We're about 15% through the season, and it's usually around this point that an unexpected players or two emerges. These are the guys who have made me do a double take:
Castro Masaniai: it looks like the line will be in good hands once Paea leaves. I'd like to see them play next to each other more often with Castro spelling Oldander.
Tony Wilson: He had a sack last week, and was in on a lot more plays than week 1. I'm not sure what Wilson is yet, but he did take a noticeable leap.
Dominic Glover: I'm putting my reputation on the line by giving him the seal of approval as he's been hit and miss and could wind up being a disaster, but I saw enough positives to be impressed.
Anthony Watkins: He was flying around versus Louisville and actually looked like one of the faster players on defense. I never expected much from this guy, but he looked better than advertised this past Saturday.
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Conversely, these players have been disappointing so far:
Mike Remmers: 3rd year as a starter, and he still can't run block.
Brandin Hardin: I'm still a believer, but he's losing my confidence weekly. Those who said he should be a safety were probably right. I wasn't in that camp until recently.
Suaesi Tuimaunei: I realize he saved a touchdown, but he's constantly out of position and a step late. I was expecting a lot since he beat out Collins, but he hasn't lived up to the fall camp hype.
Gabe Miller: He has the size and speed to be good, but he has no inside move and winds up running right past the QB. Huge bust so far.
Burke Ellis: It's easy to blend in and hide at guard. Keep an eye on this guy; he's one of the culprits to Quizz's slow start.
The rest of the guys are performing how you'd expect (e.g. While Pankey is a performing bad, that was expected, so he's not on the "disappointment list" for this season).
Do you guys agree/disagree? Who has impressed/disappointed you so far?
I thought Keo Camat played surprisingly well in place of Roberson pretty much the entire game. He stayed home and stuffed the correct lanes and even came back to make a touchdown saving tackle on an assignment that Suaesi completely whiffed.
Camat was out of position and ran right past the ball carrier on a TD run in the 2nd. Meh. All our senior backers suck and i can’t wait until they are out of the system.
Get a grip! Have you even watched the offensive line? The two you mentioned are the most consistent! You need to be on offense a little for Quiz to run!
Not sure on Ellis because I wasn’t watching the line too closely but he did have 1 nice pancake block.
I agree with your evals, with the exception of Suaesi Tuimaunei. He hasn’t been as good as Collins was last year IMO, but he has vastly improved over last year.
I am not saying he’s been great, but he’s been better then I expected. His punching the ball out of QBs hand in the 1st quarter at the time was big, but it ended up being HUGE at the end of the game.
I’d be tempted to put #54 on the list of dissapointments. I thought he’d be more of a presence on the DL, but when you are constantly getting double and tripple teamed, not much you can do. The sad thing is, that means its basically 10 vs 9 on defense most of the time in favor of OSU, and we still can’t stop the run or get pressure on the QB.
Paea started slow last season, too. He has 1 sack so far. I’d say he’s playing close to how I’d expect (I never thought he dominated like Suh or the guy from Oregon/Ravens).
I want to see more Castro next to him.
Not sure why I’m in such a giving mood today, but my favorite play last weekend was the slip screen to James Rodgers–haven’t seen that version of it, but the huge wall of blockers was an impressive design. They should call that play at least twice a game, as it could go for six.
The play where Markus Wheaton ran in for a TD needs to be ran more I think…could be dangerous.
Agree 100% on Masaniai. He’s better than Frahm and Olander combined… at least he was against he same o-line they faced. Put Olander on the disappointment list. I thought he might at least maintain. But there was more than one play when he shed the C and bit on the QB as the RB was running by him in the same hole… three strides after the handoff and redirected by Glover’s contain on the right.
I was really impressed with Glover’s strength. He was pushing some guys around and containing off tackle runs to his side because of it. Moving Henry to the left side with Glover on the right seemed to be most effective on the day. Those two with Paea and Masaniai in the middle could really be a monster D-line.
Wilson was lost until about midway through the third. Then he turned into someone completely opposite of who he had been. Has he finally got it?
Camat did play well for however few reps he gets with the first line. He was more hit than miss, and that’s better than all miss all the time.
Roberson is back.
Pankey took a step backward. I thought he might have something when he jumped on the quick out on the third play of the game. The only time I remember seeing him after that play was when he had a clean run from the right side at the blind side of a still Froman. As he was approaching the hit, Froman just ran away from him. There are running QB’s out there, but should they be able to outrun a starting LB who has a clear field and a running head start?
