A poster on rivals does a good job of play breakdowns for games. He did the first two series and last series of the Hawaii game.
I think Sefo did a good job on getting yardage with his legs in the game on the times protection broke down. However, we did an exceptionally horrendous job of reading blitzes. So many times we had guys running wide open with simple read and reaction. Some of this had to do with the type of pressure Sefo was getting, so not all his fault. However, simple reads on the blitzes everyone could see see coming needed to be made. Just baffling and I hope it is fixed right away, or we will lose the next game. I fully expect Umass to implement the same game plan on D.
I am one who for some reason likes punishment, so I re-watched the game using the slow motion on DVR (huge advantage over live game speed). When watching the replay, I came up with a few questions:
- Is Sefo being taught to do a pre-read of the defense?
- Is Sefo able to communicate route adjustments with WR/TE based on the defensive look?
- Once the play is called, is that play set in stone?
As I watched, Sefo seemed to focus on the formation of the buffs, without seeming to give a good look as to what the defense was doing. Case in point on 3rd and 6, with Hawaii showing heavy blitz on his right, Sefo focuses on getting the RB on his left. At the snap a jail break of Hawaii D-line men come charging from the right, and just behind them Devon Ross is jumping up and down waiving cause he is un-covered. Sefo rolls left without ever looking right and is tackled as he throws the ball. Had he focused a bit on the pre-read, he should have seen that if all the Hawaii blitzers come Ross was going to be alone.
There are several other examples, of similar things where the pre-snap read should have shown him what to key on, and then adjust based on what happens.
Another thing I noticed is that early on (1Q) it looked like Sefo was trying to force the ball left. I'm not sure if this is due to all the reports that he isn't as good throwing left as he is right, and wanted to come out and prove he could. On several plays in the first 3 series the read / hot route was to the right, and the whole time he focused left causing him to miss wide open receivers.