A few concerns, but I'm very happy

[darth-horax]

I had to DVR the game and watched it after the fact.
However, I had NO IDEA who won before I actually watched it...VERY happy with the turnout!

However, a few things I"m hoping they work on:

1) SPECIAL TEAMS!!! Need I say more?
2) Defensive line...very little penetration into the backfield and not a lot of pressure on the qb.
3) RB depth. I was a little saddened with the overall performance of our RB crew. Not a lot to cheer for.
Some good plays, sure, but overall I'd give it a B-.

HOWEVER, our passing game looked superb, as did our defensive secondary.

GO BUFFS!

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

I had to DVR the game and watched it after the fact.
However, I had NO IDEA who won before I actually watched it...VERY happy with the turnout!

However, a few things I"m hoping they work on:

1) SPECIAL TEAMS!!! Need I say more?
2) Defensive line...very little penetration into the backfield and not a lot of pressure on the qb.
3) RB depth. I was a little saddened with the overall performance of our RB crew. Not a lot to cheer for.
Some good plays, sure, but overall I'd give it a B-.

HOWEVER, our passing game looked superb, as did our defensive secondary.

GO BUFFS!

1) While we do have some concerns on kick coverages, I think their return guy is also a baller. May have made our deficiencies just look that much worse. We will know more after UCA
2) From what I gathered listening to Coach Mac post game, it sounds like they limited pressure and blitzes in this game to try and eliminate CSU's run game. Again we will know more after UCA. I am hoping that the lack of pressure was a mix of a decent CSU O-Line and a reduced emphasis on rushing the passer on our part to stuff the run.
3) Powell got a little banged up, they decided to sit him rather than risk injury. CSU from 7 is actually pretty decent. Ran enough to keep them honest and it paid off on play action. Nit picking on this one.

Secondary and Passing were much improved. But I will wait to declare the turn around until after UCA. CSU DB's and WR's are a big question mark for them.

 

[Buffenuf]

1) While we do have some concerns on kick coverages, I think their return guy is also a baller. May have made our deficiencies just look that much worse. We will know more after UCA
2) From what I gathered listening to Coach Mac post game, it sounds like they limited pressure and blitzes in this game to try and eliminate CSU's run game. Again we will know more after UCA. I am hoping that the lack of pressure was a mix of a decent CSU O-Line and a reduced emphasis on rushing the passer on our part to stuff the run.
3) Powell got a little banged up, they decided to sit him rather than risk injury. CSU from 7 is actually pretty decent. Ran enough to keep them honest and it paid off on play action. Nit picking on this one.

Secondary and Passing were much improved. But I will wait to declare the turn around until after UCA. CSU DB's and WR's are a big question mark for them.

:yeahthat: Will add that I, too, think the special teams DEFENSE needs to and will be corrected, but as MM says..."those guys have scholarships too". Also had a couple of friends from the East Coast confirm my impressions on both returns: The returners in both situations, made stupid calls to go with their respective returns. The punt should have been fair-caught and the KO downed---that was bee-yoo-tee-ful directional kicking by Oliver.. If either of them would have been blown up, those kids would be doing "extra" sprints this week after practice. (I won't even mention the obvious block-in-the-back calls that were missed by that wunnerful MWC crew.)They got real lucky and as Joltin' Joe DiMaggio said, "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."

Overall, don't forget: the offensive ST's are responsible for the winning margin. If you're gonna slam Neinas for the bad, give him credit for the good!

As for turnaround: We already saw it happen! Not record-wise, that's an end-of-year tale, but in organization, coaching, enthusiasm and operations, that team is light years ahead of any we've seen in the last 10 years! Think this staff is gonna get "stoopid" over the next few weeks and stop doing what they are successfully doing in those areas? I don't think so! The outcome of games will take care of itself, but as for organization, competitiveness and spirit, they're back.

 

[buffaholic]

On the punt return for TD, Bell was coming in rather fast on the left side as the returner was about to catch it. He was pushed (clearly) in the back and overran the play. I am not sure he wouldn't have missed the PR guy anyway, as you need to break down a bit to make the tackle. Hard to tell.

My concern is the OL was manhandled up front a bit by a not-well-thought-of DL from CSU. Handler was going backward all game. Nembot was getting beat constantly. He mostly would get a piece of his guy but Wood was hurried a bunch of times. Seemed like the other guys held their own. Tony Jones missed an opportunity to take an inside zone read outside the right side for big yardage. Still not sure he has vision.

 

[BuffNut99]

I've watched the game four times now, which I haven't done for a while, probably since 2007. Here are my lingering observations:

• I saw less team-wide confusion than in any game since Barnett. No delay of game after a timeout, no fire drill just to get 11 guys on the field (we subbed alot, but it was smooth), no epidemic of blown assignments, etc.
• I saw many players, some of whom were written off for dead, playing way above their heads.
• Confidence and swagger not seen since mid 2005.
• More emotion on the bench, and guys into the game whether they have a chance to play or not (we saw this briefly @ Wazzu last year, but that was the equivalent of a Zippo being lit in a mine shaft).
• I saw a real QB playing for the Buffs, throwing to a mature star WR, both who understand that they have to be leaders and stars.
• I saw YAC! YAC I tell you! Spruce turning up the sideline a few times made me get out of my seat.
• For the longest time I have walked away from Buffs games, wringing my hands over at least one, oftentimes several, sophomoric coaching decisions which cost us the game. The only call I didn't like Sunday was not kicking the long FG in the 3rd, opting to delay game/punt instead. But that call paid off.
• In sum, we thoroughly outcoached our opponent for the first time since killing Brad Smith and Missouri in 2005.

