A Sea Of Red

Quick- hit notes

http://www.aseaofred.com/quick-hit-notes-virginia-tech/

Someone mentioned this in the game thread and I think it's worth repeating:

Masha wasn't good, but Calvert isn't ready yet. Not a knock on Calvert at all. He will get there but it'll take a while. The "controversy" comes in that his potential is so high and Masha was so bad.

BuryYourDuke wrote:The result was flattering. That's the problem. I can't imagine a way our offense could look more inept. They may turn it around, but that was the worst offensive performance an LU team has put on the field in a long, long time.

This is the truest thing said. We were winning and I was more annoyed at our offense than excited about the score. They were really bad.

As I sit eating some Homey baked ham biscuits in Lot 19....
LU's offense is absolutely atrocious Granted they were playing a Bud Foster defense but my goodness. After 73 committed his 4th false start the crowd was howling with laughter
Masha is as accurate as a sundial at a track meet. It's like shooting a musket ball. The Incredible Hulk has a better touch
Whoever the offensive line coach is should be finding his own way home today and be demoted to the Laundry Room. The defense was just shifting to shift to watch them move.
Calvert had only a couple of plays but I wanted to see more. I don't know how he looked on TV but live there was just something about him. The pick he threw was more an incredible defensive and athletic play than a poor decision. I am not in practices but I hope they aren't married to Masha for the season. This kid deserves some reps
The defense. Oh my. The defense. Sure they gave up almost 500 yards but if they play like that the rest of the season LU will be fine. They won't face 1 let alone 2 receivers as good as Ford and Hodges. Techs offense isn't very good but they are more talented than LU and LU earned a lot of respect on D
Special Teams is a head scratcher Did that not recruit a kicker? I was curious why they went for it on 4 th down, then I saw the missed Ex Pt mso good move. Then the guy fields it at the 5 and runs into the end zone for the safety. Then kick it out of bounds. Sharp as cotton. Then they take the delay and pin them on the 2. I'm not sure what to think
The pieces at least are there to be really good

The only other thing I will say on the Special Teams is Probert is no Lunsford AND he is a true freshman in his first ever collegiate game...Heck, Lunsford went 0-2 in his first collegiate game against Wake Forest 4 years ago...Im not ready to come down on him just yet. I called the King play a "tough break" in the game thread but it was more because we had just gotten a big stop on D and ended up giving up points and giving the ball back, not so much on the play itself. Punt Return 101...you stick those heels on the 10 and you do not MOVE if that ball looks like its landing inside of there or its going to hit you and you can't make a play on it.

why did Calvert only last the 1 series? Did something happen on the sideline?

its unbelievable that gill still cannot get any better special teams play. Several costly delay of games that there is no excuse for. Starting 73 when hes a true frosh walk on is on the coaches. We subbed him out and did better. That being said haize is right. The pieces and talent are there. I dont think you can say calvert isnt ready that pick was an incredible play. I feel pretty good that qb play will improve. I dont have any confidence that special teams will.

jack_sparrow81 wrote:why did Calvert only last the 1 series? Did something happen on the sideline?

It was pre-planned that he would play one possession no matter what It will probably be that way at least the next couple of games They don't want to do anything to undermine Masha or cause a controversy at this point

I don't say he's not ready because of the pick. That wasn't his fault. I'm just felt he was both a bit unsure of himself and trying to force things a little. He's still a kid though so it's to be expected. Give him a few more weeks of seeing game speed and he's ready.

Jonathan Carone wrote:Someone mentioned this in the game thread and I think it's worth repeating:

Masha wasn't good, but Calvert isn't ready yet. Not a knock on Calvert at all. He will get there but it'll take a while. The "controversy" comes in that his potential is so high and Masha was so bad.

Many of Masha's passes were not even in the same zip code as the receiver. From where I was sitting, one fairly long pass from Calvert seem like it was dropping right into a bread basket. Good touch. Masha was not putting enought air under the ball to give his receiver a chance against the defender.

Purple Haize summed up the game perfectly. The only thing I can see that is a positive is the defense. The offense was garbage; however, I can see that the RB play will be the shining star(s) within that unit.
Keep an eye out for the sleepers…. Lucas Irons, Dia’vante Brown, Juwan Wells and of course Solomon McGinty. Coach Wimberly, in contrast to the offensive unit, has put together a talented and well coached defense.

