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Who has surprised most?

vinniew_11

Well-Known Member
In the first two games, outside of LS and Landman, who has flashed or exceeded expectations?

For me, here are my 3:
Purcell. Haven’t noticed him getting trucked and snaps have been true. No low ones that plagued Timmy last year.

Edwards. He has actually made plays and with the success of Landman, he’s keeping him clean.

Tie Abrams and Mustafa. So far, solid play without the Juco one year ramp up.

Honorable mention: Montez. He’s matured. Eating crow so far here.
 
Mustafa has made unexpectedly rapid progress. No one recruited him out of high school, and hardly anyone recruited him out of Modesto Junior College last season. Dude has 16 tackles, a team-high 2 ½ sacks, two other tackles for loss, four third-down stops (second only to linebacker Nate Landman), and a fumble recovery. He also tipped a pass that Landman picked off in the opener against CSU.
 
Agree on the players listed above, especially the ones on defense. I was very impressed with how they came out and rebounded after halftime last Saturday.

Can't agree that Montez is only honorable mention though. I did not expect him to progress this much from last year to the first two games of this season. He has been incredible thus far this year. He was all but perfect with his jersey clean against CSU, and he was patient, mature, and tough as nails while under almost constant pressure last week.

That throw to Shenault to take the lead, I don't think he completes that pass last year. He is tough, accurate, strong, and smart this season. Whether it continues into conference play remains to be seen, but the amount of improvement he's shown has been a very pleasant surprise so far.
 
Montez's leadership. I thought after the way he was talking this fall he could have a big year on the field but he has taken huge strides from a leadership standpoint I didn't see coming.

I'd be shocked if they revoted for captains today if he wasn't one of them.
 
dwyermj said:
Montez's leadership. I thought after the way he was talking this fall he could have a big year on the field but he has taken huge strides from a leadership standpoint I didn't see coming.

I'd be shocked if they revoted for captains today if he wasn't one of them.
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A) without being named captain

2) people keep mentioning he doesn’t make that throw to Shenault last year. I’d argue you can’t find 10 college QBs that can make that throw at all.
 
In good ways
  1. Montez - he’s on pace to be competing in the League next year
  2. Tony Brown - appears to be pushing Ento further down the depth chart
  3. Edwards - playing like he in the equivalent of an NFL contract year. In shape, making a difference
In not so good ways
  1. Both senior Safeties - appear lost in coverage, arm tackling, taking bad angles
  2. Lynott - gets a pass coming off Achilles injury but still, if you’re suited up to play, you’re expected to perform and he’s just another guy out there, at best
  3. Winfree - I thought we’d see more out of him. Supplanted by Shenault as the #1 receiver in the corp. Nagging injuries have diminshed his contribution but see Lynott reference above.
 
Bliff Cranch said:
In good ways
  1. Montez - he’s on pace to be competing in the League next year
  2. Tony Brown - appears to be pushing Ento further down the depth chart
  3. Edwards - playing like he in the equivalent of an NFL contract year. In shape, making a difference
In not so good ways
  1. Both senior Safeties - appear lost in coverage, arm tackling, taking bad angles
  2. Lynott - gets a pass coming off Achilles injury but still, if you’re suited up to play, you’re expected to perform and he’s just another guy out there, at best
  3. Winfree - I thought we’d see more out of him. Supplanted by Shenault as the #1 receiver in the corp. Nagging injuries have diminshed his contribution but see Lynott reference above.
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Yeah, definitely haven't been overwhelmed by safety play.
 
Good: Haigler, Abrams, Landman, Johnson, Edwards, Antwine, Franke, Nixon
Bad: Worthington, Ento, Falo, Malumba

It was pretty obvious in fall camp that Montez was killing it and we all knew Shenault was amazing.
 
Hurricane Florence. Wth all the people evacuated from VABeach, my kids' schools and sports being cancelled since Tuesday, essential personnel only at work today...and we don't even have standing water or wind over 15mph.

All due respect to the Carolinas.
 
Mustafa is the easy one, followed by Abrams (did not expect him to take the starting job so quickly). We would really be hurting if those guys were not ready to go week one. They are both kinda saving their position groups at the moment.
 
Gamboa has played better than expected

Still waiting on Evans, Lynott, and Worthington to get clicking...

Cautiously pessimistic (is that a real thing?) about Elliot; some things on D have improved but not sure about the game planning and adjustments, especially against Nebraska. Had Martinez not gotten injured I think our D would have struggled to stop their momentum. Let's be honest, Landman and MJ have bailed out the Buffs D this year.
 
JMBuffs said:
Gamboa has played better than expected

Still waiting on Evans, Lynott, and Worthington to get clicking...

Cautiously pessimistic (is that a real thing?) about Elliot; some things on D have improved but not sure about the game planning and adjustments, especially against Nebraska. Had Martinez not gotten injured I think our D would have struggled to stop their momentum. Let's be honest, Landman and MJ have bailed out the Buffs D this year.
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They shut down Martinez in the second half though.
 
J.R. Ewing said:
Yeah, definitely haven't been overwhelmed by safety play.
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Neither have I, I’m glad some of you guys have mentioned it I thought I was being nitpicky. The deep ball in the CSU game and the deep ball in the Nub game we’re both in a cover one coverage with Evan over the top (if I’m remembering correctly) and both times he should have been there to break it up. What’s worse is the nun deep ball with fisher in man coverage and Worthington over the top and they both got beat. These guys are supposed to be consistent and ball hawks and I’ve seen neither from either one.

