Likes
Offense: running the ball the way this team should run the ball
Defense: our secondary are headhunters. Love the hits. Also, D-line, you did what you were supposed to do. And that makes me happy.

Dislikes
Offense: QB decision-making. Too many times I'm wondering why that throw was made.
Defense: I realize we were up 20, but that 4th qtr was too nervewracking. Too much blitzing and not enough tackling. I want to know that the D can close out a game and what I saw tonight didn't convince me of that.

I liked the fact that Tettleton was able to find many weapons to throw to, and he ran well too. Bates looked good when he was in, and he'll be one more complication for Bobcat opponents to defend. It looks like we have very good depth at running back too. At one point the offense looked like they could score at will. I do hope the Bobcats learn to close out games this year. Letting a team like NMSU or Gardner-Webb hang around in the fourth quarter is dangerous. There is definitely room for improvement, but this was a long road trip against a much improved team, and OHIO won. I think this team will continue to grow as the season progresses. If injuries do not derail us, I think this could be a great year. GO BOBCATS! 

Likes...For our "D", which is a rebuilt front 4, to hold any team to 6 yards rushing is a great accomplishment.
Dislikes...For our "D" to allow 362 yards passing is not acceptable.

Concerns moving forward...Any opponent looking at this game film will see our weakness. We must work on this part of our game. In addition, as Solich said, we need to learn how to put games away. Game 1 showed that our "D" let up in the 4th quarter, the final score should have been 44-10.

Positives....Like someone else mentioned, and was born out last year, Solich teams improve as the season progresses.





GO BOBCATS

New Mexico State had some solid playmakers but this game felt to me like one played against a lower tier MAC team like Akron from the start. The Cats brought their B game with some mistakes yet dominated offensively, defensively, and on special teams. The initial game plan to run the ball was good. There was a clear enough talent differential on the field that the outcome of the game was never in doubt. I would give Tettleton a B for the game as he showed he had a firm understanding of the offense and made Phil Bates look very much like a backup. At RB Blankenship in the open field looks fast and the run blocking looks improved. The play calling using Jordan Thompson at TE to spread the field was better than what I've watched. The Cats have to cut down on the penalties and mistakes. They are good enough to get away with them against Gardner Webb or lower tier MAC competition but they've got to be on 4 cylinders for 4 quarters against Temple and Miami. The fate of the season (whether we win the division or make a bowl) is going to rest on how we fare in the Temple and Miami games. As Temple proved last year, 8-4 and a third place finish in the MAC East won't get you a bowl invite.

  Likes :  Kicking Game, Rushing Attack, Defensive Line played pretty well had 4 sacks i believe.



Dislikes : Nothin against Tyler, he played well, but made a few dumb decisions, thowing into double coverage for his pick and trying to force a couple more, but he will get better as the year progresses. Defense eased up a bit after we got a big lead, can't be doing that.

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Our running back taking a big pop! from their defense, three yards deep in our backfield at their 5-yard line, throwing that defender aside and plowing forward three and a half more yards for a net gain of a half a yard instead of a loss of three.  Power!

LOVE: Tettelton looked comfy in the pocket and threw strikes. Freakin' love Hershey. Noah Keller.

LIKE: Pass blocking, Tettleton hit 11 guys, must have been looking around.

DISLIKE: Secondary. Burnt on nearly every play action, burnt bad three times. QB decision making. Tettelton stepped up, threw strikes, but into double coverage.

LIKES: line play (offensive and defensive), signs of life in the running game, improvement of Tettleton after rough start

DISLIKES: kick coverage, lack of killer instinct in the 4th quarter, pass coverage

All in all, probably our most impressive "first game" that I can remember. We traditionally have not impressed in game 1 under Solich, even against FCS opponents. I came away somewhat impressed/excited last night.

Really?  Did you watch the game?  Did you see NMSU's first TD?  Moore was badly burned.

Maybe because we didn't want to pour it on or didn't want to show too much to future opponents, but otherwise, no:  We got to the line of scrimmage quickly but didn't get plays off quickly.  One delay of game and almost another before we called a time out ot avoid it.  Bad.  I know that plunging forth recklessly is not a good idea but there was little quick strike in our offense.

Likes: Beau Blankenship. Did he get hurt or quit the team at some point in the third quarter? I thought we would see at least another series out of him.
Huynh and Jones. Penetration disrupts offenses. The Jones injury looked like a stinger in my unprofessional opinion but we will see. No reason for him to push it this week against G-W. Hopefully it is minor. Special Player.
Nic Barber. Good for that kid to finally get on the field and get after the passer. Hopefully a sign of things to come.
Linebacker Play- Minus the injury to Keller, Wosely  and Lewis got after it. Keller another guy, no need to go this week. Rest and prepare for the Herd and Scarlet Knights.
O-Line--Keep TT clean and establish the run. Love the depth. I kept having to look and see who was out on the field because the play didn't drop off with the 2's.

Dislikes:Kick return for TD. Coverage teams have always been a strength. Shocked by that as I am sure the staff was. You have two crucial games coming up and must get the kinks worked out.
3rd Downs: Too many converted for my liking. It seemed like defensively though they were really experimenting with a lot of young players. The secondary has to improve.

I like our dislikes (hear me out).

When we're talking about this team, it seems like the problems we have are all technique and decision making.  Those things are absolutely correctable, and as brought up many times before, Franks teams always improve on the season.  If our dislikes were about size, speed, strength; you can't improve those in the course of a season.

If the mental stuff is corrected, we will be a very good football team.