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Millertime
Username: Millertime
Registered: 12-2008
Posted From: 65.183.198.118
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 08:32 am: | |
I'm tired of people saying Joe Halahuni dropped that conversion pass in the endzone, Cort Dennison made a great break on the ball hitting the receiver and knocking the ball away as it arrived.
I didn't think the Dawgs played a great game, but they played well enough to win. Making plays when they had to. Now the same thing that's been going on this season comes back for another week. How to carry momentum and to find a way to get on top of a team and stay there?
Arizona is a tough team, but they are far from being invincible and I think the Dawgs have a great shot at making a statement down in the desert. |
Djohnson
Username: Djohnson
Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 24.17.13.140
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 08:58 am: | |
You have to be happy with the defense on Saturday. To hold OSU to 21 in regulation, to get three takeaways, that's as good a performance as we could have asked for.
This is at least the third game this season where the offense has put way too much pressure on the defense. When the defense gets a pick, the offense has to do better than a three-and-out. In fact, the offense *always* has to do better than a three-and-out.
It was, however, good to see guys like Locker and Kearse raise their game up to another level in overtime. That's a sign of mature, high-caliber players. Chris Polk does that every time he touches the ball. He's as good as any back in the Pac-10. His yard-per-carry is probably a little lower than some others, but his yard-after-contact is incredible, and the fraction of his carries for zero or less is small. He's a gem.
Ha'ouli Jamora. |
Sundodger
Username: Sundodger
Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 76.28.216.239
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 09:53 am: | |
Jamora. Stud.
Colin Porter. Stud.
Sean Parker, Eric Kohler, Jesse Callier, Potoa'e...The freshman class is as advertised. For as many of those guys that are playing, and at a high level, there are just as many that are being afforded a redshirt, and WILL contribute next year.
How about the pistol look? Great wrinkle for this game.
I'm sure everybody can point out a play or two that Christine got blown up by one of the strongest guys in college football, but this was by far his best game of the year.
James Johnson is really struggling right now. Basically, the Dawgs have played the last two weeks without three of their top receivers from last year. Goodwin has helped to fill some of that void, but Johnson last year is better than Goodwin this year. The Dawgs need him healthy, and not pressing so hard. Two false starts from a receiver is not good.
This is the week that Locker needs to break the good game, bad (mediocre) game cycle. Arizona probably has the best defensive end tandem in the conference. Getting him to the edge isn't going to be easy. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of the pistol this week.
The Dawgs are 2-1 in the conference, which is about as good as you could've expected at this point. The wins and losses might not have come where you would've guessed, but you have to be relatively pleased with how their positioned right now. |
Djohnson
Username: Djohnson
Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 24.17.13.140
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 02:40 pm: | |
It's funny about the receivers. We all went into the season thinking that would be a strength, but it really hasn't been. Johnson's been out, Aquilar's been out, Kearse has been good but not as good as we'd hoped (with flashes of greatness, I agree).
The team is incrementally better than last year, but not leaps and bounds. And there's reason to be worried about next year, too (Locker, Foster, others leave, depth is still scarce). Why feel good? For the reason Sundodger notes: the best players are mostly young. Recruiting has taken a major step forward, and recruiting is a big chunk of things. |
Millertime
Username: Millertime
Registered: 12-2008
Posted From: 65.183.198.118
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 02:56 pm: | |
The team's attitude, pending what happens the rest of the season, could be a huge change too. You get guys around who don't accept losing. Atmosphere and expectation can be another big chunk. |
Djohnson
Username: Djohnson
Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 24.17.13.140
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 08:23 pm: | |
Yes, I fully agree, Millertime. The team plays hard much more consistently than it used to. They don't turn the ball over, they don't commit penalties, they don't kill themselves with lots of dumb mistakes. I didn't mean to imply things aren't better right now -- they are! |
Millertime
Username: Millertime
Registered: 12-2008
Posted From: 65.183.198.118
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 09:03 am: | |
Those things you listed DJ, are very important in building a foundation and things the Dawgs have improved greatly. As fans, we need to recognize the subtle changes for the better and realize that wins just don't happen out of thin air. Like Sark said after the game, "Winning isn't easy."
I feel pretty good about the game down in the desert, especially with a backup QB for the Cats. Time for the Dawgs to carry the momentum from beating the Beavs! |
Sundodger
Username: Sundodger
Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 76.28.216.239
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 01:26 pm: | |
Building the foundation for winning is the hardest part, and takes the longest. If that's what we're seeing right now, and I believe it is, the rate of progress *should* start to increase. With or without Locker. |
Djohnson
Username: Djohnson
Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 24.17.13.140
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 12:31 pm: | |
The offense will probably be better next year than this year - given who else we have back. But it's hard not to think losing Locker is a big deal, especially given how untested his replacement will be (whoever it is).
Same story to a lesser extent on the defense, I suppose: Foster and Williams are two major contributors, but the benefit of guys like Jamora, Shirley, and Parker having another year of experience probably makes up for it. |
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