Well, I was always amazed at how Kugler's o-line couldn't block. Especially pass block, but some of that had to do with when Kugler finally started to save a lost game but having poor Metz risk his sanity and life. I decided that if you had absolutely no threat of a pass, defenses could just stuff the run. Aaron Jones was so special he showed that a special back could find the openings. Do ours right now? I think they seem to have trouble seeing the openings. But the openings aren't gaping holes, either.
So, I was absolutely shocked at our suddenly newly found ability to pass block this season. At first it was a change up from he dulling running game. But it became the predominant part of the game at the end. But you have to ask was it the progression of the team or the level of competition creating the change. Probably a mixture of both.
Years ago, I was talking to a Miner TE Johnny Moore I think, who had become a grad assistant working in the weight room with the football players. He was saying that it was amazing how our Miners were better than like some cartel(maybe an AZ school iIrc) school's players on paper. There are football players and there are players who play football. Cowing is a football player. It is part of him. He doesn't have to be told to play defensive back if that is what it takes. I can't explain it. It comes from playing. As a kid. Spending untold hours as a ten year old practicing catching impossible passes not tossing a ball around. Practicing defending against those receivers. So, I believe much of the game is played with the physicality displayed but the mental aspect is so important.
When the competition got better, we made adjustments. That was an improvement. But, what didn't falter was the Miners' fight. That was constant. I think we see all kinds of styles of offenses being played these days and we see offensive masterminds coming up with all kinds of shit and ours looks pretty bland, but it is part of the entire package. Our running looks so unimaginative but it is designed to do what it does for a purpose. So, that is my answer to your question about UNT and UTEP. UNT does their running their way and for their reasons. We do ours differently and for different reasons. I think if you asked Dimel, he would say that it was a few mistakes that made the difference but that without them, the Miners were doing what they needed to do to win. I think the different ways of doing things as pieces of a puzzle fitting together. They create different pictures.
Lawdly lawd! We need receiver help. The thing is, what receiver wanted to come play for the team that doesn't pass? You wait. Players who catch passes will flock to the prospect of catching Hardison bombs.
Final answer. Neither speed nor strength. Minds. Football players. Football players hungry for success.
btw, I realize that my post may leave you feeling like I sometimes do when talking to others about politics-we are living in parallel universes that just share the same time and space. lol
