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Offensive coaches (B) - Play calling is brilliant at times and doesn’t make sense at other times. Overall, we have a much more dynamic and fun to watch offense but at times we get way too cute when we don’t have to. Running back and OL coaches have done a good job.
Defensive coaches (C-) - I’m not a fan of our defensive scheme but I expect us to improve in this area as we learn to play together better with so many new faces. Kudos to the coaches for making the necessary adjustments to contain Laube.
Offense
Quarterbacks (B) - O’Connor continues to improve and I fully expect his rating to improve with more experience.
Running Backs (A) - Yarns has been outstanding. Cumby has looked good as well.
Wide Receivers (B+) - We have speed and talent at WR. YAC is very good. I’d like to see us get a little more separation on deep passes.
Tight Ends (B) - Brose has excellent hands and has been finding open holes in the defense.
Offensive Line Pass Protection (C-) - We rank 15th (dead last) in giving up sacks. We need to do better picking up blitzes. Since we pass a lot, we are going to give up more sacks. Not all of the sacks are on the OL though.
Offensive Line Run Blocking (B+) - Our run blocking has improved considerably this year.
Defense
Defensive Line (C) - We still have difficulty sacking the QB. We rank 10th out of 15. Part of this is due to our scheme.
Linebackers (C) - Jackson Taylor has played well.
Corner Backs (C+) - Herring has played solidly.
Safeties (C) -Seay will be a good one. He’s a solid tackler. Communication on the backend will get better. We are sometimes late in rotating our coverages. UNH receivers and TEs were open way too often.
Special Teams
Field Goal Team (D) - We rank 15th (dead last) in field goals made (only 1 in 4 attempts) but I expect us to get better in this area. Small sample size.
Punt Team (D) - Punt coverage team has been pretty good. Punt protection still has issues. We rank 15th (dead last) in net yards per punt and 12th in average yards per punt. This has been disappointing so far but I fully expect us to get better in this area.
Kickoff Team (C) - Before the Laube kickoff return, we had covered kickoff returns pretty well; however, I’m disappointed we haven’t had as many touchbacks as I had hoped.
Last edited by Jaxhen1 on Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
With respect to the lower grades you guys are giving UD's Defense, stud RB Dylan Laube (who until UD was the star of the UNH Offense) was held to a rushing net of 8 yds on 8 carries (incl. net 6 yards loss) with a long of 4 yds. Laube (until UD also a star receiver) had 7 receptions for 24 yards with a long of 9 yards. The only time really Laube hurt UD (and it was a big one) was on the KO return for a TD against UD''s poor Special Teams. It seemed that the UD plan on Defense was to key on Laube and UNH surprised by using Laube as more of a decoy and going with the passing game. I believe that UD's Defense deserves higher grades than what you guys are giving them.
By the way, none of UD's FB coaches are listed as responsible for Special Teams. When everyone is responsible no one is responsible. Every aspect of Special Teams needs to be cleaned-up before UD's next game or it will bite UD in the azz at some critical moments this season.
BlueHenBill wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:01 pm
With respect to the lower grades you guys are giving UD's Defense, stud RB Dylan Laube (who until UD was the star of the UNH Offense) was held to a rushing net of 8 yds on 8 carries (incl. 6 yards loss) with a long of 4 yds. Laube (until UD also a star receiver) had 7 receptions for 24 yards with a long of 9 yards. The only time really Laube hurt UD (and it was a big one) was on the KO return for a TD against UD''s poor Special Teams. S It seemed that the UD plan on Defense was to key on Laube and UNH surprised by using Laube as more of a decoy and going with the passing game. I believe that UD's Defense deserves higher grades than what you guys are giving them.
By the way, none of UD's FB coaches are listed as responsible for Special Teams. When everyone is responsible no one is responsible. Every aspect of Special Teams needs to be cleaned-up before UD's next game or it will bite UD in the azz at some critical moments this season.
Not true Bill. Art Link is the special teams coordinator.
hensfan40yrs wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:05 pm
i think Oconnor has potential to be in the elite UD QBs category if he keeps improving
Elite as in Flacco, Devlin, Hall, Bruner, Gannon, Nagy, Komlo
Or Very Good as Henderson, Vergantino, Hamlett
Or Good As in Sonny Ricco, Trent Hurley
I'd say good to very good. Not elite for O'Conner. Does not have the physical capabilities of the guys in the elite level. Arm Strength and Speed are not elite but good enough to be effecient. Hope he proves me wrong but with all the weapons on offense he is good enough to hold his own in the CAA.
BlueHenBill wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:01 pm
With respect to the lower grades you guys are giving UD's Defense, stud RB Dylan Laube (who until UD was the star of the UNH Offense) was held to a rushing net of 8 yds on 8 carries (incl. net 6 yards loss) with a long of 4 yds. Laube (until UD also a star receiver) had 7 receptions for 24 yards with a long of 9 yards. The only time really Laube hurt UD (and it was a big one) was on the KO return for a TD against UD''s poor Special Teams. It seemed that the UD plan on Defense was to key on Laube and UNH surprised by using Laube as more of a decoy and going with the passing game. I believe that UD's Defense deserves higher grades than what you guys are giving them.
By the way, none of UD's FB coaches are listed as responsible for Special Teams. When everyone is responsible no one is responsible. Every aspect of Special Teams needs to be cleaned-up before UD's next game or it will bite UD in the azz at some critical moments this season.
With the wind at your back, that kick should have had tremendous hang time or deep into the back of the end zone. It had neither. Hence, the 100 yard TD return.
BlueHenBill wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:01 pm
With respect to the lower grades you guys are giving UD's Defense, stud RB Dylan Laube (who until UD was the star of the UNH Offense) was held to a rushing net of 8 yds on 8 carries (incl. 6 yards loss) with a long of 4 yds. Laube (until UD also a star receiver) had 7 receptions for 24 yards with a long of 9 yards. The only time really Laube hurt UD (and it was a big one) was on the KO return for a TD against UD''s poor Special Teams. S It seemed that the UD plan on Defense was to key on Laube and UNH surprised by using Laube as more of a decoy and going with the passing game. I believe that UD's Defense deserves higher grades than what you guys are giving them.
By the way, none of UD's FB coaches are listed as responsible for Special Teams. When everyone is responsible no one is responsible. Every aspect of Special Teams needs to be cleaned-up before UD's next game or it will bite UD in the azz at some critical moments this season.
Not true Bill. Art Link is the special teams coordinator.
My mistake. I just saw the responsibility for the Safeties and missed Link's responsibility for Special Teams. Based on the performance of the Special Teams so far, I would say that when it comes to their play Art is the "missing" Link. The Safeties played poorly against the UNH TEs over the middle. IMO Mr. Link is so far doing a poor job in preparing both units.
BlueHenBill wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:01 pm
With respect to the lower grades you guys are giving UD's Defense, stud RB Dylan Laube (who until UD was the star of the UNH Offense) was held to a rushing net of 8 yds on 8 carries (incl. net 6 yards loss) with a long of 4 yds. Laube (until UD also a star receiver) had 7 receptions for 24 yards with a long of 9 yards. The only time really Laube hurt UD (and it was a big one) was on the KO return for a TD against UD''s poor Special Teams. It seemed that the UD plan on Defense was to key on Laube and UNH surprised by using Laube as more of a decoy and going with the passing game. I believe that UD's Defense deserves higher grades than what you guys are giving them.
By the way, none of UD's FB coaches are listed as responsible for Special Teams. When everyone is responsible no one is responsible. Every aspect of Special Teams needs to be cleaned-up before UD's next game or it will bite UD in the azz at some critical moments this season.
With the wind at your back, that kick should have had tremendous hang time or deep into the back of the end zone. It had neither. Hence, the 100 yard TD return.
That might stick if things don’t improve. Kudos, BHB!
Tubby: 3 national titles, one won on the field, all D2
Keeler: 3 national titles, all won on the field, one as a player, two as a coach, 1 D2, 2 FCS
Carty: 2 on-field national titles, one as a player, one as an OC, both FCS
The break is probably coming at a good time. Being able to savor an emotional victory for a little longer sure beats having to endure the frustration of a potentially devastating loss for two weeks. It also gives us an opportunity after four weeks of play to evaluate our weaknesses and clean up some things. Our entire special teams play needs to be addressed. We currently are:
15th/15 in field goals made (25 percent)
15th/15 in net yards per punt
12th/15 in average yards per punt
15th/15 in punt return average
11th/15 in kickoff return average
11th/15 in kickoff coverage
These rankings are puzzling considering we have a punter and field goal kicker who received pre-season accolades based on proven track records, and have the Big 12 special teams player of the year as a freshman as a kick returner. We also continue to have punt blocking issues as we’ve had in recent years. Our punt snaps were shaky against UNH although I’m sure the weather played a big factor there. Kost did a great job fielding a low snap and then the high snap at the end of the game which could have been a disaster if it had gone over his head. I think we’ve also had a roughing the punter penalty this year. Hopefully, these issues can be cleaned up over the break.
What grades would you give the various team position groups and coaching staff through the first four games?
My mistake. I just saw the responsibility for the Safeties and missed Link's responsibility for Special Teams. Based on the performance of the Special Teams so far, I would say that when it comes to their play Art is the "missing" Link. The Safeties played poorly against the UNH TEs over the middle. IMO Mr. Link is so far doing a poor job in preparing both units.
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