Positives:
Our Defense - They played a damn good game and made several key stops. Simply put, they were on the field way too long and the offense kept putting them in bad positions with turnovers or no output. They worked their butts off...it's not their fault Michigan is one dimensional and has a WR pretending to be a QB.
Armando Allen - Continued to show growth and ability.
Crist - I have finally gotten to the point where I like him. Wasn't sure what to think before the season, but I'm good with him being our QB and leader.
Playcalling - I still feel we have a MUCH, I cannot stress enough, MUCH better and more interesting / explosive offense than we had under Weis / Willingham / Davie, etc. The choice to go for it right before the half (and not take the FG) was even a decent one. We needed something positive going into the half, especially with Meatchicken getting the ball again after intermission. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Had we got it, Kelly would look like a genius.
Negatives:
Our Back Up QB's - Granted, I understand it's a new offense. I also understand that Meatchicken is pretty good on defense. But both of our QB's look completely lost, as well as having very little business playing football. I mean, c'mon...not trying to be harsh, but you are playing on scholarship for a Division 1 school and you look that bad when called upon? Really? Suffice it to say, if Crist goes down, we're hosed. *Although, Nate had a couple nice throws so I do give him props for that. With time, he might be a decent backup.
Our lack of blitzing / defense against the mobile QB - Seriously...I would have blitzed him all day long. What's the worse that can happen? He beats you on the throw? OK...Meatchicken's WR's aren't scary at all...but their WR pretending to be a QB is. So, put enormous pressure on him (which will force bad throws, make him scramble into people already coming for his ass, or maybe he throws and burns you. We got burned for 500 yards by him alone anyway...so what's the difference? * With that having been said, I like our defensive coordinator MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better than the completely overrated Corwin Brown and the Artist Formerly Known As John Tenuta.
All in all, a very competitive and outstanding game to watch. Just one of those days it didn't go our way. Can't say we didn't have our chances.
