Scott Gordon (refernce recent podcast) has really upped the announcing game. He has very good insight in my opinion. He echoed some of our concerns about the vanilla/predictable offense. One of the things he noted was the use of two backs 21 or 22 personnel last week on a few plays and added that a backfield of both Tompkins and Larison could provide multiple options to which the defense must react (all 3 in backfield could potentially pass). I also think that Miles has to be willing to run if there is a big hole in the defense. He pulled it down for about an 8 yard game last week. He’s never going to be a running quarterback but he needs to keep the defense honest. Sometimes the man coverage (with DBs back to line of scrimmage) present some easy opportunities.

I am also concerned about Rex Connor’s being out. I don’t think some of the chunk 4th quarter plays last week would have happened with him on the field. He is a real difference maker in both pass and run defense.

Southern Utah head coach remarks about UTEP. Later he spoke “glowingly” of El Paso, etc, but the guy comes across to me as a bit of a jerk and phony. I remember watching his video from last year and thought the same. He even seems cocky when he tries to be self-deprecating, which is ironic.

After watching the game, SUU offensive line and Lamson took it to UTEP in the second half. SUU QB was pretty nimble at avoiding the rush and made some plays with his legs. So in my opinion limiting their rushing yards and containing the QB in the pocket will be a key. SUU also did a pretty good job of pressuring their QB. They used 3 down lineman and a rush linebacker - and augmented that on occasion.

UTEP lost (from a strictly missed points case) because their kicker was awful. Missed field goals, including 2 chances at end of game and OT.

South Dakota State’s jerseys are sans names. So are Incarnate Word’s. In todays portal and what’s in it for me culture, I think it is kind of refreshing. A subtle message that is it’s more about the team than me would, in my opinion, would also serve them in their future careers, and in life in general. But I am a bit old school I guess.

Idaho had only 225 yards of total offense and was 1-13 on third down. Wyoming is not a very good team. Idaho has been incredibly efficient in their games, which is a good thing. If they are “scary”, it is because of their bend but don’t break defense.

??? Arizona played Northern Arizona. Skatebo plays for Arizona State. Arizona State played Mississippi State. But you got his stats correct :-). And pretty impressive they are.

ooooh, right on the gulf. That is going to be one steamy environment unless there is a breeze. Hurricane territory too. Seems to me there would be less attendance there than just playing it in Macon (Mercer’s home field). Travel for the “home” Mercer fans and Davis fans are not known to travel outside of Bay Area other than players parents and a few die hards. Added to that what I would consider not exactly a sexy destination location. I guess we will see.

pass defense was very porous in second half. Many big chunk plays and commerce was 4-4 on fourth down conversions. I think the absence of Rex Conners really showed in the second half. The passing yardage for commerce was obscene but you have to give credit to their QB who refused to go down and had a strong but inconsistently accurate arm.

I think the play calling and offense is still somewhat seeking an identity. Passing success in the second half opened up the run, but run was stuffed up the middle in first half. There seems to be no lateral running game as in pass years by which to make the defense have to guard against both. Simply running up the middle predictably has not been a good formula so far. If we had an o-line like North Dakota showed in the second half against Montana, it might be a different story. Maybe Plough should consider recruiting from some midwestern corn-fed boys.

cover zero and absolutely stacking the box with no defender further than 7 yards off the line of scrimmage (at least from what I could see on TV) and the call is to run twice on a couple of critical late series. I don’t think that was entirely on Hastings but was the call, i.e. to run and play it safe. Regardless, seems like a tight end release or some such route would have been a good call.

Thank you David Meyer!

With them stacked on second down seems like La pass over the top to tight end would be a. Easy pitch and catch.

This is sad. All the momentum with commerce.

I don’t think it is playbook - it is execution.

Stupid penalty.

Dude is hard to bring down. Really missing Rex Conners tonight.

Oh man.

Too much time and blown coverages.

good one.

Good for Cloyd.

Keep Genetti as kick off person. He seems to have more leg.