Few college football teams have a chance to "reboot" their season have a gut-wrenching 0-2 start which included one loss to a hated in-state rival, and another loss to a Divisional pest, both by a combined 7 points. But there are no moral victories in sports. The only victories which matter are the victories which are won on the field. Everything else is safe space loser talk. "Reboot" does not mean forget about the 0-2 start and start the season now.
Rather, "reboot" means remember the pain, frustration, and anger of starting 0-2, and use that as a teaching tool to motivate, develop, and beat future opponents. That happened against Bethune. It was good to see 63 points scored; it was good to see 0 points surrendered. The Jimmy Murphy story was good. But Enos was brutally bad for 1 1/2 quarters (being up 7-0 after 1 Quarter is like being down 17-0 to UNC early), Jarren was surprisingly erratic early, and we were still 4-9 on 3rd Down for the game (1 for 5 at Halftime). Those are real concerns which should objectively take the shine off a 63-0 de facto scrimmage.
Enter CMU. This team is almost as bad as Bethune. Out of the three directional Michigan schools, and five overall in the state, CMU is arguably the worst of all of them. We all know that Wisconsin just put CMU to the sword with no mercy, and we should be doing the same tomorrow.
Offensively, AGAIN, we need a FAST START. Get Jarren comfortable throwing middle and deep more early in the game, so that he has some confidence doing it against a good UVA defense. Improve the 3rd Down Conversion % in the First Half- it's been abysmal to date. And get guys open with some bootlegs/roll-outs. Simple stuff which can be effective. We need to see HOMERUN plays in this game- lots of CHUNK YARDAGE plays. That's what the great offenses do in college football- they get 20-25 yard chunk plays. Not every day can be this 12-15 play methodical 9:00 minute nickel and dime drive.
Defensively, just carbon copy what you did against Bethune, and that will be fine. Really have enjoyed the run defense and better safety play.
Special Teams, Kicker remains a shit show at the moment. Manny should be rotating Baxa and the other guy and giving them equal opportunities this game. Punt/Kickoff Return- can someone PLEASE make a big play.....
My prediction is that we play CMU similar to Bethune... Offense will still struggle early. 1st Quarter we are up 7-0... 2nd Quarter, we blow the game open and score 17 points with Baxa hitting a good 40-45 yard FG to help his confidence. 24-3 at Halftime. 3rd Quarter the offense makes some plays and runs the ball, with each team trading touchdowns, 31-10. 4th Quarter Jarren gets another passing TD and then Kosi/Tate come in for mop-up duty with a Lingard/Cam rushing TD somewhere in the 4th Qtr, and CMU gets a consolation FG in the mix somewhere late. Final, 45-13.
Canes 45 - CMU 13
Rather, "reboot" means remember the pain, frustration, and anger of starting 0-2, and use that as a teaching tool to motivate, develop, and beat future opponents. That happened against Bethune. It was good to see 63 points scored; it was good to see 0 points surrendered. The Jimmy Murphy story was good. But Enos was brutally bad for 1 1/2 quarters (being up 7-0 after 1 Quarter is like being down 17-0 to UNC early), Jarren was surprisingly erratic early, and we were still 4-9 on 3rd Down for the game (1 for 5 at Halftime). Those are real concerns which should objectively take the shine off a 63-0 de facto scrimmage.
Enter CMU. This team is almost as bad as Bethune. Out of the three directional Michigan schools, and five overall in the state, CMU is arguably the worst of all of them. We all know that Wisconsin just put CMU to the sword with no mercy, and we should be doing the same tomorrow.
Offensively, AGAIN, we need a FAST START. Get Jarren comfortable throwing middle and deep more early in the game, so that he has some confidence doing it against a good UVA defense. Improve the 3rd Down Conversion % in the First Half- it's been abysmal to date. And get guys open with some bootlegs/roll-outs. Simple stuff which can be effective. We need to see HOMERUN plays in this game- lots of CHUNK YARDAGE plays. That's what the great offenses do in college football- they get 20-25 yard chunk plays. Not every day can be this 12-15 play methodical 9:00 minute nickel and dime drive.
Defensively, just carbon copy what you did against Bethune, and that will be fine. Really have enjoyed the run defense and better safety play.
Special Teams, Kicker remains a shit show at the moment. Manny should be rotating Baxa and the other guy and giving them equal opportunities this game. Punt/Kickoff Return- can someone PLEASE make a big play.....
My prediction is that we play CMU similar to Bethune... Offense will still struggle early. 1st Quarter we are up 7-0... 2nd Quarter, we blow the game open and score 17 points with Baxa hitting a good 40-45 yard FG to help his confidence. 24-3 at Halftime. 3rd Quarter the offense makes some plays and runs the ball, with each team trading touchdowns, 31-10. 4th Quarter Jarren gets another passing TD and then Kosi/Tate come in for mop-up duty with a Lingard/Cam rushing TD somewhere in the 4th Qtr, and CMU gets a consolation FG in the mix somewhere late. Final, 45-13.
Canes 45 - CMU 13
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