wow. just wow.

[SisyphusMiner]

One quarter in the bag.  SFA looks like a better team than us.  Fire Dimel at the half.

[SisyphusMiner]

Every time we have a drive going, the coaches do something stupid.  Why in the hell do you put Brownholtz in on 3rd down when we are driving?  Why do you suddenly run up the middle two times in a row when we ar driving?  Stupid

[Chanson]

Few things I saw that I have not in a while.
1) We have a QB. I haven't seen constant throws like this since Viatoe.
2) Receivers can catch. I saw about 4-5 acrobatic catches.
3) We can now defend the screen pass. Miners corners just shut it down.
4) The Miners finally closed a game.

Yes, we were sloppy on both ends of the field, but a W is always good going into next week.

[SisyphusMiner]

I agree wiht your assessment.

QB  - B+  Appears to me to possibly be the best we have had in a long time
RB -- B+  When they could get past the line they could run.  Hankins is really strong
WR -- B+  A few drops that should have been catches, but overall they did quite well
O-line -- D  Very few holes opened up for run.  Did OK not great at pass protection

D Line -- D  Not much push, marginal against run
LB -- B  seemed OK
Secondary -- A  Lots of open field tackles, and important INT

Special Teams -- B  Pinned other team back a few times, a few mistakes, They win my Most Improved Squad award

Coaching --
     Defense -- B  Defensive coaches came out unprepared but made appropriate halftime adjustments. 
     Offense -- D-  They only don't get an F because we won.  Predictable, uninspired, sometimes unbelievably stupid drive-killing decisions.  No concept of rhythm or momentum.  No vision of what is working or not.  Nothing is done to set anything else up.  Still can't get play calls in on time every time.  Can't always make the personnel changes.   

[liebestraum]

We beat a middle of the road Southland Conference team by 10 points at home.  I cannot get excited about this.  I believe we are also supposed to play Abilene Christian later this year.  That might be a tougher game since they are a better team.

Agree about the play calling and the O-line.  The defense was pretty leaky in the early part of the game, especially with the bubble screens.  Still, we held them to 14 points after they took a 14-3 lead, so they stiffened a bit.

Unfortunately, UTEP plays UT next, so whatever improvements there might will be hidden in what I am assuming will be our ritualistic drubbing.

lieb

[Austintacious]

UT is listed a 41 point favorite by some. 

[Minermojo]

The negative is the 41 point spread.

The positive is the money that they'll get.

they offset

[Chanson]

It should have been 31-14, but UTEP decided to take a knee. I, also, am not all that excited, but to recognize a few improved areas that we have been poor at historically was nice.
UT is going to run the ball down our throats, which will open up some big pass plays. Our defensive line seemed slow & were beat off the snap. The Oline was just as poor except they seemed to come alive in the 4th Q with some of those runs.

[SisyphusMiner]

I am not sure, but the runs by Hankins may have been him adjusting on the fly and hitting secondary holes that developed.  Or I could be just down on the line and not giving them credit they deserve.

About all I hope for from the UT game is no critical injuries, better coaching, and a more open playbook.  If Hardison can keep his head under the kind of pressure he will likely be under all game, he is a keeper.  He made one bad decision -- hopefully he learns from it.  His predecessor never did.