haven’t been satisfied with on that side of the ball.

That said it’s entirely possible that we have the worst collection of DL (some promising young guys but lot of development to do) and are have been missing the 2 best ones all year (Davis & Capers).

There’s no doubt in my mind we have the worst collection of CBs in the P5. I obviously haven’t watched every P5 team but I can’t imagine anyone has a slower group overall. They have to play 10 yards off to keep from getting burnt against Elon.

I thought we might have a shot today because of how the first half played out. Our offense can do some things and get a turnover or two and keep it competitive.

I say yes!!!!

To Oregon State. Lol. Suck it, Stanford.

Nm

from the defensive collapse is the effect on recruiting.

When your opponent can score at will through the air like OM yesterday, recruits are going to question coaching. Yes, VU had no effective pass rush and the secondary was slow, but the recruits want some evidence that they can be developed into competent players. The secondary looked totally incompetent starting with OM's last drive of the first half. VU is not going to get many 4 star players and development of players is always going to be key. If CLL can demonstrate player development, he can succeed.

As for officiating, VU got several call in the first half. In the second half we were hosed on multiple holding calls. This while the refs held their whistles on pass interference. Not all of those passes were uncatchable. The penalties (and lack of calls) really hurt our offense.

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Vass is coming off an official visit with Vanderbilt, which he took last weekend during the Commodores bye week. Vandy was the first power five school to offer back on September 7th. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound prospect has since picked up offers from South Florida, App State, Missouri, and Maryland.

Currently, it sounds pretty promising that the Commodores could get a commitment from the Lakeland (Fla.) product. Although, I am curious to see what happens what happens with Florida, who has been showing interest.

Anyway, got some feedback from Vass on his official visit and where things currently stand with his recruiting process.

- On what stood out about Vandy:

"The amount of love they showed me and how real they got with me and their education is really great. I definitely like Vanderbilt more now after the official visit."

- On his relationship with OL coach AJ Blazek:

"It's been great. He knows what he's doing. He likes my athleticism and my style of playing offensive line."

- On if he has any other visits planned currently:

"Not yet."

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I hope Sheppard is ok. He left limping after a crushing tackle bent him backward over Bresnahan on first down in the mid 3rd quarter. I guess he was OK because he scored a TD and two-point conversion later.

— Re QBs —-
With 11:28 to go in the 2d quarter after the 3d and 7 sack, Swann came out grasping at his collar bone or sternum while leaving the field. We then kicked a field goal, with Swann having led that drive following an interception.

The next series Wright came in toward the end of a drive briefly and distracted the defense such that Davis walked in untouched on 4th and 2 in our next to last TD for the day.

Later Swann is seen grasping his arm while seated. VU didn’t signal to the other team and media our weak spots but Wright is an asset assisting Swann when he’s shaken up even though some in here denounce any time he is in, hoping to cowe the staff into thinking it’s too unpopular to use him at all for anything.

I believe the staff should do what they see they have to do to win and ignore the onlookers, without laying out their cards if Swann is hurt during a given part of a game.

None of us knows all that’s going on as far as misdirection strategy or resting a shaken-up player during parts of a game, certainly not me either.

If they play Mike a time or two, we don’t need to think we are all knowing all there is to know as to why.

On that Davis walk in TD that got us to 20 points in the 2d quarter, I thought that was amazing how fooled Ole Miss were. I guess they were all looking for Wright to throw or run.

One player had a good shot at Davis but he had committed his momentum with a step to the right toward where he thought Mike was going to go until it was too late to lunge left decisively and somehow Davis zipped by him.

I think he beat the same #2 who had taken down Swann in a prior series before he looked shaken up. Not sure what we would have run on 4th and 2 with Swann but this particular setup worked for the one play.

We did it with only Swann in the second half and only scored once although holding calls affected that.

of course Mike can get hurt too and has been targeted before. If both QBs get hurt in the same game, we may even see Seals in part of a game and god knows the howling that will come then, although I think the dogs are out more for some reason about keeping Wright on the bench and dissing entirely his Hawaii and Elon throwing/running efforts. His Wake game in the rain led to wisely trying something different when using him wasn’t effective that day due to rain bobbles + WF being ready for him.

Hopefully, though, nobody will need a breather and Swann can play every single ever-loving snap here on out.

