Place an * by each of these comments as I realize we were playing the #2 team in the country who has national title aspirations. There's a reason we got paid $850,000 to come to town and that we were 30 pt dogs.
Secondly, I don't have the stat sheet next to me, just commenting on what I recall.
That was as big a mismatch as any sporting event I can ever remember witnessing. This was just awful today. A total no contest. If you're going to get thrown in the ring with Tyson for $850,000 to take a fall, at least throw a few round-houses and see if you can get lucky. We seemingly ran up the middle 90% of the time and didn't even give ourselves a chance to get lucky.
About midnight last night I watched Russ' and Rob's Keys to the Game. They included obvious things like: (1) keep defense off the field for long stretches; (2) avoid the short field; (3) get lucky with a few big plays; (4) play mistake free. WE missed the memo as we appeared to mistaken these with the things to do wrong as quickly as possible.
If my memory serves me correctly:
(1) We throw a pick the first series of the game. SHORT FIELD/MISTAKES
(2) When did we get our first 1st Down and when/how often did we cross midfield? SHORT FIELD/DEFENSE ON FIELD
(3) We block a punt and turn it right back over GOT A BREAK, COULDN'T CAPITALIZE
(4) We return a kickoff for a TD early in game CHANCE FOR THAT BIG PLAY/EARLY CONFIDENCE/WOULD'VE BEEN HUGE!--Penalty brings it back
(5) We ran the most conservative offense ever HARD TO GET LUCKY ON A FEW BIG PLAYS WHEN YOURE RUNNING UP THE MIDDLE EVERY TIME. YOU GOT NOTHING TO LOSE, AT LEAST TRY. I remember a few times saying that if I was still playing Nintendo football and things were going like this, I press the "Hail Mary" play every time. At least try when you know you can't get more than 2 yard on a run play up the gut.
I looked up a couple of times and saw time of possession, yardage, 1st downs and it was more lopsided than the score indicated. We took their keys to the game and checked them off our list very quickly. Once again that may have been mostly due to the quality of oppenent who was imposing their will upon us, but I never felt we gave ourselves a shot with the constant mistakes and lack of offensive creativity or even attempting to throw a wrinkle or two into the game plan. This was a 1st Round TKO. Too bad college football doesn't have the 10 run rule or TKO's and we had to play this one out.
Last Edited: 9/19/2010 1:19:46 AM by Chicken George