Hardin was a victim of Banker’s no look scheme. Mike Sanford did this same thing to us all game long when we played UNLV. Nick Foles did the same thing to us last year. Boise State originated the quick fade against Banker’s defense about six years ago and killed us with it… even in the close win at home… to many groans (polite term here) from the crowd. Expect more on Saturday. I don’t know what anyone expects from Hardin. He played precisely as he has been taught to play. He was all over the ball once the receiver had his hands on it. The problem is that Banker wants the receiver to have the ball before our CB’s make a play on it. Oh boy!
I don’t know what to think of Burke Ellis. When he’s on, he’s deadly–see Quizz’ TD from 14 out and Quizz’ TD against TCU. When he’s off, he’s dead. He can maintain on pass blocking, so he’s Ok with that.
I was really impressed with all the receivers except the two I thought had the surest hands–Nichols and James. Their drops happened at key times. I didn’t know Catchings’ problems stemmed from diabetes. If I had known that, I would have been easier on him since I know that diabetes affects the extremities (read: hands). I would still have argued against the staff putting him in key situations in the past, but I wouldn’t think that his poor hands were because of a lack of focus or even talent related.
And someone said it on another thread. Give Markus the ball. Dude is spectacular, and he consistently shows that he has great hands.
“The problem is that Banker wants the receiver to have the ball before our CB’s make a play on it.”
Yeah…did you catch that comment in Dockery’s post game interview? He said that he was supposed to play the receiver’s hands, but that he decided to turn his head to play the ball. No shit, buddy. At least someone came out and announced what’s being taught.
#28’s problem last year was getting burned by the deep ball. He has not been tested this year in serious deep ball pass defense, but has seemed to step it up on the run defense and underneath coverage. Still don’t understand why Collins isn’t on the field more at OLB or with a nickel package, he looks healthy enough and is making plays on special teams. I think they need his speed, tackling, and coverage capabilities on the field. Hardin is playing very solid run defense, but does not get his head around enough of pass plays to find the ball. Got to wonder if that is coaching because Dock gets beat and pass interference calls for the same reason. I won’t single out any particular d lineman, but will say we got to get more pressure on the QB, and do a better job with containment. BSU will definitely have a field day and 300+ yards passing if we to get the rush going
“Hardin is playing very solid run defense, but does not get his head around enough of pass plays to find the ball. Got to wonder if that is coaching because Dock gets beat and pass interference calls for the same reason.”
It’s coaching. We’ve been screaming/crying/hollering/whining about it for years. The theory is that it may give up ten or so yards, but it doesn’t get burned for the big play. The problem is that two or three of those plays sustaining a drive is equal to one big play. Another part of the problem in containing a busted play is that our coverage isn’t allowed to peek until contain is broken.
It just drives me nuts. Watching Hardin and Dock turn on cue while the QB is slinging it over them has to be well known to our opponents by now.
When confronted, Banker said that he believes the CB is “able to run faster and keep with the receiver” if he isn’t looking for the ball.
The flaw with that logic is that the WR has to slow down to catch most passes, which gives the DB time to recover (assuming he’s been beat), and that the WR’s eyes many times tip off when the ball is arriving if the defender is stride for stride.
When I watch other games, I try to see what CBs around the country do. Some actually play Banker’s style, but 9 out of 10 try to make a play on the ball.
Personally, I’d rather go down swinging. Get beat being aggressive rather than passive and basing an entire defensive philosophy around getting beat.
Suaesi Tuimaunei – #28 … The stick in the craw of the secondary.
If you need assignments missed and zones unguarded, he’s your man!
What’s more troubling than his defensive skills is how one with his talent level ascends to a starting position in a D-1 program in a BCS conference. Is this lack of proper coaching or lack of proper recruiting, and thus depth?
They need to take the reigns off Dock and let him do his own thing but the safeties and Hardin would get burned twice as much if they didn’t face guard.
I wish they face guarded. They don’t even. They just run with their back to the ball.
Face guarding is not PI or a rule violation unless they touch the offensive player.
The “beaver” style of receiver coverage is bad for PI calls also. Refs hate it when the secondary does not look and play the ball. The purposely underthrown ball is a good play against it also.
Banker needs to figure out how to dial up something on third downs also. These time consuming drives by TCU/Louisville have sucked up TOP which in turn limits the amount of touches the Rodgers brothers are going to get. Thank god for James’ return game it saved the day!
I have no stats to back it, but it really seemed Louisville converted not only a crap load of 3rd downs, but 3rd and longs (5+ yards or more, seem like 3rd and 8+ was a gimme for them!). Argh!
So…unless I am missing something, I’m hearing that our corners are taught to let receivers catch the ball, then tackle them?!
What is the point of tight coverage then? Even if you’re burned by a few steps, you’ll probably be able to catch up and bring down your guy.
Nobody knows the point of what Banker teaches. It’s why we’ve been pulling our hair out for years.