But the staff apparently was being consistent yesterday in using whichever QB they see is needed at a given moment when they feel it would help, just like they did when it was more effective to switch to Swann v Wake and NIU.

And any time Swann needs a brief breather when he’s shaken up, hopefully we won’t have the boo birds out directing what the coaches should do.

They managed to keep Swann in most of the time despite his looking a bit hurt at one point and this hollering about what they should do is unfortunate when it’s clear the coaches don’t want to signal each injury to the other team to explain things to fans.

Hopefully the coaches will strategically do what is necessary to preserve AJ’s health and playing time despite fan pressures a given day.

This has gone EXACTLY like I thought, a waste of time. The offense is a one dimensional running attack with Wright in the game. That's why he was benched for Swann.

Why bring him in down 18? To keep the clock moving to get the game over?

Just stop it, enough already.

No

LEA OPENING REMARKS
Disappointing result, disappointed for the team
They started playing the style of football they needed to play to win
What they did in the first half, they didn’t carry over in the second half
That started with penalties and getting behind in the chains, plus, the short-field TD
Ole Miss created explosive plays that put distance between them in the game
They have to play four complete quarters; they didn’t do that against a good thing and their margins are thin.

Was there a common denominator in defensive mistakes?
Tackling would be one; they had the ball wrapped up twice on explosive plays and Ole Miss got away; one was a double move and another through the middle of the defense
That learning goes to coaching too, they have to put guys in good positions and have to have better player awareness
They’ll play against a lot of explosive offenses to finish the season and so they can get better
Thought their corners improved and were better on the edges
The middle 8 was a chance to create separation; they had a fourth-down TD but needed to get a stop on the next drive and Ole Miss had a chunk play there
A better first-half finish helps them separate

What did he see from Swann?
He was good, made good decisions
There were also “freshman moments.”
Thought he was steady and consistent
Success was built around the physical running game
There was an identity there

Swann injury?
It was a contusion, he doubts it’s long-term
Not throwing-arm injury

The Wright packages, what was behind those?
It’s been their intention to use the best 11 and Mike’s one of those
It’s a challenge at QB
Mike’s been an explosive player all year
He’s proud of Mike and the energy he brings and it had a positive impact

Is Gunnar Hansen hurt?
He had an injury during the week
Was available but not 100%
He should be back Monday and available next week

Was Griffin available?
Yes, he was in at the end
They’ll look for more from him too

The slow tempo with them behind, what was that about?
They’d absorbed a flurry of punches and they needed to slow the game down
They knew they had to speed it up at some point, but, they had to settle the game down first and stay within their identity

Would he consider taking over defensive play calling?
No, that’s not where they are heading
He can take more of a hand in what they’re doing

On short-yardage situations and performing well defensively, but giving up big plays, what’s that about?
The third-and-long TD started it when they missed a coverage and allowed a receiver to run out
Post at the end of the first half should have been doubled
Ole Miss made good adjustments
A lot was due to missed tackles
Things just got away from them
They faltered in offense in the third quarter and didn’t get stops
They can’t play that way and come out unscathed

Today’s first half was encouraging. We are going to have more of those because teams will overlook us. Ole Miss appeared to be sleep walking early and we built a decent lead.

Unfortunately, we need to capitalize on our opponents early sleep walking more than a 10 point lead. We need to be SUPER aggressive and try to get a 17-24 point lead when our opponents don’t take us seriously.

I hope CCL learns from this and get more aggressive early.

Which is hurting VU more? Horrible defensive coaching, no pass rush or lack or D1 talent?

For anyone who actually reads it, here's to you!

I may have an error or two with a data point but here goes ( 2nd note will contain the Comments/Observations):

Those of you defending the defensive effort today go ahead and answer. It’s pretty obvious you are getting paid.

SC just scored on UK again at UK. What does that mean when we play them?

SC 24 UK 7 thus far

in Lexington. Levis out with foot injury

Up 24-7 late in 4th quarter.

What a transformation of Kansas. I’ve heard people saying that he has done it via the transport portal but then I’ve heard other saying he has no transfers starting. If he’s doing what he’s doing with their original players, damn we missed out.

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Mentioned this would happen yesterday on the board, Vandy loses their second commitment in the last two days