09-08-2024, 12:03 PM
6. I called the run defense "stifling" above, as I think all would describe allowing only 25 yards rushing on 20 carries. But some perspective is needed here: last week, a non-scholarship FCS team gave up only 8 yards on 18 carries to Cal Poly. Through two games Cal Poly looks like it has a beyond laughable run game. I think April will want to build on the confidence of two straight solid run defense performances, but I remain wary after seeing us do well in run defense in seven games last year but fall apart in the others. With this defensive scheme and personality, I think we need especially good run defense to pick up the slack from what will likely remain a challenged pass defense. In some respect yesterday could be a canary in the coal mine, despite the ostensibly impressive performance of only giving up one score. Our pass defense not only did massively worse against Cal Poly than in the 2022 Colgate game (3.8 yards per attempt worse, 66.67 points worse in passer rating), we were worse in both yards per attempt and passer rating than USD was against Cal Poly. If we show softness like that against Cal Poly, I shudder to think what Syracuse and Clemson will do.
7. One of the things I am most watching this season is whether April's defense has turned a corner. At the end of the year we can judge by points per game, SP+, FEI, points per drive, etc. but week to week we can judge this, in addition to the comparative metrics I look at, based on consistent effort and flying to the ball. I like that two weeks into the season we have had high single digit players in each game show up with multiple positive plays in the box score (Sinclair, Bernadel, Leigber, Rose, Bailey, Wright, Aybar, Staples, Marceau-Olayinka in this one). I don't like that we are not getting very many sacks (though we are doing better in tackles for loss). From a personnel standpoint, the thing I like most is that the inside linebackers have had a nice start to the season. Against Cal Poly, Sinclair was especially central to the defense getting off the field on third downs, making three plays to force punts or a field goal. Bernadel had a great game in run defense, both based on my box score accounting and PFF grades. Elsewhere on the defense, Leigber struggled in coverage but made two big third down plays of his own, Bailey got in the backfield to make plays a few times, and Wright made the major contribution of a turnover but I don't think had a particularly good game. Ultimately our DL will be judged by the overall quality of the defense but to a casual eye test fan and serious box score scourer like me the DL have been invisible. I see Phillips only played 7 snaps last night so I wonder if he got hurt. The other thing of note is that garbage time gave us a lot of action for younger defensive players. As I've noted previously, our defense is not young and will be losing a lot of key pieces, so it's good to see signs of life from the next generation. Rose showed up all over the place in garbage time and Mattingly even got in on the action. Frausto-Ramos had some tackling issues but the aforementioned third down sack was a big play for him. Perhaps most surprising to me was Staples making a few plays, as did Marceau-Olayinka. We shouldn't draw much from Cal Poly but these guys having some success - like Cisse, Brown, Davis, Blackburn, etc. on offense - is something I imagine the coaches view as significant given their long-term growth mindset.
8. Special teams was a major asset. Bachmeier led the way with the 90 yard touchdown and was serviceable on his other returns (at the moment he leads the nation in punt return average....are we going to return to Bryce Farrell after the bye?). Aristotle Taylor blocked the punt (what a fun moment for him!). Sinclair converted on the fake punt. Kenney made both attempts, from 32 and 43 yards, and is now one of 14 kickers nationally to have at least four makes and be perfect so far on the young season. Flintoft was ok - 38 yard pet to the Cal Poly 33 - on his one punt. Morris, who I personally would love to see make all-conference some day as a special teams player, made three kick coverage tackles and emerging special teams worker Dubre made two of his own. Really excellent week for the special teams. So far this is looking like a real strength for the team.
9. Game balls: Daniels, Sinclair, Bachmeier, D'Onofrio
10. I have been disappointed so far this season to not see more obviously discernible improvement in the team across the board but there is still the vast majority of the season ahead and now an opportunity with the bye to work on some things and take strides heading into ACC play. Syracuse looks like a formidable opponent, fringe of the top 25 and playing at their place. As with the TCU game this is a legitimate test against a credible opponent. These are the types of teams we want to be competitive against. I think we are capable of it (though I worry about pass defense against McCord) and it would go a long way to advancing this rebuild and the development of winning mentalities if we could somehow win back-to-back games for the first time under Taylor. Even short of that this is an opportunity to show we can compete against a real team and keep up the slow progress Taylor promises us the team is making.
7. One of the things I am most watching this season is whether April's defense has turned a corner. At the end of the year we can judge by points per game, SP+, FEI, points per drive, etc. but week to week we can judge this, in addition to the comparative metrics I look at, based on consistent effort and flying to the ball. I like that two weeks into the season we have had high single digit players in each game show up with multiple positive plays in the box score (Sinclair, Bernadel, Leigber, Rose, Bailey, Wright, Aybar, Staples, Marceau-Olayinka in this one). I don't like that we are not getting very many sacks (though we are doing better in tackles for loss). From a personnel standpoint, the thing I like most is that the inside linebackers have had a nice start to the season. Against Cal Poly, Sinclair was especially central to the defense getting off the field on third downs, making three plays to force punts or a field goal. Bernadel had a great game in run defense, both based on my box score accounting and PFF grades. Elsewhere on the defense, Leigber struggled in coverage but made two big third down plays of his own, Bailey got in the backfield to make plays a few times, and Wright made the major contribution of a turnover but I don't think had a particularly good game. Ultimately our DL will be judged by the overall quality of the defense but to a casual eye test fan and serious box score scourer like me the DL have been invisible. I see Phillips only played 7 snaps last night so I wonder if he got hurt. The other thing of note is that garbage time gave us a lot of action for younger defensive players. As I've noted previously, our defense is not young and will be losing a lot of key pieces, so it's good to see signs of life from the next generation. Rose showed up all over the place in garbage time and Mattingly even got in on the action. Frausto-Ramos had some tackling issues but the aforementioned third down sack was a big play for him. Perhaps most surprising to me was Staples making a few plays, as did Marceau-Olayinka. We shouldn't draw much from Cal Poly but these guys having some success - like Cisse, Brown, Davis, Blackburn, etc. on offense - is something I imagine the coaches view as significant given their long-term growth mindset.
8. Special teams was a major asset. Bachmeier led the way with the 90 yard touchdown and was serviceable on his other returns (at the moment he leads the nation in punt return average....are we going to return to Bryce Farrell after the bye?). Aristotle Taylor blocked the punt (what a fun moment for him!). Sinclair converted on the fake punt. Kenney made both attempts, from 32 and 43 yards, and is now one of 14 kickers nationally to have at least four makes and be perfect so far on the young season. Flintoft was ok - 38 yard pet to the Cal Poly 33 - on his one punt. Morris, who I personally would love to see make all-conference some day as a special teams player, made three kick coverage tackles and emerging special teams worker Dubre made two of his own. Really excellent week for the special teams. So far this is looking like a real strength for the team.
9. Game balls: Daniels, Sinclair, Bachmeier, D'Onofrio
10. I have been disappointed so far this season to not see more obviously discernible improvement in the team across the board but there is still the vast majority of the season ahead and now an opportunity with the bye to work on some things and take strides heading into ACC play. Syracuse looks like a formidable opponent, fringe of the top 25 and playing at their place. As with the TCU game this is a legitimate test against a credible opponent. These are the types of teams we want to be competitive against. I think we are capable of it (though I worry about pass defense against McCord) and it would go a long way to advancing this rebuild and the development of winning mentalities if we could somehow win back-to-back games for the first time under Taylor. Even short of that this is an opportunity to show we can compete against a real team and keep up the slow progress Taylor promises us the team is making.