Let's keep this train going.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

I've watched the game four times now, which I haven't done for a while, probably since 2007. Here are my lingering observations:

• I saw less team-wide confusion than in any game since Barnett. No delay of game after a timeout, no fire drill just to get 11 guys on the field (we subbed alot, but it was smooth), no epidemic of blown assignments, etc.
• I saw many players, some of whom were written off for dead, playing way above their heads.
• Confidence and swagger not seen since mid 2005.
• More emotion on the bench, and guys into the game whether they have a chance to play or not (we saw this briefly @ Wazzu last year, but that was the equivalent of a Zippo being lit in a mine shaft).
• I saw a real QB playing for the Buffs, throwing to a mature star WR, both who understand that they have to be leaders and stars.
• I saw YAC! YAC I tell you! Spruce turning up the sideline a few times made me get out of my seat.
• For the longest time I have walked away from Buffs games, wringing my hands over at least one, oftentimes several, sophomoric coaching decisions which cost us the game. The only call I didn't like Sunday was not kicking the long FG in the 3rd, opting to delay game/punt instead. But that call paid off.
• In sum, we thoroughly outcoached our opponent for the first time since killing Brad Smith and Missouri in 2005.

Let's keep this train going.

Where did you find a replay and how can I get my hands on it? CBSSN sucks for distribution.

 

[BuffUp]

agree with all above ^^^ and all these are fixable issues compared to the last couple of years. Way, way, way, better then what we have seen on the field and out of the team lately. but, need to work on a "true" pass rush - more pressure on qb's. Have to get that running game going more, need a 100 yard game back to step up. As you all know - the punt and kick coverage MUST improve. If that kid from csu can do what he did (he had a great game though) - imagine what some speed in the PAC12 will do??

 

[Buffenuf]

On the punt return for TD, Bell was coming in rather fast on the left side as the returner was about to catch it. He was pushed (clearly) in the back and overran the play. I am not sure he wouldn't have missed the PR guy anyway, as you need to break down a bit to make the tackle. Hard to tell.

My concern is the OL was manhandled up front a bit by a not-well-thought-of DL from CSU. Handler was going backward all game. Nembot was getting beat constantly. He mostly would get a piece of his guy but Wood was hurried a bunch of times. Seemed like the other guys held their own. Tony Jones missed an opportunity to take an inside zone read outside the right side for big yardage. Still not sure he has vision.

So the clipped guy was Bell. The other Buff right there was Henderson, he's been running STs for three years now. What in your opinion did he do wrong?

Uh.......how many sacks did they give up and how many yds, did the passing game have? Proof of the the pudding......and all that!

CSU was bringing some crazy-sh*t blitzs on many passing plays and still no true sacks(one IG sack on that mis-handled snap).

 

[Jaximus]

I noticed that we didn't get much pass rush. However, we didn't appear to blitz much at all. CSU blitzed a lot which left them open for big plays.

I'm OK with only rushing 4 as long as our coverage holds up. It did on Sunday.

 

[BuffUp]

I noticed that we didn't get much pass rush. However, we didn't appear to blitz much at all. CSU blitzed a lot which left them open for big plays.

I'm OK with only rushing 4 as long as our coverage holds up. It did on Sunday.

yea, csu went with a lot of man on man coverage. Other teams will double PRich which will open DD and Spruce up. Those guys will have some big games this year.

 

[BuffUp]

Oh BTW, maybe need to speed the offense up for these arky kids coming to town looking for air to breathe? Wood did a great job, now the next step should be up tempo and move the ball from sideline to sideline. You could tell towards the end of the csu game their defense was getting tired of running to the sideline and back to the line play after play

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

Oh BTW, maybe need to speed the offense up for these arky kids coming to town looking for air to breathe? Wood did a great job, now the next step should be up tempo and move the ball from sideline to sideline. You could tell towards the end of the csu game their defense was getting tired of running to the sideline and back to the line play after play

We snapped the ball 81 times. That's pretty damn fast. If we can hit 90 that would probably be a great pace against low altitude teams.

 

[darth-horax]

Also, I do think that while CSU has some issues, they will be one of hte better teams in the MWC this season along with AFA, Wyoming, and Boise St.

 

[Buffnik]

Also, I do think that while CSU has some issues, they will be one of hte better teams in the MWC this season along with AFA, Wyoming, and Boise St.

