‘Cats-Vandy Video Highlights
By Lake The Posts on
As usual, our YouTube guru NUBears came through with customized NU highlights of the ‘Cats 23-21 win. Enjoy.
As usual, our YouTube guru NUBears came through with customized NU highlights of the ‘Cats 23-21 win. Enjoy.
Are there any true freshman running backs who can help us, or are they all as mediocre as Fields/Simmons/Schmidt? And if there is anyone, is there any chance that PatFitz will burn their redshirt? Also am I the only one who thinks Schmidt plays better than Fields? Arby tries to bounce outside and ends up losing yardage — at least Schmidt lowers his shoulder, takes a hit, and moves us forward a hard or two. Finally, if we intended to burn Mark’s redshirt, why didn’t they just let him field the opening kickoff and all those punts? Why wait till there were two minutes in the game and then have him field one?
Posted that in the wrong spot, sorry!
I think Schmidt actually didn’t do too badly, he was getting tough yardage inside. Fields was poor, to put it mildly. Hopefully it was just a result of an injury and not a lack of talent.
I think Mark did OK on his return. I would LOVE to see him do that full-time, maybe moving Simmons to punt return duties. Bates didn’t make a good impression last night, although it was weird to see him pass Persa on the way off the field.
Overall there were several positives last night, and a few areas that need improvement. Persa was almost perfect, just needs to learn to escape a collapsing pocket a little quicker, which I’m sure he will get better at through experience. Our D-line, when they weren’t jumping offsides for no apparent reason, did a decent job, especially DiNardo. Our receivers were outstanding, this has really become an area of strength for this program. I can’t wait to see Mark do his stuff out there.
Now we have to see if our coaching staff can help the team learn from its mistakes and correct any shortcomings. If they don’t improve from this performance, they won’t be going bowling this season.
Go ‘Cats!
Lots of positives, with only a few negatives. Any questions about Dan P were answered for me (similar to last year?). A couple of times he could have released ball before getting sacked, and ball security on that one scramble wasn’t good. Showed decent accuracy and outstanding mobility. I loved the point on NU Bears’ presentation when those dog announcers were talking about SEC speed, and Danny motored right by them for a huge gain. DiNardo was a stud inside, but I thought our d ends were outplayed most of the evening. Secondary stepped up and made some plays.
Real concerns about the running game other than the quarterback. Paging Adonis Smith, paging Mike Trumpy. It may be hard to turn up and stick your nose in there with an injured wing, so I guess Arby gets a pass this week. Schmidt ran hard, but two fumbles are not acceptable. We don’t have that big a margin for error. Two mistakes in kicking game which should be a strength, tho Williams punted well.
Rice has some talented athletes on their team who competed pretty well against Texas (tho let’s not look past ISU — something we’ve done in the past). It’s probably time that we start giving our coaching staff some credit for the way we fare in close games. The numbers are pretty ridiculous.
Fields was terrible but so was the coaches’ decision to repeatedly run him wide vs the strength of Vandy’s defense, their fast linebackers. That’s just what Vandy wanted: a running back heading east-west instead of north-south. Persa’s terrific, the real deal. But he’ll be ground to a pulp by mid-season if he’s the only ground attack.
A nice simple article but it reads as though the writters first language is not English. An editor would be welcome.
Venric Mark was on punt coverage all night (see highlight of Matthews nice hit on punt), but only on kickoff return with “hands” team at end. So he burned his shirt early.
Wow, Where do you start. As everyone has said, Dan Persa is the real deal. Amazing ability to throw laser beam passes on the run. He will improve in the pocket once he gets more game-tempo experience. I agree with Cat Backer that if Persa is our running game, he will be toast by mid-season.
Now for the things that surprised me the most.
Why can’t the Cat’s play to win and instead of playing not to lose. At the end of the first half, this was sadly apparent. Before the half, they only needed a first down to run out the clock. Poor play calling resulting in giving Vandy the ball just before the half and subsequently 3 points.
Special Teams; Glad to see the punting game has improved, but Demo’s blocked kick and the muffed extra point. This stuff must be routine.
Running game; or should I say what running game? I was very disappointed this didn’t get fixed in the off-season. Major problem last year, looks like it could be a major problem this year. I also agree, why run Arby East/West only to get smothered by the fast Vandy backers? At least Schmitt took the ball upfield, but has to hold on to the ball.
O-Line; With I think the whole line coming back (and good size as well), I was surprised we didn’t control the line of scrimmage better. Overall a good job, but still needs to improve.
D-Line; DiNardo is a beast! The rest of the D-line needs improvement, solid, but not outstanding.
QB/recievers; Wow, this is one area where NU just reloads every year! Persa kept the string of high power NU QB’s going and a solid core of receivers should keep the passing attack potent. This is what makes the Cat’s so exciting, although at times too one-dimensional.
Defensive secondary did a good job. Peters was all over the field.
We’ll take the win, but for the Cat’s to really be a contender, they need to play to win, put the nail in the coffin, finish off opponents. I don’t know if my heart can take another season of the Cardiac Cats!
Go Cats!
Venric Mark lined up on the opening kickoff coverage, then got taken out in favor of Charles Brown for every kickoff thereafter. I wonder if he somehow missed his assignment on that opening kickoff, which allowed the big return.
As far as the bagging on Demos….I don’t get it. The blocked kick was not his fault. How’s he supposed to avoid the block with a lineman right on top of him as he kicks it? His kickoffs were great, and I think he’s going to be a clutch kicker who will win a game or two or three for us this year. He’s a convenient scapegoat, but he’s not the reason the Vanderbilt score was uncomfortably close.
Does the announcer say at 9:02-9:03 “Something about that G-D Damn Persa”?
I noticed that comment as well — played it back a couple of times just to be sure. Not sure what else he could have been saying.
I thought the option plays run wide with Persa and Fields were not Fields’ fault when he received the pitch. VU always had the play contained with several players still wider than Fields plus 2 to 3 more coming from the inside. I thought VU just had too much speed to run a slow developing option sweep wide – it did work when Persa would cut it up because he had more space to work within. I don’t think Schmidt is the answer in the running game. Makes you appreciate Sutton even more as he would usually make a move so as not to get hit square and make yardage after first contact (there was a reason he was Mr. Football in Ohio). Could be another year where NU is in every game but so is the opponent.
I think what the announcer said was, “That GUY DAN Persa.”