The defense looked really bad. Unless they find a way to play faster and make plays, we will get torched next week. We were playing at the same speed as Idaho all day on defense. I was expecting some big plays or even third down stops but they did not come. I hope we were playing down to the competition or next week will not be fun.

I think we are getting the most that can be expected. For the program to return to even close to what we remember, and for some of us that memory is getting dimmer, there are certain things that had to happen.
1. The coaching had to change. Obviously the easiest to do, but nothing was going to happen until that happened. So far at least, we seem to have hit a home run on that piece.
2. The attitude of the players needed to change. That too is happening, thanks to the efforts from part one.
The first two were the easiest to establish.
3. The talent level had to improve. Some of that has happened because TW recruited some very nice skill players his last class. We should also give him some credit for Locker. However, it will be some time before the level can be radically improved. We need a fair amount of patience here. No matter how well they are coached, no matter how hard they work, no matter how much enthusiasm they show, they are still the same guys, and they cannot be All Pac Ten overnight. It will take a few solid years to put the talent level to where it needs to be.
4. Then they need to learn how to win. That will take some winning, and some losing close ones.
5. Lastly, they need to learn to expect to win. USC won last night because they expected too, and so were not the least flustered when it mattered. The DJ Dawgs were much the same. Ohio State on the other hand, at the end when they still were in it, self destructed. For all his talent, Pryor hasnt learned how to win.
Actually, we are fortunate, especially on offense. Jake is the rare player who makes the rest better.
Isnt it awesome to have positive expectations, and excitement again?? I might even buy a few tickets for the first time in about ten years.

It seems like the fans are moving faster than a Sark practice. A lot of experts thought preseason that this was a 2 win team, we can’t become a top 10 team overnight. It takes 3 games to see how the teams are doing, especially when so many teams load up on cupcakes. It will be interesting to see how LSU and Idaho continue to play. If Purdue isn’t any good, then the Ducks are in trouble.

Watching $C, it looks likes we should concentrate on the run and make the young QB beat us. Unfortunately, that was how we approached Idaho. We had 2 position changes in the def backfield and we still don’t know what Batts can do. We continue to get better each week, and we improve during the game. This is foreign territory for our players. Remember, a year ago the offense got a delay of game penalty coming out of a time out.

We will have a game plan to compete with $C, but execution will be the determining factor. The smart money will be on $C, but we will compete, and that will give us a chance.

Let me start off by saying that I dont care what our record has been over the past 16 games, when you play a team you think to be inferior, you will not give it your all. You can give me the 0-15 remark all day and night until your blue in the face but we did not take them seriously…not anywhere near the intensity of LSU. That being said, we looked pedistrian on Defense.

Againist Idaho we ran a lot of D-Line pass stunts. They were poorly executed and looked slow. The D-linemen were not helping each other. Typically when you run a stunt, lets say End first Tackle around, the end should help the tackle by ripping in front of the tackle to shield him blocking the interior D-linemen. Most schools will teach you to grab the O-linemen and pull him with you so that he can not come off and get set on his pass protection. This is how you help each other…I say NONE of that. Guys were ripping with no authority and linemen were not confused or out of position when re-engaging. It was almost pathetic to watch. On top of the fact that we looked mediocre up front lets not completely discount Idaho’s O-Line which boasts 4 Seniors and a legitimate first day pick at Guard. They were a seasoned bunch. Secondary is, well, hard to stomach at times. I think since we dont have the type of athletes in the Def Back field Holt is playing everything in front. He would rather give up the 5 yard pass play and keep the ball in front of his guys then allow the back breaking deep pass. Even LSU had to throw the short stuff and make guys (or a guy) miss which is what they want (minus the missed tackle!). With the personnel they have right now they are going to be a bend but dont break Defense. I think we need to accept this and hope it works because we dont have the guys yet…time gentlemen, we will get there. Linebackers looked good, nothing to crazy. Just a solid performance. Missed INT in the first half are the kind of plays we NEED from them going forward though. Againist Idaho we can sit back and say, “oh well not a big deal, still won by 20” but those are the momentum killing, creating plays that we HAVE To have going forward.

Offensively we looked good. Locker is getting hit way to much but his pocket pressense is awesome. He stays in there and makes the throw despite getting hit. Recievers are making plays and getting open for the most part. Johnson is truly a star in the making. Kearse, Goodwin, Aguliar, J. Polk, and Fogerson are all solid WR’s who give us a lot of options. Middleton still needs to hit the weight room. Looks like he still has a little bit of baby fat and he needs to be a work out warrior. He can catch but his blocking is still suspect. O-Line is playing better than expected but not yet a top half of the PAC 10 O-line. Locker gets hit to much in pass protection. Run blocking they look good but I am not seeing them getting to the second level at a good rate. They are making good 1st level blocks and creating holes but the are lacking the 2nd and 3rd level blocks that help RB’s take it to the house. Speaking of RB’s I would disagree with posters who think that they are hitting the hole hard. They are young and still tenative for the most part. C. Polk is getting through the line but not making the 2nd-3rd level guys miss. He really needs to work on a "Go-To’ move. Once he gets there you notice a hesitation that is allowing them to get 3-5 yards a carry but not the big time plays that you need. We still havent had a run over 20 yards (correct me if I’m wrong, there may have been one in the first half againist LSU..losing my mind). We need a solid running game with big plays againist better teams. So far the offense has been the strong point this year but its still young.

USC…they are again another great team. We have the advantage of our coaches knowing them personally. They know how each one of those guys operates. That is a huge advantage. Also Taylor Mays may not play and if he does he will be working with a bum knee…never good for a Safety. Our D-Linemen HAVE to get pressure on the young QB and let them know they are there. I read a book called Boys will be Boys about the Cowboys rise to fame during the 80’s and 90’s. They had a philosophy that no matter what they would always touch the quarterback. Obviously they would hit him when they had the chance, but even when he had thrown the ball they would go up and touch/tap him just to let them know that they were there. Over the course of a game that can mentally wear on a QB. We need Barkley to know that if he takes one more second in the pocket, he’s going down.

Either way it feels good to get the monkey off our back but we still have a lot of football to play!