I've read several takes on the game here at BA where some are disappointed with certain aspects of our performance Saturday. The defensive backfield played poorly in the 4'th quarter, the hurry up wasn't fast enough, Tyler forced some passes, etc...

While everyone is generally positive I think that it's important to remember that a win is a win and we just traveled a very long distance and beat another (albeit terrible) FBS team in their stadium on opening day, easily.

I fully expect this team to get better every year for the next few years and I think most on this board would agree with me. That being said, I would hate for us to become a bunch of A&M or Florida-ish fans that aren't satisfied unless they beat the living crap out of their lesser opponents.

I think with a new offense and a new quarterback, we exceeded expectations.

I was getting ready to write basically the same exact post.

We've come a long way in the last few years....  

in 2008 we would have lost this game (We did... Wyoming was terrible that year, and we found a way to lose...)

In 2009 we may have won, but we would have done everything we could to lose (North Texas was awful... we had no business going into OT)

In 2010 we didn't really have any long road trips early in the season..

In 2011 we finally found a way to get over the hump in these games and put them away.... 

I've read a bunch about people being concerned that we "let them hang around"... we didn't let them hang around at all... 44-10 is not letting anyone hang around... we got lots of separation, that's why the two late TDs didn't really matter...  in years past, we would have only been up by 1 score and probably would have lost the game...

I'm THRILLED with the way we played...  

Also... for those questioning Tyler's decision making... I guess we were just watching different games....  I loved his play... he threw a pick.. that's going to happen, he's not Tom Brady... BUT.. he corrected his mistakes and quickly took over...  I liked Boo and Theo, but let's be honest... they weren't exactly the best decision makers out there.... I think we've improved remarkably in the QB department this year... We have plenty of playmakers on the Offense.. he just needs to manage it... and I couldn't be happier with his play...

I'm also not worried about the D giving up the las two TDs... they just travelled across the country,=.. had a sizeable lead and probably slacked off a little late in the game... I wish they hadn't, but I understand... I highly doubt we'll see that in Conference or against Marshall/Rutgers...

All in all.. I couldn't be happier with game 1, and can't wait for game 2!

Of course some would say out safeties sucked.

Let's look at these givens:

(1) The  3 safeties that played most of the game (Hughes-Carpenter-Moore) consist of 2 who have just about zero experience and one who missed last year.

(2) Tettleton is one of the few D1 QB's in college this year with about zero experience.

(3)  Long trip.....high altitude.

(4) NMSU has some athletes....guys with some speed and a QB who can throw.

(5)  Former Can't State Coach Martin knew what to expect.

(6) Our best defensive player (Keller) sits for much of the game.


I'll stop there...but you get the picture.

Great title for a thread.

Can't read too much into this performance. They took care of business, and everything's still on track. In other words, nice job. If you can duplicate that yards-per-carry and d-line pressure against Marshall/MAC level competition, we're in business. Against Rutgers? Well, let's wait and see what happens.

As Doc Bobcat mentioned, the secondary is getting its sea legs and adjustments are expected.

Minor issues aside, it's been great to see the special teams become a strength for this team. It was right before Michael Braunstein came to town, I believe, that the Cats were only able to capitalize on (some) field goals from within the 20-yard line.

The WATH sports gabbers (don't think too many on this board probably tune in to this locally-broadcast AM radio show, but oh well) were definitely slipping down the slope/drinking the Kool-Aid tonight. I'm all for optimism about this year, but what was irksome was that they acted like Ohio had arrived now that the Aggies had been dispatched and that the Wilderness Campaign in this program lasted forever between the Cleve Bryant era and Solich's arrival. As far as they were aware, the good 1990s Grobe teams that could truly hang with Kansas State in Manhattan would have no chance of winning in Las Cruces. It was ridiculous, but whatever.

+3

Couldn't be happier with the team's performance with the exception of that kick return.  Half this board was worried about it being a squeaker.  Many were concerned about the D Line...I don't care who you're playing...When you hold an FBS team to 6 yards rushing the first game after graduating your entire starting line, you've accomplished something.  This team is the first major indication of Coach Solich's long term impact on Ohio's program!

The only thing that concerns me is that the staff may be giving Noah a little too much leeway.  He was already limping a little bit before he came out.  We all know he'll do anything to be in there but I would think even he would admit he'd much rather be available for The Terd, Rutgers and our conference schedule.  Here's hoping he rests against GW...

Outstanding effort and execution Bobcats!

One game at a time... 

This program in 2005 had nothing offensively and needed a Hail Mary type play by Dion Byrum to win against Pittsburgh. In 2006 the defense played phenomenal and it was just enough to when the division. I sensed a real shift in the program from a talent perspective in 2007, The team just played differently. There was actually a legit passing offense for the first time and this marked the beginning of a continuous stream of quality receivers to show up in the program. Receivers who would catch the ball whether open or in traffic. Ohio missed a division title by only 1 game in 2007. In 2008 the Bobcats had a record of 4-8 with on a tough MAC schedule. The cats lost 4 games by less than 4 points including only by 3 at home against Central Michigan. The team wasn't as bad as the record indicated. 2009 was year 5 of the Solich rebuilding plan and not only did the team display talent on the offensive side of the ball it starting winning with depth. Contending in the MAC is no longer an issue. Solich is trying this year to put the finishing touches on a MAC Championship team. He knows he has more talent than most of the MAC programs.

Agree that we're building.  Can't you see the depth?

In the same way, it was pretty clear that NMSU was pretty weak.  The previews said their d-line was weak (injuries or inexperience).  They had no  chance.  I'm serious that I tried to get $400 down on the "Cats, giving the seven points.  That was one of the easiest lines ever.  For a 'small' program like ours, the Vegas oddsmakers just don't know for the first few games.

Given  my certainty that we'd win, I wanted to see how dominant we'd be, how our depth would play.  We gave up too many big plays.

Must say that except for their long run before their first td, our run defense was very good.  Can't hardly remember NMSU trying a run after mid-Q3.  Knowing that they were passing on about every down, we gave them too many open receivers.  Their pass defense seemed more often more locked on than ours did--though I'm sure we played our 2nd and 3rd lines a lot.

Just for reference, NMSU is a 20-point dog at Minnesota.  UM looks decent this year hanging within two of a good but not elite USC squad last week.  So, that's a slight vote in favor of NMSU being halfway okay.

Personally, I think NMSU has a fairly legit passing game, but I'm not sure about their D.  I know when I saw Bates, Harden, Brazill, and (especially) Travis Carrie running with the ball they looked like they had a whole different level of speed vs. any of NMSU's guys.