Back from Houston, and thanks to last night's debacle, breakfast this morning with the UH grads on the wife's side of the family was extra painful. A few thoughts
- 100% honest when I say I was not at all shocked by what happened last night. With the QB situation, offensive inconsistency, and turnover issues, a blowout like last night was just a matter of time. Didn't think it would happen until this upcoming Saturday in Gainsville. But UH is a very good team too, and they took full advantage.
- 100% honest as well when I say I was more put off by VU's performance in 2012 at UGA and 2013 against Mizzou (last year is its own category). At least the defense showed up for most of the game last night and performed admirably against a well-coached, high-executing offense. Take from that what you will.
- Maligned by more than a few, I do think Kevin Lightner has done a pretty good job keeping what is now a walking MASH unit of an OL playing hard, and more importantly, improving week to week especially in the run game. Pass pro needs some work, but in a lot of cases, they don't have a chance because the defense is bringing one man more than they can block.
- We have some talent and experience issues on offense, and that's been evident all season. But last night is the first game where it seemed most of the issues were directly attributable to game planning and play calling. A LOT of 4-wide looks in the first half, way more than VU has ran all season. Maybe that's where Shurmur is comfortable? But the concepts called constantly were not really easy, spread offense concepts...instead, they often looked like (dare I say it) Dorrell-esque concepts, with lip service to a TE stick/hitch as the "easy" throw (and which UH was sitting on all night). Just a very bizarre plan given that VU was starting a true freshman in his second start on the road. Why not protect him more with the run game, and why abandon the lead zone, weakside iso, and split back stuff that worked the past few games? And if throwing, why force him to make a read on intermediate-to-long concepts, when he's likely going to panic and try to force it to the TE? I could go on and on. And to be fair, none of us are there day to day and know these guys and what they can do. But from the observer's standpoint, it was a strangely and ill-planned and called game, especially the first half.
- The decision to pull KS's redshirt is looking very questionable (and yeah, I know the alternative). UH was a not a good defense to throw him in against...not because they are fundamentally great, but because they show stuff that is hard to process if the QB doesn't have many game speed reps
- Really like UH's offensive philosophy (except for some of the stuff the OL coach seems to be teaching...hope big AB gets well soon) It's not complicated but they play to their strengths, execute crisply, and there is a rhythm and sense of purpose to everything they do on offense (something that is really missing from VU's, although turnovers tend to derail such things).
- Last night didn't change my position on Mason (see my first thought). But I saw some things last night that's evident of a team on the tipping point. Injuries and the reality of the QB situation are going to make it hard to win any remaining game, although UK is very winnable and if VU can get UT into an ugly game they have a shot. But I don't know if the offense is salvageable right now. At this point, if Mason can keep the defense engaged and playing at a high level, maybe they just take their chances trying to turn every game into a 10-9 slugfest. I don't envy Ludwig right now.
- 100% honest when I say I was not at all shocked by what happened last night. With the QB situation, offensive inconsistency, and turnover issues, a blowout like last night was just a matter of time. Didn't think it would happen until this upcoming Saturday in Gainsville. But UH is a very good team too, and they took full advantage.
- 100% honest as well when I say I was more put off by VU's performance in 2012 at UGA and 2013 against Mizzou (last year is its own category). At least the defense showed up for most of the game last night and performed admirably against a well-coached, high-executing offense. Take from that what you will.
- Maligned by more than a few, I do think Kevin Lightner has done a pretty good job keeping what is now a walking MASH unit of an OL playing hard, and more importantly, improving week to week especially in the run game. Pass pro needs some work, but in a lot of cases, they don't have a chance because the defense is bringing one man more than they can block.
- We have some talent and experience issues on offense, and that's been evident all season. But last night is the first game where it seemed most of the issues were directly attributable to game planning and play calling. A LOT of 4-wide looks in the first half, way more than VU has ran all season. Maybe that's where Shurmur is comfortable? But the concepts called constantly were not really easy, spread offense concepts...instead, they often looked like (dare I say it) Dorrell-esque concepts, with lip service to a TE stick/hitch as the "easy" throw (and which UH was sitting on all night). Just a very bizarre plan given that VU was starting a true freshman in his second start on the road. Why not protect him more with the run game, and why abandon the lead zone, weakside iso, and split back stuff that worked the past few games? And if throwing, why force him to make a read on intermediate-to-long concepts, when he's likely going to panic and try to force it to the TE? I could go on and on. And to be fair, none of us are there day to day and know these guys and what they can do. But from the observer's standpoint, it was a strangely and ill-planned and called game, especially the first half.
- The decision to pull KS's redshirt is looking very questionable (and yeah, I know the alternative). UH was a not a good defense to throw him in against...not because they are fundamentally great, but because they show stuff that is hard to process if the QB doesn't have many game speed reps
- Really like UH's offensive philosophy (except for some of the stuff the OL coach seems to be teaching...hope big AB gets well soon) It's not complicated but they play to their strengths, execute crisply, and there is a rhythm and sense of purpose to everything they do on offense (something that is really missing from VU's, although turnovers tend to derail such things).
- Last night didn't change my position on Mason (see my first thought). But I saw some things last night that's evident of a team on the tipping point. Injuries and the reality of the QB situation are going to make it hard to win any remaining game, although UK is very winnable and if VU can get UT into an ugly game they have a shot. But I don't know if the offense is salvageable right now. At this point, if Mason can keep the defense engaged and playing at a high level, maybe they just take their chances trying to turn every game into a 10-9 slugfest. I don't envy Ludwig right now.
