I spent some time today talking with head football coach Paul Haynes.
He talked quite a bit about the team’s offensive line, and while he knows the blocking has to improve after a tough opener with Ohio University, he saw enough on film to believe the current fivesome can become a solid unit. That improvement could come by players simply relaxing and focusing only on their given assignment on each play.
That o-line had to deal with more than any group should have prior to and during game one. Center Alex Nielsen talked on Saturday night about players having the memory of Jason Bitsko on their collective minds. They wanted to play well and win for him. This was also an opening game against a MAC East rival, so that added pressure.
Those thoughts and stressers would have been difficult enough to deal with for a unit that is used to playing together. But after settling on a group that was gelling and working well together during camp, the current line was put together in less than a week. The Flashes ended up with one new face and two other linemen playing at positions other than the ones they had settled into during camp.
The great news is nobody is looking for excuses for Saturday. Haynes and his coaches are just trying to slow down the game and encourage their linemen to focus on simple goals. Film proved each lineman is capable of following the assignments needed to break a few gainers – as they did on 8-and-6-yard runs by Anthony Meray and Nick Holley. We may see more of Miles Hibbler this week after teh freshman carried only one time for a negative-2-yard run that was actually a great individual effort to just lose 2 yards after getting well behind the line of scrimmage as soon as he was handed the ball.
Haynes was pleased with the overall attitude of the team. The sideline had energy. Players are buying in. Key changes like the move of Jordan Italiano to strong safety with Elcee Refuge taking over the “star” position were confirmed successes. Several stars in the making emerged with Nate Holley having a career day building on the progress from his starts in the final four games as a freshman last year at free safety while Jon Cunningham had an impact at nose tackle in his college debut.
What did you like from Saturday’s game? What still has you concerned?
Sir, I am concerned the coaches do not trust or beleive in senior RB Anthony Meray. The staff seems to be so critical of him and has him sharing reps with guys he is out performing. Your thoughts? Anthony has had some great runs over the years with a very limited number of touches. He was in for both scoring drives last game, had the most rushing yards, and bumped down the depth chart. Does not make any sense to me?
ReplyDeleteHi Michael,
ReplyDeleteI have not seen that. I think the simple issue last week was that there wasn't any room for any back to run. The blocking just has to improve.
Unless there is something internally that nobody knows about, Anthony was not bumped down the depth chart. He is still listed No. 1 on the depth chart for this week vs. South Alabama.
The coaches were all very complimentary of Anthony during camp ... and that was both publicly and privately.
I don't know how he graded out last week on assignments beyond running the football. But Anthony was also always going to split time with Holley and Hibbler this week. Those two need reps, and in particular the freshman Hibbler needs some carries now that they have decided not to redshirt him.