Edit: Just went back to watch the CSU score, it was cover 2 with Nick hovering the side of the field where they scored, Evan was out.
 
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Bread said:
Neither have I, I’m glad some of you guys have mentioned it I thought I was being nitpicky. The deep ball in the CSU game and the deep ball in the Nub game we’re both in a cover one coverage with Evan over the top (if I’m remembering correctly) and both times he should have been there to break it up. What’s worse is the nun deep ball with fisher in man coverage and Worthington over the top and they both got beat. These guys are supposed to be consistent and ball hawks and I’ve seen neither from either one.
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They seemed hesitant to come up and make a hit on the ball carrier in the nubs game.
 
1. Mustafa in a runaway. He's been Carrell/Samson-esque in year one.
2. Landman... We knew he was going to be a player, but I don't think anyone thought he'd force himself onto the field like he has or be a 2x DPOW through 2 weeks good.
3. Montez... He's definitely been reborn hard under the tutelage of Roper. He and Viska have been the best QB/WR duo in the country through 2 weeks.
 
Mustafa and to a lesser extent Edwards and Antwine.

Mustafa has been disruptive, something we haven't seen from the interior 3 in a long time. The Tupou, Jackson, Carroll line was strong but not disruptive.

The entire line has been much better at maintaining the LOS that last year and thus in keeping the LB clean and able to make plays. Landman is outstanding but a big part of that is that he isn't having to fight off blocks every time he is moving toward the ball.

Also while not the same kind of difference makers as some of the others have to give recognition to Jay MacIntyre and Kyle Evans. These two guys started out on the short end in terms of raw talent and have made it this far due to hard work and great attitudes. Both were big question marks coming into this season due to injury and both have brought themselves back to be important contributors.

Lil Mac is far from our most talented receiver. He makes up for it by working the middle, taking huge shots while holding onto the ball, blocking for everyone else, and being a security blanket for Montez who just keeps making plays and making opponent pay for focusing on Viska and the others.

Evans is nobody's idea of the protype at RB. He maximizes every opportunity he gets though and even undersized is our best blocking RB.

Overall maybe the biggest surprise is our Head Coach. Last year he looked distracted and didn't have the attention of the team. This season I see a guy who has regained a laser focus and who is connected emotionally to his team.

Last years team would have folded when Nebraska came back to take the lead, this years team stayed with it allowing them to regain the lead with under 90 seconds left in the game and come out of a hostile place with a win one week after having the emotional focus to step on a CSU team that came in intent on beating them.
 
Mustafa, Montez, and, believe it or not, Viska. I said in one of the threads he'd have a big year, or I thought he would. Let's just say, he's exceeded that so far.:D
 
patebuff said:
Interesting take. Thought the oline got exploded big time by Nebraska. Pursell is going to be a stud though
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They did get exploded often, but it only takes one missed block to explode a play. I chose Tonz because he was constantly trashed on here and removed from consideration if there was ever another body who could potentially take his place (usually some freshman we'd never seen). He's not standing out in the way you don't want OL to stand out, therefore, that's a surprise to y'all!

I went thru the first 3 quarters of the Nub game so far, and he played better than anyone I saw. I looked for successful plays and who made them possible and then the opposite of that. Tonz was pretty clean. Kaiser struggled on the outside rush, but Kaiser often would ride his man outside such that Montez could step up inside, only to have the pocket collapse into him, generally from the Lynott/Pursell gaps.

Statistically, Tonz currently has 4.5 Knockdown/pancake blocks second to Lynott's 5 (nobody else has more than 2). He's tied for the lead with PPTD (perfect plays on TD's). He also is credited with 2 of the sacks, 2nd to Pursell 2.5.

So while not perfect, Tonz held up pretty good against a good Nebraska D front.
 
I would only be mentioning players who have already been singled out in this thread. I'll go a different direction - DLC Drake.

He may have more talent at his disposal than at any time since MM took over, except maybe the 2016 group. However, at this point, the DL is much more disruptive and productive. Additionally, they are freeing up the inside backers.

Nice addition to the staff.
 
Medford M. said:
You know a standard has been set when the defensive backs are being considered a disappointment thus far, and we aren't even giving up 200 yards passing a game.

My pick for biggest surprise is Mustafa. He's playing at a near All American level right now.
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True. Nebraska picked on Worthington with great success. He was a dropped ball from giving up two long TDs.
 
Medford M. said:
You know a standard has been set when the defensive backs are being considered a disappointment thus far, and we aren't even giving up 200 yards passing a game.

My pick for biggest surprise is Mustafa. He's playing at a near All American level right now.
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Would agree on Mustafa. But that doesn’t look like AA status to me when I look at Auburn line, Clemson studs, Bosa, Allen, Oliver, 95 from ASU, etc. He’s good. Maybe he steps to AA status next year.
 
hawg1 said:
Would agree on Mustafa. But that doesn’t look like AA status to me when I look at Auburn line, Clemson studs, Bosa, Allen, Oliver, 95 from ASU, etc. He’s good. Maybe he steps to AA status next year.
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I'll just say his numbers might be better than some of those guys, but they'll prob get the recognition as they're household names.

Wrenn, though...Ooh boy, is that dude a physical freak.
 
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