Special Teams actually didn't do terrible...yeah Probert missed an XP and a field goal (as I said in another thread Lunsford was 0-2 on field goals in his first college game) and of course King had the return where he got tackled for a safety but the coverage was outstanding on punts and kicks and Turner looks like he has tightened up his mechanics and can still blast punts.

Jonathan Carone wrote:I don't say he's not ready because of the pick. That wasn't his fault. I'm just felt he was both a bit unsure of himself and trying to force things a little. He's still a kid though so it's to be expected. Give him a few more weeks of seeing game speed and he's ready.

That certainly didn't come through live. That kid saw every receiver and moved in the pocket like he should have. I'm not even sure he forced it. He had nice touch on the incomplete and would have certainly had completed the pass that got picked. He did not look like a true Freshman out there

BJWilliams wrote:Special Teams actually didn't do terrible...yeah Probert missed an XP and a field goal (as I said in another thread Lunsford was 0-2 on field goals in his first college game) and of course King had the return where he got tackled for a safety but the coverage was outstanding on punts and kicks and Turner looks like he has tightened up his mechanics and can still blast punts.

on the drive home through horrible traffic ( if you are in the left lane and no one is in front of you....move over) I'm shocked that this is the best kicker and returner they could find. The kid fielded a ball inside the 5 on the move. Then went backwards. That's just stupid. The kicker is so bad he kicks it out of bounds on the subsequent free kick. Add to that the missed PAT. Blend in the fact they had to go for it on 4th down when they were within normal FG range. And then sprinkle in the fact they intentionally took a DOG to get OUT of FG range so they could bring the PUNTER on because that was a safer play. Son, that gets you a beautiful WTF Casserole right there. I thought Gill brought on a Special Teams coach? Does Coach Alder have any guys we could use? Open try outs? Did someone win a car kicking a FG recently? Can we sign them? This isn't about just missing a FG. This is about the staff having 0 confidence in the guy who is supposed to kick them

BTW. All - Name team goes to Tech
Devine Deablo

I understood Coach Gill to say that on 4th and 1 and 4th and 2, we're "going for it" most of the time this season. (on post game radio show with Nick Pierce)

Wow agreeing with haize again. I thought calvert progressed through reads, rolled out and put good touch. Masha will be pressed to keep the job imho. Bj was watching a different game than the rest of us. Special teams is the same issues year in year out.

I said that the catch by King was a terrible decision. Just because you CAN make a play does not mean that you always SHOULD make one. I said that you gotta pin those heels on the 10 and unless that ball is in front of you, you better run far far away from that ball if its headed inside the 10 yard line. The coverage and tackling was very good on special teams, and as I said, Probert was playing in his first EVER collegiate game so Im not surprised at his struggling. Im not happy about it, but Im not surprised by it

Masha will be ok at QB. He will not face a defense as good as VT's the remainder of season.

BJWilliams wrote:Special Teams actually didn't do terrible...yeah Probert missed an XP and a field goal (as I said in another thread Lunsford was 0-2 on field goals in his first college game) and of course King had the return where he got tackled for a safety but the coverage was outstanding on punts and kicks and Turner looks like he has tightened up his mechanics and can still blast punts.

Multiple delay of game penalties
A safety
A missed extra point
Too many men on the field penalty

That's pretty bad, Beej.

Purple Haize wrote:

Jonathan Carone wrote:I don't say he's not ready because of the pick. That wasn't his fault. I'm just felt he was both a bit unsure of himself and trying to force things a little. He's still a kid though so it's to be expected. Give him a few more weeks of seeing game speed and he's ready.

That certainly didn't come through live. That kid saw every receiver and moved in the pocket like he should have. I'm not even sure he forced it. He had nice touch on the incomplete and would have certainly had completed the pass that got picked. He did not look like a true Freshman out there

He had great touch on the ball. The potential is undeniable. To me (again, this is my view based on three plays so take it for what it's worth), the game felt a split second too fast for him. He's close to being there, but it hasn't quite clicked speed wise. Part of that is we were playing VT. I'm sure he'd be much better against a team like Jacksonville or Robert Morris.

