Based on watching UNT, NMSU, BSU (after the fact), and Charlotte.
Defense -- Probably top 75 potential, don't always play like it. Grade: B
We give up a lot of big plays, but I think that is just part of the philosophy. We blitz a lot. I think we are deliberately playing a high risk/reward defense where we know we'll get burned from time to time but figure that the disruptions we cause will eventually kill most drives. Seems to mostly be working well enough.
Getting less out of the line than I thought we would. Corners playing fairly well but really penalty prone LBs are studs.
Offense -- So inconsistent. Capable of scoring but lots called back. Every position capable of looking pretty good or really sucking. Grade: C-
Coaching: C-
Good things first --
This team has talent that are light years ahead of when Dimel took over.
This team has moxie. They have more fight than any team I remember since probably Stull
Play calling is decent most of the time.
We've now beaten a respectable team and won in the eastern time zone.
Bad things --
No star at any "skill" position
Poor game planning / preparation -- most games we look like we are playing a mystery opponent from another planet with no available game film
Non-existent halftime adjustment -- We lose nearly every 3Q, especially the first several possessions. We've been outscored 58-20 in 3Q
Play calling in critical downs goes so vanilla every person in the country knows we're running between the tackles.
Discipline is horrible. I thought we had seen improvement this season until last game. Stupid stupid penalties. Not from playing aggressively and just getting called on it, literally stupid dumbass penalties
Forecast: 5-7 We will beat FIU and win one other game.
Final thought -- imagine this team with Aaron Jones. And imagine Kug's teams with Hankins instead of AJ. Also imagine us with an honest to goodness dual threat QB
