There are several points that I saw watching NU play tonite.
1. Lord is a gamer and will win many games on his ability. I really liked what I saw. I believe that he can chuck the rock, but he needs to get a little faith in his O Line's ability to protect him. He was consistently throwing off his back foot all night and not following thru. The only way he gains confidence in them is if they protect.
2. The O Line could be real good, but they have a long way to go. The guards were giving up way too much penetration on certain run plays. Incognito is going to be real good, but right now he can not kick step for his life. He is getting beat off the edge right away before he even gets going and he is turning his body almost immediately. This is not a good sign if you are left tackle because you have the QBs back side. The best example I can give you of good kick steps is Tony Boselli. He is one the best there is and he should be a goal of every tackle. Waldrop's problem was not his weight but his horrible feet. He can kick step very long as he loses his feet quickly. He can also not sustain a base block very long because of his poor feet.
3. The pass pro is not all the line's fault, IMO. i believe that part of the problem is scheme. I have my O line slide to the side of the most threats to the QB and the Back fills back side. It looks as if NU does not slide but goes big on big. Usually if your center is uncovered, he slides to threat side and helps until his first threat comes, usually the MLB. On the two pass plays on the TD to Wilson Thomas, the ASU MLB had huge lanes to run thru and the center was occupied with a DL. This was happening a lot. ANother play the FB filled B gap left and then tried to pick up a stunting MLB late and had no chance. You cannot have your backs responsible for the inside to gaps because they have no angle to make the block. They have to go around the QB and then try to get in position. There was a hole all night long as it looked like the center may have been chasing DLmen outside and giving the middle up too. Now, that being said, no pass pro is perfect unless you keep 8 in to block and have a 2 rec pattern, but that's gonna real effective! JK .
4. I believe that the defense will carry this team early and the coaches got some work to do up front to get them where they belong. There were times still that the LBs still overpursue, hence the long runs on counters and cutbacks. You live and die by the sword on this. I thought Ricketts played pretty well against an All Pac 10 rec. He sure as hell wasn't gonna beat deep, but he was usually where he needed to be. Don't know if he can hold up all year, but we'll see.
5. Liked what I saw from Ross late, i know garbage time. He ran north south and made cuts and moves while still moving north south and not losing momentum. This is like some of the other recent backs NU used to have (Green, Evans, Phillips come to mind) I know a couple of those clowns aren't good people, but he made cuts like they did. Also really liked J Davis.
6. Special teams can win you games you shouldn't. Ask V Tech. Those look more squared away than other parts of the game. ASU also needs to fire their punter, but at least NU took advantage of it. A lot teams don't.
I am an NU alumni and I also am an O coordinator and O Line coach in HS. Some of this may seem biased or thru rose colored glasses. Sorry if it is taken that way. These are opinions and I appreciate all info given in this forum.
GLTA
and Go BIG RED
1. Lord is a gamer and will win many games on his ability. I really liked what I saw. I believe that he can chuck the rock, but he needs to get a little faith in his O Line's ability to protect him. He was consistently throwing off his back foot all night and not following thru. The only way he gains confidence in them is if they protect.
2. The O Line could be real good, but they have a long way to go. The guards were giving up way too much penetration on certain run plays. Incognito is going to be real good, but right now he can not kick step for his life. He is getting beat off the edge right away before he even gets going and he is turning his body almost immediately. This is not a good sign if you are left tackle because you have the QBs back side. The best example I can give you of good kick steps is Tony Boselli. He is one the best there is and he should be a goal of every tackle. Waldrop's problem was not his weight but his horrible feet. He can kick step very long as he loses his feet quickly. He can also not sustain a base block very long because of his poor feet.
3. The pass pro is not all the line's fault, IMO. i believe that part of the problem is scheme. I have my O line slide to the side of the most threats to the QB and the Back fills back side. It looks as if NU does not slide but goes big on big. Usually if your center is uncovered, he slides to threat side and helps until his first threat comes, usually the MLB. On the two pass plays on the TD to Wilson Thomas, the ASU MLB had huge lanes to run thru and the center was occupied with a DL. This was happening a lot. ANother play the FB filled B gap left and then tried to pick up a stunting MLB late and had no chance. You cannot have your backs responsible for the inside to gaps because they have no angle to make the block. They have to go around the QB and then try to get in position. There was a hole all night long as it looked like the center may have been chasing DLmen outside and giving the middle up too. Now, that being said, no pass pro is perfect unless you keep 8 in to block and have a 2 rec pattern, but that's gonna real effective! JK .
4. I believe that the defense will carry this team early and the coaches got some work to do up front to get them where they belong. There were times still that the LBs still overpursue, hence the long runs on counters and cutbacks. You live and die by the sword on this. I thought Ricketts played pretty well against an All Pac 10 rec. He sure as hell wasn't gonna beat deep, but he was usually where he needed to be. Don't know if he can hold up all year, but we'll see.
5. Liked what I saw from Ross late, i know garbage time. He ran north south and made cuts and moves while still moving north south and not losing momentum. This is like some of the other recent backs NU used to have (Green, Evans, Phillips come to mind) I know a couple of those clowns aren't good people, but he made cuts like they did. Also really liked J Davis.
6. Special teams can win you games you shouldn't. Ask V Tech. Those look more squared away than other parts of the game. ASU also needs to fire their punter, but at least NU took advantage of it. A lot teams don't.
I am an NU alumni and I also am an O coordinator and O Line coach in HS. Some of this may seem biased or thru rose colored glasses. Sorry if it is taken that way. These are opinions and I appreciate all info given in this forum.
GLTA
and Go BIG RED