By conference play he's the starter.

ballcoach15 wrote:I understood Coach Gill to say that on 4th and 1 and 4th and 2, we're "going for it" most of the time this season. (on post game radio show with Nick Pierce)

If this is true, I love it. We have a great defense and analytics are showing us that more often than not it's the more successful play in that situation.

BJWilliams wrote:I said that the catch by King was a terrible decision. Just because you CAN make a play does not mean that you always SHOULD make one. I said that you gotta pin those heels on the 10 and unless that ball is in front of you, you better run far far away from that ball if its headed inside the 10 yard line. The coverage and tackling was very good on special teams, and as I said, Probert was playing in his first EVER collegiate game so Im not surprised at his struggling. Im not happy about it, but Im not surprised by it

He didn't do well enough in practice for the coaching staff to have confidence in him to even TRY. If we were talking a 40 yd with 1 sec left to win the game, you'd have an argument. But you have True Freshmen playing all over the Country at all sorts of positions and this kid doesn't give the staff confidence
Yes, punting and coverage were very good. But that doesn't put points on the board. And your place kicking is so bad, they'd rather take penalty's than FGA's

EDIT: Totally forgot about Too Many me on the field.
JON remember that one of those DoG's was intentional

Jonathan Carone wrote:

Purple Haize wrote:

Jonathan Carone wrote:I don't say he's not ready because of the pick. That wasn't his fault. I'm just felt he was both a bit unsure of himself and trying to force things a little. He's still a kid though so it's to be expected. Give him a few more weeks of seeing game speed and he's ready.

That certainly didn't come through live. That kid saw every receiver and moved in the pocket like he should have. I'm not even sure he forced it. He had nice touch on the incomplete and would have certainly had completed the pass that got picked. He did not look like a true Freshman out there

He had great touch on the ball. The potential is undeniable. To me (again, this is my view based on three plays so take it for what it's worth), the game felt a split second too fast for him. He's close to being there, but it hasn't quite clicked speed wise. Part of that is we were playing VT. I'm sure he'd be much better against a team like Jacksonville or Robert Morris.

By conference play he's the starter.

I agree it's a minuscule sample size. That's why I'm taking what I saw live. I'm also factoring Masha's development or lack there of. His knock has always been his lack of touch, well based on today's game, it hasn't gotten any better. He's a better runner, but doesn't have breakaway speed. Calvert can get some yards rolling in the pocket and keep you honest. Let the RB's get your ground yards, they aren't bad.
I am fully aware I may be over reacting on a paltry sample size and I'm all for loyalty, but I wouldn't be surprised if Calvert was starting by Conference play.

I think anyone who is honest with themselves knew we would lose this game. The scoreboard isn't the concern for me...I expected that. Additionally, VT didn't play incredibly well...they actually looked really average and gave us several opportunities. We just looked really bad.

My concern comes with our lack of preparedness, the gameplan and inconsistency in decision making.

15 penalties, even this early in the season, is way too much. We just looked completely unprepared and I don't mean that we look unprepared for Virginia Tech. We looked unprepared to just play any game. Tech kept giving us opportunities and we couldn't get out of our own way. We had one punt with a delay of game penalty and then we had to take a timeout. It's a freaking punt!? I get having a couple of more penalties than normal or one dumb mistake but this was way too much.

The gameplan is just so incredibly basic and predictable. VT actually gave us a fairly vanilla defense, not very many complex blitzes and still held us to 160 yards. Not that the players don't deserve the blame (they do), but Gill didn't give them a chance to win the game.

Lastly, I don't understand what we're doing at QB. If we're going with Masha, fine. If we're going with Calvert, fine. If we have a QB battle, fine. I don't care which one it is anymore but stop changing it based on the current day's cloud cover. If he told Masha that he's the starter, he shouldn't have given those reps to Calvert. If you are that insecure about Masha's ability to play and you want to give Calvert reps, make Calvert the starter. Just stop being so freaking inconsistent.

In one word, I would describe our team as "lost"; which is unfortunate because CSU is a really buttoned up program. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I do not have high expectations for this season.