Some Positive Takeaways from the Furman Game

I have some thoughts I'd like to share from the game Saturday that would just get buried in the postgame threads of 300 some comments...

So here they are:

1. The DBs were awesome, not just in coverage but in tackling too. There was one particular play that stood out to me. Caleb Farley had containment on a stretch run (or maybe it was a toss, I don't really remember). Farley lunged to make the tackle with confidence, wrapped the guy up, and pulled him down. That is not a tackle he makes last year. I didn't really notice Waller a whole lot tackling wise which is a good thing. I wasn't really paying attention to him, so the fact that I didn't notice him means he didn't make any glaring mistakes. Chamarri Conner is the future, plain and simple. I didn't notice Deablo and Floyd a whole lot. Deablo did have one nice hit, though, and didn't come up hurt from it, so that's good.

2. The defensive line was disruptive and swarmed the ball. Rather than just assuming their teammate had made the tackle and finished the play, everyone swarmed to the ball till the play was blown dead. Jaylen Griffin had Granger dead to rights on one play. I thought surely he was making the sack and looked away from the tv. Well he missed the sack, but when I looked up again, Kendricks had Granger, and about three other guys also had a shot. Good defenses swarm to the ball. That's how you stop a mobile quarterback.

3. The defense played with a swagger and passion that we haven't seen in a long, long time. When someone made a big play, everyone was there to congratulate him. They were genuinely happy to watch their teammate succeed. Making a big play and then having a bunch of guys smacking you in the helmet and congratulating you only reinforces that play. Also, Bud had a lot of energy yesterday. Anytime the defense has a rough stretch, I notice people saying "Bud has already checked out" or something like that. That's not true. He's giving this everything he has in his last season.

4. We had a running game. Yes, I know it was against Furman, but you have to start somewhere. That should build confidence for a young offensive line. Hopefully another back aside from Keshawn King steps up, though. There's no way given his current size that he can handle that kind of work load against bigger opponents. Steward was given one carry yesterday and gained three or four yards after falling forward. I'd like to see a little more of him if we get the chance against Duke.

5. Oscar Bradburn. As long as our offense is struggling, at least we have a good punter who can help us win the field position battle. When our offense was so hideously bad from 2006-2008, we still managed to ride a good defense and the field position game. If the defense can continue to improve, Bradburn's punting will be critical to our success.

Obviously there were some negatives to the game. The offense is still turning the ball over, the defense got undisciplined on two plays leading to long runs (I believe it was Eli Adams and Khalil Ladler losing containment), and Brian Johnson still can't make kicks from beyond 45+. The second half offense and the defense on the whole was very good on Saturday, though. If we eliminate the stupid turnovers and put together two halves offensively, we win that game by 40. Plenty of things to figure out during the bye week, but that's what it's for. Let's enjoy not wanting to throw shit through our tv this Saturday!