- Can we create the mismatches on the line to get our running game going? I was worried about the long plays sandwiching extremely pedestrian runs. We saw that in spades Saturday. Yes, Marshall and Gurley combined for nearly 295 yards, but as I worried about, taking out the three long runs, we only averaged 2.85 yards per carry on the other 36 runs. We can attribute some of that to the extremely conservative play calling at points in the game. Some is attributable to Tennessee selling out to stop the run at times. Either way, we blocked sufficiently well enough to get our guys free on those runs. We should be able, either through scheme or effort, to average more ypc taking out the long runs.
- Wicked TE play? Extremely wicked. By my count, Lynch and Rome caught all the passes thrown at them and both looked dominant as blockers, especially on the three long runs.
- Can we get the pressure on Bray to get him out of his comfort zone? Hell, we didn't try until late in the 4th quarter. I have as of yet to re-watch the game (not sure if I will until mid-week), so I might have a bit of in-the-presence jaundiced view working, but I spent the whole game waiting for a kitchen sink, sell the house blitz. It never really came. Yes, the game was won due to the pressure we got on Bray late in the game, but I don't think it comes to that if we do it earlier in the game.
Overall, you'll take a win. The issues in number 1, with the low ypc outside of long runs, are mostly at the feet of Mike Bobo. The issues with number 3 will be remedied as Grantham feels more comfortable with the pass coverage ability of his new starters.
Now, I'll get to the rushing defense later, but damn.
TD
