Thoughts
Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:46 pm
Really good to see the effective start to the season we have had. Although the teams we have played are not the strongest, 4-0 means we are handling business. And I thought FAU on the road in oppressive heat and Temple on the road in a short week could have been trap games. I vaguely remember jumping out to a lead at ULM a couple years ago in brutal heat, and eventually losing that game. This team will find a way to win games rather than lose them.
Daily is such a tough kid. As a runner, he almost seeks contact, and seeing him pitch the ball to Short 10 yards or so down the field earlier this year and then getting out front to block shows unselfishness and toughness. He is that really strong, physical runner who is double tough and can withstand the physical punishment of playing QB in a triple option. Bradshaw was the same type of QB. Really durable. Even more impressive for Daily since we call QB power so often and expose him to a ton of hits. If I was the OC, I'd probably call his number a lot too, but I think there are times they can belly the FB in short yardage rather than call so many designed QB runs and expose Daily to so much punishment. After all, this is not single wing football, it's triple option. I'm starting to worry about overuse with him as the year goes on and the hits pile up. Backs have run well and we have established the FB both from under center and out of the gun. Daily is doing just enough with his arm to keep defenses honest, and he's thrown some nice balls this year. Offensive line is very aggressive and has been getting movement at the LOS. They also seek work at the second level, communicate well, and play with an overall edge that is good to see. As with every Monken team, the receivers and backs are top notch blockers and can stick to defenders well into a play. I'll give Rendina a pass on the botched block that almost caused a Daily fumble since he is inexperienced in pass pro.
Defensively, we do just enough. We give up some yards, but rally to the ball, get a lot of hats on offensive players, and seem to really toughen up when it comes to giving up points. I was concerned because of all the personnel losses on that side of the ball, but have been pleasantly surprised. We do give up big cushions against the pass, but the secondary seems more comfortable in their assignments this year, especially playing out of halves and quarters sets. Specials have been good, and are going to be big the later in the year we go. Punting was an abomination last year, and even though we don't punt much, it seems to be straightened out a bit. Losing both top kickers was a concern, but things seem okay right now.
I agree with P & D. I was just thinking the other day that this season was eerily reminiscent of 1996, when we brought a 9-0 record into a game with a ranked Syracuse team at the Carrier Dome. This year if we win out, it would be Notre Dame. I'm taking this one game at a time, but it's easy to get caught up looking ahead sometimes. I envisioned that scenario a couple years ago, but we really underachieved that year. I know our competition to this point has been so-so, but transfer portal has served to dilute talent and make team chemistry difficult for so many teams at the G5 level. Having said that, we have to play who's in front of us, and we can not afford to look past anyone. Just win them all, one game at a time. Can't even imagine the chaos that would ensue if Army and Navy finished 1-2 in the conference. Stakes could be even higher then usual when we go head to head with them this year.
Jeff Monken continues to assemble talented teams, and he and his staff have those kids motivated and playing hard all the time. This team seems to have something special about it. A toughness and resourcefulness that goes beyond the usual. They are surgical. Just going out and efficiently running through opponents. Really enjoy watching this team play.
Daily is such a tough kid. As a runner, he almost seeks contact, and seeing him pitch the ball to Short 10 yards or so down the field earlier this year and then getting out front to block shows unselfishness and toughness. He is that really strong, physical runner who is double tough and can withstand the physical punishment of playing QB in a triple option. Bradshaw was the same type of QB. Really durable. Even more impressive for Daily since we call QB power so often and expose him to a ton of hits. If I was the OC, I'd probably call his number a lot too, but I think there are times they can belly the FB in short yardage rather than call so many designed QB runs and expose Daily to so much punishment. After all, this is not single wing football, it's triple option. I'm starting to worry about overuse with him as the year goes on and the hits pile up. Backs have run well and we have established the FB both from under center and out of the gun. Daily is doing just enough with his arm to keep defenses honest, and he's thrown some nice balls this year. Offensive line is very aggressive and has been getting movement at the LOS. They also seek work at the second level, communicate well, and play with an overall edge that is good to see. As with every Monken team, the receivers and backs are top notch blockers and can stick to defenders well into a play. I'll give Rendina a pass on the botched block that almost caused a Daily fumble since he is inexperienced in pass pro.
Defensively, we do just enough. We give up some yards, but rally to the ball, get a lot of hats on offensive players, and seem to really toughen up when it comes to giving up points. I was concerned because of all the personnel losses on that side of the ball, but have been pleasantly surprised. We do give up big cushions against the pass, but the secondary seems more comfortable in their assignments this year, especially playing out of halves and quarters sets. Specials have been good, and are going to be big the later in the year we go. Punting was an abomination last year, and even though we don't punt much, it seems to be straightened out a bit. Losing both top kickers was a concern, but things seem okay right now.
I agree with P & D. I was just thinking the other day that this season was eerily reminiscent of 1996, when we brought a 9-0 record into a game with a ranked Syracuse team at the Carrier Dome. This year if we win out, it would be Notre Dame. I'm taking this one game at a time, but it's easy to get caught up looking ahead sometimes. I envisioned that scenario a couple years ago, but we really underachieved that year. I know our competition to this point has been so-so, but transfer portal has served to dilute talent and make team chemistry difficult for so many teams at the G5 level. Having said that, we have to play who's in front of us, and we can not afford to look past anyone. Just win them all, one game at a time. Can't even imagine the chaos that would ensue if Army and Navy finished 1-2 in the conference. Stakes could be even higher then usual when we go head to head with them this year.
Jeff Monken continues to assemble talented teams, and he and his staff have those kids motivated and playing hard all the time. This team seems to have something special about it. A toughness and resourcefulness that goes beyond the usual. They are surgical. Just going out and efficiently running through opponents. Really enjoy watching this team play.