VTTW Board Index

I asked them if it was just me, or if this team, in spite of the loss, just looked much more competitive in the second half, particularly compared to Dooley's teams.  They emphatically agreed, and the lady stated it would have been 70-10 with Dooley.

It was an ass whooping, but we had chances to get back in it even in the 4th quarter. I feel much better going from this point forward than at any point since at least 2009 (and only then after the uga game).

We are better.  Our offense has taken four major hits the first three games (Gilliam, Pearson, Wolf and Smith).  Who knows how the offense might have plaed with Wolf and Pearson available.  Better but to what extent?

We still need more bodies, mostly (on offense) on the line.  On D, more DTs, some depth at DE and a couple more DBs.

I was referring more to the attitude the team showed.  A Dooley team would have folded like a cheap card table about 30 seconds into the 1st half.

I just like the "look and feel" of this team.  They are focused and organized, though still a bit thin and very young.  I think some good things might happen later this season.

There were big plays by the OU offense but our D was able to catch and tackle them before they scored.  Last couple years those plays are TD's and we are getting blown out.  Our defensive speed is finally getting back to where it needs to be.  I thought it might be there in the first two games but the opponents were not SEC caliber like OU.

Sutton's speed allowed him to stop two scores, though on the 2nd the gain would have been much shorter if McNeil had taken a better angle (pursuit angles have been much better this year, this was an anomaly)

Tackling is also much improved over the past few years.

The DL may be thin but those we have are playing at a very high level.  Barnett and Vereen at the ends are playing very well.  The DTs are playing solid.  One thing I noted was we were getting consistent pressure on their QB, both from the ends and tackles.  At least three incomplete passes in the 2nd half were directly due to pressure, whether the commentators acknowledged it or not.

The D Staff is not afraid to try different looks.  Saturday night we played at least the following:  4-3-4, 4-2-5, 3-3-5, 3-4-4 (yes, we played a 3-4 defense with Maggit and Barnett as the OL and AJ/R-M as the inside backers - surprised we didn't use Weatherd as one of the OLBs in that alignment)

Yeah I saw Sutton run down at least 3 plays from the other side of field.  He's a good 'un!

No breakaway TDs was a huge encouragement. Speed is helpful.