Most Beavers fans take the approach of “we don’t quite understand it, but since he’s the coach he must know more!”, which is a really bad take.
It’s a technique most CB’s use for low percentage fly patterns. Instead of turning to look for the ball on a deep pattern, concentrate on the receiver looking the ball into his hands. As he reaches for and grabs the ball, beat the crap out of his arms. The problem is our CB’s use this technique on 10 or 20 yard pass plays up the sideline.
There are only two ways to be beat within 20 yards on a straight out in man coverage when the offense needs 10+ yards for a first. One is to fall down, and Banker has figured out the other.
Great point.
One other thing: sometimes a perfect pass beats great coverage. That’s a third way to be beat in man coverage.
I’ll take my chances against college QB’s that a perfect pass won’t be the result. Those who are good enough to make such a pass will probably be good enough to check down. Those who are not can be that flailing QB trying some wimp tackle on a CB during a pick six.
I realize I come from a hoops background, but the same principles apply. You keep one eye on your man, one eye on the ball, and you keep your hands in the passing lanes. I once got chewed out by a coach for turning my back on the man who just passed a ball during a full court press drill. I beat the lob to the target because of it, but the coach had read in some book that you never turn your back to the man with the ball, and he wrongly assumed that also meant movement from that man had to be opening up rather than gunning for the ball in any way possible. I didn’t argue the point because I knew what he was trying to say.
Practice the fundamentals, and the spectacular looks easy.
Yeah I mean I agree with all of this.
I was a baseball guy growing up. I was told to never take my hand off the bat while swinging. Well, I’m a lefty, and my hand naturally came off the bat. Charlie Lau was probably ten years into mentoring George Brett on that exact swing at that point. I decided to go with what came natural, to the chagrin of the coaches, and hit over .480. The coaches just let me play at that point.
Moral of the story is things change. Some book from 1950 might not be relevant today or with every player.
Dockery went against his coach, and admitted he just decided to turn his head and play the ball. Makes you wonder what his (and other’s) career would be like if they did that more often.
Should the Beaver DB’s just get bigger helmets? a la ‘Dark Helmet’ from Space Balls? Then that great shadowing of the WR’s that they are taught without actually knowing where the GD ball is will work great as any pass remotely close to being on the mark will deflect harmlessly off their helmets!
All I know, is the Husker DB’s don’t do that. They’ve got like 8 int’s this year already.
Guys, WAC officials for the game per Cliff.
Upset chances just reduced. Though if the Pac 10 refs were doing it, both teams might lose somehow. Not sure how, but the Pac 10 refs are so bad that it could actually happen. Or a vortex might open up and suck the stadium down. I don’t know. All I know is that the Pac 10 refs blow, and I’m sure that the WAC, limping from the recent defections, isn’t going to let some ‘iffy’ calls hinder BSU’s last large donation (BCS Bowl) to the WAC coffers. The Beavs will get nickel and dimed, homered and shafted, even in front of a National Audience. Watch for quick trigger unsportsmanlike conduct calls if the Beavs jump out early and think they can celebrate.
For years I have been wondering why the DB’s never turn their heads around on pass plays. At first I thought it was a bad habit of the individual players. Then, it became way too consistent of a problem to blame it on each individual player and it looked more like a coaching problem. Even with this thought, I could never really accept the fact that the coaches are teaching this strategy! To read that the coaches are actually teaching this strategy is surprising and discouraging for our D’s hopes for the rest of the season and beyond.
The Beavs have been getting burned in coverage for years. What is that old saying…Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!
I don’t know who you are or what you think you know about football but it’s clear that you’re and ignorant observer (probably a woman) and the people that listen and buy into this crap are just about as dumb as you are. If I told you that the two linemen that graded out highest from both the TCU game as well as the Louisville game were mentioned in your list as “disappointing”, what would you think? Change your perception of the line at all? Why don’t you try actually watching the games instead of watching the inside of your colon.. Yes, I just told you to pull your head out of your ass.
You’re also a sexist pig. Why should anyone give credence to your masochistic comment?
That actually really burns me up. Disagree and give supporting evidence, but don’t insult 55% of the world’s population with some cutesy ignorant statement. I can even deal with the PYHOOYA part of the rant. But now I just want to see you standing in a line-up with LaMichael James.
I loved the Mel Kiper Jr “grading out” linemen bit, though.
“graded out”
Thanks for the laugh, good sir.
Yes. As in the act of actually watching the film and evaluating based on their individual proformances. Do you do this or just formulate your own views based on what you think you know from your extensive knowledge of football? And yes I will apologize for the sexist comment but my opinion of your analysis still stands.
The only college guy to which “proformance” pertains is Reggie Bush.