That would surprise me. They've got serious QB issues. And they won't match the intensity they played with Sunday in any game going forward. Other than the Cal-Poly game, I'm not sure they'll get a win this year. One thing to be concerned with, too, is that they may have caught the injury bug. Lots of guys went down for them on Sunday, they've got the short week this week, and then Bama will beat them up.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

I would absolutely love for the Rams to beat Bama. It won't happen, but seeing tide nation melt down would be amazing. A couple of their guys that went down looked like they may not have been for real. They happened during the periods we started cranking up the tempo. Hard to tell obviously and you can't call them out for it, but idk seemed like great timing...

 

[BuffNut99]

I would absolutely love for the Rams to beat Bama. It won't happen, but seeing tide nation melt down would be amazing. A couple of their guys that went down looked like they may not have been for real. They happened during the periods we started cranking up the tempo. Hard to tell obviously and you can't call them out for it, but idk seemed like great timing...

The Rams have a less than 1% chance of beating Bama. I'm actually scared for them. Bama will have backups playing in the 3rdQ.

 

[BuffUp]

I have watched it like three times now... Gillam is a stud, Wood looked great, spruce looked great, DD - Amazing, our Tight ends may have emerged, Tyler great blocking and some nice key catches (could have had a TD if Conner would have seen him), OL - pretty good first time outing and will improve as they play together, DL pretty good on stopping the run and pressure on qb with out a bunch of stunts, coaching A+, lindgren got conservative a couple of times, but he is still trying to figure out who and what he has to work with....

Overall a great first game for a team that was historically bad.

 

[FlatironsBuff]

I've watched the game four times now, which I haven't done for a while, probably since 2007. Here are my lingering observations:

• I saw less team-wide confusion than in any game since Barnett. No delay of game after a timeout, no fire drill just to get 11 guys on the field (we subbed alot, but it was smooth), no epidemic of blown assignments, etc.
• I saw many players, some of whom were written off for dead, playing way above their heads.
• Confidence and swagger not seen since mid 2005.
• More emotion on the bench, and guys into the game whether they have a chance to play or not (we saw this briefly @ Wazzu last year, but that was the equivalent of a Zippo being lit in a mine shaft).
• I saw a real QB playing for the Buffs, throwing to a mature star WR, both who understand that they have to be leaders and stars.
• I saw YAC! YAC I tell you! Spruce turning up the sideline a few times made me get out of my seat.
• For the longest time I have walked away from Buffs games, wringing my hands over at least one, oftentimes several, sophomoric coaching decisions which cost us the game. The only call I didn't like Sunday was not kicking the long FG in the 3rd, opting to delay game/punt instead. But that call paid off.
• In sum, we thoroughly outcoached our opponent for the first time since killing Brad Smith and Missouri in 2005.

Let's keep this train going.

So does the avatar get changed?

On an unrealated note... reading Allbuffs after a Buff win and eating green chili. Today is a good day

 

[WizzersGhost]

The Rams have a less than 1% chance of beating Bama. I'm actually scared for them. Bama will have backups playing in the late 1stQ.

FIFY

Good coachs bring their 2nd/close 3rd grouping/team players in early in the game, when there is still a "contested feeling" and urgency to the game; that's how you build depth, not by playing them only in garbage time. Gives 'em experience and keeps 'em invested in practice. Dr Tom made a decent living doing that, always reloading instead of re-building.

 

[Buffenuf]

That would surprise me. They've got serious QB issues. And they won't match the intensity they played with Sunday in any game going forward. Other than the Cal-Poly game, I'm not sure they'll get a win this year. One thing to be concerned with, too, is that they may have caught the injury bug. Lots of guys went down for them on Sunday, they've got the short week this week, and then Bama will beat them up.

I'm shoulder to shoulder with Shldr2Shldr on this: they faked injuries to slow down the offensive play by CU. Nobody was carried off the field and nobody went to the lockerroom. It was pretty obvious.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

I'm shoulder to shoulder with Shldr2Shldr on this: they faked injuries to slow down the offensive play by CU. Nobody was carried off the field and nobody went to the lockerroom. It was pretty obvious.

One of their guys broke his hand I think. I am sure a couple started cramping up, but the timing of some of those injuries was very suspect.

 

[Jordanfox]

I notice Nebot getting handled all game long. He is a big guy and nothing against him, but certainly a guy that needs to be coached up, immediately.

 

[Buffnik]

I notice Nebot getting handled all game long. He is a big guy and nothing against him, but certainly a guy that needs to be coached up, immediately.

He's learning on the job. But the great thing to see is that even when he is getting beat, he's still big and athletic enough to get hands on the pass rusher and give Wood a lane. It's a work in progress, but the upside is ridiculous. He's flashing already.

 

[FlaBuff]

best thing i saw from the D-line was a redirect when they read screen. one lineman stayed on qb and tw others pulled up and found the screen reicever for littke to no gain. 2nd time was deep in CSU territory and the qb had to throw the ball at the rb's feet. i knw sacks are a sexy stat, but this kind of disipline, and keeping a moble qb in the pocket shows promise. if guys were selling out 100% for the sack they'd leave holes for the qb to escape through with